Gaming
Hamburg Games Conference announces first speakers for 2023 edition
Under the main topic “Invest in Games”, the Hamburg Games Conference will bring together participants from the international games industry at the Altonaer Museum in Hamburg on March 1 and 2, 2023. Further talks, keynotes and panel discussions will focus on funding, dev and start-up topics. The first games industry experts contributing to the program with talks and presentations are already confirmed. Tickets for the Hamburg Games Conference are available at a reduced early bird rate until January 12, 2023.
For the main conference track “Invest in Games”, multiple talks are already confirmed, providing insights and best practices on investments and M&A deals from the perspective of founders as well as investing companies and M&A advisors:
- Janosch Kühn and Daniel Stammler (founders of Kolibri Games / BLN Capital) recap building up their studio and their successful exit in their talk “Kolibri Story – From student dorm to multi-million dollar exit in 4 years”.
- Maarten de Koning (Executive Vice President at DDM, an investment consulting firm specializing in games) will outline the most important principles for successful deals in his talk “10 Golden Rules to Avoid Investment and M&A Disasters”.
- Arnd Benninghof (Executive Vice President of Gaming at Modern Times Group) will provide insights into MTG’s M&A strategy, with which the Swedish company continues to successfully build an international portfolio of investments in the games sector (including for example InnoGames, Kongregate, Hutch and PlaySimple).
- Michael Schade (CEO and Co-Founder of Hamburg-based studio Rockfish Games) looks back on the successful self-financing of Everspace 2 through crowdfunding, early access and licensing deals in his talk “How to Self-fund a 20 Million Euro Space Looter-Shooter”.
- Frank Zahn (Delivery Director & Managing Director at the technology consultancy / software company Endava) shares his experiences selling his digital agency Exozet to Endava in his talk “Lessons Learned on Selling my Company”.
- Christof Wegmann (Founder & CTO at Exit Games / Photon Engine) will look back on success factors and lessons learned in the development of the mobile hit Stumble Guys in his post-mortem talk “Stumbling into a Global Hit Downloaded 2 Million Times per Day”.
First confirmed speakers for the further conference tracks covering funding, dev and start-up topics are:
- Linda Rendel (Production Director and founder of FemDevMeetup) will present her talk “Production Leadership – How to be an authentic lead and build trusting relationships with your team” and share insights as well as tools for authentic leadership in the context of game productions.
- René Habermann (founder and developer at Bippinbits) will share his learnings from the development and successful marketing of the indie hit Dome Keeper, which generated over a million euros in revenue within just one day after its release.
- In a post-mortem talk, Jan and Paul Taaks (founders of Hamburg-based indie studio Overhype Studios) will give insights into the development and marketing of their indie hit Battle Brothers.
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Brazil
EGT to showcase its gaming portfolio for Brazil at SiGMA Americas 2026
Following a strong showing at SBC Summit Rio earlier this month, EGT is set to present its Brazil-focused portfolio once again at BiS SiGMA South America 2026, taking place in São Paulo from April 7–9. Visitors can explore the company’s latest solutions and partnership opportunities at stand L146.
“Don’t miss the chance to experience our products firsthand and discover how we can work together,” said Celina Guedes, Regional Director Brazil at EGT.
Advanced Land-Based Solutions
A key highlight will be EGT’s Super Sorte Video Lottery Terminals. The range includes the slant-top Super Sorte 27/27 ST, featuring dual 27-inch full-HD touchscreens with 4K UHD resolution, and the vertical Super Sorte 43V, equipped with a single 43-inch curved display. Both models are designed to deliver an immersive, next-generation gaming experience.
Also on display will be EGT’s latest online betting terminals, Top Estrela and Bar Estrela. The Top Estrela unit features a sleek 24-inch portrait touchscreen, while Bar Estrela offers a compact solution ideal for bars and smaller venues. Both are supported by an intuitive platform that ensures smooth navigation and secure access to a broad content library.
All terminals will feature the Gold VLT multigame package, offering 50 titles across diverse themes. This includes popular classics such as Amazons’ Battle and Rise of Ra, fruit-themed favourites like Burning Hot, and regionally popular games such as Keno Universe.
