Starting Strong
China’s game licence approvals are falling again, but don’t panic…
While month on month numbers are down, April 2024 saw 95 new domestic game licence approvals, more than the 86 granted in April 2023
Squad Busters Science
Game Analysis: The evolution of Squad Busters
Game design expert Jakub Remiar takes a closer look at the tweaks Squad Busters has undertaken as it preps for its global launch
Job News
Ex-Zynga COO Matthew Bromberg is Unity's new CEO
Games veteran Bromberg will step into the role of CEO at Unity from Wednesday, May 15th 2024
Adding Ads
Roblox launches video ads, partnering with IAS to deliver transparent metrics
Advertisers can now use immersive video to promote to anyone over 13 in Roblox, with clear indicators from IAS coming soon
Games Invasion
LinkedIn gets games as three puzzlers go live on the workplace social service
Get ahead of the game - literally - with three more reasons to fire it up each morning
Brawling Boost
Brawl Stars has already earned more in 2024 than the entirety of 2023
Supercell's smash hit has recovered from a year-on-year decline with a strong start to the year
Voop Feedback
Revolutionising feedback: Pocket Gamer Connects partners with AI-powered tool Voop
Interview: industry veteran Geoff Glendenning on the AI startup that'll help gamers and event attendees share instant feedback
Loads Of Layoffs
Belka Games lays off 20% of workforce as it becomes "more critical" of future titles
At least 33 people have been let go, including a number of team leads
Neural Networks Now
AI everywhere: Using neural networks for asset creation, marketing and more
Playkot’s marketing production lead, Igor Mosin shares how neural networks have sped up the creative process and increased marketing success
The Web3 Way
Supercell invests in web3 startup GFAL led by King, EA and Activision Blizzard veterans
GFAL has closed a $3.2 million seed funding round to grow its team and accelerate Elemental Raiders
Gaming Trends
TIGA's 10-point plan for 2024 aims to boost UK games industry
The proposed initiatives include new tax credits, a games accelerator, an investment fund, and skills programs, with the potential to create 2,660 development jobs by 2028
Square The Circle
Square Enix warns of "extraordinary losses" ahead of upcoming financial report
A new, more selective approach will be taken to HD game development after $140.3 million in losses on axed projects
Acqusitions
Phoenix Games acquires live operations studio PopReach Games India
Phoenix will now assume control of an extensive collection of free-to-play games, totaling over 420 million downloads to date
Listen Learn Love
PocketGamer.biz Podcast - GameFounders' Kadri Harma on unlocking the MENA games market
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team and guests give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode…
Honkai Hoorah
Honkai: Star Rail zooms beyond $1 billion on its first anniversary
Honkai: Star Rail generated $1.3 billion in its first 12 months, with 25% from 6% of players…
New Partnerships
Man City and Norway striker Erling Haaland joins Clash of Clans
"I've been a huge fan of the game for a long time and know everything about it," says Haaland
Fabulous Fireside Chats
Hear MORE from the experts - eight MORE fabulous fireside chats from PGC London 2024
Top tips, tech and trends. Eight more fireside chats with industry thought leaders from PGC London 2024 courtesy of our friends HyprMX
Game Creation
Arkadium extends distribution network to all developers
Industry veteran Dan Butchko also joins as director of developer relations to foster external partnerships
Platform Power
Supercell-backed HypeHype to give creators 100% of revenue from user-generated content
During the early access period, creators making games on HypeHype will earn all the net revenue from their creations
Interview
ESL FACEIT and Qiddiya Gaming discuss establishing gaming district in the KSA amidst MENA growth
"We’re not afraid to imagine the future and we’re willing to take risks to be the best in the world"
Mobile Mavens
Mobile Mavens: What's the state of play for the MENA region?
