Gaming
Veloce Racing bow out of Island X Prix after pacey Sardinia outing
Veloce Racing’s hopes of a second Extreme E podium were extinguished at the Island X Prix in Sardinia following a dramatic barrel roll in the aptly named ‘Crazy Race’.
The London-based squad arrived in Italy with high hopes following the team’s efforts to the reach the final in Greenland, which ultimately fell short during Stéphane Sarrazin’s spirited excursion through the infamous ‘Rock Garden’.
Veloce got off to a strong start in Sardinia when Sarrazin and team-mate Emma Gilmour topped the timesheets in the initial practice runs and eventually finished third in the session.
Qualifying
Qualifying 1 in Sardinia was arguably the team’s most competitive outing of the inaugural Extreme E season. Calm and committed runs from both Gilmour and Sarrazin saw the duo finish an impressive third just 18 seconds adrift of pacesetters X44.
The team carried this momentum into the second qualifying session of the day and looked on course for another promising result as Sarrazin kept pace with X44 during the early stages of his run.
It was not to be, however, with the ODYSSEY 21’s front suspension failing during the course’s unforgiving second sector, forcing Sarrazin to grind to a halt and slip out of contention.
The disastrous Qualifying 2 run meant that Veloce Racing was eighth overall – just three points shy of second place, highlighting the volatility of the Island X Prix – and would take part in the Crazy Race on Sunday.
The Crazy Race
As the lights went out for the Crazy Race, Gilmour’s lightning-quick reactions weren’t enough to withstand the advances of Kevin Hansen in the JBXE car who capitalised taking the optimum route.
The New Zealander seized the initiative and switched lanes, trying an alternate line to gain the advantage into the first gate. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off and the Veloce Racing car slipped into third position.
Gilmour handed the reigns over to Sarrazin hot on the heels of Christine GZ. The Frenchman immediately began applying the pressure to the Italian, and it paid off as the second-place car pulled over with mechanical gremlins releasing Sarrazin to hunt down JBXE.
The attack was short-lived, however, as Sarrazin hit a dip and fired the back of the car up into the air, pitching the ODYSSEY 21 into a spectacular barrel roll. Mercifully, Sarrazin emerged from the wreckage unscathed, but the team’s aims of a second Extreme E podium were over.
As a result of the crash, the Veloce Racing ODYSSEY 21’s chassis was compromised and subsequently, the team are unable to take part in next week’s Extreme E damper test and rookie test.
Stéphane Sarrazin, Extreme E Driver, Veloce Racing said: “It was a crazy race. I did my best to catch the JBXE car, the team were keeping me updated on the time difference and I was catching.
We knew we had to win to get to the final so we had to push. I attacked one of the compressions straight instead of side on and unfortunately the car rolled. I’m disappointed for the whole team as we really had the pace to be at the front this weekend.
Emma Gilmour, Extreme E Driver, Veloce Racing said: “Absolutely gutted. Stéphane and I had such good pace this weekend and to end up in the Crazy Race was really disappointing to start with.
“Personally, I’m disappointed I didn’t get a better start, from then on we were struggling with the dust and I handed over to Stéphane in P3. He did a great job to get past Christine GZ but got caught out in the rough stuff so glad he’s OK but just really sad for the team as we had good pace this weekend and it started so positively.”
Daniel Bailey, CEO, Veloce Racing added: “Despite the setbacks we faced at the Island X Prix, I think there are a lot of positives that Veloce Racing can take away from Sardinia. Pace-wise, this was our most competitive outing so far.
“We were fast in practice setting the pace early on and ending up P3 and we followed that up with another P3 in Qualifying 1. We got unlucky in Qualifying 2 and in the Crazy Race but this is motorsport and these things happen. I think we’ll come away from this weekend as a stronger team and we’ll aim to finish on a high note in Dorset in December.”
Jean-Eric Vergne, Co-Founder, Veloce Racing commented: “The most important thing was to see that Stéphane [Sarrazin] is out of the car and seems OK. It’s a shame because Emma [Gilmour] did a great job to hand the car over within the 25-second range that we wanted. Stéphane knew he had to push very hard to get it done at the end of the race so it’s unfortunate.”
Now, the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating paddock – makes the trip to Dorset, England (18-19 December) where the inaugural Extreme E season will reach its dramatic conclusion.
