The Gaming Playbook with Harry Phokou

Gaming Industry Podcast

Conversations That Unpack the Playbook

Harry Phokou sits down with experts in the games industry who have never been interviewed before. Through these in-depth conversations, we unpack the "Playbook" that made them so successful.

Latest Episode

Why Mobile Games Can’t Grow Like They Used To | Adam Jaffe
Game Marketing
August 20, 2026

Why Mobile Games Can’t Grow Like They Used To | Adam Jaffe

Today I’m joined by Adam Jaffe, a mobile gaming marketer with nearly two decades in the industry. He was Playtika’s 10th employee and Head of User Acquisition, and later served as VP of Marketing at Social Point. We talked about.

Listen to episode →

Recent Episodes

View all →

Part of the Hivemind

The Ecosystem Behind the Playbook

All Episodes

Why Mobile Games Can’t Grow Like They Used To | Adam Jaffe
Game Marketing
August 20, 2026

Why Mobile Games Can’t Grow Like They Used To | Adam Jaffe

Today I’m joined by Adam Jaffe, a mobile gaming marketer with nearly two decades in the industry. He was Playtika’s...

Your Game Dev Career Shouldn’t Depend on One Studio | Doug Pennant
Game Careers Recruitment & HR
August 6, 2026

Your Game Dev Career Shouldn’t Depend on One Studio | Doug Pennant

Today, I’m joined by Doug Pennant, a Senior Producer at Infinity Ward, drawing on 16 years across Alien: Isolation, Total...

Why Launching Your Game on Steam Is Only Half the Strategy | Adam Selcuk
Game Development Game Marketing
July 30, 2026

Why Launching Your Game on Steam Is Only Half the Strategy | Adam Selcuk

Today, I’m joined by Adam Selcuk, CPO at VaultN, who explains why game studios are leaving significant revenue on the...

Ex-Naughty Dog Designer: How to Build a Fundable Indie Studio in 2026 | Quentin Cobb
Game Development Gaming Investment
July 23, 2026

Ex-Naughty Dog Designer: How to Build a Fundable Indie Studio in 2026 | Quentin Cobb

What does it really take to get an indie game funded? After 17 years in AAA game development, Quentin Cobb...

Why GTA Online and Red Dead Online Keep Losing to Fan Servers | Michael Szklarski
Game Development
July 2, 2026

Why GTA Online and Red Dead Online Keep Losing to Fan Servers | Michael Szklarski

Multiplayer doesn’t have to be built on day one. Today, I’m joined by Michael Szklarski, Co-Founder of ReadyM, who explains...

Why Founders Keep Hiring the Wrong People | Frank Lofaro
Recruitment & HR
June 25, 2026

Why Founders Keep Hiring the Wrong People | Frank Lofaro

Hiring isn’t guesswork. In this episode, I’m joined by Frank Lofaro, who has helped over 1,700 businesses hire better, from...

Ex-Xbox Executive: Why Making Great Games Is Only Half the Job | Chris Bain
Game Development Game Marketing Gaming Investment
June 18, 2026

Ex-Xbox Executive: Why Making Great Games Is Only Half the Job | Chris Bain

How do you build a great game company, not just a great game? Today, I’m joined by a former Xbox...

Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published | Ben Kvalo
Game Development Game Marketing
June 11, 2026

Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published | Ben Kvalo

What do game publishers actually do in 2026? Why do some indie games succeed while others fail, even with a...

Apply to Appear

Have a Story the Industry Needs to Hear?

The Gaming Playbook features leaders, founders, and innovators who have been in the trenches. If you have hard-won insights, a counterintuitive take, or a strategy that actually worked — we want to hear from you.

Apply to Be a Guest
Harry Phokou hosting The Gaming Playbook

The Gaming Playbook Host

Meet Harry

Harry Phokou is the host of The Gaming Playbook, where he has interviewed 200+ gaming industry leaders to uncover the strategies, decisions, and playbooks behind the industry's most successful companies and operators. He is the founder of Hivemind, which he grew using LinkedIn by turning content into consistent deal flow — a system that now powers dozens of founder-led brands. Through Hivemind World and Hivemind Marketing, he has hosted 20+ industry mixers connecting studios, publishers, and B2B partners, and has used LinkedIn to tour 30+ game studios across Europe. Read more