Gdc Is Coming
Pocket Gamer's ultimate GDC week 2025 party guide
When are where to go to make the most of each event around GDC 2025
Business Opportunities
Time is running out to reserve your place for the Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025 fringe events
Don't miss this chance to take part in the unmissable opportunities at our milestone 50th global games conference
Roundtable Discussion
Open call for web3 games industry speakers at PGC San Francisco
Join our roundtable delving into the state of web3 games and how the sector can emerge from a challenging few years
Skillz $75m Developer Accelerator
Skillz Announces $75 Million Developer Accelerator for Skill-Based Mobile Games
Accelerator will provide financial backing, operational resources, and expert guidance to bring competitive games to market
A Successful Snooze
Pokémon Sleep hits $150m mark despite slowdown since first anniversary
Japan is the app's most lucrative country at $109m to date
Age Rating
Indie hit Balatro sees PEGI rating drop to 12+ after review
“I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished"
Industry Insights
Boosting app engagement with retargeting: Proven tactics for games and beyond
Mintegral’s Jenny Lin shares why retargeting is such a popular tactic for games and e-commerce companies
Marvellous Mena
“We aim to merge games with Africa’s finest tunes and rhythms''
Weza Interactive Entertainment CEO and co-founder Odongo George Ahere discusses mobile rhythm game Riziki, funding challenges and tapping into the African market
Lawsuit Triumph
The Pokémon Company wins legal battle over copyright-infringing mobile game
The companies were also required to issue public apologies in online and print media in China
Job Losses
Netflix lays off staff at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio
The redundancies will not affect ongoing projects at the developer
Meta Contest
Meta launches $50 million Creator Fund as it shifts focus to mobile content
The company is also introducing its first creator competition of the year
Hot Five
Hot Five: Jam City to sell Ludia, Scopely could acquire Pokémon Go, and Last War hits $2bn
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
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...
Week That Was
When big acquisitions fail, the resurgence of card games, and Niantic's wildfire relief donations | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Shares Surge
Unity shares rally 36% after earnings beat and new AI-powered ads platform
Unity’s market cap currently sits at $11.68bn, compared to rival AppLovin's $146.42bn
Financials
Hasbro gaming segment grows 22% as Monopoly Go adds $112 million to revenue in 2024
Total company sales declined 17% Y/Y to $4.1 billion
Very Big Indie Pitch
Hero brawler Battle Bears Heroes wins The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2024
We revisit last year's winners ahead of the next Stateside edition at PGC San Francisco's return this March 17th and 18th 2025
Investment News
Good Job Games Secures investment from Menlo Ventures
The investment raises Good Job Games’ valuation to over $100 million
New Games
New release roundup: Grand Mountain Adventure 2, Gear Fight!, Land of Heroes and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Shutting Down
Amazon App Store to close on Android
Marketplace will still be available on Amazon devices in future
Gaming Trends
Ukie proposes 53% tax relief for small game studios in the UK
The trade body said reforming the VGEC could generate nearly 6,000 new jobs within five years
Gamescom Latam
Pokémon GO to bring AR adventures and rewards to Gamescom Latam 2025
Attendees can receive Pokémon-themed credentials featuring exclusive artwork
Earnings Report
NetEase games revenue rises to $2.9 billion in Q4
New mobile games lineup for global markets include Destiny: Rising and Marvel Mystic Mayhem
Earnings Report
Nexon reports record 2024 $2.97bn revenue in 2024 as Dungeon & Fighter Mobile drives growth
It saw success in three main franchises in 2024 including MapleStory, Dungeon & Fighter, and FC
Financials
Unity revenue falls 25% in Q4 as engine and ads segments see declines
Game engine division Create Solution saw sales fall 47% Y/Y
Sweet Solitaire
Candy Crush Solitaire snaps up $379,000 in first two weeks
Lifetime revenue including soft launch reaches $692k
Bigger And Better
PG Connects San Francisco 2024 smashed records to become our biggest US event ever!
A look back at last year's Stateside edition that raised the bar with 1,000+ attendees from 500+ companies, representing 50 countries
Job News
February’s Mobile Movers and Shakers: Exits at Space Ape, Tilting Point and Fingersoft, new leadership at Mojang and LEGO Digital Play, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Better Outcomes Automatically
Smarter Ad Monetisation: How GeeMee Uses AI to Maximise Your Revenue
GeeMee explores the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to unlock new possibilities in revenue optimisation
Selling Up
Jam City agrees deal to sell Ludia
If approved, the sale isn’t expected to have a significant impact on Jam City’s business operations
Funding For Games
Meeple Corp secures $629,000 funding to bring tabletop games to digital platforms
Its debut game, Kingdomino Digital will release later this year
Company Restructure
Big Fish Games to halt new game development and reduce investment in portfolio
Aristocrat Leisure fails to find a buyer for Big Fish following a review of its games business
Pgc San Francisco
A look back at last year's PG Connects San Francisco
It's a wrap! Mobile gaming's biggest reveals and hottest trends live from at PG Connects San Francisco
Big Deal
Niantic reportedly in talks to sell Pokémon Go and games business to Scopely for $3.5bn
The deal isn’t finalised, according to people familiar with the matter, but could be officially announced "in coming weeks"
Gaming Lab
Abertay University launches £9 million lab to boost Scotland's games and entertainment sectors
Investment will provide opportunities and support for UK technology companies across the creative industries
Rainbow Revenue
Rainbow Six Mobile revenue surges as Ubisoft chases a global launch
Ubisoft’s troubled mobile shooter gets a rise in downloads and player spending as publisher aims to improve title's fortunes
Spend And Survive
Last War: Survival surpasses $2bn after record player spending in early 2025
Strategy title generated a record $212m in January 2025
Pokemon Pledge
The Pokémon Company and Niantic pledge $1m in support of LA wildfire recovery efforts
Pokémon Go Tour: Unova will go ahead in Pasadena, California this weekend
Focal Figures
Epic Games Store on mobile a "focal point" as cross-platform accounts rise by 94m in 2024
Monthly active users peaked at 74m across platforms, down by 1m compared to 2023
Ai In Games
Ludo AI launches 3D generator for developers to create game-ready models
Ludo AI said that models can be exported “in industry recognised formats”
Funding News
Beamable secures $13.5 million for decentralised gaming infrastructure
The funding will also support continued innovation in game infrastructure
Pgc San Francisco
WIN! FREE entry to PG Connects San Francisco
Plus you could win expo space in the Big Indie Zone, too
Podcast | Episode 42
How Brawl Stars succeeded and Squad Busters struggled, and AppLovin's $900m games fire sale | 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 42...
App Store Removal
Square Enix shuts down Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on iOS over 'unfixable' bug
It was discontinued due to an unfixable bug that prevented players from accessing paid content
New Studio
New studio Loadstar opens in Barcelona
The developer is currently on the lookout for funding for its upcoming sci-fi action-puzzle adventure game
Winners Revealed
Balatro wins Mobile Game of the Year at DICE Awards
The title came out on top in a category that included Halls of Torment, Monument Valley 3, Paper Trail and Wuthering Waves
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
Week That Was
Who will buy AppLovin's games studios, Olympics esports delayed, and DeNA's profits surge | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Acqusitions
Skybound Entertainment acquires Maple Media
Skybound aims to leverage Maple Media’s expertise in mobile app operations to deliver stories across multiple platforms