Uk Valuation
UK games market hit record £8.8bn in 2025
Latest figures from Ukie highlight impacts of digital software, mobile and transmedia
Funding Support
Government pledges £28.5m for UK Games Fund to boost industry
The support marks a doubling of the fund and forms part of the UK Games Growth Package announced earlier this year.
Parental Controls
Roblox introduces new age-based accounts as it fights to alleviate safety concerns
UGC platform further expands parental controls and age-verification rules
Podcast | Episode 89
Ilkka's BAFTA Fellowship, record D2C revenue and the Super Mario Galaxy Movie's blockbuster opening | 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 89...
Store Policies
Google removes Doki Doki Literature Club from Play Store over policy violation
The studio is exploring alternative distribution options for Android users following the removal
Game Closure
Pocket Mortys shuts down after 10-year run
The Rick & Morty-themed RPG built a loyal audience using mechanics inspired by the Pokémon formula
Esports Nations Cup
Esports Nations Cup 2026 takes shape with 100,000 players set for global qualifiers
The tournament is backed by a $45m funding commitment, including a $20m prize pool
Milestone
CookieRun: Kingdom launches KPop Demon Hunters crossover with limited-time event
The collaboration runs until May 6th 2026, giving players a window to engage with themed content and limited-time rewards
Funding Round
Cloud gaming firm Playruo raises $2.5m
Company aims to expand its services globally following investment
Developers Unite
Five studios come together to form Nova Assembly
Developers unite to share specialised expertise and production experience
Out Of Nowhere
Zynga launches Borderlands Mobile on the App Store
Free-to-play mobile game appears to be developed by NaturalMotion
Afk Arena Anniversary
AFK Arena celebrates seventh anniversary and over $1.5bn in lifetime earnings
The game is now being surpassed by sequel AFK Journey, but remains among Lilith Games’ most lucrative titles over its lifetime
Gearing Up
Exel Gaming Accelerator reopens with up to $300,000 in funding for third cohort
The programme is particularly designed for startups looking to grow in Saudi Arabia
Dragonfire Dawn
Game of Thrones: Dragonfire opens pre-registrations with 10m target
The tactical title has five tiers of rewards depending on the number of pre-registrations reached
Podcast
PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Skillz, Beamable and the live ops shift
We unpack Skillz's acquisition of Beamable, what the future looks like for the two companies, and more
Industry Outlook
UK games sector loses 1,537 jobs as 14-year growth streak ends
Large studios also reduced staffing levels, shedding more than 700 development roles across the sector
Pgc Nordics
Tickets now live for Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics on October 20th to 21st
Must-attend games industry event in Helsinki gets a Nordic makeover
Acqusitions
Sony Interactive Entertainment acquires UK-based machine learning firm Cinemersive Labs
The team will join Sony’s Visual Computing Group following the acquisition
New Offerings
Maysalward launches Golden Agers workshop for 65+ gamers
The initiative aims to help seniors build confidence with technology in a practical, supportive setting
Leadership Change
AppLovin announces leadership succession plans and appoints new independent chairperson
Craig Billings has been appointed independent chairperson of AppLovin’s board
Lifetime Achievement
Ilkka Paananen to be awarded BAFTA Fellowship
Award honours the entrepreneur for his career and work with teams that have attracted hundreds of millions of players around the world
Mario Money
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie jumps to $372.6m at box office in five days
Nintendo and Illumination’s sequel title follows 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first film based on a game IP to surpass $1bn
Resurgence Revenue
The Division Resurgence makes $717,000 in first seven days
Ubisoft’s new shooter fell slightly short of Rainbow Six Mobile’s recent week-one earnings, but peaked higher
Developer Support
Codfish Academy partners with Dear Villagers to launch game pitching clinic in Portugal
Five selected teams will present their projects directly to a publisher with the potential to secure funding and publishing support
M&a Milestone
Games industry M&A hits $7.7bn in Q1 2026 led by Savvy Games Group
Mobile led M&A during the quarter, with deals by Scopely, NCCSOFT, Nazara and others
Strategic Alternatives
Playtika launches portfolio-wide strategic review
Company last launched a strategic review in 2022, which was suspended in 2024 over "ongoing uncertainty in Israel and Ukraine"
Culture And Creativity
UAE Ministry of Culture opens fifth cycle of national grant programme
The programme supports projects across fields including video games, film, music, publishing and design
Saudi Shares
Saudi Arabia raises Capcom stake to 6.04%
The increase has come less than one month on from the Electronic Gaming Development Company's 5.03% claim
Next Generation
India’s LVL Zero incubator unveils first cohort of 10 games startups
Each startup receives an equity-free grant of $10,000 as well as mentorship and publisher access
Russia Exit
Apple pulls App Store billing in Russia
Decision follows ruling that the tech giant had breached sanctions against the country with App Store payout
Podcast | Episode 88
Unity copies the AppLovin playbook with Vector | 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 88...
