In today’s roundup: Istanbul’s Cypher Games secures $30M to fuel its debut and future projects, Epic Games shakes up mobile monetization with the launch of global Web Shops, and a wave of executive moves at Nintendo, Supercell, and Roblox signals fresh strategic directions across the industry.

Cypher Games secures $30M Series A funding

Istanbul-based Cypher Games has raised $30 million in Series A funding led by The Raine Group and Play Ventures, bringing its total to around $40 million. The capital will help launch its debut title Match Squad - a mix of match-3, dice mechanics, and city-building - while funding early development of a second project and team expansion. This marks one of the largest recent mobile games investments in Turkey.

Implication: The deal reinforces Turkey’s status as a rising hub for mobile gaming talent and funding, following Zynga’s earlier acquisitions in the region. It also intensifies competition in the casual and merge space, where innovation has slowed, forcing incumbents to experiment or risk stagnation. For Cypher, the pressure now lies in delivering retention and monetization metrics strong enough to justify investor optimism. Success could attract more capital inflows into emerging-market studios, while failure may caution investors away from similar bets.

Epic Games launches global Web Shops

Epic has rolled out Web Shops, allowing developers to sell in-game content directly to players across mobile and PC. Developers keep 100% of the first $1M annually per title and can avoid platform fees where steering is legally allowed, such as Android (post-October 22 injunction) and parts of the U.S. The feature integrates with Epic accounts for cross-platform purchases, loyalty programs, and rewards, with Codename Entertainment’s Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms serving as an early partner example.

Implication: Epic’s move represents a direct challenge to the app store duopoly, signaling a future where developers can retain more revenue and run their own promotions. For smaller studios, it offers a lifeline against rising user acquisition costs by improving margins. Larger publishers may begin steering players aggressively toward webshops, shifting consumer habits away from app store dependency. This also ramps up regulatory pressure on Apple and Google, as more developers push for fairer terms globally, potentially accelerating policy reform or further legal challenges.

October 2025 Movers & Shakers

A wave of executive changes swept across the industry this month. Nintendo of America appointed Devon Pritchard as its first female president, with Satoru Shibata becoming CEO. Supercell named Sabrina Carmona, formerly of King, as General Manager of Clash of Clans, one of its most profitable live games. Roblox reshuffled its leadership with Claus Moberg exiting after 9 years and Vlad Loktev stepping in as chief creator ecosystem officer. Other appointments include senior hires at ZBD and MTG/Plarium.

Implication: These shifts highlight a broader industry focus on leadership renewal, signaling potential strategic pivots in key franchises and platforms. Nintendo’s appointments may foreshadow stronger North American alignment and new market initiatives. Supercell’s decision to place a live ops veteran at the helm of Clash of Clans underscores its intent to extend the game’s lifecycle through fresh direction. Meanwhile, Roblox’s restructuring around its creator economy shows the platform doubling down on user-generated content as its long-term growth driver.