Trump tariffs hit Japanese games companies as shares in Nintendo, Sony, DeNA and Capcom fall

Shares Synchrony

Trump tariffs hit Japanese games companies as shares in Nintendo, Sony, DeNA and Capcom fall

US president Donald Trump’s latest 20% tariff on Chinese imports to the US appear to be having a knock-on effect on shareholders’ confidence in Japanese game makers

Brazil orders Apple to allow alternative app stores on iOS within 90 days

Brazil orders Apple to allow alternative app stores on iOS within 90 days

Ruling judge extended Apple’s compliance deadline from 20 to 90 days

Utah becomes first state to require app store age verification for minors

Age Verification

Utah becomes first state to require app store age verification for minors

Social media giants Meta, Snap, and X (formerly Twitter) have praised the law

Appcharge expands into North America and Korea with new leadership hires

Appcharge expands into North America and Korea with new leadership hires

Sean Megaw will drive North American growth while Jin Woo Hong is set to lead its South Korea operations

Military history animation studio Yarnhub plots games expansion with community-led investment

Community Funding

Military history animation studio Yarnhub plots games expansion with community-led investment

YouTube content creator wants to build a military shooter for its 2.1m subscribers

Ramadan special offer for Dubai GameExpo Summit

Gameexpo Summit

Ramadan special offer for Dubai GameExpo Summit

Claim your 10% discount today

Tripledot’s surprise acquisition of AppLovin's games business | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 45

Tripledot’s surprise acquisition of AppLovin's games business | 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 45...

Blizzard grants NetEase greater decision-making power over its games in China

Blizzard grants NetEase greater decision-making power over its games in China

Renewed partnership could lead to China-exclusive content like culturally inspired skins

France readies Apple ATT antitrust fine and ban

France readies Apple ATT antitrust fine and ban

A decision is expected to be reached this month, potentially leading to the privacy policy's first regulatory veto

Supersonic surpasses 6.2 billion global downloads in five years

Supersonic Growth

Supersonic surpasses 6.2 billion global downloads in five years

The firm was ranked as the fifth largest mobile games publisher in the world by downloads just behind Tencent, Azur, Onesoft, and SayGames.

Women in Games and UKIE partner to support greater representation in the UK games industry

New Partnerships

Women in Games and UKIE partner to support greater representation in the UK games industry

Partnership will provide networking, mentoring, and skills-building opportunities

Xsolla launches direct-to-consumer publishing suite

Purchasing Power

Xsolla launches direct-to-consumer publishing suite

The toolkit brings Xsolla's services into one place to drive web store sales

Rewarded play platform Almedia ranks as Europe’s third fastest-growing company in FT1000 listing

Rewarded play platform Almedia ranks as Europe’s third fastest-growing company in FT1000 listing

Rewarded play firm’s inclusion highlights its impressive 18,773.2% growth between 2020 and 2023

See who YOU could Connect with at this month's PG Connects San Francisco

See who YOU could Connect with at this month's PG Connects San Francisco

From the most talented indie developers to the biggest brands attending the global games industry event, March 17th to 18th

Universal Foundry launches Compute Grant to support small Unreal Engine 5 studios

Developer Tools

Universal Foundry launches Compute Grant to support small Unreal Engine 5 studios

Grant covers the cost of the company’s services which starts at $950 per month

RuneScape surpasses $2 billion in lifetime revenue

RuneScape surpasses $2 billion in lifetime revenue

Titles have garnered over 300 million players worldwide

Plarium expands RAID: Shadow Legends to alternative app store Aptoide

Plarium expands RAID: Shadow Legends to alternative app store Aptoide

The title's launch on Aptoide coincides with its 6-year anniversary event

Axie Infinity returns on mobile with web3 MMO Atia’s Legacy alpha incoming

Axie Infinity returns on mobile with web3 MMO Atia’s Legacy alpha incoming

Pre-registration referrals are already securing fans AXS tokens

Saudi Arabia's Lobah Game Studio secures $12 million investment

Saudi Arabia's Lobah Game Studio secures $12 million investment

Company will use the funds to accelerate development of its upcoming games

Konami resurrects 30-year-old IP with mobile RPG Suikoden: Star Leap

Konami resurrects 30-year-old IP with mobile RPG Suikoden: Star Leap

The title will be free-to-play and feature in-app purchases

Tencent increases stake in From Software parent company Kadokawa

Investment News

Tencent increases stake in From Software parent company Kadokawa

Publishing giant and Sony open approximately 18% of the company

British Columbia increases Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit to 25%

British Columbia increases Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit to 25%

The incentives will be effective from September 2025

Report: Tripledot to buy AppLovin’s games business

Report: Tripledot to buy AppLovin’s games business

PocketGamer.biz has also heard the buyer is a London-based company

Save up to $130 with PG Connects San Francisco Mid Term rate!

Pgc San Francisco

Save up to $130 with PG Connects San Francisco Mid Term rate!