Freedom Regained
Quantic Lab exits Embracer Group to operate as an independent company under founder ownership
The transition took effect on April 1st, 2026, marking the end of Quantic Lab’s period within the Embracer portfolio
Milestone
PlayDucky rolls out volcano and lava pool maps in new Melon Sandbox update
PlayDucky said it paid more than $1m to creators in 2025 through its in-game mod marketplace
Pgc Barcelona 2026
Discover Barcelona's thriving games ecosystem on June 15th to 16th
Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona is your gateway to business in one of the world’s brightest games markets
Studio Closure
Coffee Stain Malmö shuts down months after Embracer spinoff
The studio employed 17 staff, though it remains unclear whether the entire team has been laid off
Planetary Plans
Closed beta for HoYoverse’s Petit Planet will feature new neighbours and enhanced Starsea Voyages
Fans can sign up for the beta test coming April 21st, available on PC and mobile
Milestone Magic
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery surpasses 160m downloads eight years after launch
The developer said players have logged more than 100.7bn minutes in the game since its 2018 debut
Acqusitions
LY Corp acquires majority stake in Kakao Games with $198m investment
Kakao will remain a strategic partner despite stepping down to second largest shareholder
Sonic Shift
Sonic Rumble rebranded to Sonic Rumble Party as it adds new features and removes game modes
The party royale has made an estimated $1.6m on mobile
Closure
Rec Room to shut down after failing to achieve profitability from 150m players
The company cited shifts in the VR market and broader games industry pressures as key factors behind the decision
Ugc
Roblox launches avatar makeup category to expand creator monetisation and brand partnerships
Roblox said users updated their avatars an average of 274m times per day in early 2025
Sporting Surprise
Candy Crush takeover at the Intuit Dome aims for broader brand recognition
Among the mascots, actress Anna Faris was revealed to be inside the Bubblegum Troll
Jobs News
Nodwin Gaming appoints chief strategy and investments officer ahead of potential IPO
He will lead mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy and fundraising to support the company's global expansion
Community Building
Scopely launches Monopoly Go Chat app worldwide
Standalone app provides a more reliable technical experience, publisher claims
Esports
Esports Foundation selects 40 clubs for $20m partner program ahead of 2026 Esports World Cup
Participating clubs can receive up to $1m each to expand their brands and fan engagement ahead of the tournament
Fund Raise
Nazara raises over $50m to fund acquisitions and AI-led expansion
The new capital will be used to build AI-enabled gaming businesses designed for international markets and support recent acquisitions
Podcast
PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Data doesn't solve problems - decisions do
We talk with GameAnalytics head of BD and customer success Falko Boecker to discuss data, AI and finding the right insights
Crossovers
Tetris and Space Invaders team up for first-ever in-game crossover event
The crossover blends more than 75 years of arcade history across two of gaming’s most iconic franchises
Apple Troubles
Ninth Circuit denies Apple rehearing request in Epic Games App Store dispute
The decision reinforces requirements for Apple to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods
Model Analysis
Fire Emblem Shadows earns just $578,000 in first six months, less than 1% of Fire Emblem Heroes
Shadows and Heroes share an IP but opt for different genres and monetisation models