Start your week right with our quick take on the stories that are impacting the mobile industry right now.
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.
Zen Studios‘ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is shutting down in America, Europe and Oceania.
According to a statement from the game’s official website, Magic Awakened will remain playable for players in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, including other select Asia and MENA territories.
While the reason for the game’s shutdown is unknown, the official website states that players who have the game can continue to play until Tuesday, October 29th 2024.
2) Savvy Games Group plots 600 new games industry jobs in Saudi Arabia
Savvy Games Group aims to create more than 600 new jobs in Saudi Arabia’s games industry over the next couple of years as it continues its plans to grow the local ecosystem and invest in companies globally.
The state-backed firm has released its annual report for the past year in which it discusses its strategic goals. The company has grown to over 3,500 employees worldwide across 22 countries following the establishment of its own development house at Steer Studios and investments in global games firms.
Scopely is Savvy’s largest employer, housing more than 2,300 staff. Savvy said it had plans in place for the Monopoly GO! developer and ESL FACEIT Group to develop or increase their presence in Saudi Arabia this year.
3) miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu steps down as chairman… Liu Wei steps up
Genshin Impact creator miHoYo has a new chairman. Cai Haoyu stepped down from the role despite remaining the company’s largest shareholder. The role of chairman is now being filled by Liu Wei, who co-founded the company with Haoyu.
Wei will manage company affairs while Haoyu focuses on researching technologies and development activities, South China Morning Post reported. This likely includes research into artificial intelligence, considering the recent scientific report miHoYo co-authored.
4) Pokémon Masters EX turns five: Lessons from an IP and monetisation masterpiece
Mobile gacha game Pokémon Masters EX is celebrating half a decade in style with powerful new characters, plenty of limited-time events, a brand-new story campaign and, of course, myriad reasons to spend.
Masters has securely positioned itself as The Pokémon Company’s second-biggest mobile game and although vastly overshadowed by Niantic’s AR phenomenon Pokémon Go, has more than earned its own spotlight.
5) It’s lights out at Lightneer as the studio officially announces closure
After rumours and a silence it appears that the heavily-backed Finnish games developer Lightneer has indeed closed its doors for good. Henri Lindman, the company’s chairman and CEO took to LinkedIn to share his parting words.
Previously Lightneer was the subject of investment to the tune of $7.8 million with star backing from Rovio ‘Mighty Eagle Peter’ Vesterbacka, former Mattel and Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske and Games Workshop co-founder Ian Livingstone as advisors.
