UE 5.7 Preview 🎮, Twinmotion Nanite 🏗️, AppLovin Axon rebrand 🔁
Dev & Launch Insights 🚀
Stop Over-Engineering: Ship Simple, Refactor Later
Code Monkey breaks down why premature optimization and “future-proof” architectures slow your game development. Build the simplest version first, then refactor based on real needs and real data. With examples from shipped projects and actionable tips, this talk shows how to avoid detours, keep momentum, and optimize only where it truly matters.
From 400 Hours to $100K: A Data-Driven Steam Launch Guide
Indie strategist Cory Darby unpacks Steam’s “72-hour” and “fair-shot” tests—and why conversion rules everything. He shares pricing tactics (like a 40% launch discount), tag targeting, and how to spot trend waves early. Backed by the Click & Conquer case study (400 hours → $100K), the episode also explores AI agents, automated feedback, and why short projects de-risk and accelerate learning.
Engines & Tools Update 🛠️
Unreal Fest Stockholm: UE 5.7 Preview, Fortnite Creator Upgrades, AI Tools
Epic’s Unreal Fest Stockholm opening session teased Unreal Engine 5.7, introduced new features for Fortnite/UEFN creators, and expanded the Epic Developer Assistant. The keynote underscores a roadmap focused on faster workflows and creator-centric tooling alongside core engine advances. Teams building in UE or shipping live content in Fortnite can expect smoother pipelines and stronger iteration. Watch for a concise look at what’s next across engine, UEFN, and AI-driven dev support.
Twinmotion 2025.2 Brings Nanite, VCam Control, and Stylized FX
Twinmotion 2025.2 lands with Nanite support, letting you push ultra-detailed meshes—including Megascans, 3D plants, and Sketchfab assets—without tanking performance. New virtual camera tools tie into the Unreal VCam app and sync with DCC viewports for frictionless previs. Animators get “Exploders” and staggered Translator/Rotator updates, while a revamped FX stack adds painterly and sketch looks. Expect faster workflows with multi-drop materials, motion blur, LUTs, parallax windows, fog cards, and batch state export.
Monetization & Growth 💰
AppLovin Rebrands Ads to Axon, Launches Referral-Only Self-Serve Platform
AppLovin has rebranded its consumer-facing ads to Axon, aligning around its AI that evaluates impressions in real time across a 1B+ DAU mobile gaming network. From Oct 1, 2025, the self-serve Axon Ads Manager opens via referrals, offering $5,000 in ad credits to new web advertisers after a $5,000 spend within 60 days. The move follows expansion into web/e-commerce, the sale of its games unit, and S&P 500 inclusion. A broader public launch is planned next year, after feedback.
Sell Direct: FastSpring’s Checkout and Compliance for Game Studios
FastSpring is a D2C commerce platform purpose-built for game studios, handling global payments, taxes, VAT, and compliance so teams can focus on development. It supports live-service content, subscriptions, and premium titles with customizable, branded checkouts for web or in-game embeds. Backed by partners like Rovio and Nexus, FastSpring offers embedded checkout or fully managed storefronts to scale direct sales worldwide.