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
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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
Earnings Report
Nazara reports $61.5 million revenue in Q3 FY25 as gaming segment grows 53%
Gaming growth is fuelled by Fusebox Games acquisition and strong performance from Animal Jam
Esports In Mena
Emirates Esports Federation opens bidding for E Gaming League franchises
The league's owners see it as an opportunity to establish the UAE as a hub for digital entertainment and economic growth
Trends Report
Download your free copy of PocketGamer.biz’s Mobile Games Industry Trends Survey report
Industry professionals open up on layoffs, threats to the industry, and the lack of new game releases
New Partnerships
Merak Capital partners with Huawei Cloud to boost Saudi Arabia’s games industry
The partnership will provide gaming startups with workshops on cloud-native game development
Tiktok Ban
TikTok returns to app stores in the US
US Attorney General Pam Bondi assured Apple in a letter that it wouldn't face fines for hosting TikTok on the App Store
Investment News
Spoilz secures strategic investment to launch new IPs
The studio said it will form new partnerships, uplift local talent, and improve monetisation
Five New Games
New release roundup: Dunk City Dynasty, Truck Manager 2025, The Masked Singer: Mask Mania, and more
We highlight the latest new mobile games that have broken cover over the past week
New Partnerships
Merak Capital and Microsoft team up to support gaming startups in Saudi Arabia
The partnership builds on Merak Capital's $80 million gaming fund
Ads Vs Apps
AppLovin to sell apps business for $900m as it focuses on ads
But ads firm didn't disclose which company would acquire its games portfolio
Job News
Leo Olebe joins Games for Change as chair of the board
Olebe takes over from Tilting Point chief business officer Asi Burak, who has served as chair for 10 years
Jobs In Games
Microsoft Gaming names Kayleen Walters as head of Mojang Studios
Exec will be based in Redmond and will report to Microsoft's studios chief operations officer Helen Chiang
Capybara Cash
Habby’s Capybara Go surpasses $100m in gross player spending
The US is this text-based roguelike’s third-biggest market despite being among the latest launch regions
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
Expansions
Mobile ad platform Adjoe opens new offices in Tokyo and Singapore
The ads platform has tapped industry experts to lead its Asia-Pacific expansion
Esports In Mena
Savvy Games Group and HP sign MoU to help Saudi Arabia learners get careers in gaming and esports
Saudi games and esports group said it will also provide skill-building opportunities through incubator programs
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group and Merak Capital partner to boost Saudi Arabia’s games ecosystem
The partnership builds on Merak Capital's $80 million gaming fund to support the Kingdom's esports sector
Royal Revenue
Royal Kingdom surpasses $50m in player spending
Revenue for the title is on the rise after racking up $13.5m in January
Marvellous Mena
"Mobile web-based gaming is set to play a significant role in our future"
Sea Monster Entertainment CEO and co-founder Glenn Gillis discusses impact games, EdTech in Africa, funding challenges and building a climate resilience game
Valentines Day Offer
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Ai In Games
KGeN and Mira Network partner to build AI agents in games
KGeN will also use Mira's APIs, like Generate, Verify, and Verified Generate to create gaming AI tools
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Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025 latest ticket price updates and exclusive deals
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Industry Insights
How game development teams identify and hire the right junior analysts
Azur Games’ Maxim Kozhnov explains how logical thinking can outweigh technical skills when hiring analysts
Pubg Push
Krafton makes record-breaking $1.9bn with mobile revenue up 35.7% in 2024
Operating income also hit a record high, attributed to the success of the PUBG series
New Partnerships
Xsolla partners with AppsFlyer for improved web shop analytics and ad tracking
Deal aims to provide improved ad tracking for web shop purchases
Turkish Totals
Turkish games industry success "deeply rooted" in mobile with total $935m in capital since 2020
investgame’s Five Years of The Rising Gaming Empire: Türkiye report found Dream Games has seen the highest level of investment of any Turkish games studio
Dubai What To Expect
What to expect at Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 the premier hub for MENA game industry investment
Discover exclusive insights, unmatched networking, and investment opportunities in the fastest-growing games market
Investigations
Roblox is under SEC investigation
News follows a Hindenburg report in October that claimed misrepresentation of player metrics and a downplaying of child safety issues
Earnings Report
Roblox revenue up 32% in Q4 2024 as losses narrow
UGC platform averaged 82.9 million daily active users in 2024, up 21% year-over-year
Mobile Plans
Nintendo claims it’s still developing mobile games
But the console giant’s last mobile game release was Mario Kart Tour in September 2019
Lawsuit
Roblox sues PlayerAuctions over ‘unauthorised’ digital goods sales
It claims 8% to 10% of players appealing bans for real-money trading referenced PlayerAuctions
Acqusitions
Blind Squirrel Games acquires Distributed Development
The studio will now operate as Blind Squirrel Games Colombia
Hot Five
Hot Five: Fire Emblem Heroes’ voting power, Candy Crush Solitaire broadens the brand, and Pokémon TCG Pocket hits half a billion dollars
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
American Football Special
Touchdown worthy discounts for Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025
Take advantage of the American football season and celebrate with a winning offer at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2025. Where chiefs are welcome and decision-makers dominate the field!
Week In Views
UK rejects calls for stronger consumer protections and Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes hits $1.3bn in revenue | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Earnings Report
MTG reports 7% YoY growth in Q4 backed by strong mobile performances and strategic acquisitions
Snowprint Studios made its first organic contribution to MTG's performance in Q4 2024, following its acquisition in October 2023
Financial Outlook
Take-Two's mobile portfolio fuels growth as net bookings reach $1.37 billion
Take-Two said it has major game launches planned for 2025 including Grand Theft Auto VI in the fall
New Tax Laws
Apple updates tax policies across multiple countries to comply with new regulations
Come April, Apple will operate as a Specified Platform Operator in Japan