New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Humain to advance AI adoption across its operations
The partnership focuses on developing tailored AI tools for key business functions, including game development
Settlement Reached
Google and Epic reach proposed settlement to open Android app store access
The proposal would allow third-party app stores to be downloaded more easily
Beyond Bloons
Inside Ninja Kiwi’s next game: Building beyond Bloons with Fightland
Ninja Kiwi’s CEO Scott Walker shares staying true to the studio’s roots while building the next generation of games
Expansions
ESL FACEIT Group opens new regional headquarters in Riyadh
The venue will act as an esports venue and talent development hub for Saudi nationals
Patents
US Patent Office is reviewing Nintendo’s patent on a battle support summon mechanic
The review signals concerns that could eventually lead to the patent being overturned
New Offerings
Meta shifts app advertising focus toward acquiring higher-value spenders
Advertisers can now optimise campaigns for purchase value, not just purchase volume
Market Growth
Daily play dominates as 85% of mobile gamers return multiple times
Japan leads global mobile games spend with 38% of players making multiple monthly purchases
New Partnerships
Yodo1 takes over Transformers: Earth Wars under license from Hasbro
The deal includes the game’s publishing rights, code, assets, and development team
Pgc London
PGC London double discount! Save up to £299 with Early Bird and Fireworks Night combo offer!
Stackable special offers end this week
Investment News
Arcadia Gaming Partners invests $4m in Iron Games studio led by former Gram Games execs
Developer aims to redefine what players expect from casual and merge genres by introducing new, original mechanics
Aurora
How the Finnish games industry is more welcoming yet still advancing when it comes to diversity
Quicksave’s Elina Arponen on her entry into the games industry and how Finland’s game sector is more inclusive
Market Report
Jordan’s $312.8m games market could nearly double by 2030
The sector is expanding at an annual growth rate of 11.5%
Mergers & Acquisitions
Web3 giant Animoca Brands plans to go public through a reverse merger
The deal would create what both firms call “the world’s first” publicly listed digital assets conglomerate
Ai Safety
Japan's CODA urges OpenAI to stop using member content to train models like Sora 2
The group accuses OpenAI of potential copyright infringement linked to Sora 2 outputs
Buyout Concerns
EA assures staff it will retain full creative control under the proposed $55bn sale
The company insists its mission, values, and player-first culture remain unchanged
Pgc London 2026
Transmedia summit heads to London after roaring debut in Helsinki
One-day event Beyond Games Transmedia Summit joins Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026
Accelerator Program
Nazara teams up with Mixi and ChimeraVC to launch India-focused LVL Zero accelerator
Each startup will receive a $10,000 equity-free grant and access to global mentors, tools, and growth platforms
Game Closure
Space Ape-developed Beatstar and Country Star go offline
The shutdown follows an August announcement that development on the two titles would end
Mobile Mavens
"You can’t world-build your way out of a broken core loop": The games industry weighs in on the transmedia boom
Our Mobile Mavens share if transmedia projects help to elevate games or simply cause more distraction
Podcast | Episode 70
Squad Busters shuts down and Google Play's transformative changes | 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 70...
