Inclusivity
Zynga's Virtual Diversity Platform encourages inclusivity in gaming
Zynga studio NaturalMotion has created Access All Areas, a virtual studio to encourage diversity in games
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
Cloud Gaming
Utomik Cloud comes to mobile with Android release
Another service throws their hat into the ring of cloud gaming with the gaming app Utomik on Android
Commentary
"The FTC is facing an uphill battle." Lifestreet CEO Levi Matkins talks Activision-Blizzard lawsuit
With the FTC attempting to block the Activision-Blizzard acquisition deal with a lawsuit, our experts ponder what could happen next
Awards
2022 Pocket Gamer Awards finish the year in style. And the award goes to…
Last night, our sister site PocketGamer.com held their annual awards. Read on to find out more about the night and those mobile winners
Collaborations
Infinite Drive partners with Aston Martin for official collaboration
Developers The Tiny Digital Factory will see Aston Martin cars brought to their game as part of an official collaboration with the car manufacturer
Release Dates
Niantic's NBA All-World to launch in 2023 with more glimpses of gameplay given
Niantic’s new collaborative game produced with the NBA is set to go live in January of next year
Acquisitions
EU Commission argues against FTC lawsuit to halt Activision-Blizzard deal
The EU commission has released a statement criticising the FTC’s decision, which may open up the path in Europe at least for the acquisition
Cloud Gaming
Riot Games brings PC & mobile titles to Xbox Game Pass
MOBA giant Riot Games is bringing not only it’s PC titles such as League of Legends and Valorant to Game Pass, but it’s mobile titles too
Esports
Snapdragon Pro Series goes to Japan for Brawl Stars final in Tokyo
The Snapdragon Pro Series, hot off their announced partnership with Samsung, continues to feature heavily in DreamHack events, now at the Brawl Stars final in Tokyo
Artificial Intelligence
Making mobile game ads using AI. It’s possible, but is it useful?
Alongside discussion about the feasibility of using AI to create game assets, could (and should) you use AI to create advertising for mobile games too?
Development
Could, and should, mobile devs use AI for asset creation?
AI art has become a hotly debated tool in the creative industry, a fact that’s unlikely to die down anytime soon, but could, and should mobile devs use it?
Updates
Seven Knights 2 sees additional updates with two new heroes
Netmarble’s RPG battler is seeing two new heroes and an even further extended anniversary event for it’s latest update
Announcements
Devolver Digital announces “Devolver Tumble Time”
Devolver’s latest game looks to be an innovative new spin on the hypercasual genre featuring recognisable characters from their various franchises
Releases
Vampire Survivors surprise launches on mobile
The popular roguelike ‘bullet hell’ game comes to mobile from developer poncle, ‘100% free, for real’
Awards
Awards are great… but they aren’t worth fighting over
As Genshin Impact and Sonic are pitted against one another in the Player's Choice vote, we have to ask, is it worth fighting over an award?
Stocks
Embracer Group approved for Stockholm exchange
The news means that Embracer will now be traded on the Nasdaq Stockholm and not the First Growth North exchange
Multiplayer
Epic debuts family-friendly cabined accounts for its games
In an attempt to appeal to parents whose kids play their various games, Epic Games is debuting a new type of ‘Cabined accounts’ for players on PC, console and mobile
Representation
King leads the pack in Activision-Blizzard's 2022 representation report
Activision-Blizzard’s latest effort to be more transparent reveals information about their representation and diversity in the workplace, with mobile arm King coming out on top
Strategy Observation
CDPR on mobile, where have they been and where are they going?
CD Projekt Red’s long-term strategy update indicated an increased focus on mobile, but their actions yesterday might confuse some. So, what’s the story so far?
Collaborations
Qualcomm Snapdragon Pro Series to partner with Samsung
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Pro mobile eSports tournament will exclusively utilise Samsung devices
App Store Updates
Apple adds new price points to App Store and support for foreign currency
Apple had previously required developers to adhere to a set amount of price points for their games and apps, this latest update adds many new ones
Shuttering
Witcher: Monster Slayer to shut-down and developer Spokko to shutter
The Witcher: Monster Slayer, will be shut down early next year alongside its developer Spokko, whose talent will be folded into CDPR
Milestones
Goddess of Victory: Nikke hits $70m revenue in first month of release
The shooter-gacha game has seen massive success, topping even Diablo Immortal and Genshin Impact in the charts
Outside News
Chinese game services go dark in memory of former Chinese premier
A National Day of Mourning in China includes the temporary cessation of services for money online games on multiple platforms
Milestones
Homa’s Merge Master reaches 100m downloads
Homa, formerly Homa Games, announce that it and developer Fusee's title Merge Master had accrued 100m downloads
Updates
Fortnite Chapter 4: Rebooting a smash hit to keep players playing
With the latest trailer and set of collaborations revealed, once again we get to see how Epic Games works hard to keep its flagship battle royale game fresh
Report
Saudi Arabia games report reveals a development community that's ripe for expansion
A report by Savvy Games Group subsidiary Nine66 reveals some key findings about the growing Saudi games market
Sunsetting
Gwent sees the end of further card development as CD Projekt Red aims to hands its keys to fans
Gwent will cease adding new cards at the end of 2023 but ‘Project Gwentfinity’ will hand control of the game to its fans
Awards
In-Depth: All the winners from the Google Play Awards 2022
We’ve covered Apex Legends Mobile’s sweep of the Apple and Google Awards for 2022, but what else got the nod from the Play Store?
