Apple’s App Store team reveal their tips and tricks for getting featured
The tech giant offered a rare glimpse into how it all works behind the scenes at Gamescom Dev earlier this week. They have some thoughts on how to market premium games, too.
On the podcast: Gamescom reaction, Clash Royale drama, Rovio’s studio closure, Google’s AI hypeman and more
This week’s inside view of the mobile game business.
Who spent the most money on their Gamescom booth?
We’d bet it’s probably Tencent, but the likes of NetEase, Hoyoverse, Gryphline and Infold also have huge stands, while Western companies have been mostly drowned out.
Data digest: Miniclip, Learnings and Tripledot top July’s US ad revenue chart, Smash Fest stats, fundraising news, more
We've also got Ten Square Games' financials in this week's round-up.
Gamescom’s Opening Night Live showcases major new NetEase, Hoyoverse and Tencent titles
Several of this week's reveals also come with fresh beta and pre-registration windows to watch.
Rovio Copenhagen to close after Sonic Blitz cancellation
The number of staff affected is not yet confirmed, but Rovio has said that around 20 people worked on Sonic Blitz. Sega West COO and Rovio CEO Alex Pelletier-Normand told us that retention wasn’t meeting expectations.
Google says survival sim Colony, from blockchain studio Parallel, is the AI game to watch
The tech giant's cloud gaming boss also countered claims AI is taking people's jobs, citing Capcom, Plarium, Nexon and Square Enix as examples.
“How did we misjudge this so badly…?” What Supercell learned from upsetting Clash Royale players
Game design lead James Back and community manager Emilia Russell talked through Clash Royale player drama and how to deal with it at Gamescom Dev.
Who’s spending money on booths at Gamescom Dev?
Supercell, Tencent Games and a load of tools and payment companies are out there promoting their wares at this small, but growing, industry-facing part of Gamescom.
Jobs digest: moves and promotions at Supercell, Scopely, EA, Mattel, Tripledot, Zynga, Tencent and more
There's also job news at Playamp, Moon Active, BoomBit, Loom and Testronic in our latest round-up.
New game digest: Meta’s games app, Century’s new soft launch, PUBG, Gangstar, Tomb Raider, The Traitors, more
Aptoide's app store arrives on Google Play and there's new games from Popcore, GungHo, Level-5, Rogue Snail and more in this week's round-up.
Gangstar Mirage City, Tencent’s GTA-meets-Cyberpunk game, starts rolling out today
The open-world crime game goes live in regions including Latin America, MENA and Southeast Asia, but European and North American players will have to wait.
After that Sensor Tower-AppMagic deal, VC firm Gem seeks veteran founders, first movers and indies
Co-managing director Kirill Gurskiy (above right) sets out what Gem is looking for following its exit from AppMagic's acquisition by Sensor Tower.
July’s top grossing mobile games: Honor of Kings, Roblox, Gossip Harbor, PUBG Mobile, Pokémon Go, more
Pokémon Go saw its best monthly earnings for years in July, says AppMagic. Gossip Harbor is up to third spot, eFootball sprints further ahead of EA FC and a source explains LastWar's sudden decline.
July’s top mobile game downloads: Roblox, Free Fire, Arrows, Block Blast, Soccer Superstar, more
Ups and downs for the three Arrows games and a big World Cup boost for several football games make AppMagic's July estimates a fascinating read. Full numbers and analysis inside.
Apple reveals revised EU App Store terms and fees
They include a 5% cut on apps distributed outside the App Store, 26% on native Apple IAPs, 20% on alternative payments, 15% on link-out purchases and more.
MTG’s Playamp division is all-in on AI across development, art, marketing and more
A team of three is running InnoGames' Sunrise Village, a game that previously required around 25 staff, says Playamp CEO Oliver Bulloss.
Indie auteur Ojiro Fumoto on reviving Poinpy, his Netflix deal and working at Nintendo
A quick email Q&A with indie dev Ojiro Fumoto, who made cult hit Downwell before going to work at Nintendo before going indie again with Netflix exclusive Poinpy.
Apple and Google up their Gamescom presence as court dramas continue
Google Play is running its biggest regional consumer activation in a decade, and Apple is hosting developer sessions the day before the show floor opens.
