Pocket Gamer Connects

PGC Barcelona is only 3 weeks away. Here's what's actually happening on June 15–16: The main conference is 17 tracks, 100+ speakers, covering mobile, PC, console, AI, HTML5 and XR. That's the bulk of the two days. But the fringe events are where it gets specific. ▶️ Publisher SpeedMatch pairs developers with publishers in short sharp sessions. The identities of who you're meeting aren't disclosed in advance (intentionally). You apply, get shortlisted, show up. Deadline to apply has passed but worth knowing for next time. ▶️ Investor Connector is the same format but for studios looking for funding. Curated one-on-ones with active investors and VCs. ▶️ Big Indie Pitch (both Mobile and PC + Console editions) is a free pitching competition. 5 minutes per panel, live feedback on the day, written notes after. Top 3 get editorial coverage on PocketGamer.biz. ▶️ Big Indie Zone is expo floor space exclusively for indie devs. Your game, visible to 1,000+ people walking past. No pitch required. ▶️ AI Gamechangers Summit is new this year. A dedicated track on how AI is being applied practically across development, UA, monetisation and QA. ▶️ Apps x Games is also new. Where the mobile apps and games growth worlds genuinely overlap — UA, monetisation, retention. ▶️ Aurora Awards recognises women and non-binary people leading the European games industry. Nominations come from the industry itself, and the winners are announced live at the event. ▶️ Careers Zone, powered by Games Factory Talents, is a direct line between studios hiring and candidates looking. ▶️ Round tables are small group discussions. One topic, no stage, no slides — just the people in the room. ▶️ And the PG 20th Anniversary Party closes out the first evening. One ticket gets you into all of it. SAVE THIS POST so you can plan accordingly.

If you work in external development, art, animation, audio, QA or localisation - XDS 2026 is for you. External Development Summit (XDS) hits Vancouver Convention Centre September 8–11, and as a PGC media partner they're giving our community 20% off registration. Use code XDS26_DEV_EXCLUSIVE-PGC at checkout. Register: xdsummit.com/registration

Two days in Malmö, and one thing is pretty clear: Sweden knows how to bring the games industry together. #PGCSummitMalmö2026 was our first time in Sweden, and the numbers backed it up: ▶️ 66% game makers - indies, developers, and publishers ▶️ 31% C-level, 69% senior management ▶️ c.500 attendees across the two days ▶️ 6 continents under one roof ▶️ 44 countries represented ▶️ 1,000+ meetings booked ▶️ 8 hours of stage content ▶️ 380 companies The platform spread looked strong too: PC/Mac 73%, Console 59%, Mobile 44%, XR 14%, Social games 9%, Cloud/streaming 7%, Web3 3%. What stays with us is the feel of it - meetings already in motion before coffee, a strong mix of local and international attendees, and proper conversations over fika. Sweden’s games scene already has the companies, talent, and support networks. We were glad to bring one more place for that ecosystem to meet 🤝 Special thanks to Xsolla for powering the event, and to MeetToMatch for helping make so many of the meetings happen. Thanks as well to Reactional Music, AppSamurai, Anchorpoint and all and the attendees and speakers for being a part of it. And of course, to the Steel Media Ltd team and our on-site event support - Charlie Scowen, Katherine Aitken and Jo Xiromamou. Malmö was a strong one. Barcelona is next. Who's ready? ☀️ ⛱️ 🕶️

Igor M. spent nearly a decade at Tapjoy. Here's what he's building now ⬇️ He ran the EMEA UA team there from 2013. Watched rewarded advertising scale across some of the world's biggest mobile games. Now SVP of Business Development at ZBD, he's working on what sits inside the game itself: rewards built directly into the economy. Igor's take on why it holds up: "Rewards enhance a good game, they don't fix a weak one." Catch him at #PGCBarcelona, June 15-16 at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower.

