February 22, 2025

Podcast | Episode 43

NetEase scales back, Jam City agrees Ludia sale, and why Savvy wants Pokémon Go | 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 and what's inside this week's episode 43...

February 21, 2025

Week That Was

When big acquisitions fail, the resurgence of card games, and Niantic's wildfire relief donations | Week in Views

The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories

February 21, 2025

Shares Surge

Unity shares rally 36% after earnings beat and new AI-powered ads platform

Unity’s market cap currently sits at $11.68bn, compared to rival AppLovin's $146.42bn

February 21, 2025

Trends Report

Developer Trends Survey: Layoffs, rising UA costs and lack of investment key concerns as industry hopes for better 2025

We delve into our Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report for key insights and industry sentiments

February 21, 2025

Mobile Growth

Bilibili's mobile game revenue soars 79% in Q4 sparking company's first-ever profitable quarter

2024 release San Guo: Mou Ding Tian Xia leads the charge in growing games business

February 21, 2025

Financials

Hasbro gaming segment grows 22% as Monopoly Go adds $112 million to revenue in 2024

Total company sales declined 17% Y/Y to $4.1 billion

February 21, 2025

Very Big Indie Pitch

Hero brawler Battle Bears Heroes wins The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2024

We revisit last year's winners ahead of the next Stateside edition at PGC San Francisco's return this March 17th and 18th 2025

February 21, 2025

Investment News

Good Job Games Secures investment from Menlo Ventures

The investment raises Good Job Games’ valuation to over $100 million 

February 21, 2025

New Games

New release roundup: Grand Mountain Adventure 2, Gear Fight!, Land of Heroes and more

We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week

February 21, 2025

Mena Guide

Seven reasons why you can't ignore the MENA market

Discover why the MENA region is becoming a global hotspot for business growth in the games industry

February 20, 2025

Shutting Down

Amazon App Store to close on Android

Marketplace will still be available on Amazon devices in future

February 20, 2025

Gaming Trends

Ukie proposes 53% tax relief for small game studios in the UK

The trade body said reforming the VGEC could generate nearly 6,000 new jobs within five years

February 20, 2025

Gamescom Latam

Pokémon GO to bring AR adventures and rewards to Gamescom Latam 2025 

Attendees can receive Pokémon-themed credentials featuring exclusive artwork

February 20, 2025

Earnings Report

NetEase games revenue rises to $2.9 billion in Q4 

New mobile games lineup for global markets include Destiny: Rising and Marvel Mystic Mayhem

February 20, 2025

Earnings Report

Nexon reports record 2024 $2.97bn revenue in 2024 as Dungeon & Fighter Mobile drives growth

It saw success in three main franchises in 2024 including MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter, and FC

February 20, 2025

Financials

Unity revenue falls 25% in Q4 as engine and ads segments see declines

Game engine division Create Solution saw sales fall 47% Y/Y

February 20, 2025

Sweet Solitaire

Candy Crush Solitaire snaps up $379,000 in first two weeks

Lifetime revenue including soft launch reaches $692k

February 20, 2025

Bigger And Better

PG Connects San Francisco 2024 smashed records to become our biggest US event ever!

A look back at last year's Stateside edition that raised the bar with 1,000+ attendees from 500+ companies, representing 50 countries

February 20, 2025

Job News

February’s Mobile Movers and Shakers: Exits at Space Ape, Tilting Point and Fingersoft, new leadership at Mojang and LEGO Digital Play, and more

Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers

February 19, 2025

Financials

Nitro Games reports record $12.3m revenue in 2024

The Finnish developer highlights expanding portfolio and cost control for improved financials

February 19, 2025

Better Outcomes Automatically

Smarter Ad Monetisation: How GeeMee Uses AI to Maximise Your Revenue

GeeMee explores the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to unlock new possibilities in revenue optimisation

February 19, 2025

Selling Up

Jam City agrees deal to sell Ludia

If approved, the sale isn’t expected to have a significant impact on Jam City’s business operations

February 19, 2025

Game Law

Career insights on breaking into games law

"It was my student radio and journalism experience that had caught the eye of the hiring team, less so my degree"

February 19, 2025

Mena Games Awards

Nominations open for the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025

Come celebrate the developers, publishers, investors, and leaders who are driving MENA's growing games market

February 19, 2025

New Studio

Ex-Belka games staff form new Cyprus mobile developer Studio42

Casual puzzle games developer headed up by former Belka Games CEO Alexandr Bogdanov 

