PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 62nd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• The EU's "total capitulation" on App Store regulation and the UK's slow crawl to reining in Apple and Google.
• The most lucrative and fastest-growing mobile game genres of 2025 so far
• Our interview with Nazara CEO Nitish Mittersain and his comments on why M&A fails.
• The big mobile news from Pokémon Presents - Is this a blueprint for Nintendo?

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

👉🏻 Voting begins for the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2025/vote/

👉🏻 Download our free report on China's games industry with insights from executives and key market data - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/gain-key-insights-into-chinas-games-industry-with-our-free-report

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 61st episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• How Rollic scored a $100m hybridcasual hit by ideating 1,000 games a month.
• Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau's interview with The Game Business discussing Star Wars Hunters, direct-to-consumer, triple-A and game difficult.
• The new 4X strategy game titans Whiteout Survival and Last War: Survival.
• Moon Active's soft launch of the Monopoly Go-like Coin Master - Board Adventure.
• How Tencent is adapting Age of Empires to mobile again.
• Savvy Games Group-owned Steer Studios' decision to temporarily take Grunt Rush offline.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

👉🏻 Voting begins for the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2025/vote/

👉🏻 Download our free report on China's games industry with insights from executives and key market data - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/gain-key-insights-into-chinas-games-industry-with-our-free-report

👉🏻 How Rollic scored a $100m hybridcasual hit by ideating 1,000 games a month - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/how-rollic-scored-a-100m-hybridcasual-hit-by-ideating-1000-games-a-month

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 60th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• Games investment tips from Aonic co-founder and chief product officer Olliver Heins.
• Clash Royale's evolution, new game mode, and revenue surge.
• China's rising global influence.
• Anniversaries and revenue milestones for Pokémon Go and Zenless Zone Zero.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

👉🏻 Voting begins for the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2025/vote/

👉🏻 State of play: Inside China's increasingly influential games industry - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/state-of-play-inside-chinas-increasingly-influential-games-industry/

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 59th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• Microsoft's mass layoffs, a studio closure, game cancellations, a comms disaster, what the latest redundancies mean for the future of Xbox, and the company's mobile ambitions.
• Our interview with Rovio about Angry Birds Bounce and Sega's influence on the famous Finnish developer.
• Apple's latest rule changes in the European Union as it continues to battle the Digital Markets Act.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

👉🏻 Voting begins for the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/voting-begins-for-the-pocket-gamer-mobile-games-awards-2025/

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 58th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• The UK’s new £30 million Games Growth Package and other initiatives aimed at boosting the sector. We also discuss the importance of government support in regional hubs around the globe.
• Grow a Garden’s record-breaking success on Roblox.
• Netflix’s removal of more than 20 mobile games from its library.
• Uma Musume: Pretty Derby’s global launch.
• Apple’s new EU rules. We recorded the show prior to the big rule change, but we’ve left in some prescient commentary.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 57th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• The solitaire gold rush - Has Playtika won?
• How Finland's new immigration policy impacts the games industry.
• The Moshi Monsters Kickstarter catastrophe and why big companies launch crowdfunding campaigns.
• Tencent's alleged interest in a Nexon acquisition.
• Fortnite's new Blitz Royale mobile mode.
• The end of the SAG-AFTRA strike after nearly a year

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, news editor Aaron Astle, and our special guest Steel Media events content coordinator Charlie Scowen discuss the latest games industry news on the 56th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona takeaways after a great debut show.
• The Nintendo Switch 2 launch.
• Xbox's handheld ambitions.
• The Apple Games announcement and what developers think of Apple's plans.
• Third-party mobile marketplaces in the West - Is there any room?

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Download our free Barcelona games industry report now - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/download-our-barcelona-games-industry-report-now/

👉🏻 6 takeaways from PGC Barcelona: A bustling industry hub, DTC hits overdrive, and AI hype continues - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/6-takeaways-from-pocket-gamer-connects-barcelona/

What if you could predict where your players go after they leave your game—and use that to win them back? In this episode, Aman Sareen, CEO of Aarki, an AI company powering full-funnel marketing, and Francois Daoud, former EVP of Ludia (Jam City) and now CMO of Eyeball Games, unpack how you can tap app hopping patterns to power effective reengagement campaigns. Together with our hosts, Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow, they deep-dive into Aarki’s latest Retention Radar report for a masterclass on how studios can replace guesswork with growth and build retention strategies around real player behavior – in the game and beyond. It’s a show where data meets strategy, and marketers passionate about both (Marina Hallack, Tap Nation; Bruno Balistrieri, Kwalee; and Betul Ozdemir, Product Madness) weigh in on their pick of Aarki report top takeaways and smart segmentation shortcuts.

Aman Sareen -https://www.linkedin.com/in/asareen

Aarki Retention Radar Report - https://marketing.aarki.com/retention-radar-2025?utm_source=pocketgamer&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=retention_radar_2025

Francois Daoud - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francois-daoud-7792053/

Eyeball Games - https://www.eyeball.games/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 55th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• The chaos from Trump's tariffs is back on the agenda (and has changed once again even since our recording...)
• The news that Apple faces further EU fines for breaching the Digital Markets Act
• Apple's moves to acquire Sneaky Sasquatch developer RAC7 and launch a new dedicated gaming app for reasons unknown.
• An Appfigures report that claims downloads are down but revenue is up for the US mobile games market.
• The end of a legal battle surrounding Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition.
• The future of direct-to-consumer strategies.
• Craig's bitter hatred of Microsoft Teams.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 54th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we cover:

• Fortnite's Epic return to the US App Store.
• The challenges of launching a mobile game in 2025.
• Square Enix's falling sales and its comments on struggling to beat the competition.
• Activision's decision to pull Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.
• King's new president.
• Supercell's expansion of its AI Innovation Lab to San Francisco.
• The new Clash of Clans series coming to Netflix.
• Pokémon Trading Card Game's $1 billion milestone.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com