Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on a 25-year career in mobile gaming

The Big Interview

Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on a 25-year career in mobile gaming

As the Finnish entrepreneur receives a BAFTA Fellowship, we catch up with Paananen to discuss his career in games and the mobile market's key challenges

March 2026 mobile game charts: Brawl Stars revenue rises nearly 50%

March 2026 mobile game charts: Brawl Stars revenue rises nearly 50%

A deep dive into the global mobile game rankings across the App Store and Google Play

PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Skillz, Beamable and the live ops shift

PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Skillz, Beamable and the live ops shift

We unpack Skillz's acquisition of Beamable, what the future looks like for the two companies, and more

Latest

“The centre of the game industry isn’t moving from West to East it’s dissolving entirely”: The Mobile Mavens on gaming’s global power shift

“The centre of the game industry isn’t moving from West to East it’s dissolving entirely”: The Mobile Mavens on gaming’s global power shift

Our Mobile Mavens discuss whether power in games is moving from West to East

UK games sector loses 1,537 jobs as 14-year growth streak ends

Industry Outlook

UK games sector loses 1,537 jobs as 14-year growth streak ends

Large studios also reduced staffing levels, shedding more than 700 development roles across the sector

Tickets now live for Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics on October 20th to 21st

Tickets now live for Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics on October 20th to 21st

Must-attend games industry event in Helsinki gets a Nordic makeover

Sony Interactive Entertainment acquires UK-based machine learning firm Cinemersive Labs

Sony Interactive Entertainment acquires UK-based machine learning firm Cinemersive Labs

The team will join Sony’s Visual Computing Group following the acquisition

Maysalward launches Golden Agers workshop for 65+ gamers

Maysalward launches Golden Agers workshop for 65+ gamers

The initiative aims to help seniors build confidence with technology in a practical, supportive setting

AppLovin announces leadership succession plans and appoints new independent chairperson

Leadership Change

AppLovin announces leadership succession plans and appoints new independent chairperson

Craig Billings has been appointed independent chairperson of AppLovin’s board

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Editor's Picks

Direct-to-consumer sales hit record levels again in Q4

Direct-to-consumer sales hit record levels again in Q4

Mobile games publishers continue to go all-in on D2C amid regulatory and court-led upheaval

The Top 30 US Mobile Game Makers of 2026

Us Best Of 2026

The Top 30 US Mobile Game Makers of 2026

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

From Game of War to Last Asylum: The evolution of 4x monetisation

Industry Insights

From Game of War to Last Asylum: The evolution of 4x monetisation

Jakub Remiar discusses the evolution of 4x games and the rise of hybrid onboarding

Opinion

<blockquote>Completely organically, players are sharing hundreds of photos of their pets and their stories with each other.</blockquote>

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

<blockquote>The ad market is messy, but your game doesn't have to be. With the right controls, you can control the chaos.</blockquote>

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

Why the games industry trusts Pocket Gamer Connects

Pocket Gamer Connects

Why the games industry trusts Pocket Gamer Connects

In a deals-driven industry, the real value is in coming back

Discover Barcelona's thriving games ecosystem on June 15th to 16th

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

11 essential tips for maximising your time during 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

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Industry Voices

Africa Is Mobile

"Ads remain the most common and viable monetisation model across Africa's gaming markets today"

Michael Oscar Esio shares his perspective on game monetisation, player behaviour and growth opportunities in Africa

Rec Room and Fire Emblem Shadows | Week in Views

Rec Room and Fire Emblem Shadows | Week in Views

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

From Helix Jump to Little Farm Story: How h8games reinvented itself

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

The Mobile Mavens reflect on Epic Games' latest layoffs

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

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

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#MENA

UAE Ministry of Culture opens fifth cycle of national grant programme

Culture And Creativity

UAE Ministry of Culture opens fifth cycle of national grant programme

The programme supports projects across fields including video games, film, music, publishing and design

Saudi Arabia raises Capcom stake to 6.04%

Saudi Arabia raises Capcom stake to 6.04%

The increase has come less than one month on from the Electronic Gaming Development Company's 5.03% claim

Was Epic's app store battle worth it? | Week in Mobile Games podcast

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...

