"IP and creator partnerships will never carry a bad game": The Mobile Mavens on what makes collaborations work

The Mobile Mavens discuss why partnerships have become a key part of the modern games landscape and what separates successful collaborations from marketing gimmicks

Hot Five: Neon raises $13m, one month of Pokémon Champions, and Tencent reportedly in talks to purchase SuperPlay

Hot Five: Neon raises $13m, one month of Pokémon Champions, and Tencent reportedly in talks to purchase SuperPlay

Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz

Ubisoft’s mobile net bookings share almost doubles with Invincible: Guarding the Globe’s success

Platform Percentage

Ubisoft’s mobile net bookings share almost doubles with Invincible: Guarding the Globe’s success

After accounting for 10% of net bookings last Q1, mobile now contributes 19%

Latest

Türkiye launches NextGen high school startup incubator with Loom Games support

Into The Incubator

Türkiye launches NextGen high school startup incubator with Loom Games support

Six teams will each receive a $1,000 grant, with a $10,000 prize for the winning team

UK Games Fund unveils largest-ever Prototype Fund cohort

Funding For Games

UK Games Fund unveils largest-ever Prototype Fund cohort

The UK Games Fund will receive an additional £28.5m over the next three years

Puzzle accounts for 44% of casual mobile earnings in H1 2026

Puzzle accounts for 44% of casual mobile earnings in H1 2026

Match-3 has contributed 51% of puzzle’s earnings

Esports World Cup to bring free gaming festival to Paris' Champs-Élysées

Esports World Cup

Esports World Cup to bring free gaming festival to Paris' Champs-Élysées

The event aims to introduce esports to new audiences while celebrating gaming culture in France

Stumble Guys launches Disability Pride Month charity campaign with SpecialEffect

Stumble Guys launches Disability Pride Month charity campaign with SpecialEffect

All proceeds from Axel Skin purchases will be donated to SpecialEffect

THIS WEEK! PGC Summit Shanghai returns Wednesday, July 29!

Pgc Summit Shanghai

THIS WEEK! PGC Summit Shanghai returns Wednesday, July 29!

Start your ChinaJoy week in the company of G5 Entertainment, IGN, King, Krafton, Mattel163, Rovio, Tencent, Xsolla and more...

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Editor's Picks

Learn all about China’s games industry in our free region report

Learn all about China’s games industry in our free region report

Dive into the state of one of the most dominant mobile games hubs in our new report, published in association with Xsolla

Epic and Google withdraw their US settlement and Pokémon Go revenue skyrockets | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 98

Epic and Google withdraw their US settlement and Pokémon Go revenue skyrockets | 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 98...

The Top 30 China Game Makers of 2026

China Best Of 2026

The Top 30 China Game Makers of 2026

The China movers and shakers of the last 12 months revealed!

Opinion

<blockquote>I wouldn't even be able even to name a single department in the company that doesn't use AI in its work.</blockquote>

I wouldn't even be able even to name a single department in the company that doesn't use AI in its work.

My.Games CEO Elena Grigorian on live ops, new game R&D, D2C and why AI is a game changer

<blockquote>I think the game has made such a real difference in people’s lives that they have a loyalty to it that’s really special.</blockquote>

I think the game has made such a real difference in people’s lives that they have a loyalty to it that’s really special.

Scopely's Kim Adams on how Pokémon Go became a forever franchise

#Pocket Gamer Connects

Thanks to the sponsors of PG Connects Summit Shanghai

Pgc Summit Shanghai

Thanks to the sponsors of PG Connects Summit Shanghai

A big thank you to all our partners that help make the event possible

The PG Connects World Tour 2026 continues with Shanghai, Montréal, Helsinki and more!

The PG Connects World Tour 2026 continues with Shanghai, Montréal, Helsinki and more!

