Welcome to Always Scheming! My name is Matt Dion. Always Scheming is a research consultancy focused on the future of interactive entertainment. My research philosophy is underpinned by the notion that big ideas often start out as little more than toys or games. This concept, adapted from the theory of…

Written in collaboration with Deconstructor of Fun and JadeInferno Consulting Have you ever been sitting in a meeting — or listening to a podcast, perhaps — where the merits of a game were being discussed and the topic of “Game of the Year” was raised? Like our peers in film…

Taking a look at the turbulent year thus far for the mobile shooter genre. Are the market incumbents the weakest they’ve ever been? Can anyone stop Tencent? Mobile shooters have had a turbulent year. Since Naavik published its first genre report at the beginning of 2023, the market has undergone…

Taking a closer look at Unity’s aggressive AI strategy and the broader implications on the battle for supremacy among game engine makers. In the rush to come to grips with the generative AI hype cycle capturing the attention of both the venture and public markets, most large gaming companies have…

Examining Square Enix’s tough fiscal year ’23, its reliance on the Final Fantasy IP, and its new CEO’s plans for the company’s future. It’s been a busy month for Square Enix. The company’s flagship franchise just launched its latest mainline release, Final Fantasy XVI, to largely positive reviews (with some…

The unfulfilled promise of Massively Interactive Live Events and where they go from here. On May 6th, 1954, Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile barrier. At the time, this represented a towering athletic achievement — one that runners had been seriously pursuing for more than 65 years. Bannister’s story is…

A look at Blizzard’s most successful new game launch ever, the history leading up to it, and what the future holds for the game’s live service and monetization ambitions. The gates of Hell have reopened. Earlier this month, Blizzard launched Diablo IV, the latest entry in the iconic ARPG franchise…

Why the crypto-curious should be paying attention to fully on-chain games. Between the ongoing crypto winter, the FTX collapse, and a general dearth of noteworthy blockchain game releases, it’s been a quiet few months for web3 gaming. The industry has largely moved on to other trending topics: major acquisitions, Fortnite…

A report on the challenges and opportunities faced by founders seeking to grow their blockchain games and break through to a mass audience. Written in collaboration with BITKRAFT Ventures. Executive Summary Though the rise of web3 and blockchain technologies has created many opportunities for new approaches to game design, games development, and…