Savvy Games Group's CEO on M&A, China and rising Eastern influence

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

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Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Codfish Academy partners with Dear Villagers to launch game pitching clinic in Portugal

Developer Support

Codfish Academy partners with Dear Villagers to launch game pitching clinic in Portugal

Five selected teams will present their projects directly to a publisher with the potential to secure funding and publishing support

Quantic Lab exits Embracer Group

Freedom Regained

Quantic Lab exits Embracer Group

The transition took effect on April 1st, 2026, marking the end of Quantic Lab’s period within the Embracer portfolio

LY Corp acquires majority stake in Kakao Games with $198m investment

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 Foundation selects 40 clubs for $20m partner program ahead of 2026 Esports World Cup

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

Nazara raises over $50m to fund acquisitions and AI-led expansion

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

Tetris and Space Invaders team up for first-ever in-game crossover event

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

Maxim Krippa becomes co-owner of Burny Games expanding long-term investment role

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

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Jobs News

Rec Room to shut down after failing to achieve profitability from 150m players

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

Nodwin Gaming appoints chief strategy and investments officer ahead of potential IPO

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

Epic layoffs spark launch of ‘Awesome People List’ job site for more than 1,000 displaced staff

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

Metasports appoints head of marketing to scale Hitwicket globally

Metasports appoints head of marketing to scale Hitwicket globally

He will lead user acquisition, brand, and partnerships across Metasports’ growing portfolio of sports games

TIGA clamours for government support as UK game dev jobs fall at record rate and startup activity collapses

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

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#Regulation

"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

German publishers urge antitrust fine against Apple ATT

German publishers urge antitrust fine against Apple ATT

Industry groups say Apple’s proposed ATT changes fail to resolve competition concerns

Report: Trump administration reviews Tencent gaming investments over security 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.

UK consultation on kids’ online lives: what the video games industry needs to know

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

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More News

Ilkka Paananen to be awarded BAFTA Fellowship

Lifetime Achievement

Ilkka Paananen to be awarded BAFTA Fellowship

Award honours the entrepreneur for his career and work with teams that have attracted hundreds of millions of players around the world

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie jumps to $372.6m at box office in five days

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie jumps to $372.6m at box office in five days

Nintendo and Illumination’s sequel title follows 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first film based on a game IP to surpass $1bn

The Division Resurgence makes $717,000 in first seven days

Resurgence Revenue

The Division Resurgence makes $717,000 in first seven days

Ubisoft’s new shooter fell slightly short of Rainbow Six Mobile’s recent week-one earnings, but peaked higher

Games industry M&A hits $7.7bn in Q1 2026 led by Savvy Games Group

Games industry M&A hits $7.7bn in Q1 2026 led by Savvy Games Group

Mobile led M&A during the quarter, with deals by Scopely, NCCSOFT, Nazara and others

Playtika launches portfolio-wide strategic review

Strategic Alternatives

Playtika launches portfolio-wide strategic review

Company last launched a strategic review in 2022, which was suspended in 2024 over "ongoing uncertainty in Israel and Ukraine"

India’s LVL Zero incubator unveils first cohort of 10 games startups

Next Generation

India’s LVL Zero incubator unveils first cohort of 10 games startups

Each startup receives an equity-free grant of $10,000 as well as mentorship and publisher access

Apple pulls App Store billing in Russia

Apple pulls App Store billing in Russia

Decision follows ruling that the tech giant had breached sanctions against the country with App Store payout

More

Latest Videos

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 | 19 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

What's behind the Xsolla rebrand? | Berkley Egenes from Xsolla

What's behind the Xsolla rebrand? | Berkley Egenes from Xsolla

10:30 | 37 views

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Podcasts

Unity copies the AppLovin playbook with Vector | Week in Mobile Games podcast

Podcast | Episode 88

Unity copies the AppLovin playbook with Vector | 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 88...

PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Data doesn't solve problems - decisions do

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

The final word on GDC | Week in Mobile Games podcast

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...

The future of Xbox and Pokémon's 30th anniversary | Week in Mobile Games podcast

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...

More