The Incredible Story of Pocket Gamer Connects: A Decade of Growth and Success
The Birth of Pocket Gamer Connects
In January 2014, Steel Media, the company behind Pocket Gamer, organized the first-ever live PG Connects conference in Vinopolis, Central London. With over 500 mobile industry experts in attendance, the event was a resounding success and marked the beginning of something much bigger than the founders could have imagined.
Steel Media had been supporting the mobile gaming industry for over eight years through consumer reviews, B2B media, awards, and networking events. However, the team realized the need for a platform that could go beyond their existing efforts and provide even more support to the industry.
Since that first event in 2014, PG Connects has grown exponentially. In the past decade, Steel Media has organized 44 conferences in 12 cities, across nine countries and three continents. These events have welcomed over 48,000 delegates and facilitated over 100,000 business meetings, resulting in more than $1 billion worth of industry deals.
From London to the World
Pocket Gamer Connects London 2014 was a turning point for the mobile games industry. It brought together industry giants such as King, Rovio, Gamevil USA, CocoaChina, and Marvelous AQL. The event featured two full days of talks, pitch sessions, and activities, focusing on small and medium-sized developers and the emerging Asian mobile market.
The success of the London event inspired the team to expand internationally. Later that same year, they organized the second PG Connects event in Helsinki, Finland. With most of their partners and revenues already coming from overseas, expanding globally was a natural progression for Steel Media.
Over the years, PG Connects has traveled to cities like San Francisco, Bangalore, Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Jordan. The team embraced the global nature of the games industry, recognizing the importance of regions like Asia, and the Middle East. PG Connects became a truly global games conference.
More than Mobile
Although mobile games remain at the heart of PG Connects, the conference has evolved to include the wider platforms, technologies, and trends that shape the industry. Since 2017, PG Connects has featured specific tracks and side events like PC Connects, Blockchain Connects, and XR Connects to support different sectors of the industry.
Steel Media understands that the games industry is about connecting, celebrating, and supporting the people who make the games, tools, and monetization systems. While they stay true to their mobile gaming roots, PG Connects has become platform-agnostic, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the industry.
Adapting to Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the events industry, but it didn’t stop PG Connects. In 2020 and 2021, the team organized ten all-digital Connects events, ensuring that business could continue despite the global shutdown. They quickly pivoted to become a digital events company and delivered valuable content and networking opportunities to the industry.
The Future of PG Connects
As PG Connects enters its 10th anniversary year in 2024, the team is committed to delivering even greater value to the industry. With events already planned in London, Helsinki, Dubai, and San Francisco, the schedule promises to be the biggest yet. The focus remains on providing insights, connections, and inspiration to help businesses thrive and grow.
Pocket Gamer Connects has become the premier place for the mobile games industry to meet, connect, swap stories, and celebrate its success. Through its conferences, Steel Media has created a sense of community and family within the industry, where delegates feel welcomed and supported.
Join the unmissable Pocket Gamer Connects schedule in 2024 and beyond and be part of the incredible journey that started a decade ago. Experience the value, insights, and connections that have made PG Connects the greatest show in the mobile games industry.
From all at PGC, PG.Biz, and the Steel Media team – thank you for 10 incredible years, and here’s to many more!