Job Losses
Machine Zone CEO out as AppLovin lays off 97 staff
Machine Zone CEO and design director out as ad tech firm makes another round of job cuts
Layoff News
Niantic Spatial lays off 68 staff after $3.5bn games business sale to Scopely
The redundancies affect the newly formed company which launched with $250m in funding
Job Losses
Netflix lays off staff at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio
The redundancies will not affect ongoing projects at the developer
Company Restructure
Unity cut workforce to 4,987 staff in 2024 at cost of $214m
Game engine and ads firm also appears to have closed 23 offices last year
Podcast | Episode 43
NetEase scales back, Jam City agrees Ludia sale, and why Savvy wants Pokémon Go | 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 43...
Hot Five
Hot Five: Unity’s latest layoffs, Supercell’s record $3bn year, and AppLovin’s plans to sell off apps business
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Layoff News
Update: Unity lays off staff and axes Behavior team
The exact number of employees affected by Unity's latest round of redundancies remains unclear
New Studio
UK-based nDreams opens new VR studio Compass
The firm has moved several employees to Compass while others have been let go
Layoffs
AppsFlyer lays off 100 employees in restructuring move
AppsFlyer cites realigning investments, accelerating value creation and focusing on high-impact initiatives as part of its reasons for the cuts
Gaming Trends
Games industry hiring "velocity trending upward" after 6,000 layoffs in early 2024
Games job expert Amir Satvat analyses the hiring rate in comparison to layoffs
Loads Of Layoffs
Moon Active reportedly lays off "dozens" of staff despite "record revenues exceeding $2 billion" in 2024
Employees are believed to have been impacted in Israel and across Moon Active’s worldwide sites
Layoffs
Phoenix Labs cuts “majority" of staff amid second restructuring
The Dauntless developer laid off 140 employees last year and cancelled ongoing projects
Layoffs
Ubisoft shuts down Leamington studio with 185 Job cuts across Europe
The cuts will impact staff from Ubisoft Reflections, Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Düsseldorf
Job Cuts
Huuuge Games lays off 122 staff and closes offices as it refocuses on social casino
Poland office sees 89 redundancies as studios in Netherlands and Finland are closed
Best Of 2024
Paige Cook's top stories of 2024: Layoffs, Ubisoft woes, WeChat Minigames' boom, Monopoly Go's $4bn push, and Unity's next move
PocketGamer.biz deputy editor Paige Cook highlights some of the top stories of 2024
Year In Review
The biggest mobile games industry trends of 2024
A look back at the stories and trends that shaped the year
Studio Closure
Vancouver studio Hothead Games closes
Canadian developer forced into bankruptcy after mobile and console publishing deals fell through
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...
Job Losses
Report: Lilith Games cuts 40 staff as Project Party undergoes changes
Title has not been cancelled, according to reports
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...
Week That Was
Adjust's PR vacuum, Balatro's premium success, and a $100m anime hit | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Public Spat
Singular CEO launches tirade against rival Adjust following layoffs
Eliashiv attacks rival follow new Adjust CEO's claims the MMP industry has "stagnated in recent years"
Hot Five
Hot Five: Monopoly Go’s 58% decline, Adjust lays off staff, but "seismic" Pokémon TCG Pocket could be the next Pokémon Go
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Job Losses
AppLovin-owned Adjust lays off staff
Mobile app measurement firm was acquired in April 2021
Layoff News
Job cuts at Kwalee following layoffs made earlier this year
Some of those impacted took to LinkedIn to share that they are now looking for new opportunities
Layoff News
AMD cuts 1,000 staff as it pivots to AI
“As a part of aligning our resources with our largest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps"
Job Losses
“Majority” of Sharkmob London studio hit by layoffs
Company confirms layoffs as staff say most of the team has been let go
Revenue Result
Microsoft makes $24.7bn profit in Q1 after video game cutbacks
Microsoft’s games business increased its revenue to $5.6bn for the quarter, but that didn’t spare Xbox from job cuts
Hot Five
Hot Five: Pokémon vs Palworld, Fingersoft layoffs, and Facebook Instant Games’ in-app purchases on iOS
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Union Support
Sony faces backlash from CWA over studio closures amid layoffs
The union says it plans "to raise the anti-competitive impacts of Sony's increasing monopoly with the appropriate antitrust regulators"
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
Rumour Rebuttal
Tencent denies layoffs despite restructuring, leadership changes and VP’s departure
VP Zeng Yu is retiring as 10 individuals are impacted in management overhaul
New From Ncsoft
NCSoft to establish four new subsidiaries developing games and researching AI
The corporate split-off was approved during a board meeting but awaits green light from shareholders
Loads Of Layoffs
Roblox’s branded experience maker Talewind hit with "significant" layoffs
Talewind claims to be in the top 0.01% of monetised Roblox creators
Job Losses
Co-development outfit Kokku lays off staff at Portugal studio
Portugal office will remain in operation; Brazil team unaffected
Reunion Revealed
Humble Games partners with its laid off ex-employees at Good Games Group
Former general manager Alan Patmore and global publishing VP Mark Nash are at the new publisher’s helm
Hot Five
Hot Five: Genshin Impact’s $6.3 billion success, Dungeon & Fighter: Mobile’s Chinese takeover, while Ubisoft shares down 20%
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Job Losses
Nexon America lays off “small number” of staff
Publisher establishes Western Development Group headed by Hanbyeol Oh
Ai Adventures
Duolingo to introduce AI-powered Adventures months after job cuts
Duolingo reveals Adventures and Video Call, new learning modes using AI technology
Hot Five
Hot Five: Pokémon’s Palworld lawsuit, Playtika’s acquisition, and Ubisoft gets workers back to the office
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Job Losses
UK VR games developer nDreams set to lay off up to 17.5% of staff
Studio, which was acquired by Aonic in November 2023, was previously said to employ 250 staff
Loads Of Layoffs
Microsoft’s latest layoffs reportedly impact Call of Duty Warzone: Mobile and Warcraft Rumble teams
Warzone: Mobile has generated less than 10% of Call of Duty: Mobile’s revenue in respective first six months
Podcast | Episode 28
The Unity Runtime Fee is dead! | 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 28...
Week That Was
The Unity Runtime Fee aftermath, more Xbox layoffs, and Monster Hunter Now's $225m year | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Hot Five
Hot Five: Turkey blocks Roblox, Jam City layoffs, and the sinking of Shipyard Games
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Mass Redundancies
Intel to lay off 15,000 staff as part of $10 billion cost savings plan
Plans will impact 15% of the company's workforce
Lively Layoffs
Lively Studio undergoes layoffs for the sake of "long-term health"
The Keywords subsidiary will reportedly lay off a small number of people, while sister studio Electric Square remains unaffected
Podcast | Episode 22
How Lilith Games builds billion-dollar mobile hits | 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 22...
Week That Was
Netflix sticks with games, Humble Games closure confusion and Monster Hunter Now levels up | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Layoffs
Humble Games denies shutting down after reportedly laying off all staff
36 employees said to be impacted by decision as publisher says it's going through another restructure