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Is Pokemon Go Adding Shiny Hisuian Zorua Next Month?
Pokemon GO trainers are speculating whether Hisuian Zorua will receive its shiny debut during the upcoming October Community Day. While official announcements from Scopely confirm Zorua will be featured with a chance for a shiny variant and a special background, there is no explicit mention of Hisuian Zorua.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
Pokemon GO Change Sparks Backlash Over Team Rocket Ballons
Scopely has confirmed that the reduced frequency of Team GO Rocket balloons in Pokemon GO is an intentional change, sparking backlash from the player community. Many trainers, particularly remote players, rely on these balloons for in-game progression, and the community feels this adjustment negatively impacts their experience.
EA’s New Owners May Be Considering An Even Bigger Gaming Empire
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has become the majority shareholder of Electronic Arts and is reportedly considering merging it with Savvy Games Group, another PIF-owned entity. This potential consolidation, which could also involve Moonton, Scopely, and SNK, aims to improve coordination among the PIF's gaming assets. However, the move faces regulatory scrutiny due to the vast number of major franchises that would fall under one umbrella, and employees fear significant cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and studio closures, may be implemented.
Pokémon Go and EA FC could be "under one roof", as EA and Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group reportedly considering merger
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts (EA) with its subsidiary Savvy Games Group to improve asset coordination. This potential merger follows EA's recent $55 billion acquisition by the PIF. Savvy Games Group already owns companies like Scopely and ESL, and has partial stakes in Capcom and Nintendo.
Saudi Arabian fund is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts with Savvy Games group
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts with its Savvy Games Group to improve coordination between its assets. This potential merger, which is not finalized and awaits the completion of Moonton acquisition, could significantly boost EA's mobile gaming efforts. The article expresses concern over the PIF's growing influence in the gaming industry, citing past deals and their ripple effects.
Saudi Arabia's PIF reportedly considering to combine EA with Savvy Games Group
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts (EA) with its subsidiary, Savvy Games Group, to improve coordination between its assets. This potential merger is unlikely to proceed until Savvy completes its $6 billion acquisition of Moonton. EA's acquisition by the PIF was finalized last month, with assurances that creative control and player-first values would remain intact.
Saudi Arabia reportedly looking at merging Electronic Arts with Savvy Games Group
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging Electronic Arts with its other gaming subsidiary, Savvy Games Group. This potential merger, which would consolidate significant gaming assets under one umbrella, is said to be contingent on the PIF's acquisition of Moonton and would likely face regulatory scrutiny. The move could also lead to cost-saving measures, including layoffs at Electronic Arts, which recently incurred substantial debt from the PIF's acquisition.
Potential EA and Savvy Merger Would Create Gaming Giant
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly exploring a merger between Electronic Arts and Savvy Games Group to create a major player in the global gaming industry. The potential deal aims to consolidate PIF's investments and improve coordination, though no final decision has been made and regulatory hurdles are anticipated. This move would combine EA's console and PC presence with Savvy's mobile gaming operations and could serve as a vehicle for future acquisitions.
A month after buying EA, Saudi Arabia is reportedly looking to merge EA into a new mega-corporation
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which recently took Electronic Arts private, is reportedly considering merging EA into a new mega-corporation alongside Savvy Games. This potential move, aimed at consolidating the country's gaming strategy, could also involve acquisitions like Moonton and would likely face significant antitrust scrutiny.
Massively on the Go: Scopely sold out players for Go Fest 2026’s Go Fest Finale
The Pokemon Go 10th Anniversary Go Fest Finale, dubbed the Mega Finale, was a significant disappointment, marked by player dissatisfaction with the over-reliance on Mewtwo and the convoluted Mega Evolution system. Scopely's monetization strategies and perceived lack of value in event tickets led to low player turnout and morale, with many criticizing the company's approach as 'milking' the player base rather than celebrating the game's anniversary.
Report: Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward departs company
Brian Ward, CEO of Saudi Arabian video game conglomerate Savvy Games Group, is reportedly stepping down. Ward announced his departure to employees, stating it's the right time for new leadership during the company's growth phase. Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of the parent Public Investment Fund, will temporarily replace him.
Brian Ward steps down as Savvy Games Group CEO
Brian Ward is stepping down as CEO of Savvy Games Group, a company established in 2021 to expand Saudi Arabia's presence in the global games industry. Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will serve as interim acting CEO. Ward's tenure saw significant acquisitions, including Scopely and Moonton.
CEO of Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group Brian Ward steps down after overseeing billions in mobile gaming acquisitions
Brian Ward, CEO of Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, has stepped down after overseeing billions in investments, including significant stakes in Niantic and Scopely. His departure comes amidst concerns following Saudi Arabia's recent acquisition of Electronic Arts. Industry analyst George Osborn noted Ward's diligent work in building Savvy's portfolio, balancing acquisitions with ecosystem development.
Entity raises $5.8 million to build browser-based "console-quality" gaming platform
Irish startup Entity has secured $5.8 million in seed funding to develop a browser-based gaming platform aiming to deliver console-quality experiences without downloads. The platform, slated for a 2027 launch, will utilize WebGPU and WebAssembly and is founded by veterans of the mobile game Star Trek Fleet Command.
Irish browser games start-up Entity raises $5M in funding for 'console-quality games for the 'new web' era'
Irish start-up Entity has secured $5 million in seed funding to develop a new gaming platform focused on browser-based, console-quality games. The platform utilizes WebGPU and WebAssembly to run games directly in the browser without downloads, aiming to eliminate the lag associated with cloud gaming. The company, co-founded by former DIGIT Game Studios members, plans to launch its platform in 2027 with a range of original and existing titles.
'I feel dirty:' EA workers trapped in a maelstrom of cynicism and doubt after Saudi buyout
Employees at Electronic Arts are expressing deep cynicism and doubt following the company's buyout by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Despite assurances from EA leadership, workers fear the acquisition will lead to cultural changes, potential project cancellations, and layoffs, as well as concerns about the country's human rights record and the use of 'sportswashing' and 'pixelwashing' to launder its image.
Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go 10th Anniversary Mega Finale is less free and less content
The Pokemon Go 10th Anniversary Go Fest Mega Finale is facing criticism for its perceived lack of content and increased monetization. Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the cost of unlocking Mega Evolutions, particularly for starters and Mewtwo, which requires significantly more energy compared to other Mega Evolutions like the Primals. Concerns are also raised about the value proposition of paid event tickets and the potential for future features like Plus Moves to be similarly locked behind paywalls.
Hundo Mewtwo Available For Pokemon GO In New Event
Pokemon GO is offering a special timed research event from August 12 to September 6, 2026, to compensate players who missed a previous invitation-only event. Participants can earn a perfect IV Mewtwo with a special background, a Master Ball, and Mega Energy. Players who attended the original event will receive different rewards.
EA Is Now Privately Owned After a Record $55 Billion Buyout What It Means for Players | Gamedoper
Electronic Arts has been acquired for $55 billion by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, making it the largest all-cash leveraged buyout in history. This move takes EA private, removing public shareholder oversight and potentially allowing for longer-term investments, with a focus on AI in game development highlighted by Silver Lake. While EA's current game pipeline remains unaffected, the long-term impact on monetization and game development strategies under the new ownership is yet to be seen.