User Acquisition
New tech aims to boost user acquisition in a post-IDFA world
With Google set to follow suit with Apple’s ‘walled garden’ approach to data privacy, companies are finding new ways of understanding their audience and marketing to them
Alternative App Stores
Flexion to sign third alternative app store publishing deal with tap4fun
The games marketing company has been signed on for a third consecutive deal to publish tap4fun’s game Age of Apes to alternative app stores
Analysis
Tencent aims to branch from mobile for their big international push
In a recent interview, Tencent global games CEO Michelle Liu said the company’s future lay in the AAA side of games and moving away from mobile as it moves into the international market
Netflix
Desta developer Ustwo reveals why they took the game to Netflix
Developer of Desta: The Memories Between, Ustwo Games revealed why they brought it to Netflix Games
Hires
SYBO appoints Rovio Vet, Philip Hickey, as new Chief Marketing Officer
Philip Hickey will replace outgoing Naz Amarchi-Cuevas, as Chief Marketing Officer at SYBO
Feature
What does it mean for Activision-Blizzard and Take-Two to be mobile first?
The two titans of console and PC gaming have seen their revenue share take a massive turn, becoming mobile first. So, what does this mean for them and for the industry?
Esports
Snapdragon Pro Series to host Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars eSports final
With a $100,000 prize-pool, the Snapdragon Pro Series will be hosting the Mobile Challenge finals for Brawl Stars and Clash of Clans
Soft-launches
Call of Duty Warzone Mobile soft launches in Australia
The announcement of the soft launch came late yesterday and sees the hotly anticipated Warzone Mobile first arriving in Australia
Awards
Apex Legends Mobile picks up Google Play Award for Best Overall Game of 2022
The mobile port of the AAA battle royale game snatched the honour for Best Overall Game, repeating its success in Apple's recent awards
Retention & Revenue
How to boost revenue and player retention with in-game collaborations
In-game collaborations have become increasingly popular, and according to new research they’re highly effective at monetization, retention and more
Mtg Game Maker's Day
In Depth With MTG's Flow Platform And Behind-The-Scenes With Its CEOs
MTG’s Game Makers Day brought out some interesting and insightful comments into how their ‘Game Village’ concept works across their studios
Mobile Masterworks
Mobile Masterworks: Angry Birds
What made Angry Birds one of the biggest series in mobile, arguably sparking the rise of mobile gaming as we know it today?
Hypercasual
Why can’t hypercasual hang onto players in Japan?
Although hypercasual sees the most installs in Japan, players are switching off in favour of role-playing, action and puzzle games
Awards
Apex Legends Mobile snatches iPhone Game of the Year at Apple's Awards
The Apple Awards celebrate not only the major apps on iOS but also the games with Apex Legends Mobile snatching iPhone game of the year
Milestones
Yu-Gi-Oh! MASTER DUEL passes 50m downloads milestone, announces new tournament
The app version of the popular card game has racked up 50m downloads in just nine months, followed by an announcement of a new influencer-run tournament
Key Hires
MY.GAMES sees key hires following their onward sale by VK
Following their acquisition by LETA Capital after VK sold out due to Russia/Ukraine economic difficulties, MY.GAMES looks set to rebuild and re establish itself with key hires
Pivots
Hypercasual game dev Gamejam Co. rebrands to Superfine and releases Web3 growth platform
Pivoting from their hypercasual mobile titles, Gamejam Co. is now known as Superfine, moving into the world of Web3 with their new growth platform
Esports
Mobile strategy game Polytopia integrates eSports support in-app with Challengermode
The Battle of Polytopia, a mobile-based 4x strategy game, has become one of numerous mobile games moving to integrate full eSports support
Vacancies, Or Not
Vacancy trends show UK games industry continues to slump despite mobile holdouts
Although most disciplines and companies closed or filled vacancies this year, a few key areas and companies are still hiring
Market Analysis
Digital future to be led by Mexico, Slovakia and Saudi Arabia, as China set to feel brunt of global slump
A breakdown of growing digital markets sees China slump, and a shift in the top three growing markets, which affects mobile gaming
Updates
Krafton reaches November update for New State mobile
Krafton’s latest update for the second instalment in the PUBG franchise includes additional mechanics, and may be a new source of focus