Global Trends
Global Trends: Pocket Gems CEO Ben Liu on the art of making great games and the need for "luck and magic"
We catch up with industry leaders to get their insights on the state of play in the games sector
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
Investment News
Aonic receives €152 million investment to fuel M&A
Games group includes nDreams, TutoToons, Red Games, Exmox, Gravite and more
Podcast | Episode 40
Games industry trends 2024 review | 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 40...
Iterating On Ideas
The illusion of iteration with Monument Valley
Ustwo and Monument Valley 3 game director Jennifer Estaris discusses the development of Monument Valley
Sale Boost
Zynga sells Chartboost to LoopMe
Publisher had previously bought mobile ads and monetisation platform in a $250 million deal in 2021
Podcast | Episode 39
Mobile's hot new releases and the loot box investigation 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 and what's inside this week's episode 39...
Loot Box Investigation
Are the UK's top grossing mobile games really breaking loot box rules?
We delve into the BBC's claims that only two out of the top 45 revenue-generating titles are following the ASA's rules on loot box disclosures
Global Trends
Global Trends: Mattel163 CEO Amy Huang on accessibility, user acquisition, and DEI
We catch up with industry leaders to get their insights on the state of play in the games sector
Podcast | Episode 38
Xbox and Adjust mishandle their PR and Supercell's culture revolution | 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 38...
What Is Happening?
What is Microsoft doing on mobile?
Xbox's messy mobile plans stumble again
Still Waiting
Microsoft delays Xbox Android store after US court temporarily pauses Google Play remedies
Tech giant claims mobile store is "ready to go"
Podcast | Episode 37
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's blockbuster launch and Royal Kingdom hype | 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 37...
Culture Change
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen: “I was actually quite worried about the company”
"The problem was that we were trying to solve these two very different problems using exactly the same type of approach"
Fireside Chat
Full Slush 2024 transcript: Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on the Clash of Clans developer's evolving culture
Paananen goes in-depth on Supercell's evolution, touch choices, and changes to new and live game development
Executive Shuffle
Adjust names new CEO amid layoffs
Andrey Kazakov returns to the company to take the top role
Job Losses
AppLovin-owned Adjust lays off staff
Mobile app measurement firm was acquired in April 2021
Mobile's New Kings
Royal Kingdom is here - Are new hits reshaping the top grossing mobile games charts?
Analysing the new kings of mobile gaming
Jobs Roundup
November's Mobile Movers and Shakers: PlayStation's new head of mobile, Noice appoints CEO, Ubisoft names CPO, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Super Raise
SuperScale raises $1.2 million for analytics service SuperPlatform
New toolset provides datapoints across marketing, product and finance into a single AI-powered platform
Job Changes
PlayStation’s Olivier Courtemanche named head of mobile in executive shakeup
Justin Kubiak has been named as the company’s new head of business development and partnerships
Podcast | Episode 36
Games industry M&A hits overdrive with Plarium and Easybrain deals | 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 36...
Burning Out
Are developers burnt out on mobile?
Start-ups eye a new future for mobile games
Investment Round
Former Supercell devs at Bit Odd raise $18m investment
Funding round led by Griffin Gaming with participation from Makers Fund, Index Ventures and others
No-brainer?
Miniclip purchases Easybrain from Embracer for $1.2bn
Casual games developer moves on after it was purchased for $640 million back in 2021
Rewarded Ua
How Almedia is riding the rewarded play wave
Freecash has become one of the top newcomers in the rewarded user acquisition space that has taken off this year
Global Trends
Global Trends: FunPlus CBO Chris Petrovic talks IP, AI's potential and going cross-platform
We catch up with industry leaders to get their insights on the state of play in the games sector
Getting Into Games
Should you be a generalist or specialise?
Our panel of industry experts discuss making your way in the industry at Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan
Mena's Rising Star
How government investment is fueling rapid growth in the MENA region
The fast-growing market is levelling up its gaming ecosystems and development talent
Job Losses
“Majority” of Sharkmob London studio hit by layoffs
Company confirms layoffs as staff say most of the team has been let go
Growing Team
Steel Media adds two new biz dev hires as Pocket Gamer Connects expands globally
Suzanne Smith and Mark O'Leary join business development team
Podcast | Episode 35
Facebook Instant Games is back! And Games First 2024 takeaways | 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 35...
Super Space Ape
Supercell establishes London studio with 100% acquisition of Space Ape
Clash of Clans developer aims to tap UK talent with full purchase Beatstar maker
Netflix Ai
Netflix appoints Mike Verdu as VP of GenAI for games
Streaming giant eyes potential for AI to power its games business
Instant Games
Remember Facebook Instant Games? It’s back
The long-awaited introduction of in-app purchases on iOS is another example of a new era for games
New Studio
Supercell invests in Barcelona-based studio Penguin Armada
PC-first developer working on top-down PvP title
Games First Takeaways
4 takeaways from Supercell’s Games First Helsinki 2024
We round up the insights from a day of deep dives into the industry and game design practices
Brawl Stars Character Creation
5 creative pillars for designing Brawlers in Supercell's Brawl Stars
Supercell's Fernanda Oliveira on how the team creates characters for Brawl Stars
Games First Helsinki
Trip Hawkins: Broken business models, the importance of social, and industry forecasts
The former EA CEO and founder offers his insights on the state of the market
Layoffs
Fingersoft lays off 14 staff after “substantial decline” in ad revenue
"With this year’s substantial decline in ad revenue, adjustments to our cost structure became essential," says CEO
Podcast | Episode 34
Subscription without upsell is death! And IDFA changes are good now? | 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 34...
Games, Everwhere
Everything is a games platform
Discord, LinkedIn, Telegram - everyone wants in on gaming
A New Path Forward?
Why the ex-Supercell and King devs at Antihero think IDFA changes are a positive turn for the mobile games industry
CEO Brice Laville Saint-Martin discusses his new studio's big ambitions for social gaming and why the games industry lacks marketing innovation
Supercell London
Supercell hiring London team for Squad Busters
Three roles currently open for a "small cross-functional team" in the UK
Studio Closure
PopReach Games closes Vancouver studio
Owner Ionik noted the sale of its games business by the end of Q2, but the division's status is unclear
Podcast | Episode 33
Destiny: Rising heads to mobile and Unity's charm offensive | 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 33...
Incredible Indies
Incredible Indies: Max Inferno on bringing A Little to the Left to mobile and the "deflating" experience of copycats
Co-director Lukas Steinman discusses bringing the hit PC and console game to mobile and how the team deals with copycats
Jobs News
Supercell’s first-ever chief marketing officer departs
Fernanda Romano joined the Finnish developer as part of a shakeup in its management structure
Podcast | Episode 32
Breaking down Google Play's Judgement Day | 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 32...
Rise Of The Stores
Google Play’s Judgement Day - Does it matter?
The tech giant's next potential steps and whether rivals can change the status quo in just three years
Incredible Indies
Incredible Indies: How Punko.io aims to be part of a new wave of hybridcasual titles redefining mobile gaming
Agonalea Games co-founder Pedro Aira talks about the team's charming new tower defence title that aims to shake up the genre