PocketGamer.biz Podcast

PGbiz Podcast
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Aug 16, 2025 • 30min

Week in Mobile Games E64 - ChinaJoy insights and DTC earnings uncovered

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, news editor Aaron Astle and Steel Media COO Dave Bradley discuss the latest games industry news on the 64th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.On this week’s show we cover:Insights from our recent trip to ChinaJoy and Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai.How much money games publishers are earning from their direct-to-consumer strategies.Rovio and Sega's revenue slump.** 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/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
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Aug 9, 2025 • 38min

Week in Mobile Games E63 - The Esports World Cup unpacked and lightning strikes twice for Supercell

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, news editor Aaron Astle and events content coordinator Charlie Scowen discuss the latest games industry news on the 63rd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.On this week’s show we cover:Takeaways from the Esports World Cup after a visit to Riyadh.Clash Royale's Brawl Stars moment.Why the team at NextBeat is joining Duolingo's gamified learning revolution and the challenges of launching new games.How Talofa Games' Monster Walk aims to stand out from Pokémon Go.Unity's attempts to claw back ground lost from AppLovin in the ads space with Vector.** 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/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👉🏻 Esports World Cup CGO: “We want to make esports go mainstream” - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/esports-world-cup-cgo-we-want-to-make-esports-go-mainstream
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Jul 28, 2025 • 29min

Week in Mobile Games E62 - Apple's regulatory wins and 2025's top genres

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 farOur 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 **👉🏻 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/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
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Jul 19, 2025 • 25min

Week in Mobile Games E61 - Zynga's successes and failures, and Moon Active takes the fight to Scopely

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 **👉🏻 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/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
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Jul 12, 2025 • 31min

Week in Mobile Games E60 - Games investment tips, Clash Royale's evolution, and China's rising global influence

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👉🏻 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/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/
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Jul 5, 2025 • 36min

Week in Mobile Games E59 - A dark day for Xbox

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/
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Jun 28, 2025 • 29min

Week in Mobile Games E58 - The UK games industry's £30m boost and Grow a Garden transforms Roblox

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/
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Jun 21, 2025 • 43min

Week in Mobile Games E57 - The solitaire gold rush and Finland's new immigration rules bite

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/
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Jun 15, 2025 • 45min

Week in Mobile Games E56 - The Apple Games verdict

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/
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Jun 5, 2025 • 44min

What Players Do Outside Your Game Will Grow Your ROAS

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/asareenAarki Retention Radar Report - https://marketing.aarki.com/retention-radar-2025?utm_source=pocketgamer&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=retention_radar_2025Francois Daoud - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francois-daoud-7792053/Eyeball Games - https://www.eyeball.games/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Let's Connect **👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/ 👉🏻 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

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