Catan Go
Niantic soft launches next AR title Catan: World Explorers
Available to download in New Zealand on Android
Welcome Aboard
Andres Gonzalez joins Zelgor Games as its lead level designer
Has experience with triple-A titles such as Bioshock Infinite
Possible Acquisition
Report: Xbox is interested in buying Warner Bros' games division
Microsoft joins Activision Blizzard, EA, and Take-Two in its interest for WBIE
Jobs In Games
Remote Working: Tencent data scientist Jia Wang on running operations from her bathroom
"There are so many challenges for everyone while working and living at home - especially for working moms"
Games What Won It
37% of iPhone owners game daily while 46% of Blackberry owners have no games
Marking the contrast
Quite A-peeling
Banana-shooter My Friend Pedro is getting a TV show
John Wick co-creator Derek Kolstad is an executive producer
Mystery Solved
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future is heading to mobile
It was first released on Nintendo DS in 2008
Not A One Trick Ponyta
Four years on and Pokémon GO is still flying high
Niantic's AR title nearly replicates its first-year earnings
#blacklivesmatter
POC in Mobile: Why Jam City's Michael Raeford believes education is key to diversifying the games industry
"Companies should embrace our differences and use them as a competitive advantage - not as a weakness."
Event
Save money on Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital this July 4th weekend
Meet with fantastic companies and industry professionals from around the world
#metoo
EVO Online cancelled as CEO is removed due to sexual misconduct
The Super Smash Bros. community has seen a large number of accusations made against pro players
Another Apocalypse
Bethesda teams with Amazon Studios and Kilter Films on Fallout TV series
Westworld writer Jonathan Nolan at the helm
Pitch Your Game
The Big Indie Pitch returns to Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020 - sign up now!
The ever-popular pitching competition goes completely online alongside the week-long digital conference this September
Apple Retail Closures
Update: Apple to close two dozen retail stores in the US due to coronavirus
Shares fall 0.5 per cent as a result
New Acquisition
Update: Zynga closes acquisition of Toon Blast creator Peak Games for $1.85 billion
Updated full-year guidance for Zynga coming in August 2020
A Caring Cause
Tru Luv looks to its next phase of emotionally-aware AI development after new funding round
Also looking to hire new key staff members
Unfortunate Events
Kongregate makes layoffs as it stops accepting new games on its web platform
Platform currently hosts over 128,000 titles
I'm Ready I'm Ready
Making Of: How Tilting Point made SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ready for soft launch in 10 months
"We hit top 10 in terms of downloaded games on iOS in 97 countries and 79 countries on Google Play"
Welcome Aboard
Scopely hires Mike DeLaet as its new senior vice president for strategic partnerships
"It's an incredibly exciting time to join Scopely"
Event
Blockchain Gamer LIVE! to run alongside Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital in September
Discover more about this disruptive technology and learn why you should join us for Blockchain Gamer LIVE! Digital #1
A New Direction
Discord raises $100 million to expand beyond games
The latest change in direction for the communications platform
#metoo
IGDA speaks out on recent "heartbreaking" sexual misconduct allegations across the games industry
"Each and every one of us can help our industry be a safer and more inclusive environment"
Change It Up
Apple reportedly cancels contracts with Arcade developers as it shakes up its strategy
"Apple Arcade has redefined what a gaming service can be"
10 Years On
Opinion: Seven problems Microsoft will have to overcome to make Windows Phone 7 a success
How to make a winner
Brand It
Over half of gamers prefer spending on brands "with a purpose", finds Gameloft
Gameloft and Vivendi Brand Marketing release report on gamers and brands
#metoo
EA promises to investigate all sexual misconduct allegations made by staff
"We want to be very clear on our position: these behaviours are never ok -- not in our communities or any others"
Drunk On Games
Niantic teams up with theatre company Punchdrunk for games that will "reinvent storytelling"
It has 10 games in development
Welcome Aboard
Retro Studios hires Bharathwaj ‘Bat’ Nandakumar as its lead engineer
He is known for Call of Duty: Black Ops
Allegations
Twitch is investigating sexual abuse allegations against streamers
It will dish out permanent bans
The Why
Analysis: Player motivations in Roblox, Fortnite and Candy Crush Saga
GameRefinery runs the numbers
Pride
Microsoft donates $250,000 to LGBTQI+ organisations to celebrate Pride
"To help in their fight for LGBTQI+ rights and racial equity"
Welcome To The Club
Interview: HB Studios' senior audio designer John McCarthy on the music and commentary of PGA Tour 2K21
"I think that presenting it in a second-person POV is the part that catches people by surprise"
Not So Keen
It looks like Bethesda has cancelled Commander Keen on mobile
All traces have been removed from its websites
#blacklivesmatter
POC in Mobile: The Game Band lead animator Cedric Adams on why we need diverse main characters
"We need to inspire and facilitate growth in diverse creators"
Reviewed Policy
Apple changes up its App Store review policies
Appeals can challenge the guidelines
Digital Conference
What hot topics will you be talking about at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020?
Revealed: 14 tracks covering essential games industry insight, from global trends to development advice, coming your way in September
Launchpad
The first ever Pocket Gamer LaunchPad takes off on July 23-25
Our brand new consumer focused digital show is designed to showcase exciting new/upcoming mobile games across multiple platforms - get involved now!
Celebrate
Roblox Mobile hits $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue
The US brought in over $1 billion
On The Rise
There will be 2.5 billion mobile gamers worldwide at the end of 2020
Overall gamer count expected to hit three billion in 2023
Poilitcal Issues
ESA speaks out against Trump visa freeze
"The executive order limiting immigration undermines reasonable solutions to end the current economic crisis, stabilise our economy and help people return to work."
Talking Heads
Sony, DICE, Square Enix, Bandai Namco and Wizards of the Coast all confirmed to speak at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020
Our speaker lineup for our online Helsinki conference begins to take shape - who will you learn from this September?
Live & Kicking
Live and Kicking: GSN Games SVP Wilhelm Taht on Bingo Bash's 10-year survival
"We've had some of the very best months in the history of Bingo Bash at the beginning of 2020"
Be Diverse
Microsoft is committing $150 million to diversity and inclusion
"We are committed to take action to help address racial injustice and inequity"
Discount Ends
LAST CHANCE to save up to $375 with Super Early Bird prices for Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Digital 2020
The online version of our show in the home of mobile games returns this September - book now and save!
Helping Hand
Jack Tretton joins Rogue Games as a strategic advisor
"We’ve always had our sights set on console too"
Help To Learn
Unity makes its premium learning tools permanently free
"The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of jobs lost globally"
Winding Worlds
Indie Spotlight: Why KO_OP believes Apple Arcade is the perfect introduction for non-gamers
KO_OP art director and game designer Sam Boucher on the forming of the studio
Going Virtual
Apple's virtual reality hardware could hit the market in two years
Mike Rockwell and Jony Ive did not agree on the design
Welcome Aboard
Resolution Games welcomes Tom Hall as its new senior creative director
"I've been a fan of VR and AR for a long time"
So Long
Oculus will stop producing its Oculus Go hardware
To focus on the Rift and Quest