"We are laying the foundation that will potentially become a billion-dollar business," said Vladimir Nikolsky from Utmost Games about the outcomes of 2024

As we continue summarizing the highlights of 2024 with gaming (or gaming industry-related) teams and experts, we have an interview with Vladimir Nikolsky, the founder of the holding Utmost Games.

How was the year 2024 for Utmost Games and you personally? What achievements and successes would you like to highlight?

In 2023, I officially left My.Games, and after a brief break, I engaged in building a new gaming business.

In 2024, Utmost Games became the answer to what the market needs today. Overall, the market has been experiencing challenging times in recent years, where core values have been forgotten. I remain committed to those values that have helped me build successful gaming companies in the past. Employees and the products they create are the most crucial components of success—only through them can long-term plans be made, and outstanding results achieved.

This past year is characterized for me personally by two main directions.

Firstly, it's the investment in Digital Vortex Entertainment, a game publisher led by Alexey Izotov. The team has already announced their first game, with more announcements to come.

Secondly, it's the investment in Top App Games, whose debut project Ludus is nearing the $3 million monthly revenue mark. I know that Top App Games is preparing to announce a new project and is actively seeking studios for collaboration.

Ludus

How have the conditions in the gaming industry changed for those ready and willing to invest in the gaming business?

For several years now, we've observed how those who chaotically and thoughtlessly bought projects/studios/franchises are losing their footing and struggling to sell off everything. Some studios are ceasing to exist. There are currently many development studios on the market without partners or publishers—all of them are seeking funding to bring their projects to release.

In my opinion, it's essential now more than ever to value expertise in development, publishing, and "old school" marketing. The specialists in "classic" marketing, who don't blindly rely on traffic acquisition but know how to work with organic growth, are very few. Therefore, studios and teams with these specialists are highly valued today.

Has anything changed in the investment strategy for studios looking to attract funding?

Studios are seeking not just money, but a partner who can provide them with the necessary expertise in various areas. This might involve project promotion or team management, and typically, these aspects are interconnected. Finding such a partner is no easy task. Plus, there's a growing segment of studios looking for a partner to maintain control over their product and its market launch on one hand, while securing necessary funding on the other. It's commonly thought that the main risk falls on the investor or publisher, but as time shows, the teams themselves are often taking the biggest risks.

Are there any investment trends you expect to see strengthen or emerge in 2025?

The gaming industry brings forth new ideas every day, and the market is constantly evolving, offering much of interest. Specifically, one should definitely pay attention to skill-based gaming—it's not new, but has gained significant strength lately. This is a very promising way to enter the market. We also see that merging has quite rightly been dubbed the "new match-3."

What are your plans and those of Utmost Games for the upcoming year?

We are preparing several major announcements that we’ll reveal early next year. In addition, I intend to continue investing in talented teams and providing expertise. At later stages, I will be ready to step in for management. Currently, we are laying a foundation that will, in the long term, become a billion-dollar business.