Critical Hit
Pokémon TCG Pocket surpasses 100 million downloads
Special missions are now available until March 26th, 2025
Event Partnership
Xsolla partners with Pocket Gamer Connects to support mobile developers in 2025
Games commerce company will provide expertise in direct-to-consumer monetisation to developers across the globe
Cross-platform Release
Pokémon Champions is set to launch for Nintendo Switch and mobile
No release date set for the title
Big Indie Zone
Vote for your favourite game at the Big Indie Zone Audience Choice Award sponsored by Jam City at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025
Celebrate indie developers and their games at The Big Indie Zone Audience Choice Award sponsored by Jam City during Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025
Playtika's M&a Plans
Playtika allocates up to $450m for “bolt-on” M&A activity over next three years
Publisher reports direct-to-consumer and overall revenue growth in Q4
Gameexpo Summit
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 Early Bird ends at midnight on Friday
Save up to 500 AED / $135 if you book before midnight, February 28th
Short Reports
AppLovin labels short-seller reports “nefarious” and “misleading” as shares sink
Ad tech firm goes on the offensive after research companies make series of accusations against its business practices
New Offering
Supercell reveals Boat Game with alpha test coming soon
“We can only share this game with a limited number of players”
Funding For Games
Turkish studio Surpass Games secures $1.5m to “redefine" the hybridcasual puzzle genre
The studio is led by former Fomo Games and Zynga staff
Dubai Gamesexpo Summit
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 The ultimate industry gathering you can't miss
Gain new opportunities in the MENA games industry in Dubai this May
New Studio
Madbox opens new studio in Annecy
The French developer plans to increase its workforce by 15% this year, half of which will be for the new studio
Business Opportunities
Time is running out to reserve your place for the Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025 fringe events
Don't miss this chance to take part in the unmissable opportunities at our milestone 50th global games conference
Roundtable Discussion
Open call for web3 games industry speakers at PGC San Francisco
Join our roundtable delving into the state of web3 games and how the sector can emerge from a challenging few years
Funding For Games
Finnish startup Seven Stars secures seed round to build “next-gen" puzzle games
Spintop Ventures and Behold Ventures co-led the investment with Sisu Game Ventures
Skillz $75m Developer Accelerator
Skillz Announces $75 Million Developer Accelerator for Skill-Based Mobile Games
Accelerator will provide financial backing, operational resources, and expert guidance to bring competitive games to market
A Successful Snooze
Pokémon Sleep hits $150m mark despite slowdown since first anniversary
Japan is the app's most lucrative country at $109m to date
Age Rating
Indie hit Balatro sees PEGI rating drop to 12+ after review
“I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished"
Lawsuit Triumph
The Pokémon Company wins legal battle over copyright-infringing mobile game
The companies were also required to issue public apologies in online and print media in China
Job Losses
Netflix lays off staff at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio
The redundancies will not affect ongoing projects at the developer
Mena Region
Saudi Social Development Bank backs esports and game development with $122m
The expanded financing portfolio has supported over 30 clients across esports, game development and publishing
New Partnerships
The9 and Qing Cheng partner to dominate China’s lower-tier mobile games market
The9 will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture while Qing Cheng will own 49%.
Meta Contest
Meta launches $50 million Creator Fund as it shifts focus to mobile content
The company is also introducing its first creator competition of the year
Company Restructure
Unity cut workforce to 4,987 staff in 2024 at cost of $214m
Game engine and ads firm also appears to have closed 23 offices last year
Podcast | Episode 43
NetEase scales back, Jam City agrees Ludia sale, and why Savvy wants Pokémon Go | 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 and what's inside this week's episode 43...
