Monetisation models and the risks of retrofitting

Monetisation Matters

Monetisation models and the risks of retrofitting

Pixel Federation lead game system designer Martin Gajarsky advises developers to plan monetisation models early in development rather than a "messier" retrofitting approach

In numbers: The Spanish and Portuguese games industries

In numbers: The Spanish and Portuguese games industries

We delve into the data behind the Iberia games market

Building Kingdom Clash: A game designer’s perspective on a five-year project

Industry Insights

Building Kingdom Clash: A game designer’s perspective on a five-year project

Lev Nazin shares key lessons learned from five years of developing Kingdom Clash

Latest

From mobile to PC: The friction of UA translation

Cross Platform Ua

From mobile to PC: The friction of UA translation

Pierre Olivier, PWN Games head of media buying, on what PC publishers get wrong when borrowing the mobile user acquisition playbook

Editor's picks: Must-attend sessions at PGC Barcelona on June 15th and 16th

Editor's picks: Must-attend sessions at PGC Barcelona on June 15th and 16th

Get key insights from these top sessions at next week's big show

Revealed: Mobile publishers share their record D2C sales

Revealed: Mobile publishers share their record D2C sales

Direct-to-consumer becomes a 'strategic priority' for top publishers

Two Desperados secures $20m in user acquisition financing from PvX Partners

Two Desperados secures $20m in user acquisition financing from PvX Partners

The funding will be used to scale growth and expand the studio’s global player base

ESA warns California games bill would burden developers and players

Industry Outlook

ESA warns California games bill would burden developers and players

“This bill may sound consumer-friendly, but it ultimately hurts both players and creators”

LinkedIn launches Wend as first new word game in two years

LinkedIn launches Wend as first new word game in two years

Wend combines word-finding gameplay with logic puzzle mechanics

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Editor's Picks

The Top 30 Iberia Game Makers of 2026

Best Of Iberia In 2026

The Top 30 Iberia Game Makers of 2026

The Spanish and Portuguese movers and shakers of the last 12 months revealed!

Download our Iberia games market report ahead of PGC

Download our Iberia games market report ahead of PGC

Get the lowdown on the state of the market on the Iberian Peninsula ahead of Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona on June 15th and 16th

Follow the money: Who's funding, publishing and buying at PGC Barcelona 2026

Follow the money: Who's funding, publishing and buying at PGC Barcelona 2026

Here are just some of the heavyweight UA financiers, publishers and investors you will meet at PGC Barcelona

Opinion

<blockquote>You don’t need a finished game, but you do need to show that you can execute.</blockquote>

You don’t need a finished game, but you do need to show that you can execute.

Burny Games' Elena Lobova explores the value of research and clarity when teaming with a publisher

<blockquote>The Portuguese video game industry is increasingly fuelled by a dynamic and evolving talent pool.</blockquote>

The Portuguese video game industry is increasingly fuelled by a dynamic and evolving talent pool.

APVP president Jeferson Valadares discusses the state of the industry in Portugal

#Pocket Gamer Connects

Top five reasons to attend Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics this October

Top five reasons to attend Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics this October

Connect with the whole Nordic games industry - and global heavyweights - at our newly embiggened Helsinki hurrah

China gaming 2026: Key trends and market catalysts

Pgc Summit Shanghai

China gaming 2026: Key trends and market catalysts

The key trends we'll cover in next month’s PGC Summit Shanghai including AI, mini games, super apps and a thriving PC market

Transit wins the Big Indie Pitch at PGC Summit Malmö 2026

Big Indie Pitch

Transit wins the Big Indie Pitch at PGC Summit Malmö 2026

Find out who took the top three spots in our popular indie game developer pitching contest

“Publishers need to earn their place”: How publishers are redefining their value

Publisher Strategy

“Publishers need to earn their place”: How publishers are redefining their value

Asi Burak and Nikola Cavic discuss how publishers are adapting to a market where developers have more ways than ever to fund and grow their games