Our Mavens share their thoughts on MENA market opportunities and offer advice for those doing business in the region
Dma Demands
EU ruling gives Apple six months to bring iPadOS into line with DMA demands
Apple’s iPadOS will be held to the same standards as the iPhone operating system after qualitative investigation
Jobs In Games
Fingersoft's welcoming culture draws international talent
The company currently has 118 employees, of which 20% are international staff
Building Bricks
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen joins LEGO’s board of directors days after Squad Busters’ soft launch
Ilkka Paananen and YouTube Studio’s director of product Ebi Atawodi were appointed on April 26th
A Soda Saga
King’s Paula Ingvar: a games industry journey from "I’m not worthy!" to Candy Crush Soda’s VP of product
Paula Ingvar moved from traffic engineering to the games industry following encouragement from friends and has "only ever found it stimulating"
Loads Of Layoffs
A Thinking Ape lays off staff across game design, software engineering, art teams and more
Layoffs continue to impact the games industry as restructuring persists in 2024
Job News
GEM Capital appoints three new advisory board members
This will shape the future of gaming investing for many years to come," said GEM Capital’s managing director Roman Gurskiy
Interview
Nifty Craft founder Vince Ghossoub on making a card battler MMO and growth in the MENA region
"Nifty Craft utilises state of the art technology and is innovating in-game design, what more can I ask for"
Hot Five
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters levels up, retro Nintendo on iOS, and Genshin Impact’s worst month yet
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Podcast | Episode 09
Supercell's Squad Busters goes global, Embracer Group splits, and Apple's Vision Pro flops | 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 09…
Week That Was
Week in Views - Squads busted, Apple crushed, War zoned and Snoozin' with the Snorlax…
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Searching For Success
Meta's VR/AR woes continue with new $3.8 billion loss
The company's VR vision remains out of focus and a pivot to AI isn't going to deliver a big win any time soon
Q&a
Speaker Spotlight: Dubai Future Foundation's Faisal Kazim on leading Dubai's gaming charge
"The Dubai Program for Gaming has the goal of adding $1 billion annually to Dubai’s GDP and becoming a top ten city in terms of revenue in gaming."
Pokemon Price Hike
Pika fight… Pokémon Go just put prices up 1300% in Turkey
The move comes as a counter measure, ending months of location spoofing, robbing Niantic from earnings elsewhere… But at what cost?
Supercell Analysis
Have Supercell's changes supercharged its revenue?
We analyse the performance of Supercell's portfolio amid its restructure and ahead of the global launch of Squad Busters on May 29th
New Game Launch
Tencent's Dungeon and Fighter mobile game will launch in May
Following a closed test involving 300,000 players the game is now set for prime time
Gaming Trends
Carv raises $10M series A to simplify data monetization for gamers
Carv has been profitable since December 2023 with a monthly revenue surpassing $1 million
Five New Games
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from cartoony cats to sports stars
We highlight five new games that have broken cover and are all set to do big business
Q&a
Speaker Spotlight: Dubai NEXT's Aisha Alazab on transforming ideas into successful campaigns and funding
"It's essential to be in the right place and time - that's wherever your potential backers are likely to be."
Monster Milestone
Monster Hunter Now reaches 15 million downloads
Monster Hunter Now reached 10 million installs in 35 days but its taken another six months to gain five million more
Tiktok Ban
ByteDance on the clock as Biden signs TikTok ban bill into law
TikTok CEO Shou Chew says it is “A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice”
Do Tell, Hotel
Pokémon Sleep goes IRL with $1,800 hotel experience for fans
To coincide with the game’s first anniversary, Pokémon Sleep is partnering with the Grand Hyatt Tokyo
Q&a
Speaker Spotlight: Applovin's Pankaj Choudhary talks 360 strategies for successful app marketing
"While developers in MENA tend to prioritize IAPs over ads, it's crucial to grasp the value of an IAA mix."
Jobs In Games
Cécile Russeil takes the helm at Ubisoft as EVP of comms, DEI, HR, and legal
With over three decades of experience at the company following pivotal leadership roles could she be the one to finally settle Ubisoft's unrest?
Emulation Sensation
Everyone loves Nintendo… Delta emulator hits 4.4 million downloads in its first week
Since Apple lifted its ban on retro emulators, playing Nintendo games on iOS has never been simpler… Or more free
Jobs In Games
Raptor PR welcomes James Law as PR director for new B2C drive
Law will play a pivotal role in helping Raptor PR establish its new consumer gaming PR division
Apple Vision Pro
Apple reins in Vision Pro plans following dwindling demand and disappearing apps
Apple have limited the supply of their headset following disappointing sales and the release of ONE new app in the last week of March
Web Shop Beta
Sanlo launches into web shops after raising $13.5 million
Financial services provider inviting games companies to join close beta of its new platform
Noncompete No More
FTC bans noncompete work clauses to encourage entrepreneurialism and higher pay
The ruling should bring about 8,500 new businesses per year and bolster innovation
Tiktok Troubles
It's bad day for TikTok as both the US and EU clamp down
TikTok faces a rewards programme ban in the EU and a complete ban in the US unless it sells up