Star Stats
2023 saw record highs in time spent on mobile and almost half a million app installs every minute
Here are five key stats to know from data.ai's State of Mobile 2024
Podcast
Games Factory Talents’ Oleg Paliy on how to land your dream job in 2024 | Podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team and guests give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and and what's inside this week's episode…
Job Losses
Playtika to cut 300 - 400 more jobs in latest rounds of layoffs
Another 10% of the workforce are set to go following the loss of jobs through 2022 and an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Rovio in 2023
Executive Exit
Unity restructure sees six ironSource co-founders step down
New CEO Jim Whitehurst clears the decks with key ironSource figures moving to non-executive roles while Tomer Bar-Zeev will continue to serve on the Board of Directors
One-stop-shop
Coda and Activision team up for new Call of Duty: Mobile web store
As a way of celebrating the launch, players can enjoy a 50% bonus on COD Points whilst enjoying other giveaways and promotions throughout this year
Job Losses
Cookie Run makers Devsisters shutters US office
Ex-staff take to LinkedIn to share the news of layoffs at the Korean company's US office
Sybo Celebration
Subway Surfers character crafting compo brings winning design in-game for 12th anniversary
Sybo’s endless runner is approaching 12 years, with a Craft-a-Character competition to celebrate
Game Saver
Behind the scenes: How our relaunch reboot reignited Merge Gardens
Futureplay’s Joonas Virtanen discusses the redemption journey that led to the revitalisation of Merge Gardens
The Greatest Genres
RPGs dominate consumer spending, generating 30% of all 2023 mobile game revenue
data.ai’s new report reveals reveals that the genre generated $24.5 billion - a huge 30% of revenues - from only 3% of total game downloads
Regional Revenues
China and US accounted for more than 50% of the $107 billion spent on mobile games in 2023
data.ai’s latest report reveals all about regional revenue and download differences
Strategic Downsizing
Twitch slashes 500 jobs - 35% of its staff - in latest cuts
Despite its widespread popularity, experiencing a surge in users through pandemic lockdowns, Twitch continues to grapple with financial challenges
Ai-powered Games
ArenaX Labs raises $6M for AI-driven game development
The company aims to use gaming as a way of educating players and gain a greater of understanding as to the workings of artificial intelligence
Ai Arrives
SAG-AFTRA actors union signs AI deal, enabling voice replicas in games
The deal with Replica Studios will allow video game studios working with the company to access top SAG-AFTRA talent and use their voices in games
Brand Ability
Cooking Fever’s TGI Fridays crossover reached four million in two weeks
Nordcurrent and TGI Fridays have partnered to bring the restaurant chain in-game for 2024
Monopoly Go, Go, Go!
Monopoly GO! topped 2023 download AND revenue charts in the US
Sensor Tower reveals the top performers of 2023, from mainstays like Pokémon Go to fresh contenders like Block Blast
Monetisation Strategy
Aggressive monetisation isn’t fun for players so here's how to fix things
Midjiwan's Christian Lovstedt discusses how roughshod monetisation methods such as forced ads and tough-to-earn in game currencies are creating a negative experience for players
Ceo Change
WildWorks CEO Clark Stacey steps down after 21 years
WildWorks is best known for 2010 Flash game Animal Jam which has reached 175 million players on browser and mobile
Direct To Consumer
How to choose a web store platform for your mobile game
In 2023, nearly every major mobile games publisher launched a web store - payment and platform expert AppCharge explains why - and how to go about creating your own
Sell Out
ByteDance to quit games? The company is in talks with Tencent over a possible sell off
The owners of TikTok are taking another step away from their gaming concerns with discussions of a possible sale to Tencent now in progress
Streaming Success
Video games dethroned as the UK’s top entertainment sector
Video streaming services such as Netflix have pushed video ahead of gaming in annual UK revenue
Early Bird Ends
Secure your place in San Francisco this March for the industry networking extravaganza!
