Titan Tech
Supercell’s Titan engine: Spanning flagships to "the cheapest, oldest Android handset" in the world
The "homegrown" engine is built for mobile and aims to enable reach to as many players as possible
Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass "too expensive for players", as per leaked memo
New Microsoft Gaming EVP and CEO Asha Sharma’s internal memo has been leaked
Disney Development
Epic Games reportedly developing a Disney extraction shooter
A Bloomberg report suggests the new game will launch in November this year
Parental Controls
Roblox introduces new age-based accounts as it fights to alleviate safety concerns
UGC platform further expands parental controls and age-verification rules
Podcast | Episode 89
Ilkka's BAFTA Fellowship, record D2C revenue and the Super Mario Galaxy Movie's blockbuster opening | 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 what's inside this week's episode 89...
Store Policies
Google removes Doki Doki Literature Club from Play Store over policy violation
The studio is exploring alternative distribution options for Android users following the removal
Game Closure
Pocket Mortys shuts down after 10-year run
The Rick & Morty-themed RPG built a loyal audience using mechanics inspired by the Pokémon formula
Big Indie Pitch
Gnomad wins the Big Indie Pitch at PGC Summit San Francisco 2026
Find out who took the top three spots in our popular indie game developer pitching contest
Week In Views
Playtika’s next move, The Division Resurgence’s early numbers and Game of Thrones’ next mobile title | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
New Games
New release roundup: Borderlands Mobile, Netflix Playground, Sea of Stars, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Out Of Nowhere
Zynga launches Borderlands Mobile on the App Store
Free-to-play mobile game appears to be developed by NaturalMotion
Discord Developments
Selfless spending, linked accounts and how developers get the most out of Discord
Discord senior developer Anthony Tešija talks increasing play sessions and getting users spending on games they play, as well as games they don’t
Gearing Up
Exel Gaming Accelerator reopens with up to $300,000 in funding for third cohort
The programme is particularly designed for startups looking to grow in Saudi Arabia
Dragonfire Dawn
Game of Thrones: Dragonfire opens pre-registrations with 10m target
The tactical title has five tiers of rewards depending on the number of pre-registrations reached
Podcast
PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Skillz, Beamable and the live ops shift
We unpack Skillz's acquisition of Beamable, what the future looks like for the two companies, and more
Chart Rankings
March 2026 mobile game charts: Brawl Stars revenue rises nearly 50%
A deep dive into the global mobile game rankings across the App Store and Google Play
Mobile Mavens
“The centre of the game industry isn’t moving from West to East it’s dissolving entirely”: The Mobile Mavens on gaming’s global power shift
Our Mobile Mavens discuss whether power in games is moving from West to East
Acqusitions
Sony Interactive Entertainment acquires UK-based machine learning firm Cinemersive Labs
The team will join Sony’s Visual Computing Group following the acquisition
New Offerings
Maysalward launches Golden Agers workshop for 65+ gamers
The initiative aims to help seniors build confidence with technology in a practical, supportive setting
Leadership Change
AppLovin announces leadership succession plans and appoints new independent chairperson
Craig Billings has been appointed independent chairperson of AppLovin’s board
Mario Money
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie jumps to $372.6m at box office in five days
Nintendo and Illumination’s sequel title follows 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first film based on a game IP to surpass $1bn
Resurgence Revenue
The Division Resurgence makes $717,000 in first seven days
Ubisoft’s new shooter fell slightly short of Rainbow Six Mobile’s recent week-one earnings, but peaked higher
M&a Milestone
Games industry M&A hits $7.7bn in Q1 2026 led by Savvy Games Group
Mobile led M&A during the quarter, with deals by Scopely, NCCSOFT, Nazara and others
Industry Insights
From Game of War to Last Asylum: The evolution of 4x monetisation
Jakub Remiar discusses the evolution of 4x games and the rise of hybrid onboarding
Culture And Creativity
UAE Ministry of Culture opens fifth cycle of national grant programme
The programme supports projects across fields including video games, film, music, publishing and design
Saudi Shares
Saudi Arabia raises Capcom stake to 6.04%
The increase has come less than one month on from the Electronic Gaming Development Company's 5.03% claim
Russia Exit
Apple pulls App Store billing in Russia
Decision follows ruling that the tech giant had breached sanctions against the country with App Store payout
Hot Five
Hot Five: Inside King’s London studio, how h8games reinvented itself, and Sonic Rumble’s rebrand
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Podcast | Episode 88
Unity copies the AppLovin playbook with Vector | 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 what's inside this week's episode 88...
