Hot Five: Unity’s latest layoffs, Supercell’s record $3bn year, and AppLovin’s plans to sell off apps business

To help get you primed and ready for another week in mobile gaming, we’ve curated the biggest stories you need to know from the last seven days.

1) Update: Unity lays off staff and axes Behavior team

Unity has laid off more staff and axed its Behavior team, according to an internal memo from CEO Matthew Bromberg. The exact number of employees let go is unclear, but various LinkedIn posts indicate that jobs impacted included senior roles.

Developer Shanee Nishry confirmed that the entire Behavior visual tool team was axed.

2) Shift Up revenue up 30% to $151m in 2024 despite decrease in Goddess of Victory: Nikke sales

Shift Up recorded 30.4% year-on-year revenue growth in 2024, up to $151.2 million across the full fiscal year.

Goddess of Victory: Nikke accounted for $105.3m of that revenue, down 7.1% Y/Y due particularly to some slowdown in Q3 player spending.

3) AppLovin to sell apps business for $900m as it focuses on ads

Following significant growth in its ads business during 2024, AppLovin intends to sell its apps business in the first quarter of 2025 for an estimated $900m.

AppLovin’s partner studios include Belka Games, PeopleFun and more. The company has already signed an exclusive terms sheet, though the acquirer hasn’t been disclosed.

4) Embracer’s net sales down as mobile profits dive and headcount plummets

Embracer Group’s net sales fell 3% Y/Y to $681.5m in Q3. Of this total sum, $156.5m came from mobile, partly attributed to CrazyLabs’ "improved performance".

Despite mobile’s slight revenue rise, DAU and MAU on the platform both declined in Q3 and user acquisition costs increased to 50% of net sales.

5) Supercell hits record $3 billion in revenue in 2024

Supercell made a record $3 billion in revenue in 2024, with each of its live games rising in sales for the first time in a decade.

The Clash of Clans creator noted that its titles reached over 300 million monthly active players worldwide and that Brawl Stars was the fastest-growing mobile game in its portfolio last year, entering the top 10 grossing rankings globally.