Funding Round
Mobile ad tech firm AppOnboard secures $15 million investment
Total funding raised to date stands at $20 million
Tech Line-up
Line launches new mobile games developer tools to combat clones and track player behaviour
Also includes automated QA and testing platform
Big Spenders
US iPhone users spent an average of $58 on apps in 2017
The figure marks a 23 per cent increase from the previous year
Bust
Free-to-play casino games land four gaming companies with online gambling lawsuits
Legal action follows a similar ruling that found Big Fish Games’ casino experiences to have violated Washington state law
Survival
Endemol Shine UK soft-launches new survival game starring Bear Grylls
Legendary Games, All 4 Games and Nelson X Creative Ltd also listed as a part of the project
New Studio
Former Scopely and EA execs head up new narrative-focused studio Ordinal Games
Start-up wants players to create stories and take a share in revenues
Departure
EA Mobile senior VP Mike Verdu departs
Exec cites travel and lengthy commute as reasons for exit
Legal Investigation
Report: South Korea’s FTC investigates Google Play over claims it abused market leading position
Storefront accounted for 60 per cent of all mobile app content sales in 2017
Weekly Charts
Weekly UK App Store charts: Fortnite stays on top as PUBG Mobile slips
Rankings for the week of April 2nd to 8th
It's Indie Game
EA's Katherine de Leon Superstar Session to open Indie track at PG Connects San Francisco 2018
Zynga, Super Evil, Skillz, 231 Play, MoPub, Liftoff and more also confirmed for May 14th to 15th conference
New Digs
Big Blue Bubble moves to new digs in Ontario
The Jungle Guardians developer now shares a studio space with Voices.com and Autodata
Dramatic Debut
BitGuild, WAX, Pixowl and more set for Blockchain Gamer Connects San Francisco 2018
Blockchain stars set to take the stage in May
Kitted Out
Tools firm The Game Creators launches AppGameKit AR
The updated AR tools come with additional features and bug fixes
The Animal
Marvel Strike Force dev FoxNext teams up with Dave Bautista to promote animal charity
The Guardians of the Galaxy actor chose to promote Frankie’s Friends as a part of True Heroes campaign
Good Cause
War Child UK launches retro games-inspired campaign to raise awareness for children affected by conflict
Mobile games developers Ustwo, Kongregate and Social Point take part in Re-Play
Unchained
Augmented reality game Reality Clash opens blockchain-based Armoury Store
Players can now buy limited-edition in-game weapons
Awards
Gorogoa and Golf Clash score accolades at the BAFTAs
Pixel Hunt’s Bury Me, My Love was also nominated in several categories
Moving On
EA shuffles executive team
Patrick Söderlund names chief designer officer, Laura Miele appointed chief studios officer, and other changes
Co-op
Nordeus teams up with UK charity to raise awareness for undiagnosed heart conditions
The Top Eleven developer donated its shirt sleeve spot with Stoke City for the football club’s match with Tottenham Hotspur
Mental Health
New study claims mobile apps can help treat anxiety and depression
The study used data from Litesprite’s beta test of Sinasprite to determine the effectiveness of mobile games in combating mental health issues
Impact
New mobile RPG Honkai Impact 3rd racks up 35 million downloads
Players who download the game will earn launch rewards and bonuses throughout April
Heading East
Mobile game blockchain distribution platform ALAX opens Hong Kong office
Set for token-based fundraiser on April 17th to 23rd
Big Indie Pitch
What The Golf? takes the crown at this year’s Big Indie Pitch at GDC 2018
Take a look at the winners from the Big Indie Pitch at GDC 2018
Studio Expansion
Keywords expands North America HQ in Montreal
Services provider continues rapid growth
Instant Gaming
Chat app gaming: Let us know what you think
We're on the look out for article submissions and interview opportunities
Holding Down The Fort
Epic brings down Fortnite for emergency maintenance
Players complained about login issues across mobile, PC and console
Jobs News
Ex-PocketGamer.biz features editor Matt Suckley joins Flaregames as junior PR manager
"I'm thrilled to begin my career in PR with Flaregames"
You What?
Tencent introduces social credit score system to combat cheaters and reward good behaviour
Game Credit currently only available to Chinese users
Boycotted
Report: China still refuses to license new South Korean-developed games
Tensions originated with South Korea’s THAAD missile defence system which led to China’s unofficial license boycott
Rewarded
More rewarded ad conversions lead to higher user engagement, retention and spend
Tapjoy’s latest report finds that the more rewarded ads a player completes in their first two weeks the better the results
Instant Gaming
Tencent opens up WeChat mini-games platform to external devs
Chinese publisher expects significant share of sales
Looking East
Unity to open Centre of Innovation for games developers in Malaysia
Tech firm will team up with Malaysia’s Digital Economy Corporation to open the facility
Going Public
Chinese livestreaming platform Huya files for $200m IPO in US
But no date set
Exec Shake-up
Rovio’s investor relations chief exits
Ville Heijari named CEO of Rovio Entertainment Corporation
Education
Chinese developer NetDragon buys online learning community Edmodo for $138 million
Deal paid via a combination of cash and shares of an affiliated education company
Crack Down
South Korea’s FTC deals out fines to Nexon, Netmarble and NextFloor over misleading loot box promotions
Nexon Korea hit by $887,000 penalty
New Digs
Netmarble to set up shop in Los Angeles with new US office
The move will put the studio closer to partner Walt Disney and its Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm subsidiaries
Cancelled
Armada Interactive cancels debut strategy game Quantum Siege
The title had been in soft launch since May 29th 2017
Doors Open
Habbo Hotel developer opens new MMORPG Hotel Hideaway on iOS and Android
Studio to bring AR functionality using Apple’s ARKit in spring
Investment News
New VC fund Altered Ventures plots $36 million investment focusing on emerging markets
Fund works by revenue share, rather than equity stake
Weekly Charts
Weekly UK App Store charts: Fortnite stays on top ahead of PUBG Mobile
Rankings from March 26th to April 1st 2018
Rad
The Witness developer Thekla puts up $100k for underrepresented developers
RAD Game Tools' Jeff Roberts matched the initial $50k to double the prize pool
Developer Survey
Mobile Games Developer Trends Spring 2018: Augmented reality and real-time strategy a focus for devs
What's hot and what's not in the mobile games industry
Event
Refereum, Reality Clash, Lucid Sight and more to speak at Blockchain Gamer Connects San Francisco 2018
Hear the latest trends, technology and techniques from the people that are driving blockchain tech forwards
M&a
Keywords expands audio services with three acquisitions
Spending spree continues
Job Losses
AdColony cuts senior staff as it eyes profitability
Further redundancies at mobile ads firm
Royal Flush
Social casino developer KamaGames racks up 100 million players
App Store proves more lucrative than Google Play
Partners In Education
Tencent partners with Age of Learning to bring ABCmouse English curriculum to China
Consists of more than 5,000 learning activities, including games, puzzles and books
Acquisition News
AppScatter to acquire mobile app intelligence platform Priori Data in $19m deal
Purchase expected to be completed by May 15th 2018
Pg Connects
Niantic Superstar Session at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco
Ross Finman will reveal the company’s plans for AR and how it will build on breakout hit Pokemon GO