Central Europe

A new era for Pixel Federation: CEO moves across the organisation to take the Creative Lead

Published

4 years ago

April 1, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

An outstanding year of growth for Slovakian based game development studio Pixel Federation, has led to impressive investment back into the company and a forward-thinking restructuring. After over a decade as CEO, Simon Sicko now steps away from directing and into a newly defined creative role. In turn, the leadership of Pixel Federation will enter a new era of team management. Taking on the challenge of leading the Research and Development team, which he himself launched in 2019, Simon is determined to get back to his roots with conceptualising new innovations within the development process.

“After many years as CEO, representing the company, I’ve grown from the ground up, I’ve found myself craving a move to roll up my sleeves and immerse myself back into the creative process.” said Sicko. “With a fantastic team at my disposal, I can get back to the roots of Pixel Federation creation and trust in the brilliant leadership to continue progressing Pixel; we are already working on a new ‘Build Tycoon’ game which we can’t wait to launch very soon.’

As an innovative, pioneering and successful CEO, Simon’s leadership saw the company grow from a small group of game enthusiasts to one of the biggest free-to-play mobile game development studios in Central Europe. Starting as just 4 founders, and a dog, in a leaky warehouse, to now boasting more than 230 employees, the company reached a cumulative turnover of more than €50 million for the year March 2020 – March 2021. However, determined not to let its success spill over into its ideology, Pixel Federation is turning its revenue inwards and focusing on games for its incredibly dedicated community, building the creative processes and research and development teams further: all in the name of creating games, from players to players.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Simon’s move away from CEO will not leave Pixel Federation lacking stability: in fact the company’s growth has meant a shift towards a multi-person management team at the top tier. Pixel Federation’s strong belief that community and transparency are the key to success will now be reflected all the way through the company, with three of the current top managers working together to lead the studio collaboratively. This new era of leadership comes with an ambition to increase the company’s performance twofold within just a few years, and the experience and motivation of the new leadership team will strive to do just that. With excellent financial and cultural conditions to drive change at the moment, Pixel Federation is expected to go from strength to strength as the year continues.

Awarded various prizes during his time as CEO, including The Most Respected CEO in Slovakia of 2020, Simon’s true passion for game creation has remained strong. With the ethos of community and dedication that Pixel Federation upholds at the core, Simon’s vision now is to dedicate his time to innovation and creative development. His first step will be immersing himself in building a new hit game that could earn €20 million annually in revenue for Pixel Federation. Leading the graphics teams, Simon will draw on his experience as an architect and his detailed eye for aesthetics to pave the way forward for Pixel Federation game designs.

‘I am looking forward to the challenge of delving deep into the culture of Pixel Federation with a small team and driving the creative process again. I have every faith and trust in the new management team and I am excited to continue bringing value to a company I believe has so much potential in the future of game development.’ concludes Simon, former CEO.

With a number of games in development for launch later this year, Pixel Federation will continue going from strength to strength, driving change in the gaming world and beyond.

Central Europe

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025: The Online Voting Battle Begins February 12!

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

George Miller

gamingtech-cee-awards-2025:-the-online-voting-battle-begins-february-12!

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The highly anticipated GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025 is entering its next thrilling phase as the online voting period kicks off on February 12 and runs through February 28, 2025. Nominees, get ready to enter the spotlight and prepare your communications campaigns! From the moment voting opens, all nominated companies and individual professionals will be visible, giving them the opportunity to rally support via social media and beyond to secure votes.

The GamingTECH CEE Awards celebrates outstanding achievements, embracing the latest advancements and industry trends in the region. Following a rigorous nomination process that concluded on January 19, the upcoming online voting session will determine the shortlists.

Key Dates:

Online Voting Period: February 12–28, 2025
Shortlist Announcement: March 4, 2025
Final Live Vote & Awards Ceremony: March 25, 2025, at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit

New Rule for 2025:

This year, the GamingTECH CEE Awards introduces an important update: Each voter will only be allowed one vote for the entire online voting period. Nominees are encouraged to actively engage their industry peers and supporters to maximize their chances of advancing to the finals.

From “Shortlisted” to “Finalist”

Additionally, only shortlisted nominees who confirm their attendance at the Awards by purchasing a ticket for the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit will be eligible to advance to the final voting stage. This ensures a fair competition for the Awards between equally committed finalists, and a strong industry presence at the Summit to foster greater networking and engagement.

The final live vote will take place at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit on March 25, 2025, where all event participants will have the opportunity to cast their votes and determine the ultimate winners. The winners will then be officially announced at the GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony, proudly sponsored and presented by Endorphina.

