Updates
Netmarble's Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds sees seasonal holiday update
The mobile spin-off of the Miyazaki-inspired console games now sees a holiday-themed update for the winter period
All About Indies
Six reasons why indie developers need to be at Pocket Gamer Connects London 2023!
Take part in all the unmissable opportunities we have lined up for indie developers at PG Connects London this January!
Acquiblizz
Phil Spencer on the mobile potential of the Activision-Blizzard acquisition
Spencer explained the move in more detail in an interview with the Second Request Podcast.
Alternative App Stores
"It's essential to the flourishing of digital culture." Adrian Hon on the importance of alternative app stores
With Apple opening up to alternative storefronts the Six to Start CEO discussed the benefits of widening sales opportunities
China And Cyberspace
China’s Cyberspace Administration plans to confront mobile app "chaos"
The body aims to tackle a supposed prevalence of fake apps, illegal data collection and more
Announcements
Rogue Company comes to mobile with Rogue Company: Elite
The Hero Shooter comes to mobile with the release of Rogue Company: Elite with pre-registration now open
Keywords Acquires
Keywords acquires Labcom with initial $1 million cash consideration
Keywords' expansion continues following new Australian studios and Helpshift acquistion
Restructuring
My.Games to divest entirely from Russian market and restructure
The new owners of the My.Games platform have announced their intention to divest it entirely from the Russian market and refocus internationally
Opera Gx
Gaming browser Opera GX surpasses 20 million monthly active users
Opera GX acts as a marketplace for games created using the GameMaker platform
Funding
Developer Jarvi Games raises $2m in seed funding round
The developer is working on ‘Vice Online’, a game inspired by the Grand Theft Auto franchise
Aims Of An Acquisition
RuneScape creator Jagex acquires Croatian studio Gamepires
Acquisition aiming to enable open-world game Scum to be prepared for a 1.0 release
Game Funding
Take-Two’s Private Division marks fifth anniversary with unveiling of new development fund
The Private Division Development Fund will support independent development teams
Gayming Awards
Gayming Awards unveils nominees for 2023 ceremony
The 2023 awards will be held on Broadway for the first time
Tackling Tiktok
15 state attorneys general demand Apple and Google change TikTok’s age rating
Mobile's two biggest players requested to address concerns around the content on the platform before the end of 2022
2023 Predictions
11 games that could exceed $2 billion in revenue in 2023
Data.ai predicts Uma Musume Pretty Derby will be among the fastest games ever to reach the milestone
Investment In Istanbul
Turkish studio Pink Games has $1.2 million valuation after first investment
Investment comes from Geometry Venture Development, Alesta Investment and an individual investor
Inclusivity
Zynga's Virtual Diversity Platform encourages inclusivity in gaming
Zynga studio NaturalMotion has created Access All Areas, a virtual studio to encourage diversity in games
In-game Advertising
ASA issues new guidance on mobile gaming advertising
The guidance aims to address common concerns about the state of app advertising
Adjustments In Ads
Tenjin and InMobi’s monetisation report shows short-term effects of Google Play’s new ad policy
Ad impressions increased by nine percent and revenues by five percent
Open For All
Why diversity in game development matters - and can produce better game
How Berlin’s Wooga became a role model for diversity in both games and workplace
Cloud Gaming
Utomik Cloud comes to mobile with Android release
Another service throws their hat into the ring of cloud gaming with the gaming app Utomik on Android
Commentary
"The FTC is facing an uphill battle." Lifestreet CEO Levi Matkins talks Activision-Blizzard lawsuit
With the FTC attempting to block the Activision-Blizzard acquisition deal with a lawsuit, our experts ponder what could happen next
Awards
2022 Pocket Gamer Awards finish the year in style. And the award goes to…
Last night, our sister site PocketGamer.com held their annual awards. Read on to find out more about the night and those mobile winners
Alternative App Stores
Apple prepares to allow alternative app stores in the EU
Hell freezes over as third-party app store move brings Apple into compliance with the Digital Markets Act
Collaborations
Infinite Drive partners with Aston Martin for official collaboration
Developers The Tiny Digital Factory will see Aston Martin cars brought to their game as part of an official collaboration with the car manufacturer
Netflix Games
Netflix Games gears up for end of year release blitz
