Gaming's Next Big Bet: Why 'Hybrid Core' is Disrupting Mobile!

Good morning. I'm Amy Shapiro, Good morning. I'm Amy Shapiro, journalist at CEK. We're here today at journalist at CEK. We're here today at journalist at CEK. We're here today at Calculus Gaming Conference 2025. We're Calculus Gaming Conference 2025. We're Calculus Gaming Conference 2025. We're joined by Matan Fetson. He's the CEO of joined by Matan Fetson. He's the CEO of joined by Matan Fetson. He's the CEO of Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much for joining us today. for joining us today. for joining us today. >> Thank you for hosting me, Amy. >> Thank you for hosting me, Amy. >> Thank you for hosting me, Amy. >> It's a pleasure to have you. Of course. >> It's a pleasure to have you. Of course. >> It's a pleasure to have you. Of course. Um, to start off with, Matan, can you Um, to start off with, Matan, can you Um, to start off with, Matan, can you tell us a bit about what Hoopo Studios tell us a bit about what Hoopo Studios tell us a bit about what Hoopo Studios does, what it is that you're developing?

does, what it is that you're developing? does, what it is that you're developing? >> Of course. Sure. So, Hoopo is a mobile >> Of course. Sure. So, Hoopo is a mobile >> Of course. Sure. So, Hoopo is a mobile gaming studio with a unique approach to gaming studio with a unique approach to gaming studio with a unique approach to how to build midcore titles. Today, the how to build midcore titles. Today, the how to build midcore titles. Today, the greatest challenges of Midcore is to greatest challenges of Midcore is to greatest challenges of Midcore is to drive this long-term retention and to drive this long-term retention and to drive this long-term retention and to have a healthy game economy and we see have a healthy game economy and we see have a healthy game economy and we see many midcore titles that are struggling many midcore titles that are struggling many midcore titles that are struggling in hitting those metrics. We think it's in hitting those metrics. We think it's in hitting those metrics. We think it's mostly because they have poor meta mostly because they have poor meta mostly because they have poor meta systems and that's why we are building a systems and that's why we are building a systems and that's why we are building a new category which we love to call new category which we love to call new category which we love to call hybrid core. It's a combination of hybrid core. It's a combination of hybrid core. It's a combination of midcore gameplay with casual meta. And midcore gameplay with casual meta. And midcore gameplay with casual meta. And the title that now we are working on is the title that now we are working on is the title that now we are working on is called Jet Brothers. It's a battle called Jet Brothers. It's a battle called Jet Brothers. It's a battle royale dog fight games. Not dogs that royale dog fight games. Not dogs that royale dog fight games. Not dogs that are fighting each other, but planes are fighting each other, but planes are fighting each other, but planes fighting each other. It's a very fun, fighting each other. It's a very fun, fighting each other. It's a very fun, chaotic, characterdriven game, but with chaotic, characterdriven game, but with chaotic, characterdriven game, but with a twist of base building meta. And this a twist of base building meta. And this a twist of base building meta. And this title actually demonstrates the concept title actually demonstrates the concept title actually demonstrates the concept of hybrid core, and we hope it will also of hybrid core, and we hope it will also of hybrid core, and we hope it will also prove its viability. prove its viability. prove its viability. >> Fantastic. And I'd love to get into the >> Fantastic. And I'd love to get into the >> Fantastic. And I'd love to get into the kind of specifics of the genre in a kind of specifics of the genre in a kind of specifics of the genre in a second, but first, like, can you give us

