Amazon Games announced it has opened a new game development studio in Europe, based in Bucharest, Romania. The studio expands Amazon’s commitment to developing and publishing games as it joins the ranks of the existing development teams in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle. The new studio will focus on supporting Amazon Games’ diverse portfolio of games now and in the future. Amazon Games is actively hiring to build out the talented team, with many active roles open now.

“Amazon Games is focused on developing and publishing great games, and we have an ambitious long-term roadmap in front of us,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games. “Expanding our internal development teams into Europe was a natural next step for us as we tackle our broad portfolio. Bucharest is known as one of the top emerging European cities for game development and we look forward to tapping into the rich talent pool.”

Amazon Games has hired industry veteran Cristian Pana to lead the studio. Cristian brings more than 20 years of experience building video games, most recently serving as the Managing Director at Ubisoft Bucharest. Cristian’s experience spans some of video games’ biggest games and franchises, including Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Far Cry, and Avatar and diverse genres, from driving games, action adventure open world games to shooter RPGs.

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“I’m thrilled to join Amazon Games at a time when the team is actively building across an exciting roadmap,” said Cristian Pana, Studio Head for Amazon Games Bucharest. “I’ve built and led outstanding teams in the past and I know this area of Europe is a hot spot for some of the very best talent in gaming.”

The new studio supports Amazon Games’ vision of developing and publishing games that foster community in and around its games. The expanding portfolio from Amazon Games includes two launched live-service games, New World and Lost Ark, announced projects including Tomb Raider, The Lord of the Rings, and Throne and Liberty, as well as unannounced projects from our San Diego and Montreal studios, and the independent studio Glowmade in the UK.

KuCoin Ventures, the investment arm of the global cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, has announced a strategic investment in FantaGoal, an eagerly anticipated Web3 game for this summer. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Web3 gaming market, emphasising the strategic partnership between KuCoin Ventures and FantaGoal.

FantaGoal is poised to capture the attention of football fans worldwide by integrating elements of the Euro Cup, Copa America, Fantasy sports and AI, delivering the most exhilarating football gaming experience. With the aim of building the world’s largest football ecosystem, FantaGoal has secured partnerships with many football stars as well as numerous football clubs and large football communities. Leveraging its innovative one-stop custody wallet solution, FantaGoal enables Web2 football fans to seamlessly transition into Web3 gaming.

The strategic partnership between KuCoin Ventures and FantaGoal is expected to unlock new opportunities for both parties. By leveraging KuCoin Ventures’ industry insights, FantaGoal is set to achieve substantial growth. Conversely, FantaGoal’s innovative gaming solutions will diversify the services offered by KuCoin Ventures. Key highlights of the partnership include enhanced user engagement for FantaGoal, advancements in seamless user integration from Web2 to Web3, and innovations in game economics and ecosystem design.

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“KuCoin Ventures is thrilled to partner with FantaGoal, a platform that shares our vision for an open and accessible financial future. This investment is not just financial; it’s a strategic move to integrate FantaGoal’s innovative gaming solutions into our ecosystem,” Johnny Lyu, CEO of KuCoin, said.

KuCoin Ventures has been actively seeking out and investing in promising blockchain and cryptocurrency projects that align with its vision of a decentralised and inclusive financial ecosystem. The investment in FantaGoal is a testament to KuCoin Venture’s commitment to supporting projects that bring transformative solutions to the market.