Gaming
Miniclip Appoints Saad Choudri to CEO
Saad Choudri who has been with Miniclip since 2011 has taken over the role of CEO from Jurgen Post
Miniclip, a world leader of market-defining mobile game titles, has announced that Chief Strategy Officer, Saad Choudri, who has been with the business since 2011, has been appointed CEO. The move has been welcomed by senior leadership within Miniclip and its majority investors, Tencent.
Saad brings with him over a decade of experience from within Miniclip, and a background working in Sega before starting at Miniclip in 2011. He has worked in numerous roles including VP of Business Affairs, Chief Commercial Officer, and most recently Chief Strategy Officer. He has officially assumed the role in November.
Saad has overseen strategy within Miniclip, where he spearheaded ambitious M&A plans. This included welcoming highly successful new studios to the Miniclip Group, such as Ilyon (Bubble Shooter), Gamebasics (creators of OSM Online Soccer Manager), Green Horse Games (home of Football Rivals) and most recently Puzzling.com.
Rob Small, President, Miniclip, said “Saad has made an enormous contribution to Miniclip’s success over the last decade and I am looking forward to supporting him as Miniclip’s next CEO.”
Saad Choudri, CEO, commented: “Miniclip has a long history of leading in the industry, first to browser, before innovating in mobile. Its strong vision and focus on building quality games that reach billions of people to unleash the gamer in everyone, has always helped define the business and allowed us to find ways to innovate in a crowded and unpredictable marketplace.
“In my new role as CEO, I aim to continue the great work of the leadership team, doubling down on the Miniclip vision which has seen us triple our revenue over the last three years. I will continue to be heavily involved in the strategic direction of the company, supporting M&A to bring in further studios to our family and launch more games next year than ever before, as well as ensuring our culture remains strong and supportive.”
Jurgen Post stepped down as CEO earlier this year for family reasons. Rob Small, the President, had temporarily stepped back into the role of CEO in the company that he founded 20 years ago to ensure that strong leadership remained during this transition.
Regarding Jurgen’s decision to step down to take more time with his family at a difficult time, Rob Small also commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal gratitude to Jurgen for all that he has contributed to Miniclip during his tenure. We have deep compassion for his situation and wholeheartedly support Jurgen’s decision to focus on his family for the foreseeable future.”
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G2 Esports
G2 Esports Announces Global English Launch of Webcomic “Red Aura” on WEBTOON
G2, one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands, announced the upcoming English-language launch of its original fantasy-action series, Red Aura, on WEBTOON, a leading digital comics platform. Launching on Saturday, 6th June under the platform’s WEBTOON Originals label, the series marks the next step in G2’s expansion into digital-first entertainment. Inspired by the defining moments and competitive spirit behind G2’s rise, Red Aura reimagines the organisation’s legacy through bold shonen-inspired storytelling.
After debuting in Japan on LINE MANGA in October 2025, where it reached #9 in New Series on the opening weekend, Red Aura now launches on WEBTOON’s English-language platform as an Originals series. With 20 episodes available immediately, including 15 free episodes and 5 Fast Pass chapters, Red Aura offers readers expanded access to the series from day one, ahead of weekly releases across a planned 42-episode first season.
At the centre of the series is Asa, a young girl who dreams of becoming the greatest Nomad who ever lived. Driven by the same pursuit of greatness at the heart of G2, Red Aura unfolds in a fantasy-action world shaped by rivalry, perseverance and competition, where Asa must learn to master her abilities while facing dangerous enemies and the brutal consequences of ambition.
Red Aura was brought to life through collaboration with KISAI Entertainment, the studio behind the webcomic adaptations of AVATAR: The Last Airbender and The Beginning After the End, alongside Japanese Art Director Runbel, who works on the previously #1 action fantasy series in Japan and Korea – Skill Master Levels Up. Designed specifically for WEBTOON’s vertical-scroll format, the series also experiments with platform-native creative techniques, including a chapter that visually integrates music into the reading experience.
To celebrate the launch, G2 creator and VALORANT streamer Shanks will host a live reading of Red Aura, with further details to be announced soon.
“Red Aura was created as a way to reimagine the ambition and competitive spirit that have defined G2 over the last decade. Following the response to the Japanese launch, we’re excited to now bring the series to a global audience through WEBTOON. Expanding into original entertainment has been a major focus for G2, and Red Aura is only the beginning of what we want to build,” said Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2.
“The world of Red Aura is fresh and original, which made it really enjoyable to work on. It was a lot of fun working with producer Daniel using camera work to create cool action panels that have never been seen before, and I was always inspired by his passion to try new things. I am very honored to have been a part of it. I hope you enjoy it.”
Since its inception over a decade ago, G2 has expanded beyond esports through ventures across entertainment, culture, and original content. From collaborations with Smiley and Solo Leveling, to the launch of G2’s 62 media house and expansion into Gerard Piqué’s Kings League, Red Aura represents G2’s continued investment in anime-inspired entertainment and original storytelling designed for digital-first audiences.
