Good Morning,

Q1 doldrums are firmly here. As January wraps up, the market is shifting from growth narratives to execution narratives. We saw that play out with Liftoff filing for an IPO with Blackstone backing, AppLovin completing the $400M sale of its gaming unit to Tripledot, and reports that OpenAI is exploring a potential acquisition of Pinterest.

Different stories, same theme: focus, scale, and efficiency are back in the driver’s seat across the ecosystem.

Specialized AI tools are emerging as leaders for mobile workflows which is why Helium is ahead of the curve. Check out their subscription AI product to see how they can help your monetization team improve your LTVs.

Key Headlines

  • Ads are coming to ChatGPT (OAI)

  • Reddit launches its own Advantage+ for AI powered ads (RT)

  • IAB Releases Industry’s AI Transparency and Disclosure Framework (IAB)

  • Scopely's Monopoly Go is the fastest game to hit $6bn in revenue (GI)

  • Ubisoft closes Halifax studio, cutting 71 jobs (CBC)

  • Lawmakers asked to review $55b EA Games Deal (GIB)

  • 2025 installs declined, but spending soars to $156b (TC)

  • IAB Europe releases Inaugural Attitudes to Digital Advertising Report (IAB)

  • Apple releases new ad designs to blend into search results (APP)

  • Meta’s Threads rolls out ads to all users, globally (TC)

  • Fingersoft’s Hill Climb Racing reaches 2bn downloads worldwide (PG)

  • Ubisoft open to selling more minority stake bids similar Tencent deal (TT)

  • Attention AdTech: Netflix is adding vertical video (TC)

Industry Roundup

Publisher

  • Apple releases new app dedicated to gaming on iOS 26 (9-5)

  • Supercell celebrates taking risks on failed projects (PG)

  • Inside Google and Epic Games secret $800m deal (9-5)

  • TikTok quietly launches a microdrama app called ‘PineDrama’ (TC)

  • Italy probes Activision Blizzard over monetization tactics (RT)

  • Inside SciPlay’s long-term Live-Ops strategy (PG)

  • Microsoft deprecation of video Prebid caching will hit publishers (MST)

  • Duolingo dumps UA budget on branding ad in NFC Championship game (AW)

AdTech

  • OpenX invests more in supply infrastructure, publisher development (EW)

  • Google to pay $8.25m in privacy violations lawsuit due to Admob SDK (TR)

  • Roku snags Pinterest for shoppable TV-to-app in major partnership (PMT)

  • Moloco opens new 60K-sq. ft HQ in former Meta office space (BIZ)

  • Covatic cracks the CTV attribution challenge (EW)

  • Amazon launches Prebid adapter in win for open standards (AE)

  • IAB tightens privacy diligence requirements for AdTech vendors (IAB)

  • Unity partners with Walmart on game engine retail SDK (WM)

  • Verve Group unifies Jun Group and Captify US under Verve for buyers (TV)

  • TeqBlaze Launches TeqMate AI for Optimized AdOps (EW)

  • CloudX’s MoPub/MAX veterans challenge SDK control of auctions (CX)

A Message from Helium

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Markets

Deal Flow

  • Blackstone backed Liftoff files for IPO on 2/6 targeting $26-$30 (YF)

  • AppLovin completes sale of gaming unit to Tripledot for $400m (IA)

  • OpenAI is considering buying Pinterest in a strategic acquisition (YF)

  • ZBD: $40M Series C to bring real-money payments natively into games (MB)

  • Former Peak Games veterans raise $30M Series A round for newly formed TaleMonster Games (TE)

  • Turborilla secures $5m for user acquisition funding to accelerate growth (PG)

  • MoneyTime Play-to-earn app secures $3m seed funding (PG)

  • Mistplay acquires Mobivity’s connected rewards platform (NW)

  • Liquidnitro Games raises $19.1m to scale AI-driven live ops platform (PG)

  • Anka Venture launches fund to back early stage app and games (MB)

Editor’s Picks (2025 Review)

  • Apple’s 2025 Year-In-Review (APP)

  • RevenueCat: The State of Subscription Apps 2025 (RC)

  • SensorTower State of Mobile 2026 (ST)

  • Appsflyer 2025 Performance Index (AF)

  • Drake Star’s 2025 Global Gaming M&A Report (DS)

Conference Circuit

  • Pocket Gamer: 1/20-1/21

  • GamesForum Barcelona: 2/5-2/6

  • Mobile World Congress: 3/2-3/5

  • Pocket Gamer Connect: 3/9-3/13

  • GDC: 3/9-3/13

  • MAU: 5/19-5/21

Editor’s Note

Mobile Summary is a weekly executive brief covering mobile apps, gaming, and AdTech — built for operators, decision-makers, and investors who want signal, not noise.

“Do we need open-source mediators like MoPub to come back online?”

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