SEGA vs Pokémon

Sega and Netflix expand transmedia strategy with Crazy Taxi film

Sega and Netflix have announced a new transmedia collaboration, starting with a feature film adaptation of Crazy Taxi, written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The slate also includes a new animated Sonic series for pre-school audiences and a live-action film based on RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven. The projects aim to leverage different parts of Sega's gaming catalog across various genres and formats. Producing the Crazy Taxi film will be Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara, who have worked on the Sonic franchise. The collaboration marks a strategic move to expand Sega's intellectual properties into film and television, with potential implications for the advertising industry through new sponsorship and product placement opportunities.

• Sega and Netflix announced a collaboration to adapt Crazy Taxi into a feature film.
• Dan Gregor and Doug Mand will write the Crazy Taxi film.
• Producers Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara are attached to the project.

Rovio to close Copenhagen studio after Sonic Blitz cancel

Sega-owned Rovio is shutting its Copenhagen studio following the cancellation of its runner–card-collection hybrid mobile game Sonic Blitz. Rovio says about 20 employees worked on the canceled project and that a redundancy process is underway; affected staff will be offered transition packages including outplacement and wellbeing support. Sega West COO and Rovio CEO Alex Pelletier‑Normand said retention did not meet expectations despite initial promise, and that the company is concentrating development efforts. AppMagic data shows Sonic Blitz picked up over 200,000 downloads, mainly in Brazil with some players in the Philippines.

• Sega-owned Rovio is discontinuing all operations at its Copenhagen studio after cancelling the mobile game Sonic Blitz.
• Rovio stated that around 20 employees had worked on the now-canceled Sonic Blitz project.
• Rovio will offer transition packages, including outplacement services and wellbeing support, to team members who cannot be reallocated.

Sonic Blitz cancelled as servers shut down

Sonic Blitz, a Sonic-based mobile card game developed by Rovio in partnership with Sega, has been cancelled and its servers shut down on 24 August 2026. The game had been soft-launched in the Philippines (June 2025) and Brazil but never reached global release. Rovio informed its Discord community on 21 August that the closure is part of "broader change" at the studio. AppMagic estimated the title reached over 200,000 downloads across the two soft-launch markets, with install peaks and subsequent fluctuations during 2025–2026. Discord and Twitter accounts for the game also went offline the same day.

• Sonic Blitz has been cancelled and servers were shut down on 24 August 2026.
• The game was soft-launched in the Philippines in June 2025 and later in Brazil but never launched globally.
• Rovio announced the game's closure to its Discord community on 21 August 2026, citing "broader change" at the studio.

Pokémon Horizons: Season 3—Rising Hope Part 4 Now on Netflix

Pokémon Horizons: Season 3—Rising Hope Part 4 is now available on Netflix. Also new: Sean Wotherspoon Plush Collab, Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration expansion, and more.

Mobile Game Crossovers: Clash of Clans, Subway Surfers, Pokémon Go

This article is a roundup of mobile game collaborations and marketing campaigns for September 2026. It covers partnerships such as Clash of Clans featuring WWE wrestlers, Candy Crush teaming with Shania Twain and Zedd, Subway Surfers reviving its Among Us event, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery promoting the upcoming HBO series, and Pokémon Go partnering with All Nippon Airways for a special flight and airport activities. Other notable crossovers include Ed Sheeran performing at Pokémon Worlds, Fire Emblem Heroes introducing characters from a new game, Isekai: Slow Life featuring Demon Slayer characters, and Duolingo partnering with Eggy Party in China. Additionally, Puzzle & Dragons collaborates with Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Mobile partners with Payday, and PUBG Mobile teams with Lincoln for in-game vehicles.

• Clash of Clans partners with WWE, adding six wrestlers including Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker, and Alexa Bliss as playable characters.
• Candy Crush launches Music Season 2026 with a remix of 'You're Still the One' by Shania Twain and Zedd, running until October 4, 2026.
• Subway Surfers brings back the Among Us Rush event with new cosmetics and a new map.

Pokémon Go tops mobile revenue charts in early September

During the first week of September 2026, Pokémon Go became the highest-grossing mobile game globally, generating an estimated $44.2 million from player spending on Google Play and the App Store. This surge was driven by the Pokémon Go Fest 2026: Mega Ascension and Mega Finale events, which featured exclusive content like Mega Mewtwo and Armoured Mewtwo. Daily spending peaked at $10.1 million on September 5th. The US contributed the largest share ($19.3M), followed by Japan ($11M). Fellow Scopely title Monopoly Go ranked second with $33.6M, while Tencent's Honor of Kings fell to seventh. The data, provided by AppMagic, excludes revenue from D2C, ads, and alternative Android stores.

• Pokémon Go generated an estimated $44.2 million in player spending on Google Play and App Store during the first week of September 2026.
• The game topped the revenue charts for three consecutive days starting September 5th.
• Daily spending peaked at $10.1 million on September 5th during the Mega Finale event.