Grab a ticket to start business-boosting networking before midnight March 6th!

Pokémon Go Tour Unova – Global weekend made $19.8m in two days

Pokémon Go Tour Unova – Global weekend made $19.8m in two days

The free event with optional paid extras saw in-game spending at its highest since the eighth anniversary last July

Activision promoting Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot mobile games that don't exist

Ai-powered Games

Activision promoting Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot mobile games that don't exist

The publisher’s survey stated the titles are not real “but could be some day!’’

Netflix’s The Electric State: Kid Cosmo game will serve as a prequel to upcoming film

Netflix’s The Electric State: Kid Cosmo game will serve as a prequel to upcoming film

The 80s-style puzzle adventure is set for release on March 18th, four days after the new film

Stillfront names Alexis Bonte as new president and group CEO

Leadership Change

Stillfront names Alexis Bonte as new president and group CEO

Bonte joined Stillfront in 2017 after its acquisition of eRepublik Labs, which he co-founded

Jagex CEO Phil Mansell steps down

Leadership Change

Jagex CEO Phil Mansell steps down

Former Huuuge Games CCO and CVC advisor Jon Bellamy takes over the top job at the RuneScape developer

Goddess of Victory: Nikke hits $1bn on mobile during Romantic Valentine event

Valiant Victory

Goddess of Victory: Nikke hits $1bn on mobile during Romantic Valentine event

More than half of that player spending has come from the game’s Japanese players

China approves 110 new games including Plants vs. Zombies 3

China approves 110 new games including Plants vs. Zombies 3

The latest game approvals include 107 domestic titles and three foreign games

Room 8 Group expands leadership with new focus

Company Shakeup

Room 8 Group expands leadership with new focus

Former Ubisoft veterans take key roles

Meet our awesome speakers at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025

Pgc San Francisco

Meet our awesome speakers at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025

More than 70 world class expert speakers share the latest industry insights and future forecasts this March 17th and 18th

Longstanding games services firm PTW rebrands as Side

Longstanding games services firm PTW rebrands as Side

"I’m proud that all our employees are now united under one banner"

Sandsoft plots hybridcasual expansion with three new game deals

Sandsoft plots hybridcasual expansion with three new game deals

Publisher said that it has “several more" games in testing and are scheduled to release in the coming months

Three no-cost ways to benefit from Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025

Opportunities Galore

Three no-cost ways to benefit from Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025

Discover three great ways to make the most of your time in San Francisco without spending a dime...

Ex-Tripledot president forms Arcadia Gaming Advisors with $100m fund for mobile game companies

Ex-Tripledot president forms Arcadia Gaming Advisors with $100m fund for mobile game companies

The Tripledot founder has already invested in Dream Games, Layer AI, Spyke Games and more

Lasse Seppänen named Supercell London GM

Movers And Shakers

Lasse Seppänen named Supercell London GM

The new general manager will define the overall vision for the office

Secret Mode breaks away from Sumo with buyout

Current leadership to remain at the helm

Full schedule revealed for PG Connects San Francisco 2025!

Pgc San Francisco

Full schedule revealed for PG Connects San Francisco 2025!

70+ experts lead the two-day games industry conference, March 17 to 18th

The OGs co-CEO Pablo Navajas passes away

"more Than A Leader"

The OGs co-CEO Pablo Navajas passes away

“His legacy will live on through the countless people he inspired by example”

Investment News

Triple Tap Games secures $1.2m for hybridcasual puzzle games

The team is led by former Crazy Labs and Super Huge Studios staff

EA partners with Flexion to bring mobile games to alternative app stores

EA partners with Flexion to bring mobile games to alternative app stores

First of EA's games included in the partnership will launch in Q1

Shanghai unveils new online game policies to ease licensing challenges

China Regulations

Shanghai unveils new online game policies to ease licensing challenges

The city also introduced the Shanghai Online Game Publishing Application Service Platform

StoryToys partners with LEGO and BBC for Bluey mobile game

New Game Launch

StoryToys partners with LEGO and BBC for Bluey mobile game

The title will launch in August on the App Store and Google Play

European Investment Fund pledges over $20m to boost Nordic game development

Funding For Games

European Investment Fund pledges over $20m to boost Nordic game development

The EIF is helping Behold Ventures attract more investors to reach its target of $48m

Sonic Rumble global launch delayed to spring

Ready To Rumble

Sonic Rumble global launch delayed to spring

The title will launch on mobile and Steam

AppLovin selling games business to private company for $500m in cash and $400m in shares

AppLovin selling games business to private company for $500m in cash and $400m in shares

Buyer has entered into a term sheet with AppLovin and aims to borrow up to $250m to fund the deal

AppLovin vs. short-sellers | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 44

AppLovin vs. short-sellers | 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 44...

Jam City completes Ludia sale

February 28, 2025

Jam City completes Ludia sale

Approximately 130 staff will remain at the developer, while a small number will stay with Jam City