Gaming
Yahaha Studios secures $50m in funding to launch no-code metaverse
Yahaha Studios has announced an impressive investment of $50million, following three rounds of funding in six months, as it prepares to launch in early 2022. A metaverse for games, YAHAHA’s new no-code creation platform is pioneering the next generation of entertainment.
Founded in 2020, YAHAHA is a world-class virtual user-generated content (UGC) metaverse where creators come together to combine virtual and real life in multidimensional ways. Created by a team of Unity veterans, with YAHAHA, developers can build new games or monetise existing ones. With no-code entry levels and thousands of pieces of art available to use, YAHAHA’s interactive studio supports creators with all levels of experience, making it easier than ever to unleash creativity and build games.
Trailblazing a new era for the gaming industry, YAHAHA provides an open and modular set of online services for game development, giving creators freedom to distribute their games across all platforms, and their players the ability to connect online with their friends. YAHAHA harnesses the power of pre-existing Unity assets and its inbuilt ‘Studio’ tool to expedite development times. Developers can also open up and revitalise their existing games as well as create new ones and users can experience countless virtual worlds using customised cross-game avatars.
Chris Zhu, CEO at Yahaha Studios, said: “Achieving an investment of $50million is incredibly exciting for us. Founded by a team of Unity veterans, Yahaha Studios has a key part to play in ushering in the next generation of entertainment as the metaverse continues to grow. Connecting users around the world through virtual entertainment, YAHAHA offers a unique creative and social experience to game developers and gamers alike.
“Through YAHAHA we are empowering creators at all levels, from established developers to those making their first game – everyone can be a creator in our virtual world. We’re really looking forward to fully launching this year, growing our team and bringing the first stage of our vision for the future of content creation to life.”
Headquartered in Finland and with offices housing research and development in China and business development in Korea, the YAHAHA team holds a unique perspective on growth and prioritises inclusivity, diversity and innovation in an open culture. In the run up to launch, YAHAHA will be creating a number of new roles across the business and is actively recruiting for fresh talent.
YAHAHA was founded by Chris Zhu (CEO), Pengfei Zhang (COO) and Hao Min (CTO). With extensive experience in the games industry, the trio is expertly positioned to launch YAHAHA and give users the power and freedom of creation. Last year YAHAHA was awarded the prestigious title of one of the 50 Most Promising Tech Startups by The Information, demonstrating that the industry already sees it as one to watch.
Powered by WPeMatico
Business Development
Xsolla expands Atlantic Canada event push with Game Invest East and XP Game Connect
Xsolla will take part in two Atlantic Canada industry events—Game Invest East and XP Game Connect Atlantic—running June 3-5, 2026, as it increases its presence in the region’s game development ecosystem.
The company said it will join discussions with developers, publishers, investors, and other stakeholders focused on game development, investment, and innovation. At Game Invest East, held in partnership with Scaffold, Xsolla will participate in a panel titled “If You Can Make It Here.” Xsolla’s Manny Hachey, Senior Director of Developer Success, will appear alongside Kate Edwards, CEO and Principal Consultant of Geogrify, and Amir Satvat, Business Development Director at Tencent Games, founder of Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), and a 2026 GamesBeat Visionary Award honoree.
Xsolla’s Halifax stop comes on June 5 at XP Game Connect Atlantic. John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada at Xsolla, and Ted DiNola, Developer Evangelist at Xsolla, will host a workshop titled “Full Picture to Fast Lane: Xsolla Ecosystem Overview & Live SDK 3 Integration.”
Nguyen will also host a panel, “What Does the Future of Game Development Look Like in Atlantic Canada?”, joined by Ryan Filsinger from Iron Fox; Shawn Woods, CEO at Alpha Dog and VP of Interactive Society of Nova Scotia; George Greer, Founder of Besszong; and Jade Yhap, President of Interactive NB.
“Atlantic Canada continues to emerge as an exciting hub for game development talent and innovation,” said John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada, at Xsolla. “Xsolla is proud to support these events and contribute to conversations that help empower developers, build ecosystems, strengthen industry connections, and accelerate growth across the region.”
The post Xsolla expands Atlantic Canada event push with Game Invest East and XP Game Connect appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino Content
R. Franco Digital launches Crash Raiders grid-based crash game
R. Franco Digital has launched Crash Raiders, a new crash-style game that uses a grid format instead of traditional reels and paylines.
In Crash Raiders, players move across a grid to uncover prizes while avoiding traps that end the run. Each successful step increases the prize pot, and players can choose to cash out at any point or continue for a higher return.
The game includes four modes. Normal Mode lets players customise grid size, prizes and traps. Turbo Mode uses pre-selected routes for faster play, while Mystery and Mystery Turbo Modes apply full randomness to routes and outcomes.
Crash Raiders also adds an Extra Life mechanic that allows a player to revive once per game after hitting a trap, keeping accumulated winnings in play.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, said: “With Crash Raiders, we set out to create a highly engaging hybrid experience that blends strategy with high volatility gameplay. By giving players control over risk and path selection, we deliver a dynamic format that captures the excitement of every decision.”
The post R. Franco Digital launches Crash Raiders grid-based crash game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Belgium
Epic Games and BLAST bring 2026 Fortnite Global Championship to Antwerp
Epic Games and BLAST will host the 2026 Fortnite Global Championship in Antwerp, Belgium, on September 26-27, marking the FNCS season finale at Lotto Arena.
Epic and BLAST said the event brings the Fortnite competitive circuit and BLAST to Antwerp for the first time. The announcement was made at the Fortnite Major 1 Summit in Düsseldorf, Germany.
A $2,000,000 USD prize pool will be at stake, alongside the FNCS Global Championship trophy crafted by silverware artisan Thomas Lyte.
Epic and BLAST positioned Antwerp—located in the Benelux region—as a travel-friendly destination for fans coming from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. Ticket information is available via the venue listing.
The post Epic Games and BLAST bring 2026 Fortnite Global Championship to Antwerp appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Brasil5 days agoPara Sportradar, Copa do Mundo 2026 deve redefinir estratégias de aquisição e engajamento nas apostas esportivas
-
Blueprint Gaming6 days agoBlueprint Gaming announces The Goonies Quest for Treasure 3 slot
-
Booming Games6 days agoBooming Games launches Way of the Wolf: Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 slot
-
Coljuegos6 days agoColjuegos Authorizes MrYoker as Colombia’s Newest iGaming Operator
-
Africa6 days agoBede Gaming’s Latest Sunbet Expansion Delivers iGaming Platform to Namibia
-
Granny’s Wild6 days agoPlay’n GO Releases its Latest Video Slot Granny’s Wild
-
Amusnet6 days agoMonte Casino Sofia Elevates its Premium Gaming Floor with Amusnet’s Type S32
-
Belatra5 days agoWeekend Reels | Week 22: Slot Drops & Trends



