254. Inside Timi Studio: How Call of Duty Mobile Set the Stage for Delta Force

Phillip Black sits down with Leo Yao, General Manager of Timi Studio Group’s J3 studio, for an exclusive look at the making of Call of Duty Mobile and the upcoming Delta Force.

Discover how Timi shocked Activision with a two-month Nuketown demo, the secrets behind COD Mobile’s record-breaking live ops, and why Delta Force pivots to tackle Battlefield.

Insights:

• The surprising dominance of Crossfire in China over global FPS franchises.

• The East vs. West FPS divide—tactical vs. arcade gameplay.

• Delta Force’s PC-first pivot, cross-platform ambitions, and bi-monthly content updates.
• Timi’s roots in humility and adaptability for live-service success.

Chapters:

00:53 Leo Yao and Timmy's Studio Group

02:31 Call of Duty Mobile: Development and Success

05:21 Challenges and Strategies in the Mobile FPS Market

09:23 Team Structure and Company Culture at Timmy

14:14 Cross-Platform Gaming and Future Trends

18:10 Chinese PC Shooter Market Insights

21:21 PC vs Mobile: A Developer's Perspective

23:38 Delta Force: Fitting into the FPS Landscape

25:49 Live Service and Content Updates

28:23 Monetization Strategies for Delta Force

30:14 The Rise of Extraction Shooters

36:54 Why Delta Force? The Strategy for IP's Revival

38:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts