Releases
Top-down shooter Mighty Doom receives new trailer and release date
The mobile spin-off of ID’s revived, iconic shooter franchise is being developed in-house
Esports
Top five Japanese esports teams all compete on mobile
Mobile has become an increasingly popular presence in the esports scene, and the same is true for Japan
Horrific News
Dead by Daylight Mobile opens for pre-registration ahead of the Next Era of Horror update
The new update features graphical updates and the introduction of long-desired features
Delistings
Rovio Classics: Angry Birds to be delisted
The re-release of the original entry into the Angry Birds franchise will be delisted on the 23rd of February 2023
Uk Mobile Market
UK gaming market declined for the first time in a decade in 2022
Spending on games content and services fell 1.6% to £5.38 billion
Forming A Partnership
WeMade partners with Nine66 to boost reach and develop talent in Saudi Arabia
The partnership represents a commitment to support gaming ecosystems
Financials
Ubisoft bullish on upcoming mobile releases in latest financials
Two big mobile titles are predicted to boost Ubisoft according to latest financial results
Chinese Culture
Tencent and other Chinese gaming companies to help promote Chinese culture
Big name companies are aiming to deliver "broader value"
Scary Stories
Blumhouse gets set to shock with new gaming arm
The horror media specialists have appointed Zach Wood and Don Sechler as president and CFO of Blumhouse Games
Playing For The Planet
In-game climate positive action boosts revenue and engagement
A new report by PlanetPlay shows that environmental content can benefit game makers and the planet
Aquiblizz
Microsoft signs ten-year deal with Nintendo for Call of Duty
The agreement, announced by Microsoft's Brad Smith, will see the company commit to providing the game on Nintendo’s platforms
Executives Vs. Employees?
Blizzard Boss Mike Ybarra takes the hardline at latest all-hands meeting
The company has cut profit sharing and mandated employees to return to the office
New Report
The Covid boom in numbers
The pandemic resulted in massive increases in private investments and M&As
Working Practices
Sega to increase wages by an average of 30%
The iconic Japanese gaming giant is increasing wages to retain talent
The Death Of Hypercasual?
SayGames shifts focus away from hypercasual games
The company will work on developing hybridcasual games in the future
Releases
Little Big Planet spin-off Ultimate Sackboy is out now on mobile
Sony's endless runner comes to iOS and Android today
New Reports
Embracer Group sees 128% sales increase but hardly any rise from mobile
The Q3 financial report reveals 2% rise in mobile revenue
Investment
Tencent makes investment in fitness gaming platform Quell
The Chinese mobile gaming giant will now be reaching beyond console and PC
Pgc London 2023
The Pocket Gamer Connects Video Vault is now open!
Attendees and now catch up on talks, panels and fireside chats from PGC London 2023
Eyes On Ai
What could generative AI do for Roblox?
Roblox CTO Daniel Sturman envisions a "force multiplier for generative AI"
Africa’s Mobile Boom
Africa poised for explosion in mobile gaming
The continent’s unique place in the market offers wide-ranging opportunities for mobile gaming
Hypercasual Hits
FreePlay doubles downloads in past year to reach one billion installs milestone
Coming from a portfolio of 18 titles
Acquisitions Abound
Paul Wedgwood’s Supernova Capital acquires Mi-Clos Studio and Little Red Dog Games
Ownership of IPs like Out There and Rogue State included
Level Up
Using artificial intelligence to create video games
ElectricNoir's Nihal Tharoor explains how they've been using artificial intelligence to help create interactive drama games for mobile
Success In Investment
2022 was the second best year for gaming investments and M&A ever
1182 transactions were worth a total $51.5 billion
Self-publishing
Robot Teddy brings on Vampire Survivors developer Poncle
Big moves are afoot at Robot Teddy with new team members and valuable signings
Unmissable Sights
Joining us at Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle? View the PG Connects pocket guide to the city’s must-see attractions!
Join us this May 16th - 17th in the Emerald City! You can currently save up to $390 on your conference ticket with our Super Early Bird sale
Releases
Tencent to release Chinese exclusive Honor of Kings in Brazil
The China-only MOBA game is one of a slew of titles now gaining release further afield
Releases
Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat gains worldwide release as Tencent opens up
More Chinese exclusives are getting global releases during a turbulent time for the Chinese game industry
Telling Tales
Telltale continues its rise from the dead with $8 million funding round
The studio was resurrected in 2019, but hasn’t released a new game since
Ports
Goddess of Victory: Nikke exceeds 25m downloads prior to PC port
The anime-style shooter will also collaborate with popular series Chainsaw Man
Chinese Gaming Industry
China’s games sales fell 10.33% in 2022
China Audiovisual and Digital Publishing Association has revealed the sector’s struggles
Viral Success
TikTok trend drives Dumb Ways to Die past 100 million lifetime downloads
The company has translated memetic success into record-breaking downloads
Gaming In India
Xbox aiming to bridge the mobile-console gap in India
Microsoft’s gaming arm is hoping to capitalise on both India’s thriving mobile industry and nascent console scene
Huuuge News
Huuuge announces share buyback program
The board has concluded that now is the time to return value to shareholders
Releases
Machine Zone announces new Final Fantasy mobile game
The Game of War developer continues their journey into the world of Final Fantasy with War for Eos
Company Culture
Supercell CEO lays out “the defining challenge” for mobile gaming
Ilkka Paananen explains Supercell’s philosophy and keys to success in his annual blog post
Job News
AdInMo appoints Scopely and Animoca Brands veterans
Multiple new hires bring experience from Google, EA, and Paramount Pictures
Roblox Financials
Roblox generated $579 million in revenue in Q4 2022
The company saw boosts in revenue, active users, and and hours engaged
Saudi Arabian Funding
Saudi Arabia raises stake in Nintendo once again
The country now owns 7.08% of the company
Ncsoft Financials
Mobile games generated 75% of NCSoft sales revenue in 2022
The company’s latest financials showcase the strength of its mobile offerings
Appointments
VoxPop Games brings on Studio Wildcard Founder
Doug Kennedy, co-founder of Studio Wildcard will take on the role of executive chairman
Appointments
GameHouse's Emmi Kuusikko to lead female player-focused strategy
New appointment will take on the leadership role at the story-driven game developer & publisher
Global Games Growth
NetEase Games Global Developer Network Benefits Studios and Gamers
Games giant offering freedom, autonomy and resources to games studios who join partner programme
Immersion And Ai
Inworld AI’s report finds 99% of gamers are excited for AI NPCs
78% of players would talk to NPCs more if they were smarter
Chinese Restrictions
China moves to increase restrictions on young gamers
The country’s semi-official industry association has called for stronger limits, despite claiming to have fixed the issue of video game addiction
A Taste Of Mobile
Fanta rebrand includes mobile game launch to better reach Gen Z
Fanta Digital Ride n Sip includes motion control gameplay
A Deep Dive
Seattle’s video game market ranks number one in the United States – learn more ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle 2023
Uncover the potential of the American and local game industry market ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle this May 16-17
Technology
Wales Interactive continues to fly flag for FMV on mobile
New Five Dates sequel updates the old-school FMV concept with new representation elements
New Directions
FunPlus Barcelona studio to focus on hybrid-casual games
The company’s newest studio is departing from its roots