Helsinki is known as the home of some of the best game talent in the world. With iconic studios like Supercell and Rovio based here, it's no wonder the city also plays host to some of the biggest events in the gaming industry. As part of Finnish Games Week 2024, Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki took place on October 1st and 2nd, 2024, and attracted an incredible lineup of gaming professionals, innovators, and thought leaders. Our team at Appier was excited to attend, and we've put together four key highlights from this prestigious event.
One of the biggest moments of the conference was the unveiling of the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 by PocketGamer.biz. The list is a who's who of the industry, featuring heavy hitters like Scopely, whose casual game Monopoly GO! has exceeded $3 billion in revenue since launching in April 2023. The list also included major Asian studios like HoYoverse, Tencent, NEXON, and Century Games, as well as leaders in the hyper-casual market such as Voodoo, Homa, and Azur Games.
It was rewarding for us at Appier to see several of our customers make the cut, including NEXON, who took the fifth spot. Our ongoing partnership with NEXON has been a great example of the impact our AI-driven solutions can have on driving user acquisition and engagement. Launching a successful mobile game in today's competitive market is tougher than ever, and we remain committed to supporting our clients with AI-enabled Advertising Cloud for user acquisition, new game launches, and re-engagement.
Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki offered a wealth of speaking sessions and panel discussions, spread across three packed conference rooms. Topics ranged from insights into game development and mobile growth strategies to deep dives into cutting-edge technologies like AI.
Our very own Kate Polianchikova, Senior Sales Manager at Appier, joined the panel discussion on "User Acquisition in 2024 & Beyond." During the session, Kate emphasized that AI is becoming the "left and right brain" for performance marketers today, enabling them to automate decision-making processes while also sparking creativity. She highlighted that AI can assist with every stage of a gaming campaign—from launch to scale, and even during the retargeting phase. AI is not just a tool; it is becoming the foundation for performance marketing strategies in the gaming sector.
Conferences like Pocket Gamer Connects are not only about learning but also about connecting. The event provided an intimate setting for meeting top gaming studios, and we at Appier took the opportunity to express our appreciation to long-time partners with a unique gift—a pair of chopsticks.
Why chopsticks, you might ask? Chopsticks are all about precision—the perfect metaphor for how Appier's AI helps our partners precisely identify high-value users to maximize ROI in their user acquisition campaigns. We hope that whenever a performance marketer uses our chopsticks, they'll be reminded of the precision and effectiveness that Appier AI brings to their campaigns.
While the venue may not have been the largest, its intimate size actually worked to everyone's advantage. There were ample opportunities for casual networking—whether catching up with familiar faces or forming new connections. This welcoming environment made it easy to engage in meaningful conversations, share industry insights, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki 2024 was an invaluable experience for the Appier team. From thought-provoking discussions to the chance to strengthen bonds with our partners, the event delivered on all fronts. We're already looking forward to what next year will bring!
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, staying connected and informed is more important than ever. Events like Pocket Gamer Connects provide the perfect platform for collaboration, innovation, and growth. We at Appier are proud to be part of this thriving community, and we're excited to keep supporting our partners with AI-driven solutions that help bring their games to the next level. See you next year in Helsinki!