Apple Isbn
Apple's China App Store ISBN crackdown begins with update to its developer console
But no games have been removed from the store so far
Back Of The Net
Manchester City Football Club teams up with Capstone Games for its own official mobile game
"Collaborating with an innovative partner like Capstone and engaging with their community of gamers is a great fit for us"
Unfortunate Events
Kongregate makes layoffs as it stops accepting new games on its web platform
Platform currently hosts over 128,000 titles
Gambling
The UK's House of Lords calls for loot boxes to face gambling regulations
DCMS first investigated the issue last year
Lgbtq+ Representation
#RaiseTheGame and Gayming Magazine to host LGBTQ+ representation in games panel
Join Steel Media's Sophia Aubrey Drake at 4pm today for a discussion about Pride and representation
Welcome Aboard
Scopely hires Mike DeLaet as its new senior vice president for strategic partnerships
"It's an incredibly exciting time to join Scopely"
Team Work
Anzu teams up with League-M to bring its in-game ads platform to European brands
"Anzu is committed to introducing cutting-edge solutions to European advertisers"
Mr Popular
My Talking Tom Friends hits 60 million downloads in two weeks
It was released on June 12th
Blocked Retail
Nintendo stops European retailers from selling digital download codes
Effective from July 1st
Event
Blockchain Gamer LIVE! to run alongside Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital in September
Discover more about this disruptive technology and learn why you should join us for Blockchain Gamer LIVE! Digital #1
New Acquisition
Com2uS acquires online Go service Tygem
"Go is a representative brain game that requires a high level of concentration and numeracy"
A New Direction
Discord raises $100 million to expand beyond games
The latest change in direction for the communications platform
#metoo
IGDA speaks out on recent "heartbreaking" sexual misconduct allegations across the games industry
"Each and every one of us can help our industry be a safer and more inclusive environment"
Change It Up
Apple reportedly cancels contracts with Arcade developers as it shakes up its strategy
"Apple Arcade has redefined what a gaming service can be"
10 Years On
Opinion: Seven problems Microsoft will have to overcome to make Windows Phone 7 a success
How to make a winner
Brand It
Over half of gamers prefer spending on brands "with a purpose", finds Gameloft
Gameloft and Vivendi Brand Marketing release report on gamers and brands
Welcome Aboard
MAG Interactive hires Tone Brennan as its new Brighton studio head
"He brings a deep experience of production of mobile games"
#metoo
EA promises to investigate all sexual misconduct allegations made by staff
"We want to be very clear on our position: these behaviours are never ok -- not in our communities or any others"
Drunk On Games
Niantic teams up with theatre company Punchdrunk for games that will "reinvent storytelling"
It has 10 games in development
Welcome Aboard
Retro Studios hires Bharathwaj ‘Bat’ Nandakumar as its lead engineer
He is known for Call of Duty: Black Ops
Create A Change
4Good Games closes its seed funding round to make socially impactful games
"Our mission is to be the change we want to see in the world"
Liftoff
Paradox Interactive's Stellaris: Galaxy Command blasts out of soft launch
The free-to-play sci-fi title takes inspiration from its strategy PC counterpart
Removed
India's government bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok
The apps were "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner"
Pgbiz Roundtable
Join us on June 30th for a blockchain-focused PocketGamer.biz RoundTable session
An introduction to blockchain, hosted by our very own Jon Jordan
Financials
MAG Interactive sees a 34 per cent growth in net sales for Q3 2020
"This is the highest turnover in a quarter for MAG since the company went public"
Kodisoja Leaves
Supercell co-founder Mikko Kodisoja leaves the company
Pursuing other ways of telling stories outside of games
Not Really Wonderful
The Wonderful 101 Kickstarter backers are being hit with extra charges
PlatinumGames failed to mention custom charges
Allegations
Twitch is investigating sexual abuse allegations against streamers
It will dish out permanent bans
Ninten-no
Nintendo's Osaka-based theme park opening has been delayed
Still aiming to open this year
Pride
Microsoft donates $250,000 to LGBTQI+ organisations to celebrate Pride
"To help in their fight for LGBTQI+ rights and racial equity"
Not So Keen
It looks like Bethesda has cancelled Commander Keen on mobile
All traces have been removed from its websites
Back In Business
Nintendo Switch production is getting back on track
As long as COVID-19 stays at bay
Shoot 'em Up
Tencent Games teams up with SNK for a Metal Slug mobile title
It remains unnamed for now
Most Read
Hot Five: Rovio cancels Phoenix Rangers, Apple rejects Facebook Gaming App, and we speak to Supercell's Hay Day Pop designer
The hottest articles of last week
This Week In China
This Week in China: South Korea tries to get back into the China mobile market, and NetEase tests King of Hunters
The biggest stories straight from Beijing
Reviewed Policy
Apple changes up its App Store review policies
Appeals can challenge the guidelines
Financials
RuneScape subscriptions hit all-time high as Jagex revenues hit $137.6 million
"2019 was an extraordinary year," says CEO Phil Mansell
Digital Conference
What hot topics will you be talking about at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020?
Revealed: 14 tracks covering essential games industry insight, from global trends to development advice, coming your way in September
Launchpad
The first ever Pocket Gamer LaunchPad takes off on July 23-25
Our brand new consumer focused digital show is designed to showcase exciting new/upcoming mobile games across multiple platforms - get involved now!
Acquisition
Keywords acquires development studio Coconut Lizard
Firm was previously owned by Epic
Allegations
Ubisoft is investigating recent allegations made against staff
French firm brings in external consultants to look into the matter
Celebrate
Roblox Mobile hits $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue
The US brought in over $1 billion
Switch It Up
The Defold Foundation adds Nintendo Switch support to Defold engine
"It was an absolute no-brainer to start with Nintendo Switch"
Can You Survive?
Tencent is bringing Klei's Don't Starve to mobile
Closed beta for Don't Starve: Newhome starts in July
On The Rise
There will be 2.5 billion mobile gamers worldwide at the end of 2020
Overall gamer count expected to hit three billion in 2023
Poilitcal Issues
ESA speaks out against Trump visa freeze
"The executive order limiting immigration undermines reasonable solutions to end the current economic crisis, stabilise our economy and help people return to work."
Claim A Freebie
Pearl Abyss renews its partnership with Amazon for free Black Desert Mobile content
For the next three months
Just Dance
Lockwood Publishing partners with World of Dance for Avakin Life content
"We believe in empowering users and pushing the limits of their self-expression"
Talking Heads
Sony, DICE, Square Enix, Bandai Namco and Wizards of the Coast all confirmed to speak at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020
Our speaker lineup for our online Helsinki conference begins to take shape - who will you learn from this September?
Be Diverse
Microsoft is committing $150 million to diversity and inclusion
"We are committed to take action to help address racial injustice and inequity"