Gaming

The official teaser of “I, the Inquisitor” is here!

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In 2019, The Dust, a small gaming studio from Wrocław Poland, acquires the rights to create a game based on the book series by the renowned fantasy writer Jacek Piekara. A few months later, in September 2019, the studio holds a press conference, where they disclose the foundations of the project and reveal the game’s name. It is “I, the Inquisitor”.

We hear about the project again in September 2020, when we learn that the main character will be none other than the hero of the series – Inquisitor Mordimer Madderdin. Today, The Dust is showing us the first teaser and reveals the place of the game’s action – the town of Koenigstein and the mysterious NonWorld.

The darkness surrounds Koenigstein
Since the beginning of the game’s development, the Wrocław’s studio has been providently limiting the amount of information about it, due to the long-term marketing plan for “I, the Inquisitor”. To understand how important the project is for the studio and how much they believe in its success, we have to look at The Dust’s stock reports and from there draw our conclusions. They have signed a game trailer production contract with a world-famous Juice studio, increased the title’s budget, and enlarged their team from a few employees to a few dozens of specialists. All these actions are showing us the real progress of work The Dust did on the game. Now, we can also observe it on brand-new screenshots from “I, the Inquisitor” and the first, exciting video material.

In “I, the Inquisitor” players will take on the role of Inquisitor Mordimer Madderdin, a hero who under the guidance of the Holy Office, will be overseeing the law and order of the world. The story says, that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, but came down from it, punished the unbelievers, and now rules the world. Mordimer Madderdin goes to the town of Koenigstein, where the entire plot of the game takes place. At the September conference, the studio revealed that they plan to focus on an in-game area, which they will be able to refine in the smallest detail.

“Koenigstein is divided into five districts. Each district is unique in terms of architecture, climate, and general feeling. The inhabitants of individual districts also differ significantly from one another. The locations architecturally reflect the era of the early Renaissance, which creates a very unique atmosphere.” – Kacper Szwajka | Art Director The Dust

The atmosphere straight from the pages of a novel
Thanks to the new screenshots, we can get a feeling of the game’s climate. The first thing we’ve noticed is that The Dust has put huge attention to details and the whole thing looks extremely coherent. Just take a look at the executioner’s quarters… We know that extracting information from suspects will play a very important role in the game, so the mere thought of interrogating people in this room is giving us shivers.

Speaking of the atmosphere, here is the first short teaser from “I, the Inquisitor” by The Dust studio. It perfectly reflects the stuffy and heavy feeling of the world that players will enter.

The teaser sees the main character praying in the privacy of a room, with a broken cross, the symbol of the inquisitors, hanging above his head. The whole thing is dark, mysterious, and incredibly atmospheric. It also shows us several districts of Koenigstein and the NonWorld, a place where Mordimer can transfer to, to seek answers to questions related to his investigation.

“The NonWorld will play an extremely important role. It is “a place that shows the true essence of things”, making it one of the most important tools for the player to use on his way to discovering the truth and solving the intrigues around him. It will often help to put certain facts together and to look for new clues. At the same time, the NonWorld is a dark, evil, and very dangerous place that Mordimer will have to face.” Damian Pawlak | Game Designer The Dust

The following months will be extremely busy for The Dust team. The studio claims that the game will be ready in 2022. Currently, the company is focusing on the alpha version of the game and continues presenting the title to global publishers, from which it will choose its partner this year.

eSports

Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases

Published

2 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.

The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.

On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.

The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.

Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”

Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”

Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”

The post Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance

HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise

Published

4 days ago

June 22, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

hipther-launches-hallo:-the-standard-in-compliance-expertise

HIPTHER has launched HALLO (Highly Aligned Leaders in Legal Operations), a new platform designed to help organizations find and engage compliance professionals, legal operations experts and industry vendors. The company announced the launch in Europe.

HIPTHER said HALLO brings together a professional directory, industry intelligence hub, community platform and visibility tools aimed at sectors including gaming, fintech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, AML and blockchain. The platform includes an Individual Professional Membership and an Enterprise Membership, with HIPTHER stating that all memberships include a 14-day free trial.

Alongside membership options, HIPTHER said compliance professionals can create free, publicly visible “Expert” profiles outlining experience and areas of specialization, with additional premium visibility opportunities available. The company positioned the platform as a way for organizations to discover and evaluate qualified compliance and legal operations expertise.

A core feature at launch is “HALLO Resources,” which HIPTHER described as an open-access compliance intelligence section that aggregates more than 17,000 regulatory and compliance-focused articles from the HIPTHER media network. HIPTHER said the section is updated daily, includes search by topic, jurisdiction and keyword, and covers areas such as gaming, fintech, AI, payments, AML, digital policy, cybersecurity and regulatory affairs.

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, said: “Navigating the modern regulatory landscape requires more than just standard legal advice; it demands highly specialized, agile compliance expertise. With the launch of HALLO, we are bridging the critical gap between organizations facing complex global standards and the elite professionals who can guide them through. By combining an active directory with a massive intelligence hub, we are setting a new standard for compliance collaboration and empowering businesses to move forward with absolute confidence.”

HIPTHER also linked HALLO to its conference and media activities, including advertising and thought leadership opportunities through the Wayseers Booklet, an annual handbook it said is distributed at HIPTHER conferences in Europe and reaches more than 1,500 professionals across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance and regulatory sectors.

The post HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

1xBet

HLTV Awards returns to Belgrade on January 9, 2027, adding Lifetime Achievement honor

Published

1 week ago

June 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

hltv-awards-returns-to-belgrade-on-january-9,-2027,-adding-lifetime-achievement-honor

HLTV will stage the HLTV Awards presented by 1xBet in Belgrade, Serbia on January 9, 2027, returning to the Sava Center. The company said more than 1,000 players, industry professionals, creators, and fans are expected to attend.

HLTV also confirmed Dust2 creator David Johnston will feature as an award announcer. HLTV linked the booking to the 25th anniversary of Dust2.

For 2026, HLTV is updating its Hall of Fame process and eligibility rules. Four players will be inducted again, with “at least two and up to three” slots reserved for players from the Counter-Strike 1.6 and early eras. HLTV also removed the former “neo rule,” allowing players to be inducted for their playing careers even if they remain active in other roles such as coaching.

HLTV is adding a Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be decided by the Hall of Fame Board. The ceremony will also move Community Awards onto the main stage show for the first time, rather than the pre-show segment.

Separately, HLTV will kick off the 2027 Awards season with an invite-only “HLTV Awards by 1xBet Launch Party x GRID” in Cologne during the Major. HLTV said industry members can apply for an invite to the ceremony via its awards page.

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