The company is launching two new titles from Annapurna Interactive with a further two new games coming in the new year
Release Dates
Niantic's NBA All-World to launch in 2023 with more glimpses of gameplay given
Niantic’s new collaborative game produced with the NBA is set to go live in January of next year
Mobile Monetisation
No more lootboxes. Supercell unveils a new monetisation strategy for Brawl Stars
The company is straying away from lootboxes in favour of deterministic rewards
Future Thoughts
Maciej Zużałek on the past, present and future of Ten Square Games
We speak to CEO of Ten Square Games Maciej Zużałek about the future of the studio and how it got where it is now
Successful Pilot
Hutch announces the implementation of a four day working week
The announcement comes as the conclusion to a successful pilot program
Voodoo Style
Voodoo launches casual and midcore games publishing
Sign up now to find out more about the publishing giant's plans for the future of hybridcasual publishing - and submit your game now
Acquisitions
EU Commission argues against FTC lawsuit to halt Activision-Blizzard deal
The EU commission has released a statement criticising the FTC’s decision, which may open up the path in Europe at least for the acquisition
Riot Vs Netease
Riot aims at NetEase in latest copyright infringement claim
The suit points out similarities between Valorant and NetEase title Hyper Front
Cloud Gaming
Riot Games brings PC & mobile titles to Xbox Game Pass
MOBA giant Riot Games is bringing not only it’s PC titles such as League of Legends and Valorant to Game Pass, but it’s mobile titles too
Layoffs
Playtika announces layoffs of over 600 employees
15 percent of the company’s staff will be affected by job cuts
Women In Games
Machine Learning Expert Carly Taylor - big gaming companies are putting their money behind DE&I initiatives
Carly who works on Machine Learning for Call of Duty says "Value is being placed on diverse perspectives and I think our games are better for it."
Who’s Gonna Win?
Who’s going to win in the Pocket Gamer Awards 2022? Find out tonight…
Join the live stream of the Pocket Gamer Awards tonight from 5pm UK time - you won’t want to miss a second
Win The Launch!
Win the Launch: How Google is helping game developers successfully launch their games
Jen Lui, Senior Product Manager at Google, tells PocketGamer.biz how Google is helping mobile game developers launch their games in a competitive market
Esports
Snapdragon Pro Series goes to Japan for Brawl Stars final in Tokyo
The Snapdragon Pro Series, hot off their announced partnership with Samsung, continues to feature heavily in DreamHack events, now at the Brawl Stars final in Tokyo
Artificial Intelligence
Making mobile game ads using AI. It’s possible, but is it useful?
Alongside discussion about the feasibility of using AI to create game assets, could (and should) you use AI to create advertising for mobile games too?
Hypercasual How To
How To Come Up With a Hit Game Idea for 2023
CrazyLabs offers insight into game ideation and inspiration for developers looking for their own hypercasual hit
Privacy In Gaming
King takes a new approach to privacy notices in its new update
The new creative approach aims to tackle the issue of uninformed users
Women In Games
We talk to Women in Games CEO, Marie Claire Isaaman about the barriers women are still facing
"We need to attract more women and girls into a career in games – and then support them through their journey"
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of big business and back-slapping
Development
Could, and should, mobile devs use AI for asset creation?
AI art has become a hotly debated tool in the creative industry, a fact that’s unlikely to die down anytime soon, but could, and should mobile devs use it?
Guest Post
Why Game Developers Need To Maintain Financial, Strategic, and Creative Control
Sanlo co-founder and CEO Olya Caliujnaia on the importance of maintaining a level of independence when looking to scale
Updates
Seven Knights 2 sees additional updates with two new heroes
Netmarble’s RPG battler is seeing two new heroes and an even further extended anniversary event for it’s latest update
Fewer Games Greater Revenue
Fewer games but greater revenue - the reality of the global mobile games market
data.ai and Deconstructor of Fun break down the reality of the global games market - from releases to revenue in 2022
Announcements
Devolver Digital announces “Devolver Tumble Time”
Devolver’s latest game looks to be an innovative new spin on the hypercasual genre featuring recognisable characters from their various franchises
The Game Awards
The Game Awards were held last night, but how did mobile gaming do?
The night saw awards, announcements, and a few surprises along the way