Five more destinations in the second half of the year; countless business opportunities

Rovio's Anastasiya Kara on how live ops took over mobile's biggest games

Rovio's Anastasiya Kara on how live ops took over mobile's biggest games

At PGC Barcelona, Rovio's lead product manager traced live ops from a single Angry Birds power-up to the engine driving the top grossing charts

Boltray Games' Yiyu Jiang to speak at PGC Summit Shanghai

Pgc Summit Shanghai

Boltray Games' Yiyu Jiang to speak at PGC Summit Shanghai

A Singapore-based investment and partnerships voice joins the Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai lineup on July 29th

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Industry Voices

Playtika's future, parents embracing games, Pokémon Champions and China's games market | Week in Views

Playtika's future, parents embracing games, Pokémon Champions and China's games market | Week in Views

The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories

In the Hot Seat: Three ways Western developers are leaving a fortune on the table in China

In The Hot Seat

In the Hot Seat: Three ways Western developers are leaving a fortune on the table in China

We speak to Kingsoft's Claire Yang about making cross-border deals work, the hires that can mean 10x to 100x the revenue and why China's giants don't hold every advantage

Global Game Jam's Maria Burns Ortiz:

Global Game Jam

Global Game Jam's Maria Burns Ortiz: "We compare our first drafts to other people's finished products"

Global Game Jam's Maria Burns Ortiz on why Micro Missions is giving emerging developers their first step into the games industry.

How adjoe fixes early game engagement for hardcore games

Hardcore, You Know The Score

How adjoe fixes early game engagement for hardcore games

“Hardcore games already ask a lot from new users, and the reward path should feel like support.”

UKIE's Nick Poole:

UKIE's Nick Poole: "The social media ban will change the rules of engagement"

The UKIE CEO on the UK's planned social media ban for under-16s, how games could get tangled up and what the industry can do about it

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#China

Who's coming to this month's PG Connects Summit Shanghai?

Pgc Summit Shanghai

Who's coming to this month's PG Connects Summit Shanghai?

The companies you could meet in the world's biggest games market this July 29th

AI Gamechangers Summit: Predictions, pushback and the new investment landscape

Ai Gamechangers Summit

AI Gamechangers Summit: Predictions, pushback and the new investment landscape

The studios shipping AI and the investors backing it are both at PGC Shanghai's AI Gamechangers Summit - here's what they're bringing to the table

China's game makers, the state of UK games jobs and Pokémon Go's record run | Week in Views

China's game makers, the state of UK games jobs and Pokémon Go's record run | Week in Views

The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories

State of Play: How China's games industry is building a global powerhouse

State of Play: How China's games industry is building a global powerhouse

China’s games industry has become a dominant force around the world. We delve into what makes it tick and ambitions for future growth

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Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Ash Games Studio secures $1.5m seed funding for Saudi-inspired games

Ash Games Studio secures $1.5m seed funding for Saudi-inspired games

The studio is building games inspired by Saudi stories and history

Neon raises $13m Series A to expand direct-to-consumer commerce platform for game publishers

Neon raises $13m Series A to expand direct-to-consumer commerce platform for game publishers

The company focuses on giving publishers control over commerce, payments, and player data

Palo Alto Networks to acquire Embrace to expand observability platform

Palo Alto Networks to acquire Embrace to expand observability platform

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2027

Vgames raises $500m to launch growth financing platform for gaming companies

Investment News

Vgames raises $500m to launch growth financing platform for gaming companies

The fund plans to deploy more than $500m in additional financing in the coming years

Wemade founder sells controlling stake to NeoPulse in $593m deal

Wemade founder sells controlling stake to NeoPulse in $593m deal

NeoPulse will become Wemade's largest shareholder with a 40.25% stake after the transaction closes

July's Collabs Corner: The Odyssey in Fortnite, One Punch Man meets Blood Strike, and more

Collaborations Roundup

July's Collabs Corner: The Odyssey in Fortnite, One Punch Man meets Blood Strike, and more

