Supercell vs Pokémon

Zynga's Mark Pincus reveals near-miss $400m Supercell acquisition

Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, revealed on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast that his company nearly acquired Supercell for $400 million in 2012. A handshake agreement was reached with Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, but Zynga's board blocked the deal after the earlier $200 million acquisition of OMGPOP and its Draw Something game proved unsuccessful. Pincus noted that Supercell posted $500 million in net profit the following year, highlighting the lost opportunity. He also reflected on other decisions, including a $550 million acquisition approved by the board under his successor (which matches Zynga's 2014 purchase of NaturalMotion), and his later $800 million stock buyback program. Pincus expressed regret over not pushing harder for the deal, criticizing the lack of vision in the Western gaming industry.

• Mark Pincus stated he had a handshake agreement to buy Supercell for $400 million in 2012.
• Zynga's board blocked the Supercell acquisition in 2012.
• Supercell posted $500 million in net profit the year following the proposed deal.

EU's Triple Regulatory Threat Looms Over Mobile Gaming

The European Union is advancing a trio of regulations that collectively pose a significant threat to the mobile gaming industry. The upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA) targets monetization mechanics like loot boxes and addictive features, potentially impacting in-app purchases. The newly announced EU Kids Act, under Article 15, would restrict engagement techniques such as daily log-in bonuses and activity streaks for minors, requiring age assurance for all users. Additionally, the Digital Services Act (DSA) guidelines on protecting minors are already in effect. Industry experts warn of 'catastrophic' impacts and draw parallels to the IDFA privacy changes that disrupted mobile advertising. The final wording of the EU Kids Act is still under negotiation, with potential finalization by the end of the decade.

• The EU's Digital Fairness Act (DFA) targets in-app purchases, loot boxes, and addictive features like log-in bonuses.
• The EU Kids Act, under Article 15, proposes to restrict daily log-ins and activity streaks for minors.
• Wiggin's Isabel Davies states that the EU Kids Act will prohibit games from using engagement techniques for children.

Supercell's Mo.co Game Moves Back to Beta

Supercell announced that its monster hunting game Mo.co is returning to beta development due to underperformance. The game, which launched in 2025, will be maintained minimally, with no new weapons or premium tracks until further notice. The company plans to release updates more frequently but has not set a specific date, expecting one before end of 2026. Mo.co's community manager is being reassigned due to reduced need. Appmagic data shows the game earned $7 million from 9.2 million downloads. Supercell previously rebooted the game in May and August 2026, noting underperformance, but ruled out shutting it down.

• Supercell announced Mo.co is going back into beta development.
• Mo.co generated $7 million in IAP revenue from 9.2 million downloads to date.
• No further weapons or premium tracks will be released while the game is on low maintenance.

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.