Niko Partners Report
Five biggest mobile genres of 2022 in MENA and Asian markets revealed: RPG leads the pack
The RPG genre generated 50% more revenue than strategy, MOBA, puzzle, and battle royale games combined
Blockchain
Sega cools off on blockchain gaming after Rovio acquisition
Mobile could be the way forward for the home of the hedgehog
Jobs
Industry Moves: Hirings and Promotions around the Mobile Games Industry; July 10, 2023
Yat Siu joins a crack team of Web3 enthusiasts, CEO of Nine66 goes back to VC and a NetEase vet joins Sega
Mavens
Mobile Mavens: What do app downloads direct from Facebook mean for the industry?
We round up expert industry opinions on the potential of an app store within Facebook
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including the launch of Threads, authorities caught on with their hand in the till and Vision Pro woes…
Netease Lawsuit
NetEase emerges victorious in Onmyoji lawsuit
The court found that the film Soul Gods League of Masters had plagiarised the game
Acquisition
Keesing Media Group acquires casual games developer CoolGames
The two companies will seek to push further into the casual games market
Network Away
Virtual meeting tickets for PG Connects Toronto are available now! Secure yours while you can
Join in meetings remotely at PG Connects Toronto this July 19-20 from wherever you are in the world using your virtual ticket
Last Chance
Grab your ticket to Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki before midnight on July 13th and save up to £330!
Last chance to use our Early Bird discount and save £330 for our Helsinki conference this September!
New Studio
Tokyo Broadcasting System to start new gaming spin-off TBS Games
The new company will focus on console, PC and mobile
Female Gamers
37% of gamers in Asia are female, with mobile as their preferred platforms
The gender split in the mobile-first SEA region is more even
Stocks
NCSoft stock down 36.6% since January, with further dip after lacklustre pre-reg for Blade & Soul 2
The company has taken big hits in the past year due to slow performance
Threads
Pulling the Threads: Inside social media's latest trend
Meta’s Twitter competitor has launched to great success with over 50 million users so far. But what are its aims and what's its story?
15 Unmissable Tracks
Get the latest in Web3, artificial intelligence and host of future trends at PG Connects Toronto
PG Connects Toronto is happening on July 19th-20th, get an exclusive look at all the amazing content we have lined up for you at the conference
Publishing
Marvel Snap publisher Nuverse announces new title, Bleach: Soul Resonance
The publisher will be tackling another major IP, this time from anime
Feature
Unity's Anna Popereko on monetising strategy games
Discover the mistakes to avoid and opportunities to consider with rewarded videos
Stocks
Embracer Group fixes financial woes with a $182 million share issue
After recent financial surprises, the company has taken corrective measures… leading to a devalued stock price that's 14% down
Anniversaries
Outfit7’s Talking Tom hits its 10 year anniversary this month
The title will be a decade old on July 13
Big Festival
Generative AI in Game Development - How to use it, and where to draw the line…
At BIG Festival, a panel of experts examined the use of artificial intelligence in the game development process
Strategy
Playstation rumoured to be seeking out partnerships in South Korea
Korea is another major hub for mobile despite speculations it is related to the company’s flagship console
Releases
Classic adventure game Monkey Island returns to mobile
The point & click classic adventure series is back with a brand new instalment
Big Festival
Diversity in gaming: The importance of an inclusive workforce
At BIG Festival, a panel of industry experts took to the stage to discuss the importance of a diverse workforce
Celebrating Indies
It's the Indies time to shine at PG Connects Toronto with The Big Indie Zone Audience Choice Award sponsored by ByteBrew!
PG Connects Toronto attendees will vote on the best indie games in the Expo area, join us in celebrating the best in indie talent.
Catappult Smashes Global Records
Catappult achieves record-breaking $7.4m GMV and more than $240 ARPPU
Catappult the alternative mobile games distribution and monetisation platform hits record highs as it helps developers worldwide find new audiences and monetise more effectively.
