SayGames Reflects on 2025: Fewer Projects but Deeper Partnerships - PocketGamer Interview

2025 became a defining year for SayGames. Instead of scaling the number of projects, the company focused on strengthening depth — investing more time, expertise, and technology into each partnership.

In an interview with PocketGamer.biz, SayGames’ Chief Publishing Officer Anton Volnykh shares how this strategy shaped the year: from more involved collaboration with developers and refined analytics tools to growing international partnerships and setting the stage for 2026.

Below is a short summary — and we recommend reading the full interview on PocketGamer for the complete story.

Summary

1. A deliberate shift toward fewer, stronger projects

SayGames intentionally reduced the number of new launches in 2025 to dedicate more focus to each product and partner. This deeper engagement — from monetisation to daily product discussions — has already shown stronger long-term results.

2. Partnerships at the core

The company emphasises relationships with development teams, not just games. SayGames invests in people, helping teams grow through trust, transparency, and hands-on support.

3. Technology and analytics as key enablers

Anton highlights how advanced internal dashboards, ML-driven insights, and improved forecasting tools now give partners clearer, faster signals for decision-making.

4. Commercial achievements

By the end of 2025, SayGames had multiple titles in the top-200 free charts across both stores — with My Perfect Hotel maintaining a strong presence in the top-30.

5. Creative autonomy meets operational excellence

Developers retain creative control, while SayGames provides the structure, market knowledge, and analytical rigor needed to transform promising prototypes into global hits.

6. Expanding collaboration in South Korea

SayGames sees South Korea as a hub of exceptional technical and creative talent. New partnerships in the region are strengthening the hybrid-casual portfolio and opening fresh opportunities.

7. What to expect in 2026

Anton predicts an increasingly competitive market — and that the studios who win will be those who deliver excellence in execution: tight mechanics, strong progression, and sustainable long-term economies.