All-in
Direct-to-consumer sales hit record levels again in Q4
Mobile games publishers continue to go all-in on D2C amid regulatory and court-led upheaval
Week In Views
Rec Room runs out of road and Fire Emblem Shadows' paltry earnings | Week in Views
The PocketGamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
New Games
New release roundup: The Division Resurgence, Dredge+, Toy Command, and more
We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week
Studio Closure
Coffee Stain Malmö shuts down months after Embracer spinoff
The studio employed 17 staff, though it remains unclear whether the entire team has been laid off
Planetary Plans
Closed beta for HoYoverse’s Petit Planet will feature new neighbours and enhanced Starsea Voyages
Fans can sign up for the beta test coming April 21st, available on PC and mobile
Milestone Magic
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery surpasses 160m downloads eight years after launch
The developer said players have logged more than 100.7bn minutes in the game since its 2018 debut
April Fool's
April Fool's Day 2026: Voodoo acquisition, Slush raises $4 trillion, a Warhammer 40,000 musical and KitKats
A roundup of the day's shenanigans from games companies
Industry Insights
From Helix Jump to Little Farm Story: How h8games reinvented itself
Oleg Batrakov shares on how the studio evolved after Helix Jump to create Little Farm Story
Closure
Rec Room to shut down after failing to achieve profitability from 150m players
The company cited shifts in the VR market and broader games industry pressures as key factors behind the decision
Ugc
Roblox launches avatar makeup category to expand creator monetisation and brand partnerships
Roblox said users updated their avatars an average of 274m times per day in early 2025
Sporting Surprise
Candy Crush takeover at the Intuit Dome aims for broader brand recognition
Among the mascots, actress Anna Faris was revealed to be inside the Bubblegum Troll
Community Building
Scopely launches Monopoly Go Chat app worldwide
Standalone app provides a more reliable technical experience, publisher claims
Crossovers
Tetris and Space Invaders team up for first-ever in-game crossover event
The crossover blends more than 75 years of arcade history across two of gaming’s most iconic franchises
Mobile Mavens
The Mobile Mavens reflect on Epic Games' latest layoffs
Our Mobile Mavens weigh in on the layoffs and what they mean for the company and future of Fortnite
Chart Rankings
February 2026 mobile game charts: Have the top risers over the past few years all peaked?
A deep dive into the global mobile game rankings across the App Store and Google Play
Apple Troubles
Ninth Circuit denies Apple rehearing request in Epic Games App Store dispute
The decision reinforces requirements for Apple to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods
Model Analysis
Fire Emblem Shadows earns just $578,000 in first six months, less than 1% of Fire Emblem Heroes
Shadows and Heroes share an IP but opt for different genres and monetisation models
Latest Layoffs
Pixelberry Studios reportedly lays off staff in another round of workforce reductions
The reductions mark the second round of job cuts at Pixelberry in two years
Game Closure
Bethesda to shut down The Elder Scrolls: Blades servers in June
The closure will take effect across all platforms, including Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch
Investment News
Maxim Krippa becomes co-owner of Burny Games expanding long-term investment role
Burny Games has surpassed 65m downloads across a portfolio of roughly ten mobile titles
Acqusitions
Mistplay completes acquisition of Connected Rewards to link gameplay with real-world loyalty programs
The deal integrates Connected Rewards into the LoyaltyPlay platform