second, but first, like, can you give us second, but first, like, can you give us a bit of an overview of what you uh how a bit of an overview of what you uh how a bit of an overview of what you uh how you see the state of mobile genre games you see the state of mobile genre games you see the state of mobile genre games uh mobile game genres today? uh mobile game genres today? uh mobile game genres today? >> Yeah, of course. So the user acquisition >> Yeah, of course. So the user acquisition >> Yeah, of course. So the user acquisition costs are still very very high and I costs are still very very high and I costs are still very very high and I don't think it's going to change anytime don't think it's going to change anytime don't think it's going to change anytime soon and so that's why we're seeing a soon and so that's why we're seeing a soon and so that's why we're seeing a lot of for example IP licensings and lot of for example IP licensings and lot of for example IP licensings and brand collaboration in order to lower brand collaboration in order to lower brand collaboration in order to lower down these costs and so the hybrid down these costs and so the hybrid down these costs and so the hybrid casual is driving under this condition casual is driving under this condition casual is driving under this condition and casual is still doing okay but under and casual is still doing okay but under and casual is still doing okay but under pressure because of this cost but as for pressure because of this cost but as for pressure because of this cost but as for midcore we see some very strongest

midcore we see some very strongest midcore we see some very strongest fundamental trends such as for example fundamental trends such as for example fundamental trends such as for example there is a great revenue spike a growth there is a great revenue spike a growth there is a great revenue spike a growth in revenue which means the user spend in revenue which means the user spend in revenue which means the user spend more in the games but on the other hand more in the games but on the other hand more in the games but on the other hand the user spend less time in the games the user spend less time in the games the user spend less time in the games and the session times are getting much and the session times are getting much and the session times are getting much shorter. But there is one very great and shorter. But there is one very great and shorter. But there is one very great and strong trend in the midco that we think strong trend in the midco that we think strong trend in the midco that we think that may actually disrupt this entire

that may actually disrupt this entire that may actually disrupt this entire category which is an exhaustion and category which is an exhaustion and category which is an exhaustion and burnout of common meta and monetization burnout of common meta and monetization burnout of common meta and monetization mechanics. You can see for example the mechanics. You can see for example the mechanics. You can see for example the battle pass fatigue. Just open up Reddit battle pass fatigue. Just open up Reddit battle pass fatigue. Just open up Reddit and find thousands of posts of users and find thousands of posts of users and find thousands of posts of users that are complaining about how that are complaining about how that are complaining about how frustrated they are about the system. it frustrated they are about the system. it frustrated they are about the system. it doesn't give them anything good enough doesn't give them anything good enough doesn't give them anything good enough and satisfying in reward. And so

and satisfying in reward. And so and satisfying in reward. And so basically the pie may get bigger but now basically the pie may get bigger but now basically the pie may get bigger but now it's harder than ever to take a bite out it's harder than ever to take a bite out it's harder than ever to take a bite out of it. So even though the market is of it. So even though the market is of it. So even though the market is moving forward and we think these shifts moving forward and we think these shifts moving forward and we think these shifts are definitely creating new are definitely creating new are definitely creating new opportunities for studios who will be opportunities for studios who will be opportunities for studios who will be able to adapt. able to adapt. able to adapt. >> Mhm. And so let's go back to this new >> Mhm. And so let's go back to this new >> Mhm. And so let's go back to this new genre that you you've kind of created genre that you you've kind of created genre that you you've kind of created this uh casual meta with midc. this uh casual meta with midc. this uh casual meta with midc. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. >> Am I getting that right? You're doing >> Am I getting that right? You're doing >> Am I getting that right? You're doing this perfectly. this perfectly. this perfectly. >> Yeah. Tell tell us a bit more about >> Yeah. Tell tell us a bit more about >> Yeah. Tell tell us a bit more about that. So I think we saw the great

that. So I think we saw the great that. So I think we saw the great success of hybrid casual because it took success of hybrid casual because it took success of hybrid casual because it took the hyper casual gameplay that has a big the hyper casual gameplay that has a big the hyper casual gameplay that has a big audience match the taste of big audience match the taste of big audience match the taste of big audiences and combine it with proven audiences and combine it with proven audiences and combine it with proven casual metas that can engage and sustain casual metas that can engage and sustain casual metas that can engage and sustain players for a long period of time. Now I players for a long period of time. Now I players for a long period of time. Now I think that if we see um for example a think that if we see um for example a think that if we see um for example a lot of these midcourse titles they have

