August
Company
Documents about August
Jason Schreier11 min
EA Shuts Down BioWare
Electronic Arts has officially shuttered the legendary game studio BioWare as part of a broader corporate reorganization and workforce reduction.
- Electronic Arts has officially closed BioWare as part of a corporate reorganization that includes 400 total job cuts, with 50 positions eliminated at the studio.
- The closure of BioWare results in the cancellation of the next entry in the Mass Effect franchise, which was in early-stage development.
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard sold approximately 1.5 million copies, failing to meet Electronic Arts' internal performance targets.
Jason SchreierOct 2026
The Game Business64 min
Fixing Call of Duty: Inside Activision’s Modern Warfare 4 comeback plan
Activision is fundamentally restructuring its approach to the Call of Duty franchise in response to declining player engagement and a 50 percent drop in European launch sales for recent titles.
- Activision is restructuring the Call of Duty franchise to address declining player engagement and a 50 percent drop in European launch sales for recent titles.
- The strategy for Modern Warfare 4 prioritizes long-term brand health over immediate sales by shifting to a grounded, cinematic experience and reintroducing popular modes like DMZ.
- The U.S. gaming hardware market has reached its lowest August sales levels since 2013, with all major console manufacturers reporting double-digit declines.
The Game BusinessOct 2026
Jason Schreier20 min
How COVID Led To Big Walk, One of This Year’s Best Video Games
The development of the cooperative game Big Walk serves as a case study in how the social isolation of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed creative innovation within the Australian studio House House.
- Big Walk, developed by the five-person Australian studio House House, has sold over 2 million copies since its August 2026 release.
- The game's core mechanic is proximity-based voice chat, which forces players to communicate in unorthodox ways to solve puzzles and discourages the use of external voice platforms like Discord.
- Development of Big Walk spanned six years, driven by a commitment to a consistent original vision rather than scaling the studio's headcount beyond its five core members.
Jason SchreierSep 2026
Mobilegamer.biz19 min
That EA-Scopely supergroup, Reform's mobile game, King strikes, Mattel, Roblox, Mizuguchi, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating significant shifts in corporate consolidation, regulatory pressure, and platform evolution.
- Bloomberg reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is considering a merger of its gaming assets, including Savvy Games Group, EA, Scopely, and Moonton, to create a unified gaming supergroup.
- King faces potential strikes at its Stockholm and Malmo offices on September 25th following a year-long dispute over a collective bargaining agreement that the company rejected in June.
- Roblox announced new technology allowing creators to export games as standalone native titles for mobile, PC, and console, alongside a new 'Roblox Wallet' for daily real-currency creator payouts.
Mobilegamer.bizSep 2026
PocketGamer.biz35 min
Apple's $2,000+ iPhone Duo and the backlash to new EU App Store rules | Week in Mobile Games podcast
Apple is aggressively targeting the premium mobile gaming sector with the introduction of the iPhone Duo, a foldable device priced at $1,999.
- Apple has launched the iPhone Duo, a foldable smartphone with a 7.6-inch internal display and 5.4-inch outer screen, priced starting at $1,999.
- Apple is collaborating directly with studios like Azra Games to optimize titles for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Max, including the implementation of 120Hz support and advanced graphics modes using Metal FX.
- Valorant Mobile saw significant growth in August 2026, with revenue reaching $53.7 million—a 68% month-over-month and 375% year-over-year increase—driven primarily by the Chinese market.
PocketGamer.bizSep 2026
Mobilegamer.biz21 min
Games on iPhone Duo, Lego builds mobile arm, more App Store news, August’s top performers and more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating significant shifts in hardware, corporate strategy, and market performance.
- Apple's new iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, an A20 Pro chip with a seven-core GPU, and performance metrics claiming up to 40% faster graphics and 35% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
- Reports indicate that new Apple leadership, including App Store boss Eddy Cue and CEO John Ternus, are seeking to increase App Store revenue, a strategy that reportedly contributed to the departure of former head Phil Schiller.
- LEGO Digital Play has acquired Offroad Games, the developer behind Chrome Valley Customs, as part of an expansion of its London-based mobile gaming division.
Mobilegamer.bizSep 2026
Mobilegamer.biz21 min
A lot of App Store news, NC’s $300m mobile push, Overwatch, Metacore, Yahoo Games and more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating significant shifts in platform policy, corporate consolidation, and evolving monetization strategies.
