[Last week in games] Final Fantasy iOS game shuts down over unfixable bug, Habby’s Capybara Go surpasses $100m in gross player spending, and more news!
News in games that caught our eyes in the last week [February 10 - 17, 2025]
INDUSTRY NEWS
Roblox is under SEC investigation pocketgamer.biz
The article discusses the recent SEC investigation into Roblox, exploring potential regulatory challenges and what the probe might mean for the company’s future compliance and operations.
5 Common Mobile Game Economy Problems Solved adriancrook.com
This piece outlines five common issues in mobile game economies—from imbalanced currencies to retention challenges—and provides actionable solutions and best practices to help developers optimize monetization and gameplay design.
Mobile games can support each other in the race for user attention venturebeat.com
The article examines how mobile game developers can use cross-promotion and collaborative strategies to capture and retain user attention. Insights from Aarki are shared to explain how mutual support can boost visibility and monetization.
Squad Busters disappoints but Brawl Stars soars in record year for Supercell mobilegamer.biz
This review contrasts Supercell’s recent titles, noting that while Squad Busters underperformed, Brawl Stars achieved record-breaking success. The article analyzes factors behind Brawl Stars’ growth and discusses Supercell’s broader market strategy.
Smarter A/B testing: The latest enhancements from GameAnalytics gameanalytics.com
Detailing the newest features in A/B testing, this article explains how GameAnalytics’ enhancements can help developers fine-tune gameplay, boost engagement, and drive revenue through more precise, data-driven experimentation.
Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review January 2025 gamerefinery.com
An overview of the mobile game market trends for January 2025, this review covers key performance metrics, emerging trends, and shifts in player behavior, offering insights for developers and investors on market dynamics.
Player Retention vs Monetization: Finding the Balance adriancrook.com
This article discusses the ongoing challenge of balancing player retention with monetization. It explores strategic approaches for keeping players engaged while implementing revenue-generating features, offering practical advice for game developers.
Gibraltar Supreme Court freezes 450M $PLAY tokens in Ready Games legal fight venturebeat.com
Reporting on a major legal development, the article details how Gibraltar’s Supreme Court froze €450 million in play tokens amid a dispute with Ready Games, discussing the potential impacts on digital marketplaces and regulatory practices.
INVESTOR
Blind Squirrel Games acquires Distributed Development pocketgamer.biz
The article covers Blind Squirrel Games’ acquisition of a distributed development studio. It explains the strategic rationale, potential benefits for game development, and what the move signals about industry consolidation trends.
Roblox revenue up 32% in Q4 2024 as losses narrow pocketgamer.biz
Analyzing Roblox’s Q4 2024 financials, this article highlights a 32% revenue increase alongside reduced losses. It explores the key factors driving this turnaround, including improved monetization and strategic investments.
Square Enix revenues fall over the past nine months to $1.6bn gamesindustry.biz
The article discusses Square Enix’s revenue decline over nine months, which has dropped to $16 billion. It examines market conditions, competitive pressures, and other factors that may be impacting the company’s financial performance.
Dead Astronauts raises over $4M in seed round to develop its first game venturebeat.com
Covering a successful funding round, this article explains how Dead Astronauts secured over $4M in seed capital to develop its debut game. It details the investment process, key backers, and the startup’s future prospects.
Remedy revenues rise 49% during FY24, Alan Wake 2 recoups development costs gamesindustry.biz
This article highlights Remedy Entertainment’s 49% revenue increase during FY24, attributing much of the growth to Alan Wake 2’s strong performance in recouping its development costs and boosting overall profitability.
MTG completes $620m Plarium buy mobilegamer.biz
Reporting on a major acquisition, the article details how MTG completed a $620M buyout of Plarium. It discusses the strategic motivations behind the deal and its expected impact on market positioning and future game development.
DeNA’s games business profits up 8,126.8% after Pokémon TCG Pocket’s success pocketgamer.biz
The piece examines how Dena's Games saw an extraordinary profit surge—up 81,268%—following the success of Pokémon TCG Pocket. It analyzes the factors driving this growth and the implications for niche game markets.