February 19, 2025

Funding For Games

Meeple Corp secures $629,000 funding to bring tabletop games to digital platforms

Its debut game, Kingdomino Digital will release later this year

February 19, 2025

Company Restructure

Big Fish Games to halt new game development and reduce investment in portfolio

Aristocrat Leisure fails to find a buyer for Big Fish following a review of its games business

February 19, 2025

Pgc San Francisco

A look back at last year's PG Connects San Francisco

It's a wrap! Mobile gaming's biggest reveals and hottest trends live from at PG Connects San Francisco

February 19, 2025

Big Deal

Niantic reportedly in talks to sell Pokémon Go and games business to Scopely for $3.5bn

The deal isn’t finalised, according to people familiar with the matter, but could be officially announced "in coming weeks"

February 19, 2025

Gaming Lab

Abertay University launches £9 million lab to boost Scotland's games and entertainment sectors

Investment will provide opportunities and support for UK technology companies across the creative industries

February 18, 2025

New Store

Alternative app store Aptoide launches on iOS in EU

Available for free to users despite Apple's €0.50 core technology fee for each download of the marketplace

February 18, 2025

Net Numbers

Ubisoft’s mobile net bookings share up to 10% following Assassin's Creed Shadows delay

Ubisoft’s $315.6 million in net bookings this Q3 were less than half compared to one year prior

February 18, 2025

Executive Exit

Fingersoft COO exits company

Ville Rauma had been with the company for 11 years as it grew from a team of 12 to 100 staff

February 18, 2025

Rainbow Revenue

Rainbow Six Mobile revenue surges as Ubisoft chases a global launch

Ubisoft’s troubled mobile shooter gets a rise in downloads and player spending as publisher aims to improve title's fortunes

February 18, 2025

Spend And Survive

Last War: Survival surpasses $2bn after record player spending in early 2025

Strategy title generated a record $212m in January 2025

February 18, 2025

Esports World Cup

Esports World Cup Foundation partners with Tencent for China expansion

A ''development team'' will also be formed to increase esports engagement and industry collaboration in China

February 18, 2025

Pokemon Pledge

The Pokémon Company and Niantic pledge $1m in support of LA wildfire recovery efforts

Pokémon Go Tour: Unova will go ahead in Pasadena, California this weekend

February 18, 2025

Gaming Trends

TIGA pushes for 39% games tax credit in the UK

The trade association said the changes would create jobs and boost investment 

February 18, 2025

Levelling Up

Netmarble escapes the red with $4.6m net profit after two years of losses

The dev earned $1.95 billion in revenue in 2024

February 17, 2025

Focal Figures

Epic Games Store on mobile a "focal point" as cross-platform accounts rise by 94m in 2024

Monthly active users peaked at 74m across platforms, down by 1m compared to 2023

February 17, 2025

Ai In Games

Ludo AI launches 3D generator for developers to create game-ready models

Ludo AI said that models can be exported “in industry recognised formats” 

February 17, 2025

Funding News

Beamable secures $13.5 million for decentralised gaming infrastructure

The funding will also support continued innovation in game infrastructure

February 17, 2025

Pgc San Francisco

WIN! FREE entry to PG Connects San Francisco

Plus you could win expo space in the Big Indie Zone, too

February 17, 2025

Podcast | Episode 42

How Brawl Stars succeeded and Squad Busters struggled, and AppLovin's $900m games fire sale | 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 and what's inside this week's episode 42...

February 17, 2025

App Store Removal

Square Enix shuts down Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on iOS over 'unfixable' bug

It was discontinued due to an unfixable bug that prevented players from accessing paid content

February 17, 2025

Revenue Milestone

War Robots hits $1 billion in revenue with mobile driving the majority of earnings

The vehicle shooter celebrated its 10 year anniversary last year and regained its licence in China

February 17, 2025

New Studio

New studio Loadstar opens in Barcelona

The developer is currently on the lookout for funding for its upcoming sci-fi action-puzzle adventure game

February 17, 2025

Winners Revealed

Balatro wins Mobile Game of the Year at DICE Awards

The title came out on top in a category that included Halls of Torment, Monument Valley 3, Paper Trail and Wuthering Waves

February 17, 2025

Pgc Barcelona

Save the Date: Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona set for June 3rd to 4th, 2025

Conference within exquisite surroundings of major southwestern European cultural and tech centre marks a key addition to PGC event line-up

February 17, 2025

Hot Five

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

Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz