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
Freedom Regained
Quantic Lab exits Embracer Group to operate as an independent company under founder ownership
The transition took effect on April 1st, 2026, marking the end of Quantic Lab’s period within the Embracer portfolio
Milestone
PlayDucky rolls out volcano and lava pool maps in new Melon Sandbox update
PlayDucky said it paid more than $1m to creators in 2025 through its in-game mod marketplace
Latest
Pgc Barcelona 2026
Discover Barcelona's thriving games ecosystem on June 15th to 16th
Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona is your gateway to business in one of the world’s brightest games markets
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
Exclusive Inside Look
Inside King’s London headquarters: "We have people in the London studio working on all of our titles"
PocketGamer.biz receives an invitation into King’s London office, to speak with president Todd Green and others
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
Editor's Picks
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
Us Best Of 2026
The Top 30 US Mobile Game Makers of 2026
The US movers and shakers of the last 12 months revealed!
Africa Is Mobile
"After our five years of tests, we think only hybrid monetisation will work in Africa"
Kiro'o Games CEO Olivier Madiba discusses the realities of game monetisation in Africa, player behaviour and long-term growth across the continent
Opinion
Completely organically, players are sharing hundreds of photos of their pets and their stories with each other.
How Monopoly Go's Pets Season sparked 12,000 fan submissions and community engagement
The ad market is messy, but your game doesn't have to be. With the right controls, you can control the chaos.
Ivona Pinjak analyses player churn across ad networks, formats and platforms
#Pocket Gamer Connects
Chinajoy
11 essential tips for maximising your time during ChinaJoy
Handy tips for managing Asia’s biggest game and entertainment expo
Pgc Summit MalmÖ
Why Malmö is the place to do games business this May
The Swedish games industry keeps growing, and Malmö is where the deals are happening
Pgc Summit Malmo
Tracks uncovered: Gain essential knowledge through PGC Summit Malmö's conference programme
Tightly focused four-track summit schedule runs alongside two days of meetings and curated networking opportunities
Pgc Summit Malmo
Final days: Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Malmö Early Bird ends soon!
Save now on new super-focused, networking-centric summit designed to boost your Nordic Game week
Industry Voices
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
Google Play Update Details
The true cost of Google's Level Up: What the fee table doesn't show
Google’s fee update looks simple, but the real cost shows up in lock-in, add-ons and rules
Week In Views
Unity follows AppLovin, Roblox brand deal controversy and Wuthering Waves' live ops success | Week in Views
The PocketGamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Master Plan
Savvy Games Group's CEO on M&A, China and rising Eastern influence
We speak to Brian Ward about how it works with its growing empire, Scopely's freedom, and opportunities in growing sectors like UGC
Mobile Mavens
"This is a fundamental shift in the way that games are rated": The Mobile Mavens on PEGI's new rules
Our Mobile Mavens share their insights on PEGI's updated age rating criteria and what it means for the wider games industry
#MENA
Podcast | Episode 87
Was Epic's app store battle worth it? | 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 87...
Acquisitions
ByteDance to sell Moonton to Savvy Games Group in $6bn deal
The move marks another major expansion for Savvy Games Group
Marvellous Mena
"Cultural relevance matters, but so does international production quality"
Dawn of Game’s co-founder Gilbert Ewangue talks self-funded development, community growth and building Kwat Fou
Strategic Move
Saudi Arabia acquires a fresh 5.03% stake in Capcom through EGDC
The investment is positioned as a financial play targeting capital gains and dividends
Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions
Acqusitions
LY Corp acquires majority stake in Kakao Games with $198m investment
Kakao will remain a strategic partner despite stepping down to second largest shareholder
Esports
Esports Foundation selects 40 clubs for $20m partner program ahead of 2026 Esports World Cup
Participating clubs can receive up to $1m each to expand their brands and fan engagement ahead of the tournament
Fund Raise
Nazara raises over $50m to fund acquisitions and AI-led expansion
The new capital will be used to build AI-enabled gaming businesses designed for international markets and support recent acquisitions
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
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
Acqusitions
Asmodee acquires ATM Gaming in €180m deal to expand social board game portfolio
The deal targets the fast-growing social and party games segment
Jobs News
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
Jobs News
Nodwin Gaming appoints chief strategy and investments officer ahead of potential IPO
He will lead mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy and fundraising to support the company's global expansion
Job Losses
Epic layoffs spark launch of ‘Awesome People List’ job site for more than 1,000 displaced staff
The platform allows hiring managers to browse candidates across engineering, design, production, community management, and security roles
Job News
Metasports appoints head of marketing to scale Hitwicket globally
He will lead user acquisition, brand, and partnerships across Metasports’ growing portfolio of sports games
Industry Decline
TIGA clamours for government support as UK game dev jobs fall at record rate and startup activity collapses
CEO Richard Wilson calls for better tax incentives and support initiatives to compete on the global stage
#Regulation
Apple Troubles
German publishers urge antitrust fine against Apple ATT
Industry groups say Apple’s proposed ATT changes fail to resolve competition concerns
Security Review
Report: Trump administration reviews Tencent gaming investments over security concerns
Officials are assessing whether the company’s investments pose potential national security risks.
Child Safety
UK consultation on kids’ online lives: what the video games industry needs to know
Celia Pontin explains the UK government’s consultation on keeping children safe online
Week In Views
Games industry regulation tightens and transmedia insights with the Umamusume: Pretty Derby movie director | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
More News
Sonic Shift
Sonic Rumble rebranded to Sonic Rumble Party as it adds new features and removes game modes
The party royale has made an estimated $1.6m on mobile
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
Podcast
PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Data doesn't solve problems - decisions do
We talk with GameAnalytics head of BD and customer success Falko Boecker to discuss data, AI and finding the right insights
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
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Podcasts
Podcast | Episode 86
The final word on GDC | 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 86...
Podcast | Episode 85
The future of Xbox and Pokémon's 30th anniversary | 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 85...
Podcast | Episode 84
Scopely's $1bn Loom Games deal and Matthew Ball's State of Video Games report | 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 84...
Podcast | Episode 83
Supercell faces Clash Royale controversy and banks on innovation | 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 83...