Jumpship co-founder reacquires studio from Thunderful gamesindustry.biz
This article details the reacquisition of a game studio by the Jumpship co-founder from Thunderful. It outlines the background of the deal, its strategic implications, and what it might mean for future development initiatives.
AppLovin is selling all of its studios for $900m – but who’s the buyer? mobilegamer.biz
Focusing on a surprising industry move, the article reports that Applovin is offloading all its studios for $900M. It discusses potential buyers, strategic motivations, and the possible impact on the company's future direction.
Mobile profits drop 35% at Embracer mobilegamer.biz
The article examines a 35% decline in Embracer’s mobile profits. It explores potential causes such as market shifts, changes in consumer behavior, and strategic challenges, offering an analysis of what this downturn could mean for the company.
Sony's PlayStation business pulls further ahead with 16% revenue growth in holiday quarter venturebeat.com
Detailing a successful holiday quarter, this article explains how Sony’s PlayStation division achieved 16% revenue growth. It looks at drivers like strong hardware sales, blockbuster game releases, and effective marketing strategies.
MARKET DATA
Ghost-hunting sim Phasmophobia hits 2m console sales, and 22m sales overall gamesindustry.biz
A brief update noting that Phasmophobia, the ghost-hunting simulation, has reached 2 million console sales and $22M in overall revenue, reflecting the title’s growing popularity and market impact.
Habby’s Capybara Go surpasses $100m in gross player spending pocketgamer.biz
The article reports on Habby's Capybara Go breaking the $100M mark in gross player spending. It explores contributing factors such as engaging gameplay and effective monetization strategies that drove the impressive financial milestone.
Data digest: Solitaire Grand Harvest hits $1bn, earnings from Rovio, Roblox, Krafton and Square, more mobilegamer.biz
This data-driven analysis highlights Solitaire Grand Harvest’s achievement of $1Bn in earnings, comparing performance across industry leaders like Rovio, Roblox, Krafton, and Square, and discussing overall market trends.
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 tops 4 million sales worldwide gamesindustry.biz
A brief news update, this article reports that One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 has surpassed 4 million global sales, attributing its success to the enduring popularity of the franchise and strong market demand.
Royal Kingdom surpasses $50m in player spending pocketgamer.biz
The article details Royal Kingdom’s milestone of over $50M in player spending, fueled by a surge in the US market. It discusses factors like targeted marketing and localized strategies that contributed to this financial boost.
NEW GAMES
Rico the Fox declares that no safe is safe in this new word puzzler, out now pocketgamer.com
This brief release announcement informs readers that Rico the Fox is now available, highlighting the game’s core features and encouraging immediate downloads for an engaging gaming experience.
EvoCreo 2 opens pre-registration to the pixel-art monster-catching RPG on iOS and Android pocketgamer.com
Announcing that pre-registration for Evocreo 2 is live, the article outlines the game’s anticipated features and storyline, building excitement and inviting fans to sign up ahead of its release.
Tiny Robots: Portal Escape is out now on Android and iOS pocketgamer.com
This release note confirms that Tiny Robots Portal Escape is available on both Android and iOS, highlighting its unique puzzle mechanics and vibrant design to attract gamers.
Way of the Hunter: Wild America brings open-world hunting to iOS and Android, coming soon pocketgamer.com
A teaser announcement, the article offers a sneak peek at Way of the Hunter: Wild America, hinting at its gameplay and setting while urging readers to stay tuned for further updates.
Ten Blitz is a distinctive new take on sum-based puzzling, coming soon pocketgamer.com
This brief announcement teases the upcoming release of Ten Blitz, providing a glimpse into its concept and promising exciting gameplay, while inviting readers to look out for more details.
Dragon Ring is a fantasy-themed match-three with RPG elements, out now pocketgamer.com
A release announcement for Dragon Ring, the article highlights the game’s fantasy setting and immersive combat mechanics, encouraging gamers to dive into this new role-playing experience immediately.
