What Playtika’s competitive intelligence lead wants the industry to rethink

Summary

In our latest Customer Spotlight, we sat down with Ariel Navon, Head of Competitive Intelligence at Playtika, to discuss how some of the top-grossing games on the market are quietly shifting their monetization strategies. Rather than chasing conversion through more offers and more pop-ups, a growing number of titles are finding that making the player experience more enjoyable and less intrusive can actually lead to better long-term revenue. Navon shared insights from Playtika's competitive intelligence team, which has been analyzing successful games to understand what works in today's crowded mobile market. He observed that the most successful games are moving away from aggressive, short-term monetization tactics and instead focusing on building trust and delivering value to players. This shift includes offering meaningful in-app purchases, personalized discounts, and creating a game rhythm that doesn't pressure users to spend. The industry, Navon argues, should rethink the underlying logic of monetization: instead of obsessing over per-impression conversion rates, developers should consider player lifetime value and overall satisfaction. This is particularly important as user acquisition costs rise and the global mobile games market faces slower growth. By prioritizing player trust and long-term engagement, games can not only improve their top-line revenue but also foster a…