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Industry Voices

Week in Views: James Bond and Pokémon Champions

Week in Views: James Bond and Pokémon Champions

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

Inside Azerbaijan’s push to build a global games development ecosystem

Market Development

Inside Azerbaijan’s push to build a global games development ecosystem

Rytis Joseph Jan and Shahin Aliyev discuss building and scaling games studios in Azerbaijan’s emerging market

Zynga's senior games VP:

Zynga's senior games VP: "Barcelona has become a hub for top-level game developer talent"

We delve into the work going on at Take-Two owned Socialpoint and the state of Spain's games market with Yair Melamed

Why mobile gaming has shifted from a 'core-first' to an 'event-first' model

Live Ops Evolution

Why mobile gaming has shifted from a 'core-first' to an 'event-first' model

Rovio’s Anastasiya Kara discusses how live ops continues to be a dominant force in driving long-term mobile success

NJD Games creative director Baraa Odeh on building a racing franchise and taking Hajwala culture global

Marvellous Mena

NJD Games creative director Baraa Odeh on building a racing franchise and taking Hajwala culture global

"One of the key factors behind KOH’s success has been understanding the community and building gameplay experiences that keep players socially engaged over time"

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#MENA

Qiddiya City signs five-year partnership with MPL MENA

New Partnerships

Qiddiya City signs five-year partnership with MPL MENA

The partnership will focus on fan engagement, community initiatives, and youth-focused activations

Asia and MENA video game revenue set to surpass $100bn by 2030

Asia and MENA video game revenue set to surpass $100bn by 2030

Niko Partners' report shows China's mini games now account for nearly 20% of mobile game spending

Sheba Joy opens new office in Beijing

Sheba Joy opens new office in Beijing

The move is part of its efforts to accelerate social gaming innovation for the Middle East

Studio expansions and $3bn ambitions take centre stage at Morocco Gaming Expo

Morocco Gaming Expo

Studio expansions and $3bn ambitions take centre stage at Morocco Gaming Expo

Morocco is targeting $3 billion in games revenue and 1% of the global market by 2030

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Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Roblox strengthens AI ambitions with Morpheus AI acquisition and founder hires

Roblox strengthens AI ambitions with Morpheus AI acquisition and founder hires

The company plans to integrate Morpheus AI technology into its Roblox Video Model

Angry Birds 2 kicks off football-themed season with new events and rewards

Angry Birds 2 kicks off football-themed season with new events and rewards

The limited-time update introduces football-themed challenges, rewards and events

FIFA and Gamefam launch FIFA World Cup 2026 event across Roblox

FIFA and Gamefam launch FIFA World Cup 2026 event across Roblox

The event includes live score updates and tournament standings tied to real-world matches

SuperAwesome partners with Roblox as under-13 advertising partner

SuperAwesome partners with Roblox as under-13 advertising partner

The partnership focuses on delivering brand-safe and COPPA-compliant advertising experiences

Stillfront divests OFM Studios and cuts $26.5m Gameberry settlement

Settlement Reached

Stillfront divests OFM Studios and cuts $26.5m Gameberry settlement

The proceeds will support Stillfront’s continued deleveraging efforts

Akin Babayigit and Makers Fund launch AMF Capital with $28m UA financing for Bear Hug

Akin Babayigit and Makers Fund launch AMF Capital with $28m UA financing for Bear Hug

Further deals from UA fund will be announced soon

Atari acquires Crossy Road creator Hipster Whale in deal worth up to $39.3m

Atari acquires Crossy Road creator Hipster Whale in deal worth up to $39.3m

The deal is expected to be completed in the coming days

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Jobs News

Paramount launches unified games division to expand franchise ambitions

Paramount launches unified games division to expand franchise ambitions

Tony Driscoll will lead the new division while retaining his role as EVP of corporate strategy and development

Take the next step in your career at PGC Barcelona

Take the next step in your career at PGC Barcelona

The Careers Zone returns to Barcelona this June, sponsored by Gameloft and Appodeal and powered by Games Factory Talents

