Mobile Games
Ongoing coverage on Mobile Games.
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Alpha Dog Games returns to independence two years after being shuttered by Xbox
Alpha Dog Games, the developer of Mighty Doom, has returned to independent ownership two years after being shut down by Microsoft. Studio founder Shawn Woods confirmed the transition, expressing gratitude to Microsoft for enabling the return. The studio is updating its Unity-based engine and is in discussions with partners, though specific projects remain undisclosed.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Leak Has Fans Wishing Square Enix Hadn't Canceled Its Mobile Spinoff
Footage of the intro for the canceled mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has leaked online, leading fans to express disappointment that Square Enix did not release the title. The leak showcases what appears to be a nearly finished product.
Canceled Kingdom Hearts spin-off's intro apparently leaks online and not even veteran fans understand what's going on: "Why does it look like Pacific Rim but with Keyblades"
The opening cinematic for the canceled mobile game Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link has reportedly leaked online, featuring a large-scale battle and narrative elements that some fans find confusing and unlike the game's previously described steampunk aesthetic. The footage's grand scale has led to speculation that parts of it may be repurposed for Kingdom Hearts 4.
Union slams Microsoft for "unfair labor practice", alleging Xbox "unlawfully" laid off staff
Microsoft's Xbox division is facing accusations of unfair labor practices, including unlawfully laying off staff without proper union notification or discussion. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed complaints alleging refusal to bargain and coercive actions. Meanwhile, Netflix reported a 600% surge in kids' game engagement, driven by its dedicated mobile app, and expressed confidence in scaling its cloud gaming offerings.
Netflix says its critically-panned FIFA World Cup video game was a 'top tier' performer
Netflix has reported that its cloud games, specifically FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition and Unhinged, achieved 'top tier' performance and were its most successful cloud game debuts. Despite critical reception for FIFA World Cup, Netflix highlighted significant growth in its kid-focused 'Netflix Playground' app and an 11x increase in monthly active cloud game players since October.
Netflix Playground drives 600% surge in kids games engagement
Netflix's dedicated kids games app, Netflix Playground, has seen a 600% year-on-year increase in engagement since its April launch, tripling its daily player count. The company is also scaling its cloud gaming offerings, with monthly active players increasing elevenfold. Netflix is investing in its games division across four pillars: mainstream, narrative, party, and kids games.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link may have been cancelled, but that hasn't stopped footage of Keyblade-wielding astronauts from leaking online
Footage of the cancelled mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has surfaced online, showcasing astronaut-like characters fighting a giant Heartless with Keyblades. Development on the game, which was intended to connect Kingdom Hearts Union X and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, ended last year due to concerns about long-term service viability. Square Enix's current focus for the series is on Kingdom Hearts 4.
Final Fantasy Resonance Trailer Imagines A World Without Final Fantasy 7 Changing Everything
A new trailer for Final Fantasy Resonance imagines a world where Final Fantasy 7 never transitioned to 3D graphics, instead exploring an HD-2D aesthetic. The game, which is a reimagining of the mobile title Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, will feature original characters and will be released on PC and Nintendo Switch on October 22.
Tencent’s Final Fantasy XIV Mobile is sunsetting in China and the global version is now canceled
Tencent and Square Enix have canceled the development of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile. The game will cease operations in China on September 30, 2026, and will not be released globally. This decision was made due to business adjustments and market environment changes.
Netflix Says Part Of Its Games Business Is Up 600%, But It’s Still Early Days
Netflix has reported significant growth in its gaming division, with engagement for kids' mobile games surging 600% year-over-year. Cloud gaming has also seen a substantial increase in monthly active players, growing 11x since October 2025. While still in its early stages, Netflix sees strong potential and is refining its strategy, focusing on social and party games, with upcoming titles like Netflix Minigolf integrating popular franchises.
Pokémon GO Wild Area 2026 Event Takes Place in November
Niantic has announced the return of the Pokémon GO Wild Area event, which will take place in November 2026 in Sendai, Japan, and Mexico City, Mexico. A global version of the event will also be available from November 14-15, 2026. Ticket sales for both in-person and global events will begin in September.
A Warner Bros. Looney Tunes Game Is Shutting Down Soon
Scopely has announced that the mobile game Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will shut down on October 15, 2026. The game will be delisted from digital stores on August 23, and players can use in-game currency until August 16. This shutdown occurs as Warner Bros. Discovery is in the process of being acquired by Paramount.
Spin Master lays off Paw Patrol: The Game devs two days after launch
Spin Master, the company behind Paw Patrol, laid off the entire studio of its subsidiary Originator Inc. just two days after the launch of Paw Patrol: The Game. The company stated that Originator's products and operations would be transitioned to the Sago Mini Team in Toronto. This decision comes five years after Spin Master acquired Originator Inc. for $29 million.
Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – July 2026 round-up
This July 2026 round-up highlights new mobile games available on iOS and Android, featuring titles like the Advance Wars-inspired Crownlings: Heroes & Conquests, the puzzle game Sky Lobby, and Netflix's Tomb Of The Mask. The article also reviews Mini Murder Mysteries, Rift Wars: Merge Arena, Quack Quack Attack, and Zomline Survival, offering scores and brief descriptions for each.
Com2uS Holdings' Soul Strike Collaborates with Nostalgic Hit, MiniGame Paradise
Com2uS Holdings' idle RPG Soul Strike is collaborating with the classic mobile game MiniGame Paradise. The update introduces six iconic characters from MiniGame Paradise as Ultimate and Mythical Pets, and includes a new minigame called Lask's Sea Spree, which offers players a chance to summon Ultimate Pets up to 100 times.
Niantic is rebranding the Pokemon Go games division under Scopely as Scopely Explore
Niantic has rebranded its games division to Scopely Explore following its sale to Savvy Games' Scopely. This rebranding aims to emphasize the exploration aspect of games like Pokemon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom. The change is largely cosmetic, with development continuing under the new name over the next few weeks.
HOORAY! “BLUEY: LET’S PLAY!” CELEBRATES 75 MILLION DOWNLOADS WITH ITS “BIGGEST UPDATE EVER”
Budge Studios announced the 'Biggest update ever' for its mobile game Bluey: Let's Play!, coinciding with the title surpassing 75 million downloads. The update introduces a new Dress Up mode, along with Hairdresser and BBQ activities. The game is available on Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore with in-app subscription options.
Mario Kart Tour Is Getting Off Course, Announces EOS After 7 Years
Nintendo has announced the end of service for its mobile game Mario Kart Tour, which launched in September 2019. The game will officially shut down on September 29th, after seven years of operation. Sales of premium currency have been suspended, and automatic Gold Pass renewals are off, with players receiving subscription benefits for the remaining time.
Mobile game Mario Kart Tour is winding down
Nintendo is shutting down its mobile game Mario Kart Tour on September 29, ending service for the 2019 title. The company has ceased sales of in-game currency and subscriptions, and an offline version is not planned. This comes after a history of monetization controversies and statements from Shigeru Miyamoto about the challenges of mobile game development.
The retreat from mobile games continues as Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis will be taken offline later this year
Nintendo and Square Enix are shutting down their mobile games, Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, respectively, later this year. Mario Kart Tour will cease service around September 29-30, while Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis will end on October 6. This follows a trend of major companies retreating from ambitious mobile adaptations of big intellectual properties.
