Gaming
Hamburg Games Conference 2022 sets course for new markets – and confirms first speakers
The hybrid conference’s program under the overarching topic “Moving Markets” on March 2 and 3, 2022 will revolve around the challenges and opportunities of the international games industry. Participants can join either on-site in Hamburg or from anywhere in the world via a custom developed, playable online conference platform. The first international experts who will contribute to the program with keynotes, talks and discussion panels have been announced. A new trailer video (https://youtu.be/e9mSPhEbqgE) gives first impressions of the extended hybrid concept of the conference.
With Joost van Dreunen (New York University), Alex Nichiporchik (tinyBuild Games), Kerstin Schütt (Twisted Ramble), Jakub Stokalski (11 bit studios), Jared Gerritzen (IllFonic) and Jana Grünewald (Kreativ Transfer), the first experts from academia, games industry and public funding institutions are confirmed for the conference program. More will be announced shortly.
An additional conference track is dedicated to the topic of “Games Funding” with news and best practices regarding Germany’s federal government games funding and regional funding offers of the federal states, such as the Games Lift Incubator and prototype funding in Hamburg.
The latest trailer for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022 showcases a new central element of the hybrid event’s concept: The virtual cruise ship, which serves as an interactive conference platform playable in the browser, will call port at various international games hotspots. In line with the conference theme “Moving Markets”, users can explore different international markets and get to know the conference’s partner companies and speakers from these markets.
There will also be extensive networking and matchmaking opportunities for conference participants, both online via the conference platform and on-site at Hamburg’s Zeise cinemas.
The first speakers for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022:
Joost van Dreunen is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Stern School of Business in New York and is one of the most internationally recognized games industry researchers. In addition to teaching at New York University, he serves as advisory board member for several games companies and start-ups and covers background topics from the games, tech and entertainment industries in his weekly newsletter SuperJoost Playlist. In his conference talk, he will assess the current state of the blockchain gaming market – whose top companies are currently collectively valued at over $12 billion. He will highlight recent successes and failures, drivers and trends, as well as how industry players look at the developments and make an outlook into the future of this market.
Alex Nichiporchik is CEO of the US-based publisher and developer “tinyBuild Games”. In his conference presentation, he will recap the development of the “Hello Neighbor” franchise: A journey from a small 7-person studio with a failing crowdfunding campaign to a successful multimedia franchise that now has a team of over 100 people across multiple studios working on the series, including five games, merchandise, books and an animated series.
Kerstin Schütt is co-founder and CEO of the Berlin-based startup game studio “Twisted Ramble”, which puts socially marginalized and stigmatized topics at the center of its games – balancing serious subject matter and playful entertainment. In her presentation for the Hamburg Games Conference, Kerstin Schütt will share her experiences on how challenging it is to master this balance and how their game “Duru“, which addresses depression in a playful manner, finds its place in the market.
Jakub Stokalski is game co-director for 11 bit studios game “Frostpunk 2“. His aim is to create meaningful experiences in a language native to the medium of games. For the Hamburg Games Conference 2022, he will examine how the medium of video games has matured: games enable forms of storytelling that are not possible through movies or books. Games are an integral part of (pop-)culture and, with their inherent interactivity, can pull players into a dialogue and convey a thoughtful message in their own unique way. In his talk, Jakub Stokalski will shed light on what this mature storytelling can do.
Jared Gerritzen, Head of Creative & Design at the Colorado-based development studio “IllFonic”, will address the question of how a studio can make the transition from working on well-known IPs to creating and marketing its own IP from scratch – from idea development, to design, to the finished product.
Jana Grünewald is project coordinator of the funding program “Kreativ Transfer” at the “Dachverband Tanz Deutschland”, through which games companies can receive funding for participation in international trade fairs and conferences as well as for international networking. In her presentation for the funding track of the Hamburg Games Conference 2022, she will present the “Kreativ Transfer” program in detail.
More speakers for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022 will be announced shortly. In addition to international experts from the games industry, companies who received support through various state and federal funding programs will give first-hand-insights into their experiences and share best practices in the funding track of the conference.
