The Web3 Way
Supercell invests in web3 startup GFAL led by King, EA and Activision Blizzard veterans
GFAL has closed a $3.2 million seed funding round to grow its team and accelerate Elemental Raiders
Gaming Trends
TIGA's 10-point plan for 2024 aims to boost UK games industry
The proposed initiatives include new tax credits, a games accelerator, an investment fund, and skills programs, with the potential to create 2,660 development jobs by 2028
Gameexpo Summit
Explore publishing, investment and Web3 at the Dubai GameExpo Summit
The Publishing Power, Investment Insight and Web3 Wonders tracks this May 2nd
Investment News
Auctus Capital Partners and Remote Control to invest in European games companies
Their Prestiged fund will invest in financially stable game companies with earnings before interest, taxes, and more (EBIT) ranging from $531,000 to $21.2 million.
Investment News
A16Z doubles gaming investment with $600M fund as part of $7.2B fundraise
“There’s never been a better time to build a game startup than today," said A16Z partner Jonathan Lai
Investment News
Indie gamers Avalon gear up for global launch with $10 million investment
The studio is focused on creating an MMORPG experience that'll appeal to both web2 and web3 gamers
Hot Five
Hot Five: New VC funds for mobile, Turkish investments, and Baby Shark makes a splash in Brawl Stars
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Gameexpo Summit
Investors connect with hot prospects at MENA's leading games event: Dubai GameExpo Summit
The best MENA market games talents meet international stars in Dubai on May 1st and 2nd
Investment Incoming
Ludus Ventures invests $1M in Turkish studio Midas Games
Midas Games plans to launch multiple titles later in 2024
Investment
A16Z's third Speedrun accelerator is now open with $75 million up for grabs
Only the finest and most ambitious creatives will make the grade, each receiving mentorship and up to $750,000 of investment
Investment News
Wargaming co-founder launches $50 million investment fund Mika Games to support mobile studios
The company aims to invest globally in mobile-first, free-to-play live service games with strong monetisation potential
Funding News
Laton Ventures secures $35 million for games investments in Turkey and beyond
Founder Görkem Türk tells PocketGamer.biz why he's so bullish on games and how Turkey's rising games industry has helped spur its fund raise
Funding Influx
Illuvium raises $12M funding for blockchain games
An open-world creature collector, city builder and autobattler will feature interoperable blockchain elements
New Partnerships
Tamatem Games relocates HQ to UAE after Abu Dhabi investment
The backing aims to help fuel publisher's growth and strengthen the UAE's overall gaming ecosystem
Investing In Innovation
The Inevitable Games Fund will invest up to $100 million in innovative Web3 games
King River Capital, Immutable, and Polygon Labs join forces to invest in the Web3 sector
Investment News
Cloud gaming's Gamestream secures €4.5m in funding to fuel growth
Co-founder and president Ivan Lebeau says, "Few people can afford to buy a console, and even fewer can afford games for €70 each."
Hot Five
Hot Five: Monopoly GO’s next-level UA, Supercell’s psychological analysis, and AI use for NPC dialogue
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Mergers & Acquisitions
Nazara Technologies commits $100 million to expand globally through M&A deals
“We are particularly focused on investing in and acquiring gaming studios globally..." said CEO Nitish Mittersain
Web3 Watch
Blockus secures $4M in pre-seed funding for its plans to transform Web3 gaming
The funding will help to accelerate growth, expand its team, enhance sales, and boost product development
Investment News
Kaedim secures $15 million investment for AI-powered 3D asset creation
The platform offers a toolkit to assist creators in crafting 3D assets, to complement rather than replace artists' efforts
Shifting Shares
Shift Up’s projected valuation up to $2.3 billion after Goddess of Victory: Nikke’s success
Tencent is currently Shift Up’s biggest investor with a 24% stake
The Web3 Way
Gamer Arena nets investment into Web3, AI and esports ambitions
Dutch VC fund Domino Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum into the competitive platform
Mobile Mavens
Mobile Mavens: What should we expect from Disney's big $1.5 billion deal with Epic and Fortnite?
