We’re now about seven months into the coronavirus outbreak, making 2020 one of the most difficult years in recent memory. While most have struggled with social distancing, remote working, and going stir-crazy, COVID-19 has actually been a boon to the mobile game industry — at least in the short term. According to Barak, the first few months of the pandemic led to a mobile gaming boom of sorts. With people mostly staying indoors for months on end, mobile games provide an easy escape. This led to higher engagement, with even longtime players spending more time in-game. While Jam City didn’t see a huge difference in day-to-day activities, Pete added that organic downloads increased when the lockdowns started. Since then, that bump has leveled off. Meanwhile, all three companies have been wrestling with working  remotely. After all five of Murka’s offices across Europe temporarily closed and employees began working from home, Barak was pleasantly surprised to see increased efficiency across the board. Vladimir had been “fantasizing about a hybrid work model for years,” but before the pandemic, all of Creative Mobile’s employees were fully in the office. Unsurprisingly, when lockdown restrictions in Europe loosened in May, employees weren’t exactly rushing back to the office. The company is now considering letting their employees choose where they work. On the flip side all three panelists lamented the loss of social interaction and spontaneous brainstorming sessions among their teams. Barak said it was harder to keep the company culture active from a distance, since  much of the innovation at work came during lunch hours, coffee breaks, and other in-person opportunities that aren’t easy to replicate in a remote environment. Pete also missed the coffee talk over at Jam City, and he’s been making sure to infuse more social chat into virtual meetings. Marketing and user acquisition are particularly brainstorm-heavy departments, so adjusting to 2020’s specific challenges is an ongoing effort.