Early bird tickets extended until December 17
Business tickets for the Hamburg Games Conference are still available at the Early Bird price of 119 euros until December 17, 2021. After that, tickets will go on sale at the regular price. Ticket store: https://bit.ly/HGC22
Business Ticket holders can participate in the online and on-site program of the conference and benefit from additional opportunities to organize appointments with other participants via a digital matchmaking system, access to an exclusive business area, and guestlist spots for the networking event “Gamecity Treff” by Gamecity Hamburg.
The Basic ticket, priced at 25 euros, includes access to the conference program online and on-site.
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Berkley Egenes
Xsolla Brings Creator Strategy and Game Commerce Expertise to Toronto’s Leading Industry Events
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, is participating in two leading co-located industry events, XP Game Summit Toronto and Xsolla Connect Toronto, on May 21-22, in Toronto. Xsolla will engage with partners, creators, and industry leaders across both events, focusing on the evolving gaming ecosystem.
At XP Game Summit Toronto, Xsolla will showcase its Web Shop solution, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that helps developers build and scale their own storefronts outside traditional app stores. The Web Shop ecosystem integrates storefronts, LiveOps tools, and player engagement features, enabling studios to strengthen player relationships while increasing revenue and operational control.
Xsolla will also highlight its global payments infrastructure, which supports more than 1000+ payment methods across 200+ geographies. Designed to optimize conversion and deliver localized checkout experiences, Xsolla Payments enables developers to reach players worldwide while adapting to regional preferences and regulatory environments.
Additionally, Xsolla will showcase how they are connecting developers with premium entertainment-based intellectual property (IP). By simplifying licensing and partnership opportunities, Xsolla Agency helps studios enhance player acquisition, drive engagement through LiveOps, and unlock new monetization pathways.
In addition to showcasing its product offerings and solutions, Xsolla will also present a featured panel session titled “Building the Creator Pipeline: How Smart Partnerships Are Scaling Influencer Marketing”. The panel will include John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada, at Xsolla; Scott Christian, Studio Director & Founder of Hilltop Games; Gem Johnson, CEO at Corvian Marketing; and Corina (Newby) Diaz, Marketing and Social Media Director at Mighty Yell. They will share practical insights on building sustainable creator ecosystems, leveraging strategic partnerships, and driving measurable impact through influencer marketing initiatives.
In addition to the company’s participation in XP Game Summit Toronto, Xsolla will host Xsolla Connect Toronto, further expanding opportunities for meaningful engagement between developers and publishers through curated programming and networking experiences. Xsolla Connects are designed to give local communities the opportunity to engage, collaborate, and integrate with Xsolla’s industry leaders in an open and transparent environment and through conversations.
“Toronto continues to emerge as a key hub for gaming innovation and collaboration in North America. We’re excited to participate in XP Game Summit and host the Xsolla Connect to connect with the community while sharing insights on how creators and partnerships are helping to build the future of game growth,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla.
“Toronto has built itself into a major Canadian video game hub. We are glad to contribute to the continued growth of the local industry as well as Ontario’s Game Industry as a whole. What makes it special is the combination of deep technical talent, global creative diversity, and a production ecosystem that truly scales. That’s why gatherings like XP Game Summit and Xsolla Connect matter so much: they bring that energy together, and we’re excited to be part of it and help showcase what this community can do,” said John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada at Xsolla.
The post Xsolla Brings Creator Strategy and Game Commerce Expertise to Toronto’s Leading Industry Events appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
casino
Stake Upgrades Flagship Crash Game With Sharper Visuals and Smoother Gameplay
A worldwide refresh of one of the most-played titles in the Stake Originals collection introduces a new graph crack animation, dynamic multiplier gradients, a live player count and faster, more reliable performance across devices.
Stake, the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, has today announced a major worldwide update to its flagship Crash casino game, marking the next significant milestone in the evolution of the Stake Originals portfolio. The update delivers a refreshed visual experience and a series of performance upgrades for players.
Crash has built a global following thanks to a simple but high-intensity format – players track a rising multiplier and decide when to cash out before it suddenly drops. As one of the most recognisable titles in the Stake Originals portfolio, it sits at the heart of the platform’s in-house gaming identity, and this latest release sharpens both the look and the feel of every round.
