Pgc London 2026
Mobile app summit launching at Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026
Brand new partner summit connecting games industry professionals with wider mobile app sectors debuts on January 19th
Revenue Rise
Unity records highest revenue since 2023, up 5% in Q3
Unity generated $470.6 million this Q3, its first full quarter since Unity Vector launched
Netmarble Numbers
Netmarble’s net revenue grows 97% Y/Y in Q3 with two new game launches
This Q3, Vampir launched in South Korea and Seven Knights Re:BIRTH launched globally
New Offerings
K-ID launches OpenAge to streamline global age verification for apps and mobile games
AgeKey lets users verify their age once and reuse it across multiple platforms
New Offerings
Roblox hit Jailbreak is getting an animated movie
Jailbreak: Rising City marks the first-ever Roblox game to be turned into a movie
Expansions
Yalla Group to open new regional headquarters in Riyadh as part of Middle East expansion plans
The new HQ is expected to open in the first half of 2026
New Partnerships
Spoilz signs MoU with AI 3D asset company AssetHub
The collaboration focuses on empowering developers and studios across the region
Developer Struggles
Goddess Order halts new content just over a month after launch
Developer PixelTribe can no longer continue development due to financial and operational issues
Agreement Reached
Konami and Cygames reach settlement over Umamusume patent dispute
The agreement resolves both the lawsuit and Konami’s patent invalidation claims
Pgc Summit Korea
East meets West: First Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Korea unites global game leaders in Goyang
Inaugural event brings Korea, APAC, and the global games industry together
Podcast | Episode 71
Google and Epic upend Android mobile game monetisation | 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 71...
Studio Closure
Atomhawk closes Canadian studio as part of restructuring
The firm will continue operating from the UK as a creative innovation partner for the games industry
Strategic Growth
My.Games extends publishing program to MENA as part of global expansion
The program offers funding, marketing, and development support across mobile, PC, and console
Studio Closure
Bad Brain Game Studios to shut down after partner search falls through
The studio says the game and IP remain available for acquisition or partnership
Company Restructure
Square Enix to close overseas studios and consolidate development in Japan
Staff in both the US and UK are being notified of potential layoffs
Media Partnership
GamesBeat Next adds 100 final tickets after selling out
GamesBeat Next has released a final batch of passes as the San Francisco event approaches capacity on November 12th to 13th
New Offerings
Discord expands Family Centre tools with new teen safety features
New parental controls also let guardians manage how Discord uses teen data and ads
Funding News
Hoora Games raises $1.3m to accelerate mobile ambitions
The startup aims to become a global reference point for mobile entertainment
Pgc London
Aurora: Celebrating women in the British games industry at Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026
Aurora returns to honour industry-leading women whose vision, talent, leadership and more are making their mark in every corner of the UK
New Offerings
Zynga partners with Dots.eco to launch FarmVille 3 conservation bundles
The initiative links in-game play with measurable real-world environmental action
Crossovers
Turborilla teams up with SX Global for a Mad Skills Motocross 3 crossover event
The collaboration debuts in Season 12: House of Good Times
Rumble Arrival
Sonic Rumble launches globally with 10m "early Rumblers"
The Sonic spinoff was originally slated to release last winter, but has finally arrived after multiple delays
Switch 2 Sales
Nintendo Switch 2 surpasses 10m unit sales in under four months
The original Switch sold 4.7m units in its first four months
Pgc Helsinki
80% of first-time web store visitors come back again
Appcharge’s Miikka Luotio spoke at PGC Helsinki 2025 about players increasing understanding of web stores, but personalisation remains key
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Humain to advance AI adoption across its operations
The partnership focuses on developing tailored AI tools for key business functions, including game development
Settlement Reached
Google and Epic reach proposed settlement to open Android app store access
The proposal would allow third-party app stores to be downloaded more easily
Expansions
ESL FACEIT Group opens new regional headquarters in Riyadh
The venue will act as an esports venue and talent development hub for Saudi nationals
Patents
US Patent Office is reviewing Nintendo’s patent on a battle support summon mechanic
The review signals concerns that could eventually lead to the patent being overturned
New Offerings
Meta shifts app advertising focus toward acquiring higher-value spenders
Advertisers can now optimise campaigns for purchase value, not just purchase volume
Market Growth
Daily play dominates as 85% of mobile gamers return multiple times
Japan leads global mobile games spend with 38% of players making multiple monthly purchases
New Partnerships
Yodo1 takes over Transformers: Earth Wars under license from Hasbro
The deal includes the game’s publishing rights, code, assets, and development team
Pgc London
PGC London double discount! Save up to £299 with Early Bird and Fireworks Night combo offer!
Stackable special offers end this week
Investment News
Arcadia Gaming Partners invests $4m in Iron Games studio led by former Gram Games execs
Developer aims to redefine what players expect from casual and merge genres by introducing new, original mechanics
Market Report
Jordan’s $312.8m games market could nearly double by 2030
The sector is expanding at an annual growth rate of 11.5%
Mergers & Acquisitions
Web3 giant Animoca Brands plans to go public through a reverse merger
The deal would create what both firms call “the world’s first” publicly listed digital assets conglomerate
Ai Safety
Japan's CODA urges OpenAI to stop using member content to train models like Sora 2
The group accuses OpenAI of potential copyright infringement linked to Sora 2 outputs
Buyout Concerns
EA assures staff it will retain full creative control under the proposed $55bn sale
The company insists its mission, values, and player-first culture remain unchanged
Pgc London 2026
Transmedia summit heads to London after roaring debut in Helsinki
One-day event Beyond Games Transmedia Summit joins Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026
Accelerator Program
Nazara teams up with Mixi and ChimeraVC to launch India-focused LVL Zero accelerator
Each startup will receive a $10,000 equity-free grant and access to global mentors, tools, and growth platforms
Game Closure
Space Ape-developed Beatstar and Country Star go offline
The shutdown follows an August announcement that development on the two titles would end
Podcast | Episode 70
Squad Busters shuts down and Google Play's transformative changes | 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 70...
Africa Is Mobile
Report: Egypt leads Africa’s games market with $368m in revenue
Nigeria tops the continent in player count with 46.5m gamers generating nearly $300m
New Partnerships
Mad Hook partners with Audiomob to expand in-game audio monetisation
Mad Hook said the partnership has boosted revenue and opened new opportunities
Pulling The Plug
IOC parts ways with Saudi Arabia on Olympic Esports Games deal
The split comes 14 months after announcing a 12-year deal for the Olympic Esports Games
Game Closure
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on the "bold" decision to close Squad Busters
Paananen labelled the move “even bolder” than launching the game
Pgc Aqaba
PGC Aqaba 2025 schedule revealed featuring Epic Games, ID@Xbox, Xsolla, Unity, Maysalward, Tamatem, and more
Master the MENA market with these eight conference tracks at PGC Aqaba
Patents
Japan rejects Nintendo’s attempt to patent the creature-capturing mechanic found in Pokémon
The rejection followed a third-party submission of prior art that claimed Nintendo’s filing “lacked an inventive step”
New Studio
Fall Guys veterans form new UK studio Panic Stations to create physics-based co-op games
The six-member team plans to release multiple titles each year, with their first project reveal coming soon
Expansions
Xsolla becomes resident of Azerbaijan’s Technopark as it plots local industry investment
The move strengthens Azerbaijan’s digital ecosystem with Xsolla’s global games commerce platform
Major Shift
Google Play injunction can "transform Android game economics"
Tech giant forced to allow alternative payment systems in the US until 2027 under court ruling in Epic Games case