PocketGamer.biz Podcast

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 69th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we discuss: A US judge grants Google a one-week extension to comply with Epic Games injunction to enable rival stores and payment options. The big Amazon Web Services crash that impacted Clash Royale, Pokémon G...

The European Commission’s Digital Fairness Act has recently stirred a flurry of industry debate on its potential impact on the games industry and free-to-play economics, following Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen’s open letter sounding the alarm. The Clash of Clans studio founder went as far to say new rules could kill the European games industry..To break down what's at stake, Arcanix CSO Oscar C...

If you think retention is about mechanics and monetization—you’re missing the point. In Part 2 of this special PocketGamer.biz podcast, Bastian Bergmann, CEO of Solsten and author of the new book Press Play: Designing Games That Understand Us , joins Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow to explore the biggest blind spots in today’s game design—and how behavioral science can fix them. Bastian digs into...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 68th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we discuss: The reveal of the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 list . Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen's letter sounding the alarm on potential EU regulation he says could kill the region's industry. New Texa...

What if your most powerful game mechanic isn’t in your code—but in your players’ minds? In Part 1 of this special PocketGamer.biz podcast, Solsten CEO Bastian Bergmann joins hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow to unpack how behavioral science is transforming how great games get made. Bastian—also the author of the new book Press Play: Designing Games That Understand Us—shares how neuroscience,...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 67th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we discuss: That $55 billion EA acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Genshin Impact's fifth anniversary. The Xbox Game Pass price hike and where Micro...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 66th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we discuss: - UGC platform revenue share after Fortnite lets developers sell in-game items. - Nintendo's surprise launch of its latest mobile game: Fire Emblem Shadows. - Theories on why Apple and Google ar...

How do you bring a beauty brand into Final Fantasy without losing authenticity? In this special episode recorded live at Gamescom , Paulina Besmehn , Brand Manager at Henkel , shares the story behind Henkel’s first-ever gaming activation —a bold crossover between their Schwarzkopf got2b hair color line and the iconic world of Final Fantasy . The result? Limited edition shades inspired by in-game a...

From MMOs to Web3, James Hursthouse has seen it all—and now he’s sharing what’s next in gaming. In this episode, Peggy Anne Salz sits down with the founder of Greenstone Initiatives to explore a future where players co-own their experiences , AI augments creativity , and new business models put power back in the hands of developers and fans. James reflects on his journey—from the early days of MMO...

🎮 Welcome to a special episode of the PocketGamer.biz podcast! We’re bringing you two conversations with leaders from Xsolla —because together, they tell a powerful story about where gaming, monetization, and community are headed. First, we sit down with Sarah Chafer , who explains how brands can use gamification and offerwalls to move beyond awareness and into brandformance —campaigns that both...

What does it take to turn a rogue-like poker game into one of the most talked-about indie hits of the year? In this episode of the PocketGamer.biz podcast, Harvey Elliott—CEO of Playstack and publisher of Balatro —joins us to share how the breakout success unfolded, why they bet big on an unconventional title, and what it means for the future of publishing. 🎮 Why Playstack said “yes” to Balatro...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 65th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we cover: Insights from the show floor at Gamescom 2025 . Google Play's new App Store-like rules for Europe. India's real-money gaming ban that has shocked the country's games industry and international investo...

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...

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 lea...

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 fa...

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 an...

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 . Anniversarie...

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...

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’...

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 compan...

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 ambition...

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...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 55th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we cover: The chaos from Trump's tariffs is back on the agenda (and has changed once again even since our recording...) The news that Apple faces further EU fines for breaching the...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 54th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we cover: Fortnite's Epic return to the US App Store. The challenges of launching a mobile game in 2025. Square Enix's falling sales and its comments on struggling to beat the...

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 53rd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast. On this week’s show we: Discuss the launch of Squad Busters 2.0 - Can Supercell really turn things around? Talk once again about Trump's tariffs, with a 90-day pause on the US/China trade war. Delve into Sonic Rumble's sur...