Shares Surge
Unity shares rally 36% after earnings beat and new AI-powered ads platform
Unity’s market cap currently sits at $11.68bn, compared to rival AppLovin's $146.42bn
Mobile Growth
Bilibili's mobile game revenue soars 79% in Q4 sparking company's first-ever profitable quarter
2024 release San Guo: Mou Ding Tian Xia leads the charge in growing games business
Financials
Hasbro gaming segment grows 22% as Monopoly Go adds $112 million to revenue in 2024
Total company sales declined 17% Y/Y to $4.1 billion
Very Big Indie Pitch
Hero brawler Battle Bears Heroes wins The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2024
We revisit last year's winners ahead of the next Stateside edition at PGC San Francisco's return this March 17th and 18th 2025
Investment News
Good Job Games Secures investment from Menlo Ventures
The investment raises Good Job Games’ valuation to over $100 million
Shutting Down
Amazon App Store to close on Android
Marketplace will still be available on Amazon devices in future
Gaming Trends
Ukie proposes 53% tax relief for small game studios in the UK
The trade body said reforming the VGEC could generate nearly 6,000 new jobs within five years
Gamescom Latam
Pokémon GO to bring AR adventures and rewards to Gamescom Latam 2025
Attendees can receive Pokémon-themed credentials featuring exclusive artwork
Earnings Report
NetEase games revenue rises to $2.9 billion in Q4
New mobile games lineup for global markets include Destiny: Rising and Marvel Mystic Mayhem
Earnings Report
Nexon reports record 2024 $2.97bn revenue in 2024 as Dungeon & Fighter Mobile drives growth
It saw success in three main franchises in 2024 including MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter, and FC
Financials
Unity revenue falls 25% in Q4 as engine and ads segments see declines
Game engine division Create Solution saw sales fall 47% Y/Y
Sweet Solitaire
Candy Crush Solitaire snaps up $379,000 in first two weeks
Lifetime revenue including soft launch reaches $692k
Bigger And Better
PG Connects San Francisco 2024 smashed records to become our biggest US event ever!
A look back at last year's Stateside edition that raised the bar with 1,000+ attendees from 500+ companies, representing 50 countries
Financials
Nitro Games reports record $12.3m revenue in 2024
The Finnish developer highlights expanding portfolio and cost control for improved financials
Selling Up
Jam City agrees deal to sell Ludia
If approved, the sale isn’t expected to have a significant impact on Jam City’s business operations
Mena Games Awards
Nominations open for the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025
Come celebrate the developers, publishers, investors, and leaders who are driving MENA's growing games market
New Studio
Ex-Belka games staff form new Cyprus mobile developer Studio42
Casual puzzle games developer headed up by former Belka Games CEO Alexandr Bogdanov
Funding For Games
Meeple Corp secures $629,000 funding to bring tabletop games to digital platforms
Its debut game, Kingdomino Digital will release later this year
Company Restructure
Big Fish Games to halt new game development and reduce investment in portfolio
Aristocrat Leisure fails to find a buyer for Big Fish following a review of its games business
Pgc San Francisco
A look back at last year's PG Connects San Francisco
It's a wrap! Mobile gaming's biggest reveals and hottest trends live from at PG Connects San Francisco
Big Deal
Niantic reportedly in talks to sell Pokémon Go and games business to Scopely for $3.5bn
The deal isn’t finalised, according to people familiar with the matter, but could be officially announced "in coming weeks"
Gaming Lab
Abertay University launches £9 million lab to boost Scotland's games and entertainment sectors
Investment will provide opportunities and support for UK technology companies across the creative industries
New Store
Alternative app store Aptoide launches on iOS in EU
Available for free to users despite Apple's €0.50 core technology fee for each download of the marketplace
Net Numbers
Ubisoft’s mobile net bookings share up to 10% following Assassin's Creed Shadows delay
Ubisoft’s $315.6 million in net bookings this Q3 were less than half compared to one year prior
Executive Exit
Fingersoft COO exits company
Ville Rauma had been with the company for 11 years as it grew from a team of 12 to 100 staff
Rainbow Revenue
Rainbow Six Mobile revenue surges as Ubisoft chases a global launch
Ubisoft’s troubled mobile shooter gets a rise in downloads and player spending as publisher aims to improve title's fortunes