Market Report
Asia
Tiktok Troubles
European Commission finds TikTok in breach of Digital Services Act over addictive design
Acqusitions
JetSynthesys confirms EverMerge acquisition from Big Fish Games
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Endfield Earnings
Arknights: Endfield hits $30m in two weeks on mobile
Gryphline’s new gacha was released globally on January 22nd
Esports World Cup
Esports World Cup Foundation launches global Road to EWC qualification program
The program links more than 230 tournaments into a single global qualification pathway
Funding News
UAE developer iBloxx Studios raises $5.4m to complete development of StrayShot
The funding will also support global marketing, live operations and preparation for console releases
Events
Dubai GameExpo Summit returns in May after record 1,400 game professionals from 70 countries in 2025
The two-day event returns on May 20th and 21st 2026 to engage with the vibrant MENA games market once more
Coding Error
Nexon to refund MapleStory Idle RPG players following pricing error
The company is reviewing the financial impact of the refunds on its consolidated results
Fire Emblem Festivity
Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Heroes celebrates ninth anniversary and over $1.2bn in revenue
The strategy RPG series successfully found its mobile niche as a gacha, surpassing all other Nintendo mobile games
Growth Drivers
India's Union Budget commits $27.3m to talent development in creative sectors
Game development and interactive media are set to be embedded into national skilling frameworks
Game Approvals
South Korea to seek expanded Chinese game licence approvals in 2026 strategy
Games have been identified as a core pillar of the government’s K-culture growth agenda
Pocket Gamer Connects
One Pocket Gamer Connects mission delivered in multiple formats
How our streamlined one-day Summits facilitate high-impact outcomes
New Partnerships
Saudi Esports Federation signs deals with Yalla Group to support esports growth
The partnerships align with Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy
Ukie Awards
Vote for Pocket Gamer at the 2026 UKIE Awards
We’re proud to be nominated for Best UK Service Supplier – and we’d love your support
Marvellous Mena
Level Up Gaming CEO Mohammed Habbab on why capital alone won’t build successful studios
“The investors who will win here are the ones who treat gaming as a long-term asset class, not a short-term content play”
Payment Problem
Arknights: Endfield players hit with extra PayPal charges at launch
Some players who made PayPal purchases were erroneously overcharged on launch day
Speaker Opportunities
Inspire and help define the games industry agenda at Pocket Gamer Connects
Speaker applications to San Francisco, Dubai, and Malmö now open
Divestiture
Aristocrat Leisure sells off Big Fish Games assets
New company BGF Entertainment acquires BigFishGames.com and games for PC, Mac and mobile
New Studio
New developer Sanddrifter Studio opens in Abu Dhabi
The studio is currently developing its debut mobile title with plans to expand to PC and console in the future
Mentorship
Supercell opens applications for AI Innovation Lab programme
The nine-week programme is designed for top-tier AI and games founders turning early ideas into breakthrough products
Events
The Dubai GameExpo Summit returns on May 20th and 21st
Save the date for the 2026 edition of the two-day conference powered by Pocket Gamer Connects
New Games
New release roundup: Crossplay, Dragon Traveler, Arknights: Endfield, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Incubator
LVL Zero opens applications for inaugural gaming-focused incubator in India
Ten selected teams will each receive a $10,000 equity-free grant, creating a $100,000 funding pool
Company Restructure
Ubisoft moves mobile studios and IP into new Creative House under wide-ranging restructure
The reset is built around a new operating model, a refocused content roadmap and accelerated cost-reduction measures
New Offerings
Rovio partners with Kingsoft Shiyou to relaunch Angry Birds in China
Kingsoft will exclusively publish and operate the Angry Birds franchise in China, marking its first major return to the market in years
New Games
New release roundup: A Webbing Journey, MU: Dark Awakening, Motto Immortal, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Funding News
Khosouf Studio secures $600,000 to fuel next phase of growth
The funding will support the studio’s relocation from the UAE to Saudi Arabia
Theatre Time
Umamusume: Pretty Derby movie marked for US theatrical release
Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Beginning of a New Era will be the franchise’s first theatrical release in North America, coming February 27th
Jobs Roundup
January 2026's Movers and Shakers: Meta Reality Labs lays off dev relations head, Jagex creative design director exits, Unity's Larry Hryb is out, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Layoff News
Ubisoft cuts 29 jobs at Abu Dhabi studio
The layoffs follow Ubisoft’s confirmed closure of Ubisoft Halifax as part of wider global restructuring
Speaker Spotlight
AI set to bring significant breakthroughs in game development over next 12 months, says Unity China VP
The exec discusses the opportunities in China's games market and the significant role AI will play in the industry's future.
New Offerings
Samsung revamps mobile gaming hub with personalised discovery
The platform aims to become a central destination for game discovery on Galaxy devices
New Offerings
Pocketpair unveils Palworld Official Card Game for 2026 launch
Palworld Official Card Game will launch on July 30th, 2026 in partnership with Bushiroad
New Offerings
LEGO Pokémon sets launching in February
The Kanto starter evolutions set is the most expensive release, priced at $649.99
Chaos, Carrots And Charm
On a storyteller’s knight: Why story, not micromanagement, is driving CherryWorm’s new idle RPG
In a market full of hugely successful RPGs, how can a new game stand out? From market validation to a unique art style, find out more about CherryWorm’s ‘High On Knights’.
New Studio
Halal Games launches with values-driven game development focus
The developer aims to create fun games without gambling mechanics, musical instruments, or explicit content
New Games
New release roundup: Heartopia, Cozy Caravan, Ichinome Monsters, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past weeks
Podcast | Episode 78
2026 games industry predictions and trends | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 78...
Looking Ahead
The big games industry trends and stories to watch in 2026
We take a look at what's in store for the sector in the year ahead
Esports Growth
Esports World Cup Foundation unveils national team framework for Esports Nations Cup 2026
At least $20m per year will be committed to supporting national team programmes
Job News
NetEase Games veteran Lin Yunfeng resigns after more than 22 years at the company
His departure follows a major internal restructuring of the publisher's games business last year
New Offerings
Rovio and Sega unite Angry Birds licensing under global transmedia strategy
The move forms part of a broader long-term investment in the Angry Birds brand roadmap
Anniversary
Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward talks four years of growth, major acquisitions and what comes next
“If the people who played Scopely’s games over the last 12 months were a country, they would be the third largest country in the world"
Milestone
Block Blast reaches 70m daily active users and 300m monthly active users worldwide
Hungry Studio credits the milestone to a year-long experimentation system running more than 10,000 A/B tests
Funding News
NEOM selects five studios for funding in expanded Level Up accelerator
An additional 18 studios will join an expanded mentorship phase, marking the programme’s largest cycle to date
Marvellous Mena
How MENA studios can attract funding in 2026
Securing capital this year will require more than creative ambition alone
Milestone
Mattel163 surpasses 550m players worldwide across its digital games portfolio
Players have completed more than 65bn matches globally, marking a major milestone for the publisher
Job News
Kuro Games taps ex-Scopely GM Jay Kim as new general manager of Korea
Kim will lead Kuro Games’ Korean operations, focusing on community building, market growth, and player support
Expansion
Aream & Co opening Singapore office
The new branch will be headed up by Anjan Sarangi
Sonic Start
Sonic Rumble jogs to $772,000 in two months
The party royale had its most lucrative day early on, but events are keeping things moving