Games Ai Playbook
Supercell's AI masterplan explained
Supercell AI lead Otto Söderlund explains the Clash of Clans developer's strategy for AI and how it uses the tech in game development
Staff
Craig Chapple
Job Title
Head of Content
About Craig Chapple is the head of content at PocketGamer.biz, leading the team's editorial direction and developing the conference agenda for our Pocket Gamer Connects conferences around the world. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.
Articles by Craig Chapple
Podcast | Episode 72
Why is Google policing how the world's top mobile games monetise? | 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 72...
Trading Suspension
Ubisoft postpones half-year earnings and requests trading halt
Publisher has been restructuring as part of a $1.25 billion Tencent deal to create a new subsidiary
Final Word
Level of Squad Busters rework "would have made it almost a completely new game"
Development team said if it could go back in time, it would spend more time “making sure the very core gameplay of Squad was truly ready for primetime”
Soft Launch
Temple Run 3 soft-launches on mobile
Classic endless runner heads back on to mobile, more than 12 years after Temple Run 2
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...
New Era
An Epic deal for Google?
Epic and Google propose new rules for how you monetise your games
Chart Rankings
October 2025 mobile game charts: New hits rise as PUBG Mobile falls
Our monthly look at the global mobile game rankings across the App Store and Google Play
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
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...
Hot Five
Hot Five: Supercell is shutting down Squad Busters, Pokémon TCG Pocket hits $1.3bn, and Google Play opens up
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
New Games
New release roundup: Hill Climb Racing 3, Monopoly Go Chat, Angry Birds Match World, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
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
Busted
Supercell will shut down Squad Busters next year
Decision marks the first time ever the famous Finnish studio has closed a live game
Cracked Open
US Google Play store opens up to alternative payments in boost for DTC
Injunction will run until November 1st, 2027
Revved Up
"We kind of forgot that we're a game developer": Fingersoft's journey to Hill Climb Racing 3
Chief growth officer Daniel Rantala gives us the lowdown on the series' history and where the studio is headed for its future
Soft Launch
Fingersoft soft-launches Hill Climb Racing 3
Sequel to popular series is available on Google Play in the UK, Norway, Sweden and Finland
Boat Game
Supercell’s Boat Game sets sail for second alpha test
Could Boat Game be Supercell's next global release?
Investment News
Sensor Tower secures new investment for generative AI insights
Market intelligence firm aims to fuel its genAI ambitions with new capital
Chat App
Scopely releases Monopoly Go Chat app
After amassing $5 billion and millions of players, the publisher looks to expand on the mobile game's blockbuster success
Soft Launch
Rovio soft-launches Angry Birds Match World
Famous mobile IP returns to match-3 with latest release
Ai-first
Is Krafton's $69 million AI-first shift a sign of things to come?
The PUBG maker is saying publicly what some other publishers are doing privately
Podcast | Episode 69
The big AWS crash and Google delays Android regulation | 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 69...
Feedback
Have your say: Consultation for the EU's Digital Fairness Act ends on October 24th
The European Commission is currently taking feedback on the proposed regulations
Eu Regulation
Podcast: The EU's Digital Fairness Act and what it means for the games industry explained
Arcanix CSO Oscar Clark and Flux Digital Policy director of policy and public affairs Celia Pontin delve into potential impact on free-to-play
Podcast | Episode 68
The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers revealed, and crisis in the EU's games industry | 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 68...
Sponsorship Deal
Xsolla extends Stevenage FC sponsorship to 2028
Partnership with English football club will run until at least the 2027 to 2028 season
Wake-up Call
Ilkka's wake-up call for the games industry
It's time for the industry to take action rather than sit around and wait
Podcast | Episode 67
The $55bn EA acquisition unpacked | 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 67...
Behind The Curtain
Who are EA's new owners?
A look at Saudi Arabia's PIF, Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and Unity investor Silver Lake
Mega Deal
It’s official: EA agrees $55bn buyout deal
Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners swoop for publisher in all-cash deal
Buyout Speculation
What might a $55bn EA buyout mean?
Games industry analysts offer their insights on what a potential deal could mean
Top 50
Top 50 Mobile Game Makers revealed at PGC Helsinki next week
Prestigious list will be unveiled on October 7th live at the show
Podcast | Episode 66
UGC platform revenue share, app store competition, and Fire Emblem's surprise launch | 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 66...
Game-changing Deal
Report: EA in talks to go private at $50bn valuation
Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners working on deal that could be announced as soon as next week
Swipe Right?
Skich hatches plan to be the "Steam for mobile gaming"
But can alternative mobile marketplaces really compete?
Key Hires
DTC platform Stash names ex-Homa president Henry Lowenfels as CEO
Company makes wave of senior hires as it plots mission to democratise direct-to-consumer for all studios
Soft Cancel
EA Sports FC Empires canned
EA Sports FC Tactical looks like it could be next up after it was last updated in April
Closure
Toca Boca Days shuts down after 16 months in soft launch
Servers taken offline on August 25th, 2025 as developer looks to focus on other projects
Bouncing In
Angry Birds Rush mobile game soft-launches in the US
Title blends classic slingshot mechanics with runner-like gameplay
New Games
New Release roundup: Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra, Match Dreams, Underwatermelon, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Hot Five
Hot Five: Destiny Rising hits 1m installs, Firaxis layoffs, and how Screw Master 3D scaled to global markets
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
The Transmedia Train
Gaming continues its transmedia expansion
Call of Duty becomes the latest major games IP to get the film treatment
New Games
New release roundup: The King of Fighters AFK, Riftbusters, Retro Bowl 26, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Podcast | Episode 65
Gamescom insights and India's shock real-money gaming ban | 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 65...
Story-driven Games
Female-first UGC platform Dorian partners with Women’s Game Fest
The Boost Track gives developers the chance to compete for a $500 gran, 1:1 coaching and game promotion
Shifting Market
What next for Finland's games industry?
Ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki on October 7th to 8th, we take a look at a transformative time for the sector
Seismic Shift
India's games companies scramble as real-money ban wipes billions off market
The legislation has seen companies and investors lose hundreds of millions of dollars from a previously fast-rising industry
Gamescom Insights
4 takeaways from Devcom and Gamescom 2025: The DTC revolution, Asian publishers make a splash, and room for optimism
We analyse some of the big stories and trends coming out of Europe's largest games expo
Understanding Players
Decision traps in live game development
InnoGames product manager Anna Sieprawska discusses player feedback and understanding context