PocketGamer.biz Podcast

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and features and data editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 98th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.
On the show we discuss:
- Epic and Google's decision to withdraw their Play Store settlement in the US.
- The Top 30 China Game Makers of 2026.
- How Go Fest 2026 saw Pokémon Go revenue skyrocket.
- The top mobile game genres for H1 2026.
- Why a California-led coalition seeks to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
- UKIE's 2025 UK Games Industry Workforce Demographics Survey.

** Let's Connect **
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👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pocketgamer-biz/?originalSubdomain=uk
👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz
👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz
👉🏻 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
👉🏻 Vote in the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2026 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2026/vote/

We speak to My.Games CEO Elena Grigorian about forever franchises like War Robots and Rush Royale, and delve into its new R&D structure and why it plots a $50m a year benchmark for new games.** Let's Connect **👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pocketgamer-biz/?originalSubdomain=uk 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 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 features and data editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 97th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.
On the show we discuss:
We unpack the news that Xbox is laying off 3,200 staff and divesting five studios,  with plans to engage one billion players daily.
Pokémon Go's 10th anniversary.
The Love and Deepspace 'bring back Valko' petition.
The kick-off the Esports World Cup 2026.
Nintendo's decision to shut down Mario Kart Tour.
00:00 - Introductions
04:08 - Xbox layoffs and reset
22:20 - Love & Deepspace 'Bring back Valko'
27:08 - Pokémon Go 10th anniversary
31:54 - Esports World Cup
34:40 - Mario Kart Tour shuts down
39:41 - Conclusion
** Let's Connect **
👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz
👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pocketgamer-biz/?originalSubdomain=uk
👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz
👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz
👉🏻 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
👉🏻 Vote in the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2026 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2026/vote/

Appcharge and GDC estimated in a recent report that the global direct-to-consumer market for games is worth $17 billion - or around 15% of the global in-app purchase sector.To get further insights into the report and the D2C space, we spoke with Appcharge chief marketing officer Gil Tov-Ly on the PocketGamer.biz Podcast - part of our new expanded video series with industry leaders.
Download the D2C report here: https://www.appcharge.com/DTC-is-already-a-17b-market-report
** Let's Connect **👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pocketgamer-biz/?originalSubdomain=uk 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 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

In the Hot Seat is our new video series where Pocket Gamer Connects speakers get candid before they take the stage at our worldwide events.
First up is Devin Nambiar, chief operating officer at Mattel163, taking questions from PocketGamer.biz editorial director for events, Mariam Ahmad.
Born as a joint venture between an iconic American toy giant and Chinese internet powerhouse NetEase, Mattel163 turned decades-old card games into a global business.
In February of this year, Mattel moved to acquire NetEase's 50% stake outright, valuing the studio at $318 million and folding it in as its internal game development and publishing arm.
Nambiar himself mirrors that blend: a Californian who's spent more than a third of his life in Asia, now running R&D, publishing and portfolio strategy after nearly a decade at EA.
We sat down with him ahead of his 'Does the Best Game Win Anymore?' panel at PGC Summit Shanghai on July 29th.

** Let's Connect **
👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz
👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pocketgamer-biz/?originalSubdomain=uk
👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz
👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 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