Golf Super Crew is an upcoming next-gen golf simulator on mobile with colourful arcade flair pocketgamer.com
Confirming its availability, this announcement shares that Super Golf Crew is now live on both iOS and Android, emphasizing its fun blend of sports and arcade-style gameplay.
EvoCreo 2 Is Now In Pre-Registration And Will Release March 2025 gamezebo.com
The article provides an overview of what fans can expect from Evocreo 2, including improvements in gameplay, storyline, and features, and offers insights into the developer’s vision for the sequel.
Dunk City Dynasty, the street basketball sim, is out now in soft launch for select regions pocketgamer.com
This article announces the soft launch of Dunk City Dynasty in New Zealand and Australia, discussing early access details, regional rollout plans, and inviting feedback from local players.
Delta Force Mobile's closed beta test goes live today pocketgamer.com
A call-to-action for gamers, this announcement informs that the closed beta for Delta Force 2025 is live, outlining participation details and highlighting key features being tested before the full launch.
Songs of Conquest arrives on iOS and Android next month, bringing its 90s-inspired goodness to mobile pocketgamer.com
The article reveals the official release date for Songs of Conquest, detailing its strategic gameplay and narrative elements, and building excitement among fans awaiting the launch.
PUBLISHER NEWS
Nintendo claims it’s still developing mobile games pocketgamer.biz
This piece reports that Nintendo is continuing its work on mobile game development despite rumors to the contrary, discussing new initiatives and potential future projects in the mobile space.
Valve Bans Forced In-Game Ads From All Steam Titles kotaku.com
The article examines Valve’s recent decision to ban ads for free-to-play games on Steam, exploring the rationale behind the move, its impact on marketing strategies, and community reactions.
Sharge's Loomos AI smart glasses hits $1.5M in 5 days on Kickstarter venturebeat.com
Detailing a rapid crowdfunding success, this article explains how Sharges Loomo’s AI-powered smart glasses reached $1.3M in just five days on Kickstarter, discussing campaign strategy and innovative product features.
Netflix games’ new general manager could earn up to $1.3m per year mobilegamer.biz
Reporting on executive changes, the article details the appointment of a new general manager at Netflix Games—with compensation up to $1.3M annually—and explores what this means for the division’s strategic direction.
Three Friends is a new indie game publisher in Sweden that is thinking small venturebeat.com
This article introduces Three Friends, a boutique indie game publisher from Sweden focusing on small-scale, creative projects. It discusses the company’s philosophy and its plans to carve out a niche in a crowded market.
Roblox sues PlayerAuctions over ‘unauthorised’ digital goods sales pocketgamer.biz
The article covers Roblox’s legal action against PlayerAuctions, accusing the platform of selling unauthorized digital goods. It explains the background of the dispute and examines the potential impact on digital marketplaces.
Savvy Games Group and Merak Capital partner to boost Saudi Arabia’s games ecosystem pocketgamer.biz
Detailing a strategic partnership, this article explains how Savvy Games Group and Merak Capital are joining forces to enhance the gaming ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by investing in local talent and infrastructure.
More layoffs incoming at Unity amid further restructuring mobilegamer.biz
This article discusses additional layoffs at Unity as part of ongoing restructuring efforts. It examines the reasons behind the decision and considers the potential impact on employees and the company’s future strategy.
Savvy Games Group and HP sign MoU to help Saudi Arabia learners get careers in gaming and esports pocketgamer.biz
Reporting on an educational initiative, the article details a memorandum of understanding between Savvy Games Group and HP designed to offer training and career opportunities in gaming and esports for Saudi Arabian learners.
How Josef Fares stayed focused on the co-op action adventure with Split Fiction venturebeat.com
Featuring an in-depth interview with game director Josef Fares, this article explores his creative process and the challenges of developing a cooperative action-adventure game, offering insights and inspiration for industry professionals.
Final Fantasy iOS game shuts down over unfixable bug theverge.com
This article reports on the shutdown of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on iOS, attributing the decision to a persistent bug. It covers the technical challenges involved, player reactions, and potential implications for the mobile adaptation of the franchise.