AppLovin vs Liftoff

Layer Launches AI Playable Ad Generator for Game Studios

Layer, an agentic creative platform for game studios, has launched Playables, an AI-powered feature that generates complete HTML5 playable ads within hours rather than weeks. The tool addresses the production bottleneck that limits playable ads to tier-one titles, despite them being among the highest-converting formats for user acquisition. The system accepts inputs such as game titles, prompts, creative briefs, screenshots, or gameplay capture, and produces network-ready, MRAID-compliant ad units compatible with major networks like AppLovin, Meta, TikTok, Google App Campaigns, Unity Ads, and ironSource. It supports various genres and allows marketers to modify mechanics and visuals via chat prompts. The feature is available immediately to all Layer subscribers at no extra cost. Layer's platform is already used by studios including King, Zynga, SciPlay, Huuuge Games, and Wildlife Studios.

• Layer launched Playables, an agentic AI feature generating HTML5 playable ads.
• The tool builds complete playable ads in hours instead of weeks.
• Playables supports genres including match-three, idle clickers, endless runners, and more.

AppLovin sues Unity; Big Tech courts creators

AdExchanger's daily roundup covers AppLovin's lawsuit against Unity over data collection from mediation requests, alleging Unity decrypted protected data. It also discusses the creator economy's expansion, with YouTube and Meta unveiling new creator tools and IAB's CreatorFronts event. The piece notes that only 36% of Fortune 500 companies have a CMO, and highlights a case where a former Converse CMO received death threats due to AI-generated misinformation. Additionally, brief updates mention Dodge AI's funding, OpenAI's agentic AI tool, Walmart's ban on AI-generated posters, and more.

• AppLovin sued Unity over data collection from mediation requests, alleging decryption of protected data.
• Only 36% of Fortune 500 companies have a CMO, with average tenure of 3.9 years.
• YouTube announced new creator features at Made On YouTube event.

AppLovin Sues Unity Over Data Collection in Ad Quality SDK

AppLovin has filed for a temporary restraining order against Unity in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco, alleging that Unity's Ad Quality SDK improperly collects data from AppLovin's MAX mediation platform without permission. The data includes ad creatives, user and device info, impression revenue, auction IDs, and mediation waterfall data. AppLovin claims Unity uses this data to train models that predict AppLovin's bidding decisions, giving Unity an unfair competitive advantage. AppLovin seeks to halt data collection within five business days and modify the SDK within 30 days. Unity disputes the claims, stating that Ad Quality is a free product designed to prevent harmful ads, and that the lawsuit is an attempt to stifle competition. The dispute is also heading to JAMS arbitration for breach of contract, trade-secret misappropriation, and unfair competition. A hearing is scheduled for September 30.

• AppLovin filed a temporary restraining order against Unity in Superior Court of California, San Francisco.
• AppLovin alleges Unity's Ad Quality SDK improperly collects data from AppLovin's MAX mediation platform, including creatives, user/device info, revenue, and auction data.
• Unity disputes claims, calling Ad Quality a free ad moderation tool and the lawsuit anticompetitive.

Liftoff Mobile releases Form 10-Q for Q2 2026

The Investor Relations page now includes a link to the Q2'26 Form 10-Q filing.

Liftoff reports $220M Q2 revenue post-IPO

Liftoff Mobile reported $220 million in second-quarter 2026 revenue in its first earnings release since going public in June. Revenue rose 35% year-over-year and 7% sequentially, marking the company's eleventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Core advertising revenue was $219 million, adjusted EBITDA was $132 million (60% margin), and GAAP net loss was $4 million after $45 million of non-cash IPO-related charges. Free cash flow for the quarter was $50 million and $184.5 million on a trailing 12-month basis. Liftoff used part of its $472.4 million IPO proceeds to pay down $418.4 million of debt, leaving long-term debt of $1.39 billion and cash of $305.4 million as of June 30. The company provided Q3 and full-year 2026 guidance and saw shares fall ~3.7% after hours.

• Liftoff Mobile reported $220M in second-quarter 2026 revenue, its first earnings release since going public in June.
• Revenue was up 35% year-on-year and 7% sequentially; this was Liftoff’s 11th consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
• Core advertising revenue was $219M (up 36% YoY); adjusted EBITDA was $132M, representing a 60% margin.

Liftoff Says It's More Than A Gaming Company

Liftoff, a mobile app marketing and performance platform, held its first earnings call as a public company where CEO Jeremy Bondy emphasized that the business is no longer primarily a gaming play. Bondy said more than half of Liftoff’s demand now comes from non-gaming advertisers (finance, travel, shopping, productivity, prediction apps) and cited a third-party in-app advertising market projection of $136 billion by 2030 from the company’s S-1. Liftoff reported Q2 revenue of $220 million, up 35% year-over-year and marking its eleventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Bondy highlighted Liftoff’s supply-side technology (SSP/SDK) and its AI-powered optimization platform, Cortex, as central to scaling non-gaming performance marketing. The stock dipped a little over 5% in after-hours trading following the results.

• Liftoff hosted its first-ever earnings call as a public company on August 12, 2026.
• Liftoff reported Q2 revenue of $220 million, up 35% year-over-year, its eleventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
• CEO Jeremy Bondy said over half of Liftoff’s demand now comes from non-gaming advertisers, including finance, travel, shopping and productivity apps.