Mobilegamer.biz
Mobile games business news and scoops by Neil Long.
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Apple's EU App Store changes, Supercell, PUBG, MTG, Poinpy, Gamescom, July's top games, more
The mobile gaming industry is currently navigating significant regulatory shifts, most notably Apple’s revised EU App Store terms.
- Apple has introduced new EU App Store terms that include a 15-20% commission for alternative payment processing and a 5% fee for apps distributed via alternative stores, though critics like Epic Games argue these changes violate the Digital Markets Act by maintaining high 'junk fees' and friction.
- Pokémon Go experienced its best revenue month since June 2022, with July 2026 in-app purchase earnings exceeding $100 million due to 10th-anniversary events and live-ops.
- Supercell is considering the future of its monster-hunting game 'Mo Co' after a recent reboot failed to meet performance expectations, though the company currently views a total shutdown as unlikely.
Sega-Rovio news, Tripledot's Supersonic buy, mobile at Take Two, Playtika shenanigans and more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating a period of strategic consolidation, shifting user acquisition (UA) models, and evolving financial performance across major publishers.
- Tripledot acquired the Supersonic mobile publishing label from Unity for $40 million, marking the company's second major acquisition of unwanted studios from large tech firms in recent years.
- Playtika will slash marketing and user acquisition spend on Disney Solitaire by 70%, citing the game's ability to maintain growth and expand margins despite reduced investment.
- Take-Two reported $739.5 million in mobile bookings for the last quarter, noting that while mobile revenue dipped slightly, direct-to-consumer initiatives have had a positive material effect on margins.
EA sells to Saudi, GTA games on mobile, plus Palworld Online, Roblox, Apple, Claude, data and more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating a period of significant structural and technological transition, marked by major acquisitions, shifting market dynamics, and the integration of generative AI.
- Electronic Arts has been acquired by a Saudi-led consortium, primarily the Public Investment Fund (93.4%), in a deal valued at $5.5 billion that closed on August 4, 2026.
- Roblox shares fell 27-30% following Q2 2026 results where revenue grew 36% to $1.5 billion, but bookings growth slowed to 8% and the company faced market skepticism over its shifting monetization strategy.
- GTA titles on mobile have generated $109.9 million in lifetime revenue across iOS and Android, while competitors like Chillbase's 'One State RP' have captured significant market share with over $75 million in revenue since April 2022.
2026’s Top Games So Far: Market, Investment and Industry News
The mobile gaming industry landscape for the first half of 2026 reflects a period of significant consolidation, shifting revenue streams, and emerging competitive threats.
- Honor of Kings leads mobile game grossing for 2026 so far, surpassing $1 billion, with new contenders Gossip Harbor and Kingshot also in the top ten.
- Free Fire Max is the most downloaded mobile game for the first half of 2026, ahead of Block Blast, with two Arrows games also entering the top ten.
- Ubisoft's mobile revenue share increased to 19% of total group net bookings, up from 10% year-over-year, driven by the record quarter performance of Invincible: Guarding the Globe.
2026's top games so far, Raid's new rival plus nuggets from Google, Ubisoft, Stillfront and more
The mobile gaming industry in the first half of 2026 reflects a landscape defined by the dominance of Chinese-developed titles, significant regulatory pressure on platform holders, and the emergence of community-driven development models.
- The European Commission has fined Google $1 billion for antitrust violations, specifically for hindering developers from steering users to external web stores and prioritizing its own search products.
- In the first half of 2026, the top three grossing mobile games were Honor of Kings ($1 billion), Whiteout Survival ($723 million), and Last War: Survival, all of which are Chinese-produced titles.
- Skillz won a legal battle against rival competitive gaming firm Papaya Gaming, resulting in a court-ordered damage award that increased from $420 million to $719 million.
Weekly Industry Roundup: Tencent, Playtika and SuperPlay, Google's Fine, and More
The weekly industry roundup provides a comprehensive overview of significant developments within the global mobile gaming sector as of July 2026.
- Google faces a $1 billion EU fine for Play Store and search practices, with a 60-day compliance period before potential penalties of up to 5% of its worldwide turnover.
- Tencent is reportedly considering acquiring Playtika-owned SuperPlay for up to $1.5 billion, driven by SuperPlay's strong performance and Playtika's associated earnout costs.
