Less is More: Key Lessons from PGC Nordics and Game IPs Take the Stage in LA

When the global games industry gathers to diagnose its most persistent challenges, the standard reflex is almost always additive. If engagement dips, revenue plateaus, or retention falters, the instinctive corporate response tends to involve expanding operations. Studios draft plans for more events, more game features, more cross-promotion channels, and, in the current technological climate, an aggressive influx of artificial intelligence tools. However, recent industry events and real-world cultural activations are pushing back against this exhausting cycle. Across multiple panels at Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) Nordics and a wave of transmedia music events in Los Angeles, industry leaders are increasingly arriving at a remarkably unified conclusion: it is time to do less, do it better, and focus on genuine substance over manufactured noise.

Four Critical Lessons from PGC Nordics: Cutting Through the Hype

Ask most of the games industry how to fix a structural problem and the answer is usually to add something. PGC Nordics deliberately pushed back against that instinct. Across four distinct talks, industry veterans landed on remarkably similar ideas centered on simplification, strategic clarity, and restraint.

Outfit7’s Urška Leskovar delivered a particularly striking message regarding live operations that resonated deeply with developers managing mature titles. Anyone who has opened a long-running live-service game in recent years is likely familiar with the overwhelming visual clutter: five separate limited-time events running concurrently, three distinct premium currencies, and a barrage of red notification dots demanding attention across every menu. Leskovar argued that developers must fundamentally rethink this approach. Players do not necessarily need more repetitive tasks to occupy their time; instead, they need a compelling reason to care about the core experience. Despite how obvious this principle sounds in theory, the default corporate reaction to a dip in player engagement continues to be rushing out yet another superficial event.

This philosophy of strategic restraint extended beyond live ops and into the realm of direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies. Xsolla’s Ola Dokun addressed the modern gold rush surrounding webshops. In the wake of the pivotal Epic Games v. Apple antitrust ruling, which effectively opened the door to alternative web-based payment systems and external purchasing in the United States, it feels as though virtually every mobile studio has rushed to launch a dedicated webshop. Dokun cautioned against conflating a transactional storefront with a genuine business strategy. Having a webshop is fundamentally not the same as having a cohesive D2C strategy, she explained, advising studios to build their infrastructure around flexibility and the core ability to pivot paths swiftly when macroeconomic conditions inevitably shift.

Skepticism was similarly prevalent in discussions surrounding emerging technologies. Luke Dicken, the former head of AI at Take-Two Interactive, maintained a distinctly cautious stance on the industry’s infatuation with artificial intelligence. He warned conference attendees that companies and individuals blindly chasing the productivity conversation are ultimately just running in place on a relentless treadmill without achieving true creative or commercial breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, Katharina Schmidt offered grounded, highly practical advice regarding intellectual property collaborations. Rather than getting swept up in the abstract prestige of landing a major brand crossover, Schmidt emphasized the unglamorous mechanics of contract negotiation. She urged developers to pin down specific agreement parameters early in the process, including the exact duration of the partnership, the permitted geographic territories, and how the external IP visually and functionally integrates into the core game world. Clear communication and early alignment on usage rights and formal approvals remain the absolute cornerstone of a successful collaboration. In an industry ecosystem where the prevailing corporate ethos frequently demands adding more complexity at every turn, PGC Nordics provided a refreshing counter-narrative, highlighting the value of restraint and disciplined execution.

Game IPs Take Center Stage and Hit the Notes in Los Angeles

While developers in Europe debated the virtues of simplification, game intellectual properties were busy expanding their cultural footprint thousands of miles away in Los Angeles through live musical performances. The transmedia trend has historically remained tethered to traditional audiovisual adaptations, with studios translating their virtual worlds into streaming television series and cinematic feature films. However, the music industry represents an equally powerful medium for audience engagement, and Los Angeles played host to a diverse array of game-centric concerts designed to celebrate beloved franchises in real-world venues.

The cultural convergence kicked off on October 17th when Kuro Games invited fans of its action role-playing title Wuthering Waves to an immersive real-world gathering. The event offered dedicated players a communal space to listen to live orchestral and electronic arrangements of the game’s soundtrack, pose for professional photo opportunities alongside high-fidelity cosplayers, and browse exclusive merchandise and pop-up event rewards.

The momentum was initially slated to continue with Cygames, which planned to bring its multimedia juggernaut Umamusume: Pretty Derby to Los Angeles for two consecutive nights of live music on October 22nd and 23rd. The ambitious production was designed to take the franchise’s prominent idol elements straight out of the digital realm and onto a physical stage. However, organizers were forced to announce a last-minute cancellation due to unforeseen United States visa issues. The administrative hurdle prevented the game’s core Japanese voice cast from securing entry into the country, effectively halting the scheduled live vocal performances.

The week’s musical celebrations rounded out on October 24th with a major event hosted by The Pokémon Company at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome. Aptly titled Pokémon Night Out, the high-profile evening featured a live electronic dance music concert that leaned heavily into a vibrant nightlife aesthetic, marking a distinct tonal shift for the family-friendly monster-catching franchise. Attendees and active Pokémon GO players inside the venue were also given access to exclusive timed research tasks and the unique opportunity to encounter and capture the musically themed Pokémon, Toxtricity. Together, these live events underscore the evolving nature of gaming franchises, proving that successful intellectual properties can transcend their digital origins to cultivate deep, real-world community bonds through shared live experiences.