- Apple’s App Store revenue is facing a downturn, with Sensor Tower reporting a 6% decline in US consumer spending for Q2 and App Figures estimating an 18% contraction in US commission revenue, largely driven by legal rulings forcing the allowance of external payment methods.
- Korean MMO giant NC (formerly NCsoft) has invested $300 million in mobile studio acquisitions and aims to grow its mobile casual division into a $5 billion business by 2030, targeting established studios with live titles generating $50–$100 million annually.
- Supercell will finalize its acquisition of Metacore by the end of September, officially bringing the 'Merge Mansion' title into its portfolio following significant restructuring and layoffs at Metacore.
Mobilegamer.bizSep 2026
The Game Business54 min
The video games most at risk from PlayStation’s physical switch-off
The global video game industry faces a critical inflection point as hardware manufacturers and publishers navigate a transition toward a fully digital ecosystem.
- PlayStation plans to phase out physical discs by January 2028, requiring a strategy to convert consumers who rely on physical media resale value to justify day-one purchases.
- Projections suggest a $1,000 price point for next-generation consoles could lead to a 38% decline in sales volume over a five-year period as consumers retain existing hardware.
- To combat market stagnation, the industry must shift focus from incremental graphical upgrades toward software innovation and the development of new intellectual property.
The Game BusinessAug 2026
Jason Schreier21 min
Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders 'Vastly' Beat Expectations, Take-Two CEO Tells Me
Take-Two Interactive’s recent earnings call confirms that Grand Theft Auto VI remains on schedule for a November 19, 2026, release.
- Grand Theft Auto VI is confirmed for release on November 19, 2026, with Take-Two Interactive maintaining this date despite industry-wide risks of delays.
- Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick cautioned that high pre-order numbers may reflect 'demand pulled forward' rather than an increase in total lifetime sales, noting that the company lacks historical data to accurately forecast the demand curve for a launch of this magnitude.
- Take-Two's fiscal year 2026 revenue reached $6.7 billion, with 78% ($5.2 billion) derived from recurrent consumer spending in live-service titles like GTA Online and NBA 2K, while only 22% ($1.4 billion) came from full game sales.
Jason SchreierAug 2026
Two & a Half Gamers26 min
🎯 Hunting Sniper Review: Old game, new UA = SERIOUS Money!
The mobile game Hunting Sniper has emerged as a significant financial success within the realistic sports genre, generating approximately $200,000 in daily revenue.
- Hunting Sniper generates approximately $200,000 in daily revenue, outperforming established genre competitors like Hunting Clash by nearly tenfold.
- The game’s rapid scaling since its August 2024 launch is driven primarily by an aggressive user acquisition strategy rather than innovative game design.
- Developers maintain a high-volume creative output, releasing hundreds of new marketing assets monthly across Facebook, Google, and TikTok.
Two & a Half GamersJan 2026
Mobilegamer.biz18 min
Digital Chocolate’s diaspora, Destiny: Rising woes, EA’s shooter revival, November’s top games, more
The mobile games industry continues to be shaped by the legacy of Digital Chocolate, a foundational company whose alumni—often referred to as the "D-Choc Mafia"—now hold significant leadership roles across the global gaming landscape.
- EA is actively recruiting a VP of mobile shooters to report to Vince Zampella, signaling a potential revival of mobile titles for the Apex Legends and Battlefield franchises.
- Destiny: Rising is struggling post-launch, with daily earnings dropping from a $300,000 peak in September to approximately $25,000, despite 4.4 million total downloads since August.
- Last War Survival led November mobile revenue with $115 million, followed closely by Roblox at $112 million and Monopoly Go at $111 million, according to Appmagic data.
Mobilegamer.bizDec 2025
Deconstructor of Fun13 min
Is Farlight 84 Really Relaunching AGAIN?
Lilith Games is attempting a second global relaunch of its mobile shooter, Farlight 84, on August 7th.
- Lilith Games is executing a second global relaunch of Farlight 84 on August 7th, attempting to reverse declining retention and performance issues that followed its May 2023 debut.
- The Farlight 84 relaunch pivots toward mechanical differentiation by introducing a first-person mode, upgraded graphics, and creature-collection mechanics integrated into the battle royale loop.
- Lilith Games is facing a difficult fiscal period with year-to-date revenue down approximately 30% and a monthly active user base currently ranging between 8 and 10 million.
Deconstructor of FunAug 2025