During our recent visit to King’s Stockholm HQ, we sat down with company president Tjodolf Sommestad to delve into an exciting array of mobile gaming topics.
Starting our conversation with Sommestad’s role, we explored topics such as Candy Crush’s ever-growing number of levels, King’s innovative strategies, the use of AI, and Sommestad’s advice for aspiring developers.
PocketGamer.biz: What is a typical day like for the president of King?
Tjodolf Sommestad: My days vary, from interactions with the media to discussions with our leadership teams about product and marketing plans. I focus on fostering shared learning and transparency within the company, ensuring information flows effectively and decisions are clear.
My role also involves resource allocation and regular communication with our global teams, utilizing video meetings to maintain collaboration and transparency.
I believe that collaboration, curiosity, and transparency are key factors for success.
How has King adapted to the evolving gaming landscape to continue entertaining audiences?
We embrace change and prioritize learning from our players through continuous testing and experimentation. We challenge ourselves to innovate and explore new ideas, such as integrating AI into our games. Adapting to change is essential for our long-term success.
What is the team’s reaction to integrating AI technology?
Our developers and designers are excited about the opportunities AI presents for enhancing their work quality and efficiency. AI can assist in various tasks, from creative ideation to documentation, ultimately improving our game development process.
How does King continue to generate new ideas for levels after creating over 16,000 levels?
While AI aids in testing and refining levels, the creative process still requires human craftsmanship and ingenuity. Our team uses AI tools to bounce around ideas and concepts, facilitating collaboration and innovation.
Why does King focus on a small number of long-running games instead of releasing multiple titles?
We have learned that maintaining a few high-quality games with a dedicated player base is more effective than managing multiple titles. By concentrating on our most successful games, we can provide better experiences and make a greater impact in the industry.
What advice do you have for indie developers entering the mobile gaming market?
Focus on creating outstanding free-to-play games with strong player retention. Understand your audience, scale your game appropriately, and be patient in growing your player base. Continuous improvement, investment in marketing, and player engagement are key to success in the competitive market.
Remember, there is always room for innovative and entertaining games in the mobile gaming industry, so persevere in your journey.
Stay tuned for more insights from King…
Our discussions with the teams at King HQ provided valuable insights into their game development strategies and future plans. More exciting updates and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of Candy Crush and AI await.
In the meantime, we also had a fascinating chat with Candy Crush Soda VP of product Paula Ingvar, who shared her journey from hobbyist to professional in the gaming industry.