- Hasbro's games business grew 17%, with Monopoly Go contributing $44 million in revenue, an increase from $41 million in the previous quarter.
Tencent, Playtika and SuperPlay shenanigans, further Google Play changes. Monopoly Go, MTG, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating significant shifts in corporate ownership, platform accessibility, and market performance.
- Google has dropped its requirement for a 'registered app stores' program, allowing third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store to operate directly within the Google Play Store as of late July 2024.
- Tencent is reportedly in talks to acquire Superplay, the developer of Dice Dreams and Domino Dreams, for up to $1.5 billion following the studio's significant performance growth under Playtika.
- MTG reported Q2 group revenue of $306 million with a 24% profit margin, driven by Raid: Shadow Legends, which earned $111 million, while direct-to-consumer revenue grew to 38% of total group income.
King Dodges Xbox Cuts, Destiny Rising, and Mobile Market News: June 2026
The mobile games industry experienced a period of significant structural and operational shifts in June 2026, characterized by platform policy changes, studio restructuring, and ongoing debates regarding developer support.
- King, the Candy Crush maker, has reportedly avoided the recent Xbox layoffs, though there are concerns about future cuts.
- Google Play will allow third-party app stores starting next week, a development influenced by legal disputes between Epic and Google.
- Ustwo Games criticizes platforms (Apple and Google) for failing to adequately support game discoverability, despite the 30% platform fee.
King dodges Xbox cuts, Destiny Rising, Google's store fees, Ustwo slams platforms, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating a period of significant structural adjustment, characterized by platform-level policy shifts, studio restructuring, and evolving monetization strategies.
- King has largely avoided the recent Xbox layoffs, with the studio now reporting directly to Xbox leadership due to its high monthly active player counts, though internal uncertainty remains regarding future financial performance.
- Destiny Rising appears to be in a 'death spiral' with declining revenue, dropping from $6 million in its launch month to approximately $300,000 in monthly in-app purchase revenue over the last three to four months.
- Ustwo Games has shifted its focus away from mobile platforms like Apple Arcade and Netflix, citing the inability to make their single-player titles profitable on mobile and criticizing platform holders for failing to solve game discoverability issues.
Weekly Industry Briefing: June 2026
The July 2026 industry briefing provides a comprehensive overview of significant developments within the global mobile gaming sector.
- Xbox is cutting 3,200 jobs, spinning out four console game studios, and restructuring its mobile gaming division so that King and Mojang will report directly to Xbox boss Asha Sharma, recognizing them as significant platforms by monthly active players.
- Meta has soft-launched 'Pocket,' an AI-powered 'TikTok for games,' which it acquired through the Gizmo team earlier this year.
- Scopely is actively expanding its influence, rebranding Niantic's games team (responsible for Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now) as Scopely Explore, and funding a new studio from the creator of Umamusume: Pretty Derby to strengthen its presence in the Japanese market.
King and the Xbox cuts, Meta's 'TikTok for games', alot of Scopely news, game closures, MTG, more
The mobile games industry is currently navigating a period of significant structural realignment, marked by major workforce reductions at Xbox and a strategic pivot toward mobile-first engagement.
- Microsoft is cutting 3,200 jobs across its Xbox division, with 1,600 layoffs announced immediately and the remainder occurring throughout the financial year, primarily impacting PC and console operations.
- Meta has soft-launched 'Pocket,' an app that utilizes AI prompts to generate a TikTok-style feed of interactive mini-games, marking the company's latest attempt to enter the 'TikTok for games' market.
- Pokémon Go has generated approximately $6.37 billion in lifetime in-app purchase revenue over its 10-year history, with 39% of revenue originating from the U.S. and 30% from Japan.
Mobilegamer.biz Weekly Roundup
The mobile gaming industry is currently navigating a period of significant structural and economic transition, characterized by shifting competitive landscapes, regulatory pressure, and the closure of new ventures.
- Konami's eFootball is currently outperforming EA FC Mobile, particularly dominating the Japanese market.
- Stillfront is seeking a new CEO as Alexis Bonte steps down, though he will remain until a successor is found.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) may force Apple and Google to remove 'steering restrictions' by the end of the year, potentially lowering consumer prices and fostering innovation.