eSports

Galaxy Racer content creator and YouTube sensation AboFlah smashes two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ titles while raising over US$11M for charity

Published

4 years ago

January 19, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Galaxy Racer (GXR), the biggest esports, gaming and lifestyle organisation, headquartered in Dubai, is pleased to announce that its content creator, AboFlah, has successfully raised over US$11M in a charity stream for The World’s Coolest Winter campaign. Whilst completing the stream, AboFlah also officially broke two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ titles for the “Longest live-stream (video)”, recording live for 268 hours 14 mins 20 seconds and “Most viewers for a charity donation live stream on YouTube”, attracting 698,000 peak concurrent views.

The World’s Coolest Winter campaign, celebrates the UAE’s most beautiful tourism destinations, extended it’s humanitarian support to more than 100,000 refugees and people in need through a new humanitarian initiative called Warm Winter. The campaign aims to support hundreds of thousands of refugees and families in need in Africa and the Arab world by providing food, winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and critical aid to help displaced men, women and children prepare for harsh winter conditions. The campaign is being held in partnership with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and Galaxy Racer. The essential aid will be distributed with the support of the UN refugee agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Food Banking Regional Network.

As part of the campaign, AboFlah lived in a glass room in Downtown Dubai, near the Burj Khalifa and streamed continuously for 268 hours until the target of US$10 million was raised. While in the room, AboFlah encouraged people to donate and spent the majority of his time in front of his computer interacting with fans and those donating to the cause. The stream also attracted global attention and donations from celebrities and influencers including the likes of actress Kristin Davies, actor Amr Maskoun as well as content creators Noor Stars and Omar Farooq.

Launching his YouTube channel in 2017, AboFlah began posting gaming content of him playing FIFA17 before creating content on Fall Guys and Fortnite. His YouTube channel is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels in the world, with over 23 million subscribers and over 3 billion views. He is followed by millions of fans who avidly watch his vlogs, comedy shorts and formatted shows covering video games and popular culture. AboFlah went on to join Galaxy Racer’s content creator team in 2020, which already boasts some of the biggest content creators in the MENA and Southeast Asia region including fellow YouTube sensation Noor Stars. The organisation now carries over 100 content creators, with a total reach of over 500 million followers across all platforms and more than 2.5 billion monthly views.

Galaxy Racer launched in 2019 and has already become one of the biggest esports, gaming, and lifestyle organisations globally. The organisation has five separate business offerings; Content Creators, Esports Teams, Tournament Management, Merchandising and Lifestyle and GXR Records, a newly established record label that already carries two signed artists from the MENA region and are looking to expand globally.

Galaxy Racer content creator and YouTube sensation, Hassan Suleiman “AboFlah” said: “Warmth in winter for those facing harsh winter conditions is no less important than food and water. There are millions of refugees and displaced people who need all the support they can get. I am proud and thrilled we achieved our goal and raised over US$11 million and brought warmth to the lives of those who are deprived of it. Thank you to everyone who generously donated!

We have proven that Arab youth are capable of changing reality, even with small deeds, and reaching a bright future. “People for People.” This sentence is not a metaphorical slogan, but it was manifested by the huge numbers of donors who felt compassion toward the suffering of refugees and displaced people. This reflects the huge impact this campaign had, which drove viewers’ enthusiasm for participation.

The societal role depends on everyone’s participation, believing in the importance of upholding our human values, and the solidarity in supporting the ones in need. Everyone of us has a role to play in creating the desired positive impact. UAE is the homeland of virtues, and the humanitarian moral actions in this blessed country transcend borders and can’t be stopped by obstacles, such deeds present the community with moral values that our Arab region is in dire need for.”

Galaxy Racer Founder and CEO, Paul Roy said: “We are amazed and grateful by the immense generosity shown by the fans, community and the general public. Raising over US$11 million is no easy task and we’re glad to be part of this humanitarian initiative which will positively impact the affected 100,000 refugees. Smashing two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ titles is impressive and a testament to the resilience shown by AboFlah, the Galaxy Racer team, together with our partners MBRGI, UNHCR and the Food Banking Regional Network. We thank you everyone for participating in this record-breaking charity initiative and we look forward to more positive impact initiatives.”

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

17 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BlueBottle

BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production

Published

18 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bluebottle-launches-“league-broadcast”-saas-for-streamlined-esports-production

BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.

Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.

Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers

League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.

At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:

Tier	Status	Key Features	Target Audience
Free	Available	Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats.	Grassroots creators & amateur streamers.
Basic	Available	Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools.	Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers.
Pro	Coming Soon	Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools.	Professional leagues & high-scale live operations.

Supported by Creative Europe Media

The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:

Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.

“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”

Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem

By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.

The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.