Nintendo Switch 2 release date reaction and Tencent's bizarre Ubisoft deal | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 48

Nintendo Switch 2 release date reaction and Tencent's bizarre Ubisoft deal | 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 48...

a16z speedrun opens applications for fifth event with up to $1m on offer

a16z speedrun opens applications for fifth event with up to $1m on offer

SR005 kicks off in July 2025

HYBE Interactive Media secures $21m to bring K-pop artists to games

HYBE Interactive Media secures $21m to bring K-pop artists to games

Anticipation for MMORPG Architect: Land of Exile played a key role in the latest deal

Tencent props up Ubisoft leadership, and Pokémon gets the LEGO treatment | Week in Views

Tencent props up Ubisoft leadership, and Pokémon gets the LEGO treatment | Week in Views

The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories

Kameha Ventures launches $27m fund to support game tech startups

Investment News

Kameha Ventures launches $27m fund to support game tech startups

The team will provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and long-term backing for early-stage founders

Supercell steps up investment arm push

Supercell steps up investment arm push

Developer calls on companies to reach for potential partnerships on new website

Tencent invests $1.25bn in new Ubisoft subsidiary focused on top IP

Investment Deal

Tencent invests $1.25bn in new Ubisoft subsidiary focused on top IP

Spin-off includes licences and teams for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry

Türkiye's Feraset secures $4.5m to expand AI-powered consumer apps

Investment News

Türkiye's Feraset secures $4.5m to expand AI-powered consumer apps

The funds will go towards scaling its marketing efforts and working towards increasing its global subscriber count

Planetarium Labs secures $3m funding to expand Immortal Rising 2

Investment News

Planetarium Labs secures $3m funding to expand Immortal Rising 2

The funds will go towards enhancing gameplay mechanics and growing the community

Uthana raises $4.3m with open beta for AI-powered animation platform

Investment News

Uthana raises $4.3m with open beta for AI-powered animation platform

The brand said its Motion Library offers over 10,000 animations searchable by natural language

Opus Major raises $10m to develop debut game and expand team

Opus Major raises $10m to develop debut game and expand team

The studio is led by ex-Madbox founders Jean-Nicolas Vernin and Pierre-Armand Nicq

SekGames Secures Pre-Seed Investment from Qatar Development Bank

Investment News

SekGames Secures Pre-Seed Investment from Qatar Development Bank

Funds will go towards expanding its team and enhancing its mobile offerings

PhilosopherKing raises $3m in seed funding to bolster AI-driven storytelling

Storytelling Seed

PhilosopherKing raises $3m in seed funding to bolster AI-driven storytelling

The funding round was led by 468 Capital and 212

PlaysOut raises $7 million to boost mini-game ecosystem

Investment News

PlaysOut raises $7 million to boost mini-game ecosystem

This latest round brings the company's valuation to $70m

Games industry investment overdrive | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 46

Games industry investment overdrive | 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 46...

Nunu.ai secures $6m to scale AI Agents for game QA

Nunu.ai secures $6m to scale AI Agents for game QA

This brings the platform's total funding to $8m after a $2m pre-seed round in 2024

Niantic Spatial spin-off nets $250m funding after Scopely acquisition

Niantic Spatial spin-off nets $250m funding after Scopely acquisition

Monopoly Go developer is investing $50m into the tech firm

Show Me The Money: Jam City agrees Ludia sale, Scopely's rumoured $3.5bn Niantic deal, and MTG acquires Plarium in February 2025

Show Me The Money: Jam City agrees Ludia sale, Scopely's rumoured $3.5bn Niantic deal, and MTG acquires Plarium in February 2025

Our deal tracker highlights the key acquisitions, investments, and partnerships from the last month

Felicity Games raises $3m to boost Indian game publishing and global expansion

Funding For Games

Felicity Games raises $3m to boost Indian game publishing and global expansion

Publisher aims to provide Indian studios with the tools and support to compete globally.

Good Job Games secures $23m investment round

Seed Round Secured

Good Job Games secures $23m investment round

The round was led by Menlo Ventures and Arcadia Gaming Partners’ new fund

PvX Partners secures $3.8m seed funding to scale games and consumer apps

PvX Partners secures $3.8m seed funding to scale games and consumer apps

Founding team include NetEase, Mobile Premier League and Morgan Stanley veterans

Monopoly World developer Reality Games raises $4.7m

Monopoly World developer Reality Games raises $4.7m

Studio plans to expand title into new markets after launching in Poland and the Philippines

App distribution platform Applivery secures strategic investment from Supercell

Investment News

App distribution platform Applivery secures strategic investment from Supercell

Investment will go towards growth in device and software management worldwide

Liminal raises $5.8 million to empower player creativity using AI

Liminal raises $5.8 million to empower player creativity using AI

“A positive vision of the future should recognise the power of AI to ignite the imaginations of players of all ages,” said Liminal founder and CEO Brendan Mulligan

