PlayAbly Podcast Episode 26: Why Brand Ads Flop in Games—and What Actually Works

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Brand ads in games? They’ve been called the Holy Grail of digital marketing… and yet, most have failed spectacularly. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, our host Kajal Ford sits down with Playably CEO and founder John Chang to unpack why traditional in-game brand advertising never took off—and why the solution isn’t squeezing ads into games, but instead bringing games into brands.

John shares his insider perspective from his days building Unity Ads—a multi-billion dollar in-game ad network—and explains why even major players like Nike and Disney couldn’t crack the code. From the psychology of the gaming mindset to the failures of incentivized video ads, we break down why game players just don’t engage with brand messages the way marketers hope.

Instead, we explore how shoppable games and ecommerce gamification—like what Playably offers—flip the script by embedding gameplay into the shopping experience. We also touch on the rising impact of games on SEO performance, the power of first-party data collection through play, and how brands are now building interactive shopping journeys that actually convert.

🛍️ Curious how brands are leveling up with gamified engagement? Discover how:

• PlayAbly transforms shopping into gameplay
• Brands collect zero-party data with ecommerce quizzes
• Shopify gamification boosts loyalty and retention
• Games built for brands beat interruptive ads every time

Whether you’re a DTC brand, CRM marketer, or just obsessed with retention marketing and the future of customer loyalty programs, this one’s for you.

🎧 Ready to rethink what gamification can do for your brand? Hit play.

Welcome to the PlayAbly Podcast, where we dive into the art and science of gamification, customer engagement, and driving conversions. 

At PlayAbly, we turn passive audiences into active customers through shoppable games and playable experiences that transform how brands connect with their customers. Book your free demo here.

Thanks for tuning in to the PlayAbly Podcast! Ready to engage your customers like never before? PlayAbly creates branded Shoppable Games that drive results. Don’t forget, mention the podcast during your free demo, and get $500 off (book here). Learn more at playably.ai

Get Your First Month of PlayAbly free when you mention this Podcast during your free PlayAbly Demo - learn how gamification can improve your ecommerce shop at www.playably.ai