If there's a game, studio, or service you think deserves recognition this year, now's the time to put their name forward. 21 categories this year, including: - Game of the Year - Best Indie Developer - Best Use of AI - Best Marketing Campaign - Mobile Legend - Company Culture Champion - AudioVisual Excellence (Full list at the link below.) The ceremony is August 25th in Cologne during gamescom week. Nominate here → https://lnkd.in/evGNiYED People's Choice nominations are separate → https://lnkd.in/expadA5v

Pocket Gamer Connects returns to Barcelona June 15–16, 2026, with an expanded programme built around the forces actively reshaping the games industry. This year introduces two major new additions: The AI Gamechangers Summit — a focused deep dive into how AI is transforming everything from development to monetisation. Apps x Games — exploring the growing convergence between games and mobile apps, with practical insights on user acquisition and revenue strategies. Alongside these, the event scales up its core experience: - The biggest Big Indie Zone to date - An expanded Careers Zone connecting talent and studios - Aurora spotlighting women leading across the European games ecosystem With 100+ speakers, 14 tracks, and a global audience of developers, publishers, investors, and service providers, PGC Barcelona is built for meaningful connections and measurable outcomes. 📅 June 15–16, 2026 | Barcelona Secure your pass now: https://lnkd.in/eNzXXkx4

Monopoly Go crossed $6 billion in revenue faster than any mobile game before it. 10 million people play it every day. And the team that built it is based in Barcelona. Scopely are Gold Sponsors at PGC Barcelona this year, and they're bringing 3 speakers to the stage: howard shin (VP of Art), Talia Shmuel (Director of Slate Strategy), and Adam Zelenay (Senior Product Manager). Join us to meet them and hundreds of games industry professionals:  https://lnkd.in/djqt6kTS

God dag from Malmö. Day 2 is a different beast. Yesterday was handshakes and pitches - today the room sits down and the real talk begins. Here's everything on the programme, track by track: ▶️ 09:50 - SWEDISH SUCCESS What does it take to build a games studio in Sweden right now? Player One Consulting, Behold Ventures and Science Park Skövde unpack the state of the industry. ▶️ 11:20 - GLOBAL TRENDS Two topics every indie and mid-size studio needs to hear in 2026: → How to get your game onto PlayStation (straight from Sony Interactive Entertainment) → How to secure funding this year — with real-world perspective from Landfall Games and Rovio Entertainment ▶️ 14:00 - THE GROWTH TRACK The UA, retention and monetisation session. Speakers from ARCANIX.AI, AppSamurai, Reactional Music and Xsolla  covering how to grow your game once it's out, not just how to launch it. ▶️ 15:00 - GAME MAKER INSIGHTS The one for indie PC and console devs. Raw Fury, SYBO, SECRET SAUCE and Oro Interactive break down publisher revenue models, deal terms, and what funds are actually looking for right now. ▶️ MEETTOMATCH CONTINUES - All Day The Meeting Zones and Lounge are still live.  If you caught a session today that surprised you, drop it in the comments. Happy to hear what you'd like to hear more of.

God morgon Malmö! Day 1 of PGC Summit Malmö starts today. Today goes toward the deal-making crowd - publishers scouting, investors meeting, and developers pitching. Here's what's live right now at Comfort Hotel: 🤝 MeetToMatch - All Day Powered by Xsolla. Pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings between developers, publishers, and investors - running back-to-back from 09:00 in the dedicated Meeting Zones and Lounge. If you're here to find your next partner, co-publisher, or funding lead, this is the room. 🎮 THE BIG INDIE PITCH - 14:00 - 17:00 Mobile, PC and Console. All in one super-combo edition. Indie devs: pitch your game live to a panel of industry experts. Walk away with feedback, media coverage, promotional packages, and potentially free tickets + expo space. This is the one session today that can directly change your studio's trajectory. 🏢 WHO'S WITH US Studios and companies confirmed include: Raw Fury, Sony, SYBO, Rovio Entertainment, King, Embark Studios, Landfall Games and more. Still need a ticket? → https://lnkd.in/eUNBUpXE If you're with us or planning to join later, leave 👋 in the comments so fellow games industry friends can reach out and set up a meeting!

Selling your game in Germany means dealing with German VAT. Japan means local payment methods. California means sales tax. 200+ regions means 200+ versions of that problem. FastSpring just takes all of it off your plate. The tax obligation, fraud risk and compliance headache is theirs. Nearly 2 decades doing this. They'll be at PGC Barcelona this June 15–16.