Hot Five: Barbie’s UK soft launch, Supercell’s London-based hiring, and Antihero’s IDFA perspective

To help get you primed and ready for another week in mobile gaming, we’ve curated the biggest stories you need to know from the last seven days.

1) Why the ex-Supercell and King devs at Antihero think IDFA changes are a positive turn for the mobile games industry

Former Supercell and King developers have formed a new start-up called Antihero Studios, with a mission to “create games worth sharing” on mobile.

CEO Brice Laville Saint-Martin has big ambitions for the studio, taking “a different game design philosophy” wherein IDFA changes serve as an advantage. In particular, he’s looking to target Gen Z gamers with multiplayer mobile titles.

2) Gamelight recognised as #1 rewarded source in latest AppsFlyer Performance Index

The AI-powered user acquisition specialist Gamelight ranked as the world’s top rewarded source in the latest AppsFlyer Performance Index, following its growth into Japan and South Korea.

Gamelight co-founder Günay Aliyeva commented: “The recognition from AppsFlyer Performance Index solidifies Gamelight’s role in reshaping the mobile marketing landscape, and we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries in rewarded user acquisition.”

3) Rollic soft-launches Barbie Merge Mystery mobile game in the UK

Zynga-owned Rollic has soft-launched the Barbie Merge Mystery mobile game on iOS in the UK, giving the region an exclusive look at Malibu, Brooklyn, Teresa and Renee’s mission to explore the mystery of the pink fog covering the Barbie world.

Combining merge gameplay with renovation mechanics, the title sees players upgrade and restore buildings. It’s something of a shift from Rollic’s usual hypercasual approach, aiming to develop a “mass market” game in partnership with Mattel.

4) Supercell hiring London team for Squad Busters

Seeking to further support Squad Busters’ development, Supercell is looking to hire a senior game programmer, senior game artist and senior game data analyst in the UK.

This “small cross-functional team” will be expected to spend “plenty of time” in Helsinki too, during the first six months of onboarding.

5) EA victorious after Austrian court rules that FIFA 23 loot boxes are not gambling

After mixed rulings on loot boxes in Austria’s lower courts, EA has won its case in the Higher Regional Court of Vienna. The ruling states that FIFA 23 loot boxes are not considered gambling or a game of chance under Austrian law.

FIFA Ultimate Team packs also can’t be viewed separately from the context of the game itself, determined to be a game of skill rather than chance. EA called this ruling a “direction-setting decision”.