Don't miss your chance to secure the best deals before prices rise this Thursday for PG Connects San Francisco, get yours before it’s too late
Job Losses
Unity to lay off 1,800 staff as it continues company reset
Redundancies amount to a quarter of its workforce
Second Round
Marvel Snap dev Second Dinner raises $100 million
Studio to invest in Marvel Snap live ops and new game development
Monster Milestone
20 years of Monster Hunter: Capcom celebrates two goliath decades in 2024
From humble origins to worldwide brand, from PS2 tech excitement to 3DS handheld, mobile and more, Monster Hunter has built up quite the legacy these past 20 years
New Launch
Apple Vision Pro - in store and available online from February 2, 2024
Apple's 'next big thing' broke cover in June 2023, now its launch date is set and you've a little less than a month so save up that $3,499…
Power To The People
US iPhone users receive surprise free cash in Apple 'batterygate' law suit success
Users of certain iPhones who signed up to a class action lawsuit have begun getting their share of the winnings, while Apple remains stoically silent
Ai Advances
Harnessing the power of generative AI to turbocharge mobile games
Product Madness chief technology officer Eyal Yaniv explains why game studios should embrace generative AI and how it can be used responsibly to define the future gaming experience
Shiny And Supportive
Pokémon donates ¥50 million to support those impacted by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake
The January 1 earthquake has caused particular damage to Wajima, Suzu and Noto
Next For Netflix
Netflix considers new monetisation tactics for gaming arm
With so small a fraction of Netflix subscribers playing its games, the streaming giant reportedly looks to make more money from its efforts
The Only Way Is Up
Investment in and around the games industry dropped by 79% in 2023
While in America it dropped 86%… But with profits and share prices on the increase, is the scene now set for a bounceback?
Hot Five
Hot Five: Tencent’s newest gameplan, PlatinumGames’ pullout, and investing into Indian Esports
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
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 end of service for Kim Kardashian, 2024's AI ambitions and the future of gacha in China
Dead On Arrival
PlatinumGames pulls the plug on Apple Arcade exclusive World of Demons
Following a tortuous birth and first release, the game found a home on Apple Arcade. Now it's about to inexplicably vanish from existence
Honkai: Clothes Rail
"Nice in-game outfit - I'll take it!" Walmart and Unity team up for new in-app purchase API
Now developers can place real world items and offers in their apps and take a cut of the sale while Walmart delivers the goods
New Year's Resolutions
Why making marginal gains should be every developer's prime strategy for 2024
LifeStreet, CEO Levi Matkins gives us his simple but effective, six-step game plan to deliver substantial results
Growth Potential
U.S. consumer tech market eyes 2.8% growth, crossing the $512 billion mark in 2024
This marks a $14 billion increase from 2023 and indicates a rise in consumer spending on tech products and services.
Quids In
New Zealand devs hang onto 20% tax rebate perk after three-way-tie election
With a new three-way coalition government in place doubts had arisen as to how long the existing tax break could continue
Call For Improvement
Most social media game ads fail to meet loot box labeling standards
The study shows that out of 188 ads for 63 games across Meta's platforms, only 7% make correct mention of loot boxes
Five New Games
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from Tamagotchi escapades to exercise encouragers
We highlight five new games that have broken cover and are all set to do big business
Q&a
Speaker Spotlight: Aptoide's Jack Robson on how third-party payments could be a "game-changer" on mobile
"It could usher in a new era of monetisation strategies and user interaction in mobile gaming"
Poker Face
Tencent is now spending over HK$1 billion A DAY on its own shares
Every cloud has a silver lining, and following its recent shareprice nosedive post legislative bombshell, the company is only accelerating its buybacks
Promotion Plan
Netmarble plans to appoint vice president Byung Gyu Kim as co-CEO this March
Byung Gyu Kim will rise to the role provided he is met with approval at the upcoming shareholders’ meeting
Podcast
Fluent's Matt Conlin talks game-changing user acquisition trends for 2024 | Podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team and guests give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and and what's inside this week's episode…
Purchase Power
Tencent sells app store to Huya ahead of Chinese crackdown
Tencent has been selling up and parting ways with its animation company. Now an app store leaves its stable.
Recruitment Special
New Year, New Job 2024: Wanted: Your recruitment tips for 2024!
Got good advice for landing that dream job? We want to hear it! Our new campaign will hook up great employees with dream jobs. But we need you to be part of the action
Who's At The Show
A masterclass in gaming excellence: Gain insights from industry titans this month
Sharing knowledge and inspiring success: Learn from the masters at Pocket Gamer Connects London 2024, the premier gaming event of the year!
Mena Focus
Savvy Games Group: “Approximately 75 percent of our capital allotment has not yet been invested”
We speak to Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward about the accomplishments of the past year, what we can expect to see next from the MENA region and Savvy’s new games ambitions
Kardashian Closure
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood removed from app stores with end of service in April
After almost a decade and millions successfully banked, Kim Kardashian’s mobile game is reaching the end of the road
Hyper Homa
Homa looks forward to 2024 as their catalogue surpasses 1.5 billion installs
Homa reflects on 2023 accomplishments from hires to installs to an expanded presence across platforms
Get The Message
Greeting new players is table stakes… But 75% of the top-ranked games don’t do it
Research reveals that developers are sending out the wrong signals, while messaging that's tailored to players is a no-brainer that keeps them coming back for more