Pg Connects
World Cup special offer: Save up to €72 on upcoming Pocket Gamer Connects events
Don’t miss this 10% discount for Barcelona, Shanghai and the Nordics
Studio Closure
Ubisoft closes Winnipeg and Belgrade studios as up to 380 roles impacted
Around 50 developers working on Rainbow Six Siege Mobile have reportedly been reassigned
Web Games
Playgama publishes web games market map covering 120+ companies
The map aims to provide a clearer view of the web gaming ecosystem
Strategic Move
Xbox outlines platform overhaul in internal strategy memo
The company reported 1bn annual players across console, PC, mobile and streaming
Winners Revealed
Gather-2-Gether wins Roblox and Games for Change challenge focused on positive play
Developer Magic The Dog will receive a $15,000 first-place prize
Layoffs Imminent
Report: Xbox plans major layoffs as new CEO pushes restructuring effort
The cuts would mark the first major restructuring under CEO Asha Sharma
Child Safety
Russia lifts ban on Roblox
The decision follows consultations between Roblox and Russian authorities on protecting underage users
Funding News
Two Desperados secures $20m in user acquisition financing from PvX Partners
The funding will be used to scale growth and expand the studio’s global player base
Industry Outlook
ESA warns California games bill would burden developers and players
“This bill may sound consumer-friendly, but it ultimately hurts both players and creators”
New Offerings
LinkedIn launches Wend as first new word game in two years
Wend combines word-finding gameplay with logic puzzle mechanics
Policy Change
ESA warns No Fakes Act could create legal uncertainty for the video game industry
The trade body argues that the legislation does not distinguish between harmful deepfakes and legitimate video game characters
A Series Among Us
Among Us TV show is out now on Paramount+
Over the years, the brand has expanded from mobile to PC, to consoles and now into a show
Leadership Change
German Games Industry Association elects new executive board as Lars Janssen retains chair role
Maxi Graeff was elected deputy chair of the association
Pgc Nordics
Top five reasons to attend Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics this October
Connect with the whole Nordic games industry - and global heavyweights - at our newly embiggened Helsinki hurrah
Pgc Summit Shanghai
China gaming 2026: Key trends and market catalysts
The key trends we'll cover in next month’s PGC Summit Shanghai including AI, mini games, super apps and a thriving PC market
Pgc Barcelona
Ubisoft Barcelona Mobile's studio manager Jordi Martin to speak at PGC Barcelona 2026
One more industry leader is heading to the stage at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona on June 15th and 16th
India On The Rise
IICT and GDAI launch faculty development program for game development educators
The programme is designed to help educators understand industry trends and prepare students for careers in games
Pgc Barcelona
See who you could connect with at PG Connects Barcelona this June 15th to 16th
Network with the biggest brands and brightest minds including Zynga, Rovio, Gameloft, King, Scopely and more
Apple Ai
Apple unveils AI frameworks and agentic coding tools in Xcode 27
Developers can now access Apple Foundation Models alongside third-party models including Claude and Gemini
New Offerings
Apple expands App Store capabilities with new marketing, discovery and subscription features
Developers can now manage and reuse promotional materials through App Store Connect
Mario Milestone
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie surpasses $1bn worldwide
It is now the second-highest-grossing video game movie of all time at the box office, only behind 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Ai Acquisition
Roblox strengthens AI ambitions with Morpheus AI acquisition and founder hires
The company plans to integrate Morpheus AI technology into its Roblox Video Model
Milestone
App Store ecosystem drives $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025
In-app advertising revenue reached $151 billion
Partnership
PlanetPlay and UNICEF launch games initiative to support children
The partnership will begin with a PC games collection before expanding to mobile and console
Pgc Barcelona
Welcoming Xsolla as Diamond Sponsor for Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026
The two-day Iberian event returns for its second edition on June 15th and 16th
Region Guide
Download our free region report delving into the games industry across Spain and Portugal
Get the lowdown on the state of the market on the Iberian Peninsula ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona on June 15th and 16th
In-game Event
Angry Birds 2 kicks off football-themed season with new events and rewards
The limited-time update introduces football-themed challenges, rewards and events
Expansions
Apple to open Europe’s first Developer Centre in Berlin
Developers across Europe will gain direct access to Apple experts, events and resources
In-game Event
FIFA and Gamefam launch FIFA World Cup 2026 event across Roblox
The event includes live score updates and tournament standings tied to real-world matches
New Offerings
PR veteran Sam Forrest launches GunDog Communications consultancy
The company is based in Kent and serves clients across London and the South East
New Offerings
Paramount launches unified games division to expand franchise ambitions
Tony Driscoll will lead the new division while retaining his role as EVP of corporate strategy and development
Careers Zone
Take the next step in your games career at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026
The Careers Zone returns to Barcelona this June, sponsored by Gameloft and Appodeal and powered by Games Factory Talents
Job Losses
Metacore closes Germany and Sweden operations as it confirms 159 layoffs
Merge Mansion developer still in negotiations with Supercell over buyout
Milestone
WeChat Mini Games crosses 500m monthly active users as Tencent shifts focus to retention
The platform's developer base grew to 500,000, up from 400,000 in 2024
New Partnerships
Qiddiya City signs five-year partnership with MPL MENA
The partnership will focus on fan engagement, community initiatives, and youth-focused activations
Online Safety
SuperAwesome partners with Roblox as under-13 advertising partner
The partnership focuses on delivering brand-safe and COPPA-compliant advertising experiences
New Studio
Poncle to open Japan studio led by El Shaddai creator Sawaki Takeyasu
The studio plans to continue working with relatively small development teams
Pgc Barcelona
Tetris president and CEO Maya Rogers to speak at PGC Barcelona
Yet another industry titan joins the speaker lineup for Pocket Gamer Barcelona on June 15th and 16th
Going Public
Liftoff Mobile prices IPO at $3.83bn valuation
IPO proceeds will primarily be used to repay outstanding debt
Layoff News
Team17 confirms layoffs in marketing and communications team
Two former staff members have been made redundant
Game Jam
Green Game Jam 2026 launches with 70 games and environmental activations
Additional games are expected to join the campaign in September
Market Report
Mobile dominates US gaming as weekly player base reaches 212 million
Gen Z leads in-game spending, with 78% having made a purchase and a median monthly spend of $20
New Offerings
Mexican Football Federation launches FIFA Super Soccer activation on Roblox ahead of World Cup 2026
The event lets players use Mexico’s official adidas 2026 kit before it is worn at the tournament
Champions Incoming
Pokémon Champions’ mobile release slated for June 17th
The battling title previously launched on Nintendo hardware in April
Franchise Expansion
Warner Bros. Games launches Game of Thrones: Dragonfire worldwide on mobile
The free-to-play title arrives on iOS and Android ahead of House of the Dragon Season 3
New Offerings
Mattel Digital Studios releases Skeletor: Until Next Time mobile game
The title launched on iOS and arrives on Android next week
Market Report
Asia and MENA video game revenue set to surpass $100bn by 2030
Niko Partners' report shows China's mini games now account for nearly 20% of mobile game spending
Pokemon Partnership
LEGO stores to partner with Pokémon Go this summer, with exclusive rewards and LEGO Smart Play sets ahead
Participating stores will span the US, UK, Germany, France, Poland and Australia
Warhammer On Mobile
Nitro Games' Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Boom to launch on mobile in 2026
Pre-registration is now open on the Apple App Store and Google Play
Winners Revealed
Apple names 2026 Design Awards winners
Eight of this year's 12 winning titles are available on iPhone