Trends & Predictions
Breaking down Newzoo's trend predictions for 2023
The latest report from data analyst Newzoo predicts a pivot to service-based models and the take up of hybrid monetization strategies
Staff
Iwan Morris
Job Title
Staff Writer
About Iwan is a Cardiff-based freelance writer, who joined the Pocket Gamer Biz site fresh-faced from University before moving to the Pocketgamer.com editorial team in November of 2023.
Articles by Iwan Morris
Esports
Challengermode’s Phil Hubner talks about breaking down the barrier of casual multiplayer and grassroots eSports
We get the chance to put forward a number of questions to Challengermode’s Phil Hubner about how the company aims to make eSports more accessible
Asia
Xsolla opens new offices in Kuala Lumpur
Continuing a trend of investment in the region, video game commerce company Xsolla has opened new Malaysian offices
Anniversaries
Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links celebrates sixth anniversary
The mobile card game version of the popular Yu-Gi-Oh franchise celebrates it’s sixth anniversary this January
Events
World of Tanks Terminator 2 event makes the jump from mobile to PC
World of Tank’s latest collaboration event with classic film Terminator 2 was first available through their mobile spin-off
Services
Apple Arcade receives prominent mention in letter by Eddy Cue
Apple’s senior vice-president of Services penned a letter extolling Apple’s achievements
Openings
NetEase Games set to open new Barcelona branch office
The Chinese gaming giant is set to make another mark in Europe, with the opening of a Barcelona office, including professionals from PC, console and mobile
Advertising
Mobile ad spend predicted to hit $362bn in 2023
Data.ai’s State of Mobile report shows the continuous growth of mobile ad spend over the past 4 years, and predicts it will hit a new high in 2023
Launches
Fingersoft launches Lego Hillclimb Adventure into beta
As a spin-off from their lucrative Hillclimb Racing series, Fingersoft have secured the licence for Lego Hillclimb Adventures
Funding
Mobile game subscription start-up Multiscription announces $1.6m funding round
Multiscription seeks to offer developers a way to incorporate subscription services into their games
Uk Games Industry
UKIE releases new UK Games Map, indicates 31% increase in companies
The UK Interactive Entertainment trade association has released their newest version of their UK Games Map, including key info and insights
Esports
eSports sponsorships are falling, but mobile could weather the storm
Unlike other sponsors, who struggle to understand the audience that consumes eSports, mobile sponsorships are in a unique position to expand
Hires
Ogury appoints new CEO Geoffroy Martin
Mobile adtech company Ogury have appointed a new CEO, amidst apparently major plans for 2023
Mobile Investment
Dubai’s new economic plan could benefit mobile development
Dubai’s new economic development plan may result in a big boost to the UAE’s largest city, but will it boost the country’s game industry?
International
Can the Chinese mobile gaming industry bounce back in 2023?
With the end of zero-covid and other regulatory restrictions, can the Chinese mobile gaming industry come back to prominence?
Pledges
Netmarble joins United Nations Global Compact
Netmarble has taken steps towards greater equity and sustainability by joining the United Nations Global Compact initiative
Business
Sea Ltd freezes salaries for most staff at end of 2022
As the year wrapped up, Sea Ltd, owner of mobile developer Garena, froze salaries for staff and paid out lower bonuses for 2022
Monetisation
Vampire Survivors developer takes new approach to monetisation
In a Steam update, poncle, the developers of popular roguelike action game Vampire Survivors discussed their difficulties in bringing the game to mobile
Investment
Turkish developer Ace Games lands new $8m investment
The Turkish developer Ace Games, whose stakeholders include publisher Playtika, received $8m in investment late last year
Stocks
Apple’s market value dropped below $2tn over Christmas. What’s gone wrong?