The update introduces a refreshed look with a new graph crack animation that gives every round a more defined visual moment as the multiplier ends. The multiplier curve has been upgraded with dynamic colour gradients that evolve in real time – shifting from blue in the early stages, through green and purple, and into yellow as higher values are reached. A new player count display also shows how many participants are still active in each round, adding a stronger sense of shared, real-time gameplay.
Cashout responsiveness has been improved for faster, more consistent interactions during key multiplier moments allowing for a smoother performance. The update also enables uninterrupted gameplay during deployments, meaning Crash continues running smoothly while improvements are being rolled out in the background. Game payload optimisation and enhanced gameplay processing systems further reduce loading times and improve stability, particularly during high-activity periods, for a more reliable experience across all devices.
“Crash is one of those games that defines what a Stake Original feels like – quick, social, and full of tension in the best way. This update is about giving players a sharper, more responsive version of a game they already love, without ever losing what made it so appealing in the first place.” – Stake’s Chief Marketing Officer, Akhil Sarin.
Crash is one of Stake Casino‘s most-played games, and the goal of this update is simple: keep what players love about it, and make everything around it feel sharper.
About Stake
Stake is the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, attracting over 100 million monthly visits across its global domains – more than any other iGaming platform on earth. Founded in 2017, Stake attracts over 80 million monthly visits and processes more than 100 billion bets per year. Stake is renowned for its innovation in crypto wagering and its growing expansion into regulated local-currency gaming markets, including Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The brand boasts an extensive global sponsorship portfolio including Drake, X Games, Everton Football Club, and the UFC.
Contact
Stake
The post Stake Upgrades Flagship Crash Game With Sharper Visuals and Smoother Gameplay appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
casino
Stake Upgrades Flagship Crash Game With Sharper Visuals and Smoother Gameplay
A worldwide refresh of one of the most-played titles in the Stake Originals collection introduces a new graph crack animation, dynamic multiplier gradients, a live player count and faster, more reliable performance across devices.
Stake, the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, has today announced a major worldwide update to its flagship Crash casino game, marking the next significant milestone in the evolution of the Stake Originals portfolio. The update delivers a refreshed visual experience and a series of performance upgrades for players.
Crash has built a global following thanks to a simple but high-intensity format – players track a rising multiplier and decide when to cash out before it suddenly drops. As one of the most recognisable titles in the Stake Originals portfolio, it sits at the heart of the platform’s in-house gaming identity, and this latest release sharpens both the look and the feel of every round.
The update introduces a refreshed look with a new graph crack animation that gives every round a more defined visual moment as the multiplier ends. The multiplier curve has been upgraded with dynamic colour gradients that evolve in real time – shifting from blue in the early stages, through green and purple, and into yellow as higher values are reached. A new player count display also shows how many participants are still active in each round, adding a stronger sense of shared, real-time gameplay.
Cashout responsiveness has been improved for faster, more consistent interactions during key multiplier moments allowing for a smoother performance. The update also enables uninterrupted gameplay during deployments, meaning Crash continues running smoothly while improvements are being rolled out in the background. Game payload optimisation and enhanced gameplay processing systems further reduce loading times and improve stability, particularly during high-activity periods, for a more reliable experience across all devices.
“Crash is one of those games that defines what a Stake Original feels like – quick, social, and full of tension in the best way. This update is about giving players a sharper, more responsive version of a game they already love, without ever losing what made it so appealing in the first place.” – Stake’s Chief Marketing Officer, Akhil Sarin.
Crash is one of Stake Casino‘s most-played games, and the goal of this update is simple: keep what players love about it, and make everything around it feel sharper.
About Stake
Stake is the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, attracting over 100 million monthly visits across its global domains – more than any other iGaming platform on earth. Founded in 2017, Stake attracts over 80 million monthly visits and processes more than 100 billion bets per year. Stake is renowned for its innovation in crypto wagering and its growing expansion into regulated local-currency gaming markets, including Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The brand boasts an extensive global sponsorship portfolio including Drake, X Games, Everton Football Club, and the UFC.
Contact
Stake
The post Stake Upgrades Flagship Crash Game With Sharper Visuals and Smoother Gameplay appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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