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François LaFlamme
Motorola Becomes the Official Smartphone Partner of FIFA Heroes Game
Motorola, a Lenovo company, has become the official smartphone partner of the recently announced FIFA Heroes game, published by Solace. FIFA Heroes is an arcade-style, 5-a-side football title that, for the first time, features real players, mascots and fictional IP characters on the same pitch. This partnership brings together Motorola’s cutting-edge mobile technology and the game’s immersive gaming experience, creating a seamless experience for fans to enjoy the world’s most popular sport in a fun and interactive way.
As the official smartphone partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Motorola is committed to bringing the excitement of the tournament directly into consumers’ hands. FIFA Heroes delivers on that promise, offering fans innovative, mobile-first experiences that keep them connected to this unique moment in time.
With this partnership, Motorola’s presence will extend across multiple touchpoints. Motorola will appear directly within the FIFA Heroes game, and many upcoming Motorola smartphones will include instant access to the newest FIFA-licensed mobile game. Fans can also download the game from the Google Play Store, making it simple to play from anywhere.
All Motorola users will gain access to exclusive in-game content designed just for them, including power up tokens and gems, game emotes, a retro razr goal celebration, playable characters, and more. This content is part of a broader collaboration that will unfold through a series of global activations, leading up to and throughout the FIFA World Cup 26, giving fans around the globe new ways to connect with the action, on and off the pitch.
Beyond the content itself, the partnership introduces a gaming experience designed specifically for the brand new razr fold, redefining what a foldable form factor can bring to the gaming space. This exclusive experience optimizes the device’s large 8.1″ unfolded display so that players get an expanded view of the pitch that keeps the action fully in focus. Plus, the extra screen space makes it so that controls can sit comfortably below gameplay for an unobstructed display, and also gives players the flexibility to customise their layout for optimal ergonomics.
“This collaboration goes beyond gaming—it’s about delivering an experience that feels faster, smoother, and more connected for every fan. By working closely with Solace and FIFA, we’ve optimized FIFA Heroes for Motorola devices so players get the best possible performance right out of the box. It’s a powerful way to show how our technology enhances the way people play, connect, and experience entertainment, and we’re excited to share even more in the months ahead,” said François LaFlamme, Chief Marketing Officer at Motorola.
The post Motorola Becomes the Official Smartphone Partner of FIFA Heroes Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bet on Games
Bet on Games Premieres Ranch Robbery — Rugged, High-Octane Crash Experience
Bet on Games unveils Ranch Robbery, a fresh crash game that infuses the wild spirit of the Wild West into the rapidly expanding instant category. The launch enhances the brand’s crash lineup with an audacious thematic approach and performance-oriented features.
As a key segment within the BETCORE ecosystem, Bet on Games keeps growing its instant and crash portfolio, now surpassing 200+ titles ready for integration. With Ranch Robbery, the brand expands its crash offerings, merging established gameplay mechanics with a unique Western theme aimed at distinguishing itself in competitive environments and captivating action-oriented players.
About the Game
Ranch Robbery takes place in a uniquely designed frontier setting where tension escalates in real time. A cowboy dashes across the ranch as the multiplier rises dynamically. The more extended the run lasts, the greater the possible payout; however, if the escape concludes before cashing out, the wager is forfeited.
Every round lasts merely seconds, resulting in a quick decision-making cycle and continuous adrenaline.
The post Bet on Games Premieres Ranch Robbery — Rugged, High-Octane Crash Experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade Gaming
Pragmatic Play Redefines Arcade Gaming with Spire+
Pragmatic Play, a top content provider for the iGaming sector, boosts its presence in the arcade niche with the introduction of Spire+, where effectively climbing the prize ladder can lead to winnings surpassing 250,000x.
Against a night sky setting, players choose boxes to ascend the spire and reveal larger rewards. Participants can withdraw their winnings at any time or attempt to complete all nine levels for the highest payout, but if a flaming skull appears, the round concludes instantly with a loss.
Participants have the option to manage the climb by manually selecting boxes or opting for the ‘Random’ choice to let fate decide the next move. An extra strategy is implemented through five difficulty tiers, from Easy to Master, influencing the quantity of boxes and flaming skulls in each level. Choosing a more challenging difficulty enhances the reward possibilities but also heightens the chance of losing the round.
Spire+ enhances Pragmatic Play’s growing arcade collection after the introduction of Mines+ and the inaugural game Plinko+, which has just been upgraded to feature multiple balls, enabling players to release up to 10 balls on a single wager.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Arcade games continue to grow in popularity, underpinned by fast-paced, intuitive, and customisable gameplay. Spire+ aligns with this trend, handing control to players with numerous configurable settings, alongside significant win potential.”
The post Pragmatic Play Redefines Arcade Gaming with Spire+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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