Awards Categories:

Individual Categories:

CEE iGaming Leader of the Year: Recognizing an individual from the CEE region who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a strong impact in the iGaming industry. This person has driven growth and innovation in the region, setting the benchmark for others.
CEE Rising Star in iGaming: Celebrating an individual from the CEE region who has shown remarkable promise and potential in the iGaming industry early in their career. This award highlights emerging talent that is expected to shape the future of iGaming in the region.
CEE Innovator of the Year: Awarding the individual who has introduced the most groundbreaking innovations in the CEE iGaming sector. This person has significantly contributed to the evolution of the industry through unique products, services, or technologies tailored to the regional market.
CEE iGaming Influencer of the Year: Honoring a prominent individual whose influence and insights have significantly shaped the CEE iGaming community. Their thought leadership, content, or social presence has driven trends and fostered growth within the regional iGaming space.
Best iGaming CEO in CEE: Recognizing the CEO based in the CEE region who has led their company to new heights with outstanding strategic direction and business acumen. This award honors their ability to navigate the unique challenges of the CEE market and achieve exceptional business growth.

Get Involved & Secure Your Spot

Set your reminders and be ready for action on 12 February 2025! Encourage your peers, partners, and clients to participate in the voting process and ensure that your company or favorite nominee makes it to the final stage!

For more details on the awards, voting process, and ticketing information, visit https://hipther.com/events/prague/gamingtech-awards/ or contact HIPTHER at hello@hipther.com.

Join us in shaping the future of gaming and technology in CEE – Cast your vote and be part of the journey!

The post GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025: The Online Voting Battle Begins February 12! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029

Published

2 weeks ago

February 7, 2025

George Miller

dfl-and-tipico-extend-partnership-until-2029

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Tipico, Germany’s leading sports betting provider, will continue as the Official Partner of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Before the end of the current agreement, Tipico and the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) have agreed to extend their partnership, which began in 2018, through to the end of the 2028/29 season.

As part of this agreement, Tipico will continue to use the logos of both competitions and the two Meisterschalen (championship trophies) in its advertising. The company will also retain its extensive advertising rights, including first-access rights included in DFL’s media contracts, as well as a “Matching Offer Right” for all special advertising formats with national partners, and exclusivity within the industry. Tipico will also be integrated into digital Bundesliga platforms.

“We’re thrilled to extend this long-standing collaboration built on mutual trust. Over the years, Tipico has proven itself as a highly professional and reliable partner with a deep passion for football,” said Tobias Thöne, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Bundesliga International GmbH.

Kajetan Strini-Brown, Director of Sports Brand at Tipico, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga! German football is at the heart of what we do, and that passion has always been deeply embedded in our DNA as a company. This extension is a key part of our strategic partnerships, which also include the DFB-Pokal, another major German football brand. Sponsorship, and the visibility it brings, plays an important role in guiding customers to the legal market.”

As outlined in the State Treaty on Gambling, the possibility to promote sports betting is an essential tool for guiding the deeply human drive to gamble into regulated and monitored channels. This plays a critical role in ensuring proper regulation of sports betting while counteracting illegal offerings. For more than 20 years, Tipico has been offering innovative, user-friendly, and secure sports betting products and has become the most popular brand for sports betting in Germany. In addition to continuous product development, Tipico has been working on modern player protection strategies for the last 15 years. The DFL has also long been committed to preventing match-fixing and gambling addiction in German professional football.

The post DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Promatic Games now live in Slovakia

Published

3 weeks ago

January 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Promatic Games, a polish game-tech brand and a slots studio specializing in game design and software solutions for online casinos, officially entered the Slovak market on January 24^th, 2025. Eurogold, a long-time partner of Promatic Group in the land-based gaming sector, became the first online casino in Slovakia to launch 10 of the studio’s popular online slot games.

“Entering the Slovak market has been a significant milestone for us. This year, we are focused on strengthening our presence in Central Europe, with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia and other markets in the region as key strategic priorities. Our portfolio of over 100 online slot games is designed to meet the expectations of players in these markets, as proven by our success in Poland. Partnering with a long-time customer for our initial launch in Slovakia was a natural choice, but our ultimate goal is to become a widely recognized game provider in the country and a trusted partner for all operators “– says Maciej Makuszewski, Head of iGaming at Promatic.

The collaboration with Eurogold online casino marks a significant milestone in Promatic Games’ journey. This partnership brings a selection of top-tier games to Slovak players, including fan-favorites such as Jumping Fruits, Ultra Reels, 81 Show, and Miss Inferno Deluxe. As a highlight for this market, Promatic Games has developed an exclusive slot for Eurogold – Kmeťo King Deluxe – which is a tribute to a popular Slovak folk singer Igor Kmeťo. The game is available exclusively at Eurogold.sk and features some of Mr. Kmeťo’s music during the gameplay. The launch of Kmeťo King Deluxe underscores Promatic Games’ commitment to delivering localized and tailored gaming experiences for new audiences.

All ten games introduced to the Slovak market have successfully passed rigorous certification by TSU Laboratory, a local Slovak authority specializing in game testing and certification. TSU ensures that all gaming software complies with international standards, guaranteeing fairness, reliability, and security for players. Promatic Games’ adherence to these high standards emphasizes the company’s dedication to delivering trusted and quality experiences.

Promatic Games is already preparing its next lineup of titles, promising to bring even more unforgettable gaming experiences to Slovak players. The new games will include, amongst others, Janosik 30 game based on the character of both Polish and Slovak folk hero. This expansion signals the company’s dedication to growing its presence in the Slovak market while maintaining the exceptional standards it is known for.

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