Africa Is Mobile
Report: Egypt leads Africa’s games market with $368m in revenue
Nigeria tops the continent in player count with 46.5m gamers generating nearly $300m
New Partnerships
Mad Hook partners with Audiomob to expand in-game audio monetisation
Mad Hook said the partnership has boosted revenue and opened new opportunities
Pulling The Plug
IOC parts ways with Saudi Arabia on Olympic Esports Games deal
The split comes 14 months after announcing a 12-year deal for the Olympic Esports Games
Hot Five
Hot Five: Supercell is shutting down Squad Busters, Pokémon TCG Pocket hits $1.3bn, and Google Play opens up
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
New Games
New release roundup: Hill Climb Racing 3, Monopoly Go Chat, Angry Birds Match World, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Game Closure
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on the "bold" decision to close Squad Busters
Paananen labelled the move “even bolder” than launching the game
Pgc Aqaba
PGC Aqaba 2025 schedule revealed featuring Epic Games, ID@Xbox, Xsolla, Unity, Maysalward, Tamatem, and more
Master the MENA market with these eight conference tracks at PGC Aqaba
Patents
Japan rejects Nintendo’s attempt to patent the creature-capturing mechanic found in Pokémon
The rejection followed a third-party submission of prior art that claimed Nintendo’s filing “lacked an inventive step”
New Studio
Fall Guys veterans form new UK studio Panic Stations to create physics-based co-op games
The six-member team plans to release multiple titles each year, with their first project reveal coming soon
Expansions
Xsolla becomes resident of Azerbaijan’s Technopark as it plots local industry investment
The move strengthens Azerbaijan’s digital ecosystem with Xsolla’s global games commerce platform
Major Shift
Google Play injunction can "transform Android game economics"
Tech giant forced to allow alternative payment systems in the US until 2027 under court ruling in Epic Games case
Market Growth
India’s games and interactive media sector projected to hit $7.7bn by 2030
Bitkraft Ventures report claims in-app purchases are set to grow sixfold within five years despite real-money gaming ban that had powered the market's rise
Sponsored
Japan’s open payment era: What game developers need to know
How Apple and Google’s upcoming compliance with Japan’s new digital market rules will reshape mobile game monetisation
Marvellous Mena
Gbrossoft CEO Mudathir Giwa on Outliver: Tribulation, creative resilience, and expanding to new platforms
"The key lies in incentivising games and building awareness among Africa’s young and tech-savvy population"
Buyout Concerns
CWA urges federal review of $55bn PIF-led EA buyout
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr warned the deal could harm workers, consumers, and the wider US games industry
Service Disruption
Microsoft Azure global service outage impacts Minecraft and Xbox services worldwide
The Windows company said an accidental configuration change triggered the global disruption
Busted
Supercell will shut down Squad Busters next year
Decision marks the first time ever the famous Finnish studio has closed a live game
Crush & Tell
Crush & Tell: Candy Crush’s behind-the-scenes series will explore game design and development
Candy Crush VP of marketing Luken Aragon gives the scoop on King’s series premiering today
Pocket Power
Pokémon TCG Pocket dethrones Pokémon Go as it celebrates first anniversary and $1.3bn
The digital card game had the most lucrative first year of any mobile Pokémon game
Aurora
Diversity and collaboration are what make games engaging and meaningful
Sari Latvala on building games based on different viewpoints and mutual understanding
Cracked Open
US Google Play store opens up to alternative payments in boost for DTC
Injunction will run until November 1st, 2027
Revved Up
"We kind of forgot that we're a game developer": Fingersoft's journey to Hill Climb Racing 3
Chief growth officer Daniel Rantala gives us the lowdown on the series' history and where the studio is headed for its future
Company Buyout
AppsFlyer reportedly nearing a $3bn buyout
Four investment funds have entered the final bidding stage
Layoff News
Amazon to cut around 14,000 corporate jobs including roles in its games division
Tech giant claims it wants to operate like the world's largest startup as it axes staff
Aurora
How diversity is one of the games industry’s best features
Suvi Latva on her passion for the industry and working towards the common goal of making better games
Soft Launch
Fingersoft soft-launches Hill Climb Racing 3
Sequel to popular series is available on Google Play in the UK, Norway, Sweden and Finland
New Offerings
Saudi Arabia launches Riyadh Season-themed entertainment experiences on Roblox
Developed with UGC creator The Gang, the experience brings Boulevard City and Boulevard World to life in Roblox
Milestone
Honor of Kings surpasses 260m global MAUs
The Chinese server now sees over 139 million DAUs, up from 100m in 2024
Unreal Mobile Games
How does mobile development fit into the overall product strategy for Unreal Engine?
Find out how Epic Games is making mobile a fundamental part of Unreal Engine's future - and what the future holds for mobile games in UE5
Make-a-wish
Steer Studios joins Make-A-Wish International’s Infinite Wishes Initiative to help grant wishes for children
Donations were unlocked through player activity in Steer’s debut mobile game Grunt Rush