Metacore closes Germany and Sweden operations as it confirms 159 layoffs

Metacore closes Germany and Sweden operations as it confirms 159 layoffs

Merge Mansion developer still in negotiations with Supercell over buyout

June 2026's Movers and Shakers: PocketGamer.biz expands, King's new CMO, plus hires at Rovio, Scopely and more

June 2026's Movers and Shakers: PocketGamer.biz expands, King's new CMO, plus hires at Rovio, Scopely and more

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

King’s first European market report reveals mobile's €5.9bn economic impact for the continent

European Impact

King’s first European market report reveals mobile's €5.9bn economic impact for the continent

Mobile studios in Europe employ 30,000 people, while 61% of public play mobile games

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#Regulation

Epic's final battle approaches

Epic Conclusion?

Epic's final battle approaches

After years of legal battles, the Fortnite developer is nearing the end of a journey that has come with a high cost

Melon Sandbox: 150m installs and UGC evolution

Into The Sandbox

Melon Sandbox: 150m installs and UGC evolution

Publisher PlayDucky shares insights into the ragdoll physics title, which has transformed into part sandbox game, part creator ecosystem

EU's Digital Markets Act has

EU's Digital Markets Act has "not yet reached its full potential"

Cloud and AI markets are next in the Commission's enforcement crosshairs

Türkiye passes sweeping digital law restricting social media access for under 15s

Türkiye passes sweeping digital law restricting social media access for under 15s

Meanwhile, foreign gaming platforms with over 100,000 daily Turkish users must now appoint a local representative

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More News

ESA warns No Fakes Act could create legal uncertainty for the video game industry

ESA warns No Fakes Act could create legal uncertainty for the video game industry

The trade body argues that the legislation does not distinguish between harmful deepfakes and legitimate video game characters

Among Us TV show is out now on Paramount+

A Series Among Us

Among Us TV show is out now on Paramount+

Over the years, the brand has expanded from mobile to PC, to consoles and now into a show

German Games Industry Association elects new executive board as Lars Janssen retains chair role

Leadership Change

German Games Industry Association elects new executive board as Lars Janssen retains chair role

Maxi Graeff was elected deputy chair of the association

Ubisoft Barcelona Mobile's studio manager Jordi Martin to speak at PGC Barcelona 2026

Ubisoft Barcelona Mobile's studio manager Jordi Martin to speak at PGC Barcelona 2026

One more industry leader is heading to the stage at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona on June 15th and 16th

IICT and GDAI launch faculty development program for game development educators

India On The Rise

IICT and GDAI launch faculty development program for game development educators

The programme is designed to help educators understand industry trends and prepare students for careers in games

See who you could connect with at PGC Barcelona

See who you could connect with at PGC Barcelona

Network with the biggest brands and brightest minds including Zynga, Rovio, Gameloft, King, Scopely and more

Apple unveils AI frameworks and agentic coding tools in Xcode 27

Apple unveils AI frameworks and agentic coding tools in Xcode 27

Developers can now access Apple Foundation Models alongside third-party models including Claude and Gemini

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Latest Videos

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

How D2C can build personal relationships | Liam Wiltshire from Tebex

How D2C can build personal relationships | Liam Wiltshire from Tebex

11:59 | 12 views

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Podcasts

The Sensor Tower / AppMagic deal unwrapped and Xbox's random rebrand | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 92

The Sensor Tower / AppMagic deal unwrapped and Xbox's random rebrand | 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 92...

Sensor Tower's AppMagic acquisition and Sega's brutal Rovio comments | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 91

Sensor Tower's AppMagic acquisition and Sega's brutal Rovio comments | 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 91...

Week in Mobile Games podcast: Episode 90

Podcast | Episode 90

Week in Mobile Games podcast: Episode 90

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 90...

Podcast: The state of the UK games industry with UKIE CEO Nick Poole

Podcast: The state of the UK games industry with UKIE CEO Nick Poole

We discuss the challenges facing the UK's games industry and what developers need in the coming years to boost their success

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