On the podcast: what’s going on at Rovio, Miniclip’s new ad network, Squad Busters’ last rites, RedLynx closes, more
This week’s inside view of the mobile game business.
Supercell confirms Squad Busters will shut down on December 14
The game will be pulled from the App Store and Google Play on December 1, more than two years after launching worldwide.
Ubisoft poised to close Helsinki studio RedLynx, with 52 jobs at risk
The Helsinki developer had been refocusing on mobile and worked on Rainbow Six Mobile, which Ubisoft is shutting down in January.
Data digest: Flow gets $46m, Spill lands $10.5m, Scopely Explore tops US growth charts, more
There's also more funding news, Q3 stats aplenty and in-app events data in this week's round-up.
AdSurge is the new ad network built by Miniclip with help from Tencent and Easybrain
The platform offers both user acquisition and ad monetisation and draws on data and expertise from Miniclip, Easybrain and Tencent.
Google Play is adding a raft of new discovery, curation and AI features
Google is also bringing PC games like Dave the Diver and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun to Play, and expanding Game Trials to PC.
Rovio’s rebuild means refocusing on Angry Birds, Sonic and picking new projects carefully
Sega West COO and Rovio CEO Alex Pelletier-Normand on Sonic Rumble Party's struggles, why Apple and Google aren't earning their 30% and more.
No Man’s Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad on October 28
Hello Games says it's the full game rather than a cut-down port, though multiplayer and planetary settlements won't be included.
The soft launch games you need to know about from Supercell, EA, Moon Active, Zynga, more
Take a peek at the games in testing from the mobile games industry’s top publishers.
Fingersoft to close Lego Hill Climb Adventures, but no staff will be let go
The studio says the game didn't perform well enough to sustain a long-term free-to-play model.
Confused by app store and webshop fees? Try our commission calculator
Just tick a few boxes based on your location, business model and other criteria to get a sense of how much Apple, Google or your webshop provider might take. Includes recent changes to rates in the EU, Japan, Australia and Korea.
New game digest: Football Manager, Honor of Kings Chess, Zynga’s dice game, Warhammer Survivors and more
Also this week: The Conjuring: Unspoken, Crossy Road Rush, Monster Hunter Rise, Asphalt Track Star and more.
Ubisoft is closing Rainbow Six Mobile just seven months after launch
AppMagic estimates suggest is has earned just over $5.3m in lifetime IAP revenue from 13.1m downloads.
As Paramount and Warner become Skydance, here’s what its mobile catalogue looks like
Skydance owns IP including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, DC, Star Trek and more – but throw in myriad licensing agreements and it's a complex portfolio.
Capcom’s Monster Hunter Rise appears to be coming to mobile through Netflix
The mobile version rebuilds touch controls and unlocks event quests through progression.
Google defends Play Store commissions in £1bn UK class action
The claim says Google's commissions of up to 30% were passed on to around 20m consumers.
Google reveals Playground, its AI-powered game-making platform
Players can create and edit games with prompts and then play them on mobile or PC. Unity has partnered with Google to offer pro-level tools through its own Spark toolset.
Data digest: Monopoly Go tops ad spend chart, Türkiye market stats, investments and more
There’s also a milestone for Funfinity's Food Hunt, August's top performers according to Appfigures and more in this week's round up.
Crossy Road Rush leads Apple Arcade’s November line-up
The new Hipster Whale title will be joined by State of Play’s Kami 2+ and Food Stylist+ from Zeste.
AppLovin sued over allegedly serving adult ads in children’s games
The lawsuit claims the adtech firm bypassed parental controls and used fingerprinting to track kids.
