Wheelie Good Time
Sayonara Wild Hearts set to sparkle as Apple Arcade launch title
Also coming to PS4 and Switch
Industry Report
Sweden’s game industry grew 42% in 2018
New report shows revenue increased to EUR 1.9 billion
Third Time Lucky?
Starbreeze applies for third extension to reconstruction period
Follows acting CEO Mikael Nermark saying that his No.1 priority is "securing the long-term financing for the company"
Dark Days
Isbit Games closes after running out of funds
“We have been working very hard to fight for the survival of the studio”
Expansion
Zordix launches new indie-focused publishing division
“Zordix Publishing will be a key strategic move for us, and we look forward with great excitement”
Dead Or Alive
Candy Crush co-founder thought title would be “dead” within six months
Casual puzzle series has brought in over $4 billion in revenue
Stakes Are High
Nexon acquires majority stake in Embark Studios
Former EA chief design officer and DICE founder Patrick Söderlund heads up the studio
Finland X Sweden
Nitro Games partners with Avalanche Studios to utilise IP on new mobile title
New game expected to launch in 2020 on iOS and Android
Breakout Success
Prison Architect surpasses four million players globally
Console developer Double Eleven taking over the project following Paradox sale
Job News
King CEO Riccardo Zacconi steps down after 16 years
Will move to chairman role from July 1st, 2019
Job News
Snowprint Studios appoints Paradox and EA vet John Hargelid as new COO
Brought on to continue the company’s growth
M&a
Tencent acquires Malmo developer Sharkmob
“We view the future of online gaming the same way and Tencent being a leading internet and games platform gives Sharkmob the reach and resources to be a part of that future"
Jobs
Angry Birds VR developer Resolution Games names new COO
Dreber joins to help drive the AR/VR studio's business strategy and growth
Loot Boxes
Sweden to review consumer protection measures against loot boxes
Swedish Consumer Agency to conduct investigation into casino-like elements in games
Nordic Investment
Brawl Stars dev Supercell invests $3.8m in Malmo start-up Luau Games
Finnish developer adds to its investment portfolio once again with a studio founded by former King developers
Dual Listing
Atari starts trading on Nasdaq First North in Stockholm
Longstanding games company was already listed on the Euronext Paris, will maintain trading on both exchanges
Oh No
Swedish tax agency demands $370 million from Candy Crush Saga maker King
Skatteverket claims King owes substantial taxes after its acquisition by Activision in 2016
New Studio
New studio Wanderword to develop interactive audiobooks for mobile devices and smart speakers
Formed by Microsoft and Fatshark execs Peter Zetterberg and Thomas Lindgren
Big Indie Pitch
Legacy 3 reveals all its secrets to take the crown at The Big Indie Pitch at Sweden Game Arena 18
We check out the top 3 prize winners at this years Big Indie Pitch at Sweden Game Arena 18
Fine Art
Stugan founder to auction off Simon Stålenhag’s Forest Iron Painting to benefit games accelerator
The painting will be auctioned off at Bukowski's auction house on October 23
A Polished Gem
How does Legend of Solgard engage, retain and monetise?
Analysing King’s new midcore matcher
It's A Hit
How a move into the hyper-casual games market provided MAG Interactive with a spring in its step
"Our teams make tonnes of prototypes and are in the habit of testing them early in the development process, which is the reason we realised that we had a real gem here"
Cabin
Games accelerator Stugan welcomes 21 developers in 2018 line-up
The programme has aimed to double down on diversity with this year’s crop
Moving Day
PlayMagic set for public expansion on the Swedish Stock Exchange
The games development studio hopes to start trading within the fourth quarter of 2018
Terminal Decay?
Something has gone terribly wrong with Finland - it has become an emblem of mobile games industry stagnation
Tero Kuittinen looks at the recent hot trends in the mobile space, and wonder where Finland's studios are
Indie Spotlight
Indie Spotlight: Eldring Games' Dan Olsson on overcoming adversity and taking risks
“I set out to do this because it has a lot of potential and I figure it's worth the risk. And it is a big risk, but you've got to take those sometimes.”
Another Way
Alternative Android game store Flexion raises $10 million prior to 2018 IPO
Levelling up
Developer Support
Stugan games accelerator open for applications
Program returns to Sweden for a fourth time to support games development
Another Ipo
Ruzzle developer MAG Interactive launches IPO with $137 million valuation
Share prices at around $5
Funding Quest
Ex-King staff raise $2.2 million for new Swedish studio Strange Quest
Developer to focus on multiplayer games for mobile
Mag Ipo
MAG Interactive to begin public trading on December 8th
IPO begins today
Mag Ipo
Ruzzle developer MAG Interactive eyes $68 million IPO
$27 million of shares already put to one side for existing investors
Event News
King, Riot and BioWare head up speaker line-up for Sweden Game Conference 2017
Over 800 attendees expected
A Growing Business
Swedish games industry generated revenues of $1.7 billion in 2016
Swedish Game Developer Index spills the beans
Birds To Vr
Angry Birds 2 lead programmer Jonas Johansson unveils social VR studio Neuston
Bringing his mobile and console experience together into VR
Class Of 2017
Stugan reveals the 15 teams taking part in its 2017 accelerator program
26 developers, seven weeks, one cabin
Paradox On Mobile
Paradox Interactive opens new mobile games development studio in Malmö
Prison Architect: Mobile is just the beginning
New Studio
DICE veterans form new developer Fall Damage
Swedish Games Industry CEO Maria Tjärnlund named as Chairman of the Board
Goats To Games
Goat Simulator developer Coffee Stain Studios opens publishing arm
Wants to be a partner more than a publisher
Join The Corps
Swedish developer Gaming Corps pivots to acquisition strategy following $10 million investment
Bought one studio, now wants to buy more
Cabin In The Woods
Games accelerator-in-a-cabin Stugan opens applications for third annual program
Applications close March 31st
Mag Wiklander
MAG Interactive brings on ex-Widespace exec Magnus Wiklander as CFO
Helping to grow the business
Reunited
King invests big in Swedish developer Snowprint Studios
Bringing old friends back into the fold
Fresh Start
Former Rovio Stockholm GM Oskar Burman opens "narrative-rich" VR studio Fast Travel Games
Kristoffer Benjaminsson and Erik Odeldahl complete the team
Sharing The Wealth
MAG Interactive hits 100 millon downloads, celebrates by making players in-game millionaires
Ruzzle powers Swedish firm to huge milestone
Stugan 2016
Stugan 2016 reveals participants, announces Rami Ismail and Peter Vesterbacka as mentors
Big names, interesting games
On The Market
Tencent acquires 5% as Paradox Interactive goes public
Initial offering of $4 per share
Older Female Payers
G5 Entertainment announces it's generated $100 million from mobile hidden object games
Can you spot the difference?
Social Is The Glue
Creativity within restrictions is the key to success, says chat game dev Palringo
We take a tour round its Swedish studio
Swedish Scenes At Stugan
Stugan 2016 applications closed, location of summer program announced
7 weeks of making games in the Swedish countryside