Expanding Digital Capabilities
EGT Digital will also present its growing iGaming portfolio, including more than 180 in-house slot titles. Among the highlights are established jackpot series such as Bell Link, Clover Chance, and Gods & Kings Link, alongside newer releases like Panda Ventura, which has quickly gained traction with players thanks to its distinctive style and engaging gameplay. The title also marks the beginning of a new character-driven series, with Tiger Ventura set to follow.
In addition, the company will demonstrate its modular X-Nave platform, which integrates casino, CRM, payment gateway, bonus management, and an aggregator offering over 20,000 games from 200+ providers. The platform also includes a high-performance sportsbook with flexible integration and advanced personalisation features, supported by AI-driven tools that enhance engagement and automate key processes.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships
“Our main goal at BiS SiGMA South America is to strengthen strategic partnerships with operators, platforms, and stakeholders shaping Brazil’s regulated market,” Guedes added. “It’s also an opportunity to showcase our full technology and content ecosystem, supporting both online growth and potential future land-based developments such as VLT operations. Ultimately, we’re focused on building long-term relationships and positioning EGT as a trusted partner across Brazil and Latin America.”
The post EGT to showcase its gaming portfolio for Brazil at SiGMA Americas 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention
Soft2Bet has unveiled MEGA Islands, the latest addition to its MEGA Suite, designed to enhance player engagement and retention across both casino and sportsbook offerings.
The new engine introduces a persistent progression system that carries over across sessions, giving players an ongoing reason to return. Through island-building, resource collection, and continual advancement, players embark on a long-term journey that transforms short play sessions into sustained engagement.
First previewed in Soft2Bet’s recent Lodur release, the MEGA Islands system allows players to develop their own islands over time. Resources earned through gameplay can be used to construct new buildings, upgrade existing structures, and unlock further stages of progression. Each upgrade opens new goals, creating a loop of continuous advancement that keeps players invested.
The engine also incorporates plundering mechanics, giving players an additional path to gather resources by raiding other islands. This feature not only accelerates growth but also maintains a dynamic and engaging progression loop. With no fixed endpoint, MEGA Islands is built to encourage repeat play through a satisfying cycle of building, collecting, and advancing.
“MEGA Islands is designed to make retention feel natural by providing players with a progression journey they want to return to,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet. “By building islands, collecting resources, and unlocking upgrades—including through plundering—each session becomes part of a longer experience. It gives players a clear reason to come back while providing operators with a retention tool that integrates seamlessly across casino and sportsbook.”
The launch of MEGA Islands underscores Soft2Bet’s commitment to gamification as a driver of long-term growth. As part of the MEGA Suite, the new engine offers operators a powerful tool to extend player journeys, increase engagement cycles, and deliver consistent value in competitive markets.
The post Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade
Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+
Pragmatic Play, a prominent content provider for the iGaming sector, has enhanced its arcade collection with the debut of Chicken+, a retro-themed game showcasing fast-paced action and significant winning opportunities.
Brought to existence with retro 8-bit visuals, the game tests players to evade approaching vehicles and various dangers, leading the chicken safely over the road.
With each lane successfully cleared, the win multiplier increases. Players can withdraw their earnings whenever they choose or try to navigate all lanes for the top reward, but a single random mishap concludes the round as a defeat. Players are able to view the possible winnings and the likelihood of success in reaching each lane to aid in their decision-making.
There are four levels of risk – Easy, Mid, Hard, and Daredevil. Raising the level reduces the number of lanes per round and increases the volatility, enhancing the maximum win potential from 24x in Easy mode to over 3,000,000x in Daredevil.
Blending nostalgic visuals with an eccentric theme, a user-friendly interface, and rapid betting rounds, Chicken+ meets the increasing demand for engaging, fast-paced games.
The title signifies the newest entry in Pragmatic Play’s continually growing arcade collection, succeeding the launches of Plinko+, Spire+, and Mines+.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Chicken+ blends retro charm with simple, high-engagement mechanics. With configurable risk levels and significant win potential, it stands out as another compelling addition to Pragmatic Play’s diverse arcade portfolio, inviting players to test their nerve and cross the road.”
The post Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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