What to expect from SGF and WWDC

Let's predict the next week of showcases – featuring Apple’s all-new Games app, some Netflix stuff and a load of Genshin-alikes. Plus: every story from the last seven days, at a glance.

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We’re already over capacity for the next Off The Record event on June 10, brought to you alongside Google, Deconstructor of Fun, Media Bodies and AppsFlyer.

It’s all going down at Google’s Venice Beach space in LA. Who’s coming? Leaders from Scopely, Supercell, Riot, Blizzard, EA, Netflix, Lightspeed, Mattel, Tencent, Zynga and many more.

We’re full already, so it’s now waiting list only – but we can probably sneak one more sponsor in, if you want to cover some happy hour drinks afterwards. Hit reply to this email if that sounds fun.

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This week’s stories:

New game digest: Angry Birds, Suika, Sonic, Goat Simulator, Zynga’s new soft launch and more

There's also this week's free Epic Games Store title and incoming NetEase and Netmarble releases.

Gordon Ramsay, Subway Surfers and Angry Birds studio Outplay cuts 21 staff

The Dundee, Scotland-based outfit is restructuring “to support a strategic shift toward partnering with publishers for future game releases”.

Major layoffs at Playtika with up to 160 jobs cut on Best Fiends and Redecor teams

The job cuts follow a reported 50 layoffs at Playtika-owned Wooga.

Apple is not getting a delay to that Epic US App Store ruling

The iPhone maker has said it will continue to appeal, but it seems the landmark decision is here to stay. Epic’s Tim Sweeney is, of course, delighted.

Data digest: US App Store hits $400bn, puzzle genre insights, underserved audiences, Asia and MENA market stats, more

There's also East Side Games and funding news in this week's round-up.

Epic is “going all-in” on webshops: “The 70/30 model is broken”

Execs Steve Allison and Kyle Billings explain more about next month’s Epic Games Store webshop launch.

Epic’s mobile Games Store passes 40m installs; webshops delayed to July

The Fortnite maker says it’s now aiming for 70m Epic Games Store downloads by the end of 2025, way short of the 100m it targeted by the end of 2024.

May’s top grossing mobile games

Whiteout Survival and LastWar: Survival continue to fight over second as Honor of Kings reasserts its dominance. SD Gundam G Generation Eternal also sneaks into the top ten as Royal Kingdom continues to grow.

May’s top mobile game downloads

Block Blast is a monster: it has now topped Appmagic's download charts for six months straight. Meme Merge is a surprise new entry, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Merge Fellas, Brainzot and Royal Kingdom are on the rise.

Subway Surfers could be the next big game IP heading to the movies

Around 20m people play Subway Surfers every day, says Sybo CEO Mathias Gredal Nørvig – and so inevitably the maker of ‘the most downloaded game of all time’ is looking beyond games.

Jobs digest: moves at Activision, Turborilla, Trailmix, Apple, Netflix, Candywriter, MTG, more

There's also recruitment news at Mistplay, RevU, Almedia and Stash in our latest round-up.

What to expect from SGF and WWDC

Let's predict the next week of showcases – featuring Apple’s all-new Games app, some Netflix stuff and a load of Genshin-alikes.