Apple’s stock price has taken a battering and the previously untouchable giant of smartphones has an uncertain 2023 ahead
Streaming
Nvidia GeForce NOW comes to cars with auto maker partnership
Nvidia’s game streaming service is coming to cars, in partnership with manufacturers such as Hyundai
Collaborations
World of Tanks: Blitz continues collab spree with Terminator 2 in-game event
Hot off the back of their holiday event, World of Tanks: Blitz are offering another collab event based around the Terminator 2 movie
Revenue
Genshin Impact surpasses $4bn in lifetime revenue
Genshin Impact hits new revenue highs, bringing in over $4bn of revenue within two years of launch
Chinese Market
TikTok developer ByteDance makes additional layoffs
New layoffs run in the hundreds and are across various divisions including gaming
Company Culture
Blizzard’s end of year roundup pledges greater culture change
Mike Ybarra’s end of year roundup pledged more culture change from Blizzard and a ‘player first’ approach
Advertising
Frameplay’s Cary Tilds on intrinsic advertising and measuring interaction
Monetization in mobile has often been contingent on advertising, but companies like Frameplay are placing their bets on a new way, intrinsic advertising
Esports
PUBG Mobile tops battle-royale eSports charts for 2022
A number of mobile or cross-platform titles made up the Top 5 for battle-royale eSports in 2022, suggesting emerging trends
App Stores
Is Tim Sweeney hinting at the return of Fortnite to iOS?
A cryptic tweet from Epic CEO, Tim Sweeney, may hint at the return of the battle-royale game Fortnite to iOS
Regulation
China lifts licencing freeze with 44 new approved international games
Chinese regulators granted 44 licences for international games to be distributed in the country, including to major corporation Tencent
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – December’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Time for December
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – August’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. This time, it’s August
2022 Highlights
BIG Stories of 2022 - The rise of mobile in new nations
2022 has seen major shifts in the mobile gaming industry, amongst them new markets and nations are rising or coming into vogue. Let’s take a look at the one to watch come 2023.
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – April’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. This time, it’s April.
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – February’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. This time, we zoom in on February
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – January’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Starting with… January
Acquivision Blizzard
Microsoft hits back at FTC's Activision-Blizzard block
Microsoft has called the lawsuit filed by the FTC attempting to block their Activision-Blizzard takeover 'unconstitutional'
China
Tencent chief blasts ‘corruption’ in company according to employees
According to recent reports, Tencent’s internal structure is rife with corruption and mismanagement, as Ma Huateng shifts blame
Academia
Playtika partners with Israeli universities to offer gaming related courses
Israeli mobile developer Playtika is set to partner with local universities to offer gaming-related courses
Lawsuits
This time it's personal: 10 gamers launch a lawsuit to block Activision-Blizzard deal
As if it couldn't get any worse. Now Activision-Blizzard is facing another lawsuit, this time from a small group of gamers
Legislation
Video game legislation isn’t child’s play
Legislation around loot boxes and video game addiction all broadly target younger people, but consideration needs to be given to the much larger, older audience too
Recruitment
InnoGames boasts of salary transparency success
InnoGames has boasted of filling all 19 of their available vacancies within two months after publishing the salary bands for their roles
Shuttering
Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, to shutter in 2023
The endless runner spin-off from the iconic Crash Bandicoot franchise will close it’s servers on February 16th
Insights
Nware talk cloud gaming, mobile and more
Madrid-based Nware is one of many cloud gaming companies throwing their hat into the ring, we spoke to them about their views on the industry and where they’re going
Legislation
EU calls for greater player protections in video games
As part of a number of recent announcements and initiatives, the EU consumer protection committee has called for controls on loot boxes and increased player protection
Regulation
What does Finland’s lootbox law actually do?
Loot Boxes may fallen out of vogue as a target of gamer and regulator ire, but their control and restriction is still being debated by regulators
Artificial Intelligence
AI promises to make your game for you. But there’s a catch.
Procedural generation is nothing new in games, but can 'Generational AI' actually make a difference?
Updates
Netmarble's Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds sees seasonal holiday update
The mobile spin-off of the Miyazaki-inspired console games now sees a holiday-themed update for the winter period
Announcements
Rogue Company comes to mobile with Rogue Company: Elite
The Hero Shooter comes to mobile with the release of Rogue Company: Elite with pre-registration now open
Restructuring
My.Games to divest entirely from Russian market and restructure
The new owners of the My.Games platform have announced their intention to divest it entirely from the Russian market and refocus internationally
Funding
Developer Jarvi Games raises $2m in seed funding round
The developer is working on ‘Vice Online’, a game inspired by the Grand Theft Auto franchise