Region Focus
Download our free Barcelona games industry report now
Grab your copy of our Barcelona report to gain insights into the city's games hub ahead of PGC on June 3rd to 4th
Child Safety
Texas passes child safety law requiring age checks on app stores
Law is effective from January 1st
Market Report
Minecraft mobile revenue surges 44% following movie release
New Sensor Tower report also shows a 77% increase in DAUs for Fallout Shelter
Million Milestone
Dunk City Dynasty achieves 1m downloads in first five days
This latest NetEase Games title has topped App Store charts in the US, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and more
Milestone
Two Dots celebrates 11th anniversary with $11,000 tropical vacation sweepstakes
The grand prize is $11,000 for a dream vacation or personal paradise
Pgc Barcelona
Who's coming to Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2025? The industry powerhouses attending our next big show
Network with developers, publishers, investors and more at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona on June 3rd and 4th.
Tariffs
Trump gets temporary reprieve on tariffs after appeals court ruling
“The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political,” said President Trump
Under Pressure
Apple faces further DMA fines as EU gives compliance deadline
Tech giant has less than 30 days to comply with ruling against anti-steering measures
Tariffs
Trump tariffs overturned as court upholds limits on presidential trade powers
President’s administration has filed an appeal challenging the court’s authority as trade policy is thrown into uncertainty
Square Settlement
Square Enix and HK Ten Tree settle copyright lawsuit over Metal Storm
The pair were previously working together on Front Mission 2089: Borderscape
Expansions
Side opens new studio in São Paulo
The firm plans to more than double its workforce within a year
Pgc Barcelona
Who’s backing the big event? Meet the Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2025 sponsors
Meet the leading companies that make our debut into Barcelona on June 3rd and 4th possible
Gamescom Latam
Gamescom LATAM organisers address developer concerns and mismanagement claims
They clarified that public funding from São Paulo was R$1m, not R$22m as previously stated
New Offerings
Apple to launch dedicated gaming app across all devices this year
App is set to be unveiled at WWDC on June 9th
Sneaky Deal
Apple acquires Sneaky Sasquatch developer RAC7
Move marks tech giant's first deal for a studio
Revenue Rise
Mobile games successfully "squeezing" more revenue per install as average player spending rises 11% despite 7% install fall
Appfigures’ latest report suggests average consumer spending per mobile game install rose to $1.52 in 2024
Milestone
NetEase's Blood Strike has surpassed 100m downloads
The developer is offering in-game rewards to celebrate
Funding News
Oncade raises $4m seed round to empower game developers and communities
The platform will allow developers and players to create, sell, and earn through affiliate roles
Layoff News
Niantic Spatial confirms more layoffs following $3.5bn sale of games business to Scopely
This follows 68 other job cuts after it span-off into a new company following the Scopely deal
Gamescom Latam
Over 250 Brazilian developers accuse Gamescom LATAM of unfair treatment in open letter
The letter cites overpriced booths, lack of food, transport support and more
Revenue Rise
Nazara’s FY25 revenue up 43% to $190m after pivot to "high margin" games segments
The publisher’s games revenue increased by 95% year-over-year in Q4
Pgc Aqaba
Pocket Gamer Connects Aqaba 2025 heads to the MENA region this November
The two-day event, taking place on November 8th and 9th will make a triumphant return to the MENA region
New Offerings
Shopify launches Horizon Drive web game as hidden easter egg
The game is part of the company's latest editions page
Waging Warhammer
Stillfront taps Warhammer IP with Supremacy: Warhammer 40,000
The PC and mobile game is open for pre-registration on iOS and Android
Tariffs
Trump demands Apple move iPhone production to US or face 25% tariff
The 50% tariff on EU goods is under negotiations
Podcast | Episode 54
Fortnite’s Epic return and the challenges of launching a game in 2025 | 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 54...
New Offerings
AppOnBoard launches Quvy to speed up user acquisition
“Discoverability shouldn’t be limited to those with the biggest budgets”
Earnings Report
Embracer Group mobile revenue drops 31% after Easybrain sale
User acquisition costs rose to $60m, accounting for 61% of net sales
Victory
FTC drops antitrust case against Microsoft’s $69bn Activision deal
The FTC tried to block the deal over competition concerns in cloud gaming and subscriptions
Fortnite On Top
Fortnite ranks number one for US App Store downloads since return
Battle royale beats out ChatGPT, WhatsApp, Dunk City Dynasty and Block Blast to the top spot
Esports Growth
Banijay Asia teams up with Nodwin Gaming to boost esports and youth entertainment in India
“This is just the beginning of a bold new chapter in gaming and youth content,” said Nodwin co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee
Pocket Gamer Party
Prepare for an amazing Pocket Gamer Party in Barcelona!
Games industry professionals are invited to an exclusive and free networking party celebrating our first event in Barcelona.
Job News
Roblox names Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov as head of parental advocacy
She will lead efforts to build partnerships and programs that support parents in guiding their families through Roblox
New Offerings
Mattel launches first IP crossover mobile game ahead of its 80th anniversary
The game is currently in soft launch in the Philippines and Canada
Funding News
PlaySafe ID raises $1.1m to fight cheating and toxicity in online games
“This is now more important than ever before,” said PlaySafe ID CEO Andrew Wailes
Unicorn Club
Pokémon TCG Pocket surpasses $1bn in just over 200 days
The trading card game has hit the $1bn milestone 78 days faster than Pokémon Go, based on player spending
Jobs News
nDreams CEO Patrick O'Luanaigh steps down after 19 years
Chief development officer Tomas Gillo steps into the role as O'Luanaigh becomes non-executive chairman
New Partnerships
Tencent’s Level Infinite and Invest Qatar sign MoU to boost the country's games industry
Both parties will collaborate on talent development initiatives to drive long-term growth
Delivering Dragonfire
Game of Thrones: Dragonfire soft launches in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines
The strategy title is based on the popular IP’s House of the Dragon spinoff
New Medium
Thatgamecompany fuses film and gaming in new Sky: Children of the Light animated feature
The developers’ transmedia project will explore the game’s origin story
New Offerings
Mistplay launches LoyaltyPlay to help mobile publishers boost retention and monetisation
Rewards hub is currently available to iPhone users in the US
Strategic Move
Embracer to rename as Fellowship Entertainment after Coffee Stain Group spin-off
The move is part of the publisher’s broader transformation strategy after years of layoffs and closures
Expansions
Supercell expands AI Innovation Lab to San Francisco
The Brawl Stars developer is hiring a leader to run the new Bay Area hub
Mid-tier Prices End
Last chance to save: final Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2025 ticket price rise approaches
Save up to €115 (100) if you book before midnight this Thursday, May 22nd
Destined Details
Destiny: Rising opens pre-registrations on App Store
Pre-registrations for the full game will open on Google Play at a later date
King's Crown
King president Tjodolf Sommestad to step down as Todd Green takes the reins
Sommestad has spent three years as president and almost 14 at King overall
Epic Resolution
Fortnite returns to US App Store after nearly five years
Apple and Epic claim they've “resolved all issues”
Xbox Mobile Store
Microsoft urges court to enforce Apple anti-steering ruling amid stalled launch of Xbox mobile store
The tech giant claims its solutions have been “stymied by Apple”
Launching At Lightspeed
Final Fantasy XIV Mobile launching this June in China
Square Enix and Lightspeed Studios’ upcoming release has been "specifically tailored" for mobile
New Offerings
Adjust launches beta for AI-powered Growth Copilot for marketers
The AppLovin subsidiary claims its platform represents a new class of AI for growth teams