The post G2 Esports Announces Global English Launch of Webcomic “Red Aura” on WEBTOON appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
NODWIN and Nodding Heads launch India Games Showcase with Summer Game Fest
NODWIN Gaming and Nodding Heads Games are launching the inaugural India Games Showcase (IGS), a digital event set to premiere on June 8 as an official partner showcase of Summer Game Fest. The broadcast will feature 40 curated Indian indie games across trailers, reveals, gameplay segments and announcements.
The India Games Showcase will be accompanied by a dedicated Steam event aimed at helping players discover, follow and wishlist participating titles. The event is scheduled for 10 AM PT / 10:30 PM IST and will stream on YouTube and Twitch.
NODWIN Gaming Co-founder and Managing Director Akshat Rathee said: “There is a raw, untapped creative energy in the Indian indie ecosystem right now that is completely unique. We are seeing developers blend world-class mechanics with incredibly rich, localized storytelling that the global gaming community hasn’t experienced before. We want to make sure that a brilliant game built in India doesn’t just stay a local secret, but gets the global eyeballs, distribution, and recognition it rightfully deserves.”
Nodding Heads Games Co-founder and Game Director Avichal Singh added: “The debut of India Games Showcase proves that Indian indies are making strides as they arrive and make a presence internationally. The rise of quality and genre variety titles in recent years is very promising. Our partnership with the world’s biggest showcase, Summer Game Fest, is another mark of approval for the country. We’re excited for the times ahead.”
Ahead of the broadcast, the organisers named the first set of participating games, including Raahi (Kalp), Dodo Duckie (BornMonkie), Loop : Beginning Of Never Ending Journey (Pravin Nikam), Rakshasa (Odd Compass Studio), and Silkgrove (Gallic Entertainment). The showcase is spearheaded by Nodding Heads Games, the studio behind Raji: An Ancient Epic.
The post NODWIN and Nodding Heads launch India Games Showcase with Summer Game Fest appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
XSOLLA STRENGTHENS COMMITMENT TO ATLANTIC CANADA’S GROWING GAME INDUSTRY WITH EXPANDED EVENT PRESENCE
Global Video Game Commerce Company To Support Industry Growth Through Panels, Workshops, And Community Engagement Across Atlantic Canada
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, today announced its participation in two major gaming industry events taking place across Atlantic Canada from June 3-5, 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting regional game development ecosystems and fostering industry collaboration.
Xsolla will participate in both Game Invest East and XP Game Connect Atlantic, joining developers, publishers, investors, and industry leaders for discussions centered on the future of game development, investment, and innovation in the local area.
At Game Invest East, held in partnership with Scaffold, Xsolla will contribute to conversations around funding, growth opportunities, and the evolving business landscape for game studios.
Featured on the panel titled “If You Can Make It Here,” Xsolla’s Manny Hachey, Senior Director of Developer Success, joins Kate Edwards, CEO and Principal Consultant of Geogrify, and Amir Satvat, Business Development Director at Tencent Games, founder of Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), and a 2026 GamesBeat Visionary Award honoree, to explore how new regions and new entrants can survive and thrive in disruptive times.
Hachey, a native of Atlantic Canada, was personally requested by Scaffold to represent Xsolla at the event — a homecoming that adds a personal dimension to the panel’s central thesis. Having built her career and made her mark in Germany’s games industry, she returns with a firsthand perspective on what it takes to leave, build something meaningful abroad, and come back with proof of concept.
Xsolla will continue its Atlantic Canada engagement at XP Game Connect Atlantic in Halifax on June 5. John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada at Xsolla, and Ted DiNola, Developer Evangelist at Xsolla, will host a workshop titled ‘Full Picture to Fast Lane: Xsolla Ecosystem Overview & Live SDK 3 Integration’, providing practical insights and actionable strategies for developers navigating today’s rapidly evolving gaming market.
Nguyen will also host a panel titled, ‘What Does the Future of Game Development Look Like in Atlantic Canada?’ where he will be joined by industry experts, including Ryan Filsinger from Iron Fox; Shawn Woods, CEO at Alpha Dog and VP of Interactive Society of Nova Scotia; George Greer, Founder of Besszong; and Jade Yhap, President of Interactive NB. The panel will explore the region’s growing role in the global games industry and the opportunities ahead for studios, talent, and ecosystem partners.
“Atlantic Canada continues to emerge as an exciting hub for game development talent and innovation,” said John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada, at Xsolla. “Xsolla is proud to support these events and contribute to conversations that help empower developers, build ecosystems, strengthen industry connections, and accelerate growth across the region.”
“Events like Game Invest East and XP Game Connect Atlantic are critical for building stronger connections across the games industry,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “Atlantic Canada has a growing community of talented developers, creators, and industry leaders, and we’re excited to be part of conversations that help to shape the future of gaming in the region while supporting studios at every stage of growth.”
Through its participation in these events, Xsolla aims to deepen relationships within the Atlantic Canadian game development community while supporting knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and long-term ecosystem growth.
For more information about Xsolla’s participation in these events across Atlantic Canada, visit: xsolla.pro/Atlantic-Canada
The post XSOLLA STRENGTHENS COMMITMENT TO ATLANTIC CANADA’S GROWING GAME INDUSTRY WITH EXPANDED EVENT PRESENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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