lot of these midcourse titles they have lot of these midcourse titles they have a a a broken core loop which means you a a a broken core loop which means you a a a broken core loop which means you match you compete in a match and you match you compete in a match and you match you compete in a match and you progress through levels. You maybe progress through levels. You maybe progress through levels. You maybe upgrade your character unlock a new upgrade your character unlock a new upgrade your character unlock a new level but that's it. There is a lack of level but that's it. There is a lack of level but that's it. There is a lack of a deeper emotional attachment that a deeper emotional attachment that a deeper emotional attachment that casual metals and just mastered. So now casual metals and just mastered. So now casual metals and just mastered. So now that's why we think it's the best time that's why we think it's the best time that's why we think it's the best time for Midcore to go through the same for Midcore to go through the same for Midcore to go through the same process that Hyper Casual did when it process that Hyper Casual did when it process that Hyper Casual did when it transformed into hybrid which means to

transformed into hybrid which means to transformed into hybrid which means to take this skill-based midcore like take this skill-based midcore like take this skill-based midcore like heavier gameplay that has huge demand heavier gameplay that has huge demand heavier gameplay that has huge demand for and combine it with very accessible for and combine it with very accessible for and combine it with very accessible meta that even can be standalone and be meta that even can be standalone and be meta that even can be standalone and be the main reason why to come back and the main reason why to come back and the main reason why to come back and play. And we think this combination can play. And we think this combination can play. And we think this combination can not only lead to great games but also to not only lead to great games but also to not only lead to great games but also to games that can be profitable and games that can be profitable and games that can be profitable and sustainable under the not easy market sustainable under the not easy market sustainable under the not easy market condition that we are currently in. condition that we are currently in. condition that we are currently in. >> And what are if any advantages are there

>> And what are if any advantages are there >> And what are if any advantages are there in developing this new genre here in in developing this new genre here in in developing this new genre here in Israel? Israel? Israel? >> So it may actually sound like a cliche >> So it may actually sound like a cliche >> So it may actually sound like a cliche but I think it's true. Eventually it's but I think it's true. Eventually it's but I think it's true. Eventually it's all about talent. I think there are two all about talent. I think there are two all about talent. I think there are two main reasons why Israel is the best main reasons why Israel is the best main reasons why Israel is the best place to pioneer this category from. And place to pioneer this category from. And place to pioneer this category from. And the first one is that in Israel we have the first one is that in Israel we have the first one is that in Israel we have a very deep business expertise of how to a very deep business expertise of how to a very deep business expertise of how to build those exact engaging and hooking build those exact engaging and hooking build those exact engaging and hooking meta systems. And on the other hand meta systems. And on the other hand meta systems. And on the other hand there is an untapped pool of very very there is an untapped pool of very very there is an untapped pool of very very creative talented developers and artists creative talented developers and artists creative talented developers and artists who are currently working on indie who are currently working on indie who are currently working on indie projects or maybe in one of those big projects or maybe in one of those big projects or maybe in one of those big corps that are just looking for the corps that are just looking for the corps that are just looking for the opportunity to work on midcore and more opportunity to work on midcore and more opportunity to work on midcore and more heavier projects which are not so common heavier projects which are not so common heavier projects which are not so common to work on from Israel. So I think this to work on from Israel. So I think this to work on from Israel. So I think this combination of creativity with deep combination of creativity with deep combination of creativity with deep business expertise is the reason why business expertise is the reason why business expertise is the reason why Israel is the best place to pioneer the Israel is the best place to pioneer the Israel is the best place to pioneer the hybrid core category for me. hybrid core category for me. hybrid core category for me. >> Fantastic. Well, it sounds like there's >> Fantastic. Well, it sounds like there's >> Fantastic. Well, it sounds like there's a lot of exciting stuff going on at a lot of exciting stuff going on at a lot of exciting stuff going on at Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much Hoopo Studios. Matan, thank you so much for joining us. for joining us. for joining us. >> Thank you very much, Amy, for having me. >> Thank you very much, Amy, for having me. >> Thank you very much, Amy, for having me. It's been a pleasure. Yeah.