The latest crossovers in mobile games, all in one place

Xsolla partners with Sabah.hub to support Azerbaijan's games ecosystem

New Partnerships

Xsolla partners with Sabah.hub to support Azerbaijan's games ecosystem

The partnership focuses on education, talent development and startup growth

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Jobs News

Lil Snack appoints former Supercell executive Bill Kang as COO

Lil Snack appoints former Supercell executive Bill Kang as COO

Kang spent 12 years at Supercell before joining the company

July 2026's Movers and Shakers: Rollic, Scopely, Nodwin Gaming, Rovio and more

July 2026's Movers and Shakers: Rollic, Scopely, Nodwin Gaming, Rovio and more

Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers

Nodwin Gaming appoints Teemu Koski as CEO of MENA business

Nodwin Gaming appoints Teemu Koski as CEO of MENA business

He will lead strategy, operations, business development and expansion across MENA

Saber Interactive appoints former Epic Games executive Steve Allison as chief business officer

Saber Interactive appoints former Epic Games executive Steve Allison as chief business officer

He will oversee publishing, marketing and revenue opportunities at Saber

11 Bit Studios lays off 20 employees as it prepares for new production cycle

11 Bit Studios lays off 20 employees as it prepares for new production cycle

The studio says its financial situation remains stable despite the cuts

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#Regulation

EU orders Google to open Android and Search to rivals

EU orders Google to open Android and Search to rivals

The rulings require operational changes rather than financial penalties

US Supreme Court allows Texas app store age verification law to take effect

US Supreme Court allows Texas app store age verification law to take effect

Apple and Google are among the companies challenging the legislation

Google loses appeal against $4.7 billion Android antitrust fine

Google loses appeal against $4.7 billion Android antitrust fine

Regulators found Google used Android agreements to block rivals

Direct-to-consumer banks $17 billion and Google rolls out fee changes | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 95

Direct-to-consumer banks $17 billion and Google rolls out fee changes | 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 95...

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More News

Ludus: Merge Arena surpasses $50m in net revenue after two years

Ludus: Merge Arena surpasses $50m in net revenue after two years

The game has generated $66m in gross revenue since launch

Xbox begins testing ad-supported game streaming

Xbox begins testing ad-supported game streaming

The trial is currently available to Xbox Insiders

Vietnam proposes new social media and gaming restrictions for under-16s

Vietnam proposes new social media and gaming restrictions for under-16s

The proposal also introduces a 60-minute daily gaming limit for under-16s per game company

European Commission approves PIF's acquisition of Electronic Arts

European Commission approves PIF's acquisition of Electronic Arts

The Commission found the deal does not raise competition concerns

Saudi-based mobile games studio Floaty raises $1m investment round

Saudi-based mobile games studio Floaty raises $1m investment round

The studio is currently developing two mobile titles

European Commission fines Google €890m over Digital Markets Act breaches

European Commission fines Google €890m over Digital Markets Act breaches

Google has 60 days to comply with the Commission's orders

Games for Change publishes white paper on family gaming and wellbeing

Playing Together

Games for Change publishes white paper on family gaming and wellbeing

Nearly 60% of children want their parents to be more involved in their gaming lives

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Latest Videos

Highlights from Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026

Highlights from Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026

01:33 | 8 views

How to leverage incentivised rewards for high value UA

How to leverage incentivised rewards for high value UA

10:34 | 116 views

Rewarded Marketplaces & How Surprise Equals Engagement

Rewarded Marketplaces & How Surprise Equals Engagement

08:50 | 138 views

How D2C lets you 'take the power back' from app stores

How D2C lets you 'take the power back' from app stores

08:25 | 45 views

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Podcasts

Xbox's big reset | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 97

Xbox's big reset | 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 97...

The truth behind mobile gaming's $17bn D2C market

Pocketgamer.biz Podcast

The truth behind mobile gaming's $17bn D2C market

We speak with Appcharge CMO Gil Tov-ly about its D2C estimates, the true value of the market and whether the trend is actually growing the industry

In the Hot Seat: Mattel163 COO Devin Nambiar on Uno, the East-West divide and life after the NetEase deal

In The Hot Seat

In the Hot Seat: Mattel163 COO Devin Nambiar on Uno, the East-West divide and life after the NetEase deal

Mattel163's COO Devin Nambiar gets candid about cross-border publishing and the NetEase acquisition

WeChat Mini-Games uncovered and the Love & Deepspace Valko backlash | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 96

WeChat Mini-Games uncovered and the Love & Deepspace Valko backlash | 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 96...

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