Our Mobile Mavens share their thoughts on Disney’s $1.5 billion investment and partnership with Epic Games
Funding News
Vibe.co secures $22.5M to for SMB streaming TV ad platform
The company plans to grow its employee roster from 40 to 110 in late 2024
Scuti Incentives
Scuti.ai raises $10 million to incentivise player spending
The AI platform looks to retain players through rewards on its platform
Empowering Players
Ex-Homa staff raise $1.5 million for UGC platform PlayMakers
Start-up aims to make suite of tools available to any developers looking to add user-generated content to their games
Investment News
XPLA secures funding from Play Ventures to foster Web3 innovation
The strategic investment signifies a milestone for XPLA by positioning the platform towards accelerated growth within the gaming industry
Mena Market
GameCentric secures $1.5 million angel investment to fuel growth in MENA
The gaming platform aims to add more features to extend its footprint beyond the GCC & MENA region
Hot Five
Hot Five: Apple and Roblox embrace AI, a Match Factory milestone, and Warframe mobile gets further funding
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Epic Deal
Disney invests $1.5 billion into Epic Games as it plots new "entertainment universe" with Fortnite
The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger labels partnership the company's “biggest entry ever into the world of games”
Hot Five
Hot Five: Layoffs stack up, strategic investments are abound, and Nintendo finds cause for mobile celebration
Our quick-fix start-the-week roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
New Studio
Ex-Mojang and Toca Boca devs raise €1.5m for new studio Roro
Stockholm-based developer working on "3D digital dollhouse" for mobile
Strategic Boost
8SEC secures €1.5 Million investment from Kwalee
The move will see Kwalee’s CFO Matthew Farrow and VP of mobile publishing John Wright join the 8SEC board
Gaming In Africa
Sony Innovation Fund backs Carry1st with strategic investment
The African gaming industry boasts over 200 million players and is projected to achieve a market size exceeding $1 billion in 2024
Funding Round
Helsinki studio Order of Meta raises $3.3 million
Developer will use financing to finish development and soft launch Cargo Hunters
Esports Growth
True Gamers secures $45m investment for esports expansion in Saudi Arabia
True Gamers CEO says it's, "A significant step towards popularising cybersports" and democratising esports in the KSA.
Accelerator Funding
Narwhal Accelerator to support gaming and tech startups
The program only requests for a minor stake in company shares as part of the arrangement.
New Studio
Playdemic founders raise $10m for new UK mobile studio ForthStar
Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby head up the new Manchester studio following their $1 billion success with Golf Clash
Flagship Funds
Leslie Benzies' Build A Rocket Boy studio raises $110M for "flagship" trio of projects
RedBird Capital Partners leads investment in Build A Rocket Boy’s Everywhere, MindsEye and Arcadia
Pgc London
Pocket Gamer Connects London: The Show Me The Money track
Explore investment advice and funding ideas next Tuesday, January 23rd
Tencent Tumble
Tencent's external investments have dropped 87% in two years
From healthcare to AI start-ups, the number of Tencent investments in external companies decreased from 299 in 2021 to just 39 in 2023
Second Round
Marvel Snap dev Second Dinner raises $100 million
Studio to invest in Marvel Snap live ops and new game development
The Only Way Is Up
Investment in and around the games industry dropped by 79% in 2023
While in America it dropped 86%… But with profits and share prices on the increase, is the scene now set for a bounceback?
Hot Five
Hot Five: Tencent’s newest gameplan, PlatinumGames’ pullout, and investing into Indian Esports
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Quids In
New Zealand devs hang onto 20% tax rebate perk after three-way-tie election
With a new three-way coalition government in place doubts had arisen as to how long the existing tax break could continue
Mena Focus
Savvy Games Group: “Approximately 75 percent of our capital allotment has not yet been invested”
We speak to Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward about the accomplishments of the past year, what we can expect to see next from the MENA region and Savvy’s new games ambitions
Esport Support
Marcos Gaming completes pre-seed round to bolster Indian Esports
Funding from India Accelerator, Finvolve and SucSEED Ventures will support content creation, community growth and more
Sprouting Seeds
Barnyard Games raises $3.4m in seed round to make games for Fortnite
Menlo Ventures led the round with participation from BetaWorks, Alumni Ventures, Charge VC and others
Here We Go
W4 Games raises $15 million to boost Godot engine development and services
Irish start-up aims to double headcount over the next 18 months
Support From Supercell
Supercell co-founder supports $1.6M funding round in Chinese publisher MyGamez
Supercell co-founder Mikko Kodisoja, Small Giant Games co-founder Timo Soininen, Reworks co-founder Ilkka Teppo and former Riot China head of operations Daniel Wang are on board