Tilting Point launches $150m UA fund to support game developers

Funding For Games

Tilting Point launches $150m UA fund to support game developers

Developers retain “full autonomy" over their marketing strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

New studios emerge, and Pokémon Sleep hits $150m | Week in Views

February 28, 2025

New studios emerge, and Pokémon Sleep hits $150m | Week in Views

The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories

Turkish studio Surpass Games secures $1.5m to “redefine

February 26, 2025

Funding For Games

Turkish studio Surpass Games secures $1.5m to “redefine" the hybridcasual puzzle genre

The studio is led by former Fomo Games and Zynga staff

Finnish startup Seven Stars secures seed round to build “next-gen

February 25, 2025

Funding For Games

Finnish startup Seven Stars secures seed round to build “next-gen" puzzle games

Spintop Ventures and Behold Ventures co-led the investment with Sisu Game Ventures

Saudi Social Development Bank backs esports and game development with $122m

February 24, 2025

Saudi Social Development Bank backs esports and game development with $122m

The expanded financing portfolio has supported over 30 clients across esports, game development and publishing

Good Job Games Secures investment from Menlo Ventures

February 21, 2025

Investment News

Good Job Games Secures investment from Menlo Ventures

The investment raises Good Job Games’ valuation to over $100 million

Meeple Corp secures $629,000 funding to bring tabletop games to digital platforms

February 19, 2025

Funding For Games

Meeple Corp secures $629,000 funding to bring tabletop games to digital platforms

Its debut game, Kingdomino Digital will release later this year

Abertay University launches £9 million lab to boost Scotland's games and entertainment sectors

February 19, 2025

Abertay University launches £9 million lab to boost Scotland's games and entertainment sectors

Investment will provide opportunities and support for UK technology companies across the creative industries

Spoilz secures strategic investment to launch new IPs

February 14, 2025

Investment News

Spoilz secures strategic investment to launch new IPs

The studio said it will form new partnerships, uplift local talent, and improve monetisation

Turkish games industry success

February 11, 2025

Turkish games industry success "deeply rooted" in mobile with total $935m in capital since 2020

investgame’s Five Years of The Rising Gaming Empire: Türkiye report found Dream Games has seen the highest level of investment of any Turkish games studio

Jordan eyes significant investment to grow local games and tech sectors

February 10, 2025

Jordan Investments

Jordan eyes significant investment to grow local games and tech sectors

Speakers at the online event Expanding Horizons: Doing Business in Jordan discussed establishing private businesses in Jordan, employment law and more

Playable Factory gets strategic investment from Ludus Ventures

February 6, 2025

Investment News

Playable Factory gets strategic investment from Ludus Ventures

“It will enable us to become a stronger player globally and accelerate our expansion into new markets." said Playable Factory CEO Berat Oğuz

Show Me the Money: Nodwin’s $55M Esports Deal, Grand Games’ $30M funding, and Pokémon’s $400M smash | January

February 4, 2025

Show Me the Money: Nodwin’s $55M Esports Deal, Grand Games’ $30M funding, and Pokémon’s $400M smash | January

Our deal tracker highlights the key acquisitions, investments, and partnerships from the last month

Social games platform Little Umbrella lands $2 million in funding

January 31, 2025

Investment News

Social games platform Little Umbrella lands $2 million in funding

It will use the funds to scale its live ops operations and fast-track the launch of new titles

Report: Games industry M&As valued at $10.5 billion in 2024 with 21% volume increase

January 30, 2025

Delivering Deals

Report: Games industry M&As valued at $10.5 billion in 2024 with 21% volume increase

Drake Star’s Global Gaming Report 2024 highlighted the biggest investors of the year from venture capitalists to games studios

Pixion reaches $12.4m in total investments for web3 RPG Fableborne

January 29, 2025

Pixion reaches $12.4m in total investments for web3 RPG Fableborne

The latest round was led by Delphi Ventures with further support from Animoca Brands, Sky Mavis and more

Aonic invests $10m in Mega Fortuna as part of $70m acquisition plan

January 15, 2025

Investment News

Aonic invests $10m in Mega Fortuna as part of $70m acquisition plan

Mega Fortuna is best known for its flagship platform Richie Games

Grand Games lands $30m in Series A funding

January 13, 2025

Funding For Games

Grand Games lands $30m in Series A funding

The studio aims to launch a flagship title later this year

Show Me The Money: Aonic receives €152m, Vgames lands $142m, and Stillfront secures $227m in December

January 3, 2025

Show Me The Money: Aonic receives €152m, Vgames lands $142m, and Stillfront secures $227m in December

Our deal tracker highlights the key acquisitions, investments, and partnerships from the last month

Ray Browser raises $6.5m to boost web-based gaming

December 20, 2024

Ray Browser raises $6.5m to boost web-based gaming

The funds will be used to develop the platform, expand its team and cultivate industry partnerships