Big Festival
How using Tencent’s technology can take games to the next level
At BIG Festival, Tencent’s Tom Petreca discussed how the company’s systems can help elevate games
Studios
Plarium co-founder’s WhaleApp startup has raised $50 million and made $80m
Ilya Turpiashvili founded the company after selling Plarium to Aristocrat Leisure
Pokemon Permeates
Pokémon Go is seven years old today… And I'm playing it for the first time…
In time for Pokémon Go’s seventh anniversary I finally give it a try and discover a game that prioritises mobile gaming perfectly
Tiga Awards 2023
It’s time to nominate in the 2023 TIGA Games Industry Awards
We've a date and a new venue for this year's presentation, along with three new categories for 2023
Last Chance
Grab your ticket to Pocket Gamer Connects Toronto before midnight tonight and save up to $240!
Last chance to get our final discounts for our Toronto conference this July!
Big Festival
Google's guide to growing your mobile game in 2023
At BIG Festival, Google took to the stage to discuss how games can achieve evergreen status
Partnership
Homa to form strategic partnership with mobile studio 8sec
The partnership aims to benefit from the popularity pivot from hypercasual to hybridcasual
Big Festival
Rovio's masterclass for creating memorable characters
Rovio’s senior character designer Tom Bernandes took to the stage at BIG Festival to discuss the key to success in character design
Regulation
South Korean game regulatory agency investigated for corruption
An investigation took place as a result of petition by players of gacha titles affected by unpopular age-rating changes
Stocks
NetEase sees stock rally of 85% fuelled by new game releases
Their performance on the Hang Seng Index got a major boost
Big Festival
MENA and social gaming: What does it take to succeed in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets?
At BIG Festival, Nine66’s Ricardo Flores examined the growth of gaming throughout the MENA region
Legislation
Google, Apple and others now have six months to comply with new digital markets rules
The Digital Markets Act in the EU will see digital “gatekeepers” forced to adhere to new rules
Gaming In Brazil
38% of games developed in Brazil are mobile titles
Abragames’ 2022 Brazil Games Industry report examines the state of the gaming market
Company Spotlight
Company Spotlight: Pingle Studio
Find out more about the global game development partner that brings projects to life for some of gaming's biggest brands
Q&a
AppGallery's Jaime Gonzalo: "Alternative app platforms are providing developers with improved revenue-generating opportunities"
AppGallery aims to provide users with high quality content while ensuring that game developers feel supported
Production
Apple scales back production of highly-anticipated Vision Pro headset
Issues relating to the supply chain and concerns over quality may lead to a significant cut to the originally proposed one million unit production run
Appointments
Sega appoints NetEase alumni as new senior general manager of mobile publishing
Robin Ng served with NetEase from 2019 to 2021
Pokemon Power
More than 600 billion Pokémon caught as Pokémon Go approaches seventh anniversary
Celebration details revealed for upcoming anniversary
Competition Authority
South African authorities unconditionally approve Activision Blizzard acquisition
Another win for Microsoft despite home-grown struggles
Legislation
Apple to ask US Supreme Court to overturn Epic ruling
The company ask Supreme Court to consider Ninth Circuit ruling
Top 50 Game Makers
Don't forget to nominate YOUR choice of Top 50 Mobile Game Maker!
Make sure that your company and colleagues are part of the PocketGamer.biz Top 50 Mobile Game Makers for 2023
Executive Moves
CEO of Nine66, Kadri Harma, to return to venture capital
Harma has been CEO since late 2021
Viking Variety
NetEase’s Vikingard begins final crossover arc with MGM’s Vikings
"The Final War" adds Ivar the Boneless and Torvi from the TV show as new characters
Appointments
Animoca Brands’ Yat Siu joins Hong Kong taskforce on Web3 development
The executive chairman has been increasingly bullish on Web3
Feature
Using AI in games development: Part Three
In this third part of the series iLogos Game Studios founder Alexander Goldybin explores AI assisted game design
Shutdown
Just Cause Mobile to be discontinued ahead of official release
The title has been in development since it was announced in 2020