Ads Equals Rewards
Google Play begins open beta for rewarded video ads powered by AdMob
Feature can be applied to any app
Music To My Ears
Music games developer Gismart launches new investment initiative for mobile
Looking to invest $1 million on a case-by-case basis
Niantic Used Happy Hour
Pokemon Go trainers have spent $2.45 billion in less than three years
Franchise as a whole on mobile reaches $2.5 billion
Nintendo Cardboard
Nintendo steps into the world of VR with new Labo kit for Switch
Blaster, camera, elephant and more included in new bundle
Event
Free half-day blockchain games summit near GDC
Seminars, panel debates and networking for anyone interested in taking their game on the chain
Ubi-free
Vivendi sells off last Ubisoft shares as takeover plans come to an end
Media conglomerate was in position for hostile takeover in 2018
Studio Expansion
Mobile publisher Rogue Games brings in $1.25m from seed funding round
Venture firm Grishin Robotics led funding
Keep Your Money
Nintendo urges mobile partners to not focus on player spending
Mario maker does not want to be seen as greedy
Free Webinar
Join deltaDNA’s free webinar on how to make profitable games in 2019
Webinar to delve into in-app purchase trends, shifting business models and more
Scaling Up
N3twork launches new user acquisition platform for third-party mobile games
Tool was previously used on Legendary: Game of Heroes for iOS and Andorid
Exploits Children
Epic Games embroiled in further lawsuit over loot boxes
Another week, another court case
Research
Newzoo: Mobile gamers are more receptive to brands than non-gamers
The Activision-Blizzard partnered Betting on Billions paper makes key insights into mobile gaming demographics
Jobs
Former DICE CEO Karl Troedsson joins Nordisk Film Games
Troedsson takes on a role as senior partner to help direct Nordisk Film Games' growth and development
Mayday! Mayday!
Framed director and designer Joshua Boggs heads up new studio MayDay
Framed won over 30 awards and accolades
Super Sell
Supercell’s Clash Royale surpasses $2.5 billion in three years
Recently passed third anniversary on March 2nd
New Studio
Helsinki start-up Reworks raises $1.5m in funding as studio looks to challenge Glu Mobile’s Design Home
Glu Mobile singled out by company as main competitor
Hatching A Plan
Rovio in talks with several investors for Hatch streaming funding boost
Angry Birds developer wants extra investment for its subsidiary, while taking losses off its books may appease investors
Financing Deal
Finnish developer Kuuhubb picks up $1.1 million loan
Business Finland fronts up the funds
Events
Meet Activision Blizzard, EA, Microsoft and more at Game Connection America 2019
Publishers, developers and storefronts headline a new five-day format for Game Connection America this year
Spooky
Cultist Simulator will make a terrifying transition to mobile this spring
After selling 100,000 copies on PC, Cultist Simulator will let you perform dark deeds on the go
Critical Moves
Finnish studio Critical Force names ex-CFO Sami Tolonen as its new CEO
Former CEO and company founder Veli-Pekka Piirainen to focus on role as chairman of the board
Error 404
Report: Forza Street in development for mobile
Turn10 Studios and Electric Square helming the project
Global Charts
Weekly global mobile games charts: Playrix's Homescapes resurgent in the US top grossing rankings
Charts from February 18th to 24th
Acquisition Battle
Nexon shortlists five bidders including Kakao and Tencent
Formal bidding process starts in early April
Hot Five
Tencent and NetEase's international sales rise, Fortnite revenue declines 48%, and Glu reveals Disney's Sorcerer's Arena
The hottest stories from the mobile games industry over the last week
Patent Reality
Apple might be developing an AR headset for iPhones
A patent filed near the end of last year hints at a further push into AR tech
How Many Rupees
Nintendo stats and salary revealed for Japan employees
Tom Nook thankfully not part of the accounting team
Locked Down
Tencent applies digital lock restriction for young Chinese players that requires parental consent to play games
Guardians need to unlock games for kids under the age of 12
Tanks A Lot
World of Tanks Blitz teams up with MMA star Aaron Pico for knockout advertising campaign
Collaboration includes collection of short ads
Potential For Concern
Activision Blizzard highlights risk factors for negative impact of its job cuts on financial performance
SEC filing cites the effect of the company's eight per cent workforce cull might have as a risk factor
Left Behind
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak worries company is falling behind on foldable phones
"They are not the leader in things like the folding phone and that worries me"
Heart Of The Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links summons more than 90 million downloads worldwide
Commemorative in-game campaign held to celebrate milestone
Iphone Fold
Patent filings show Apple might get in on the foldable phone craze
iPhone giant considers using heat to ensure bendy, more resilient display
Another One
Merchandise outfit Numskull launching a new games publishing business
Rising Star Games co-founder Martin Defries at the helm
Squeeeee
Former Big Indie Pitch winner Squeelings launches on Android completely free
Colourful-puzzler took home award at E3 2017
Dear Mobile
Updated: Publisher Playdius rebrands as Dear Villagers
A change in direction for the publisher of A Normal Lost Phone and Bury Me, My Love
Viel Geld
German mobile games studio Sviper raises nearly $3 million in funding
Investment lead by Modern Time Group
Surprise Surprise!
Tencent and Intel partner for Instant Play streaming service
Details are scarce, but we'll likely know more at GDC
Job Losses
Brighton developer Wish Studios closes affecting 13 full-time employees
Known for PlayLink title That’s You
Reignited
Com2us launches Skylanders Ring of Heroes worldwide
Available in 120 countries
Tech For Change
Alibaba’s Tech for Change initiative aims to tackle global social and humanitarian challenges
A collaboration with iamtheCODE aims to support one million women coders by 2030
Jobs News
Riot, Amazon, PlayStation, EA and NaturalMotion vets join RuneScape developer Jagex
New executive producer, director of community, head of CRM and player engagement, RuneScape technical director and senior director of game engineering
Indie Publishing
US publisher Versus Evil starts 2019 with five new games and an indie fund
Versus Evil has also launched an indie development fund for
Bidding Battle
Report: EA, Amazon and Comcast all submit acquisition bids for publisher Nexon
New challengers join a growing collection of suitors
Teen Titans Goal!
Cartoon Network launches new games app Cartoon Network Arcade
Largest library of Cartoon Network games in one place
Sword And Shield
Pokemon Sword and Shield coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019
Launching worldwide later this year
Sweet Victory
Candy Crush Friends Saga passes $50 million in revenue globally
Slower pace than predecessor Candy Crush Jelly Saga
Funding Reality
Helsinki start-up Hipfire Games raises $205k for debut VR and mobile cross-platform title Fail Space
Studio focused on creating multiplayer experiences in virtual reality
The Hungry Caterpillar
Epic Games faces another Fortnite lawsuit over Running Man dance
Former Maryland basketball players Jared Nickens and Jayen Brantley front the claim
But Why?
THQ Nordic hosts AMA on infamous message board 8chan then clarifies it "does not condone child pornography"
PR and marketing director Philipp Brock claims to have no knowledge of site's history