Jam City vs Mattel163

Jam City updates studio locations and navigation

Jam City's 'Who We Are' page removed Cedar Falls, Berlin, and Bogota from its studio locations list, and replaced 'Press' and 'Blog' navigation links with 'News'.

46 Mobile Games in Soft Launch (July 6, 2026)

PocketGamer.biz published an updated list of 46 mobile games currently in soft launch, ordered by their soft-launch release date. The roundup — last updated July 6, 2026 — highlights new and soft-launched titles across multiple developers and publishers, noting markets, platforms, and recent version updates. The feature is produced in association with Jam City and includes entries from major games companies such as Rovio, Zynga, Supercell, Playrix, ByteDance, AppLovin, Voodoo and many indie studios. The list is intended as a tracking resource for developers, publishers and industry observers to monitor soft-launch activity, learnings and trends in mobile game development and monetization.

• PocketGamer.biz published a single feature listing 46 mobile games in soft launch, last updated 2026-07-06.
• The list is ordered by soft launch release date and will remove games that exit soft launch (global release or cancellation).
• The soft-launch roundup is brought in association with Jam City.

Mattel launches Mattel Game Studios for digital games

Mattel has launched Mattel Game Studios, a global digital games organisation within Mattel Digital Studios that centralises game development, publishing, live-ops, marketing and brand capabilities. The studio consolidates roughly 300 artists, designers, engineers, producers and live-ops specialists across Los Angeles and Hangzhou and will build mobile and platform experiences for Roblox, Fortnite and other channels. The formation follows Mattel’s full acquisition and integration of Mattel163; that studio’s mobile portfolio has delivered over 550 million downloads, reaches about 20 million monthly active players and contributed nearly $49 million in Q2. Mattel Game Studios recently self-published a Masters of the Universe mobile game, has UNO Wild in soft launch with plans for full global distribution in early 2027, and is developing a new Hot Wheels title.

• Mattel formed Mattel Game Studios to centralise development, publishing, live-ops, marketing and brand-led digital game efforts under Mattel Digital Studios.
• The studio brings together roughly 300 artists, designers, engineers, producers and live-ops specialists across Los Angeles and Hangzhou, China.
• Formation follows Mattel’s full acquisition and integration of Mattel163; Mattel163’s mobile portfolio has delivered >550 million downloads, reaches ~20 million monthly active players, and contributed nearly $49 million in Q2.

AI Gamechangers Summit Highlights AI's Impact on Games

Pocket Gamer previews the AI Gamechangers Summit closing Pocket Gamer Connects Shanghai on July 29, 2026, which will examine how AI can change gameplay and where investment is flowing. Sessions include a solo provocation by AI practitioner Chris Zhou about how AI might alter play, creation, learning and companionship in games, plus a panel (“The AI Paradox”) with studio and investor voices from Mattel163, BITKRAFT Ventures, Aream & Co, BBX Ventures and Play Ventures. Panelists discuss concrete AI deployments (monetisation prediction, content pipelines, localisation), investor expectations for AI-native startups, and China-specific advantages from state-driven adoption. The piece also notes ChinaJoy’s “Level Up with AI” programming and an exhibition zone demonstrating AI NPCs and reactive storytelling.

• Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai will close its four-track programme with the AI Gamechangers Summit on July 29, 2026.
• Speakers and panellists include Chris Zhou, Wenfeng Yang (BBX Ventures), Devin Nambiar (Mattel163), Kartik Prabhakara (Aream & Co), Harri Manninen (Play Ventures) and Jonathan Huang (BITKRAFT Ventures).
• Mattel163 reports using AI for pLTV modelling, ROAS prediction, live content creation assistance, mini-game generation and localisation to improve live content pipeline efficiency.

Mattel163 COO on Uno, East–West Divide, NetEase Deal

An interview with Devin Nambiar, chief operating officer of Mattel163, covers the studio’s cross-border origins, product strategy and the challenges of reviving Uno. Mattel163 began as a joint venture between Mattel and NetEase; in February 2026 Mattel moved to acquire NetEase’s 50% stake, valuing the studio at $318 million and folding it into Mattel’s internal games division. Nambiar discusses data-driven cultural differences between Eastern and Western game markets, argues that cross-border joint ventures succeed through trust and communication rather than tight control, and explains the team’s approach to preserving Uno’s core mechanics and social “couch” feeling during the revival. He was speaking ahead of his panel at PGC Summit Shanghai on July 29.

• Devin Nambiar is chief operating officer at Mattel163.
• Mattel163 was born as a joint venture between Mattel and NetEase.
• In February 2026 Mattel moved to acquire NetEase’s 50% stake in Mattel163, valuing the studio at $318 million and integrating it into Mattel’s internal game development and publishing arm.