Gaming

Arctic Game Week, the game event of northern Sweden returns in May

Published

4 years ago

February 11, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

After two years of cancelled events due to the pandemic, we can now proudly present the best Arctic Game Week ever! As the midnight sun shines over northern Sweden, we once again open the doors to a week filled with business conferences, networking, entertainment and the public event Nordsken where games, culture and creativity meet. The event will be arranged in Skellefteå, Sweden, in the new cultural center Sara Kulturhus and in Skellefteå Kraft Arena.

The focus of Arctic Game Week is to create a strong platform with global appeal and to strengthen the Nordic entertainment industry. A unique conference with new business opportunities based on Intellectual Properties.

The week starts with Arctic Game Conference, northern Sweden’s annual meeting place for game developers, publishers, investors and game students and Fantastic Conference, a new meeting place that focuses on filmmakers, writers, illustrators, creators and streaming services.

The Arctic Game Conference and Fantastic Conference will bring together two different target groups. The purpose is to create new business when different industries that work with the same type of Intellectual Properties meet.

“By facilitating that meeting and involving top industry names, we create a platform for the future”, says Johan Linder, project manager for Arctic Game Week.

The conferences, which are expected to attract about 1,000 participants, will together have 40 top lecturers from around the world, including Peter Zetterberg (Senior Director at Microsoft and founder of the company Wanderword), Agnes Larsson (Game Director at Mojang), Fredrik Malmberg (one of the founders to Swedish gaming industry and president of Heroic Signatures), Lloyd Levin (famous American film producer who has made Predator, Lara Croft, Event Horizon, Hellboy, Watchmen etc.), Tam 17, Vladislav Tsypljak from the Asian publisher Neon Doctrine, Elias and Agnes Våhlund (the creators of the book success Handbook for Superheroes) and Johan Egerkrans (one of today’s most famous Swedish illustrators). Host for the conference will be Orvar Säfström, well known film critic, musician and front figure for IPs and games.

On Friday, the program on the Creative Stage is especially aimed at librarians and teachers. Creators at the event then participate in panel discussions and lectures. Of course, other interested visitors can also attend these program items.

10-year anniversary for Nordsken

The game culture festival Nordsken celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It will be a fantastic festival for everyone who likes popular culture, entertainment and games in all forms. The main attraction during the event will be the Swedish championship in Cosplay, which is a fantastic show to witness. During one of the evenings, a concert by Sabina Zweiacker will also be performed at the newly built culture house Sara, with music from The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Witcher and others.

“Covid has meant that there is a huge need to physically meet. Everyone we talk to now is extremely eager to visit Nordsken and to all our plans for the event, so we really believe that this will be something not to be missed”, says Pia Enroth, project manager for Nordsken.

Arctic Game Week is organized by Arctic Game (a game cluster that strengthens the gaming industry in northern Sweden) and Nordsken (non-profit organization) in collaboration with Bonnier, Rabén & Sjögren, B. Wahlströms, Wanderword, Global Top Round, Goodbye Kansas, Film i Västerbotten, Turborilla and Heroic Signatures.

Asia

S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule

Published

1 day ago

May 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-streamer-payal-dhare-and-ownd!-launch-gamer-curated-fashion-capsule

S8UL gaming creator and streamer Payal Dhare has partnered with OWND!, the Gen Z-focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, to launch a gaming-inspired fashion capsule called ‘Gamer Drop’. The companies describe it as India’s first female gamer-curated capsule. The collection will be available on OWND!’s website and in the brand’s stores across India.

According to the press release, ‘Gamer Drop’ includes menswear and womenswear pieces built around gaming culture and streetwear, positioned as a creator-led collection rather than conventional creator merchandise. The campaign leans on the growing overlap between gaming culture, creator communities, and youth fashion.

Marco Agnolin, Chief Executive Officer, OWND!. said, “We see gaming today as a powerful cultural force that is shaping how young consumers express themselves, communicate, and engage with fashion. As one of India’s biggest gamers, Payal Dhare represents this new generation perfectly through her authenticity, confidence, and deep connection with the gaming community. Her influence extends far beyond gaming content, making her an ideal face for our gaming collection. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate individuality and connect with India’s digitally native youth in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and culture-driven.”

Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming said, “Gaming today has become a culture and a form of self-expression for millions of young people across the country. That’s what makes this collaboration with OWND! so exciting for me. With this curation, I wanted to create something that genuinely reflects my vibe and the energy of my community. It’s stylish, comfortable, expressive – and made for people who want to own who they are.”

The release also points to India’s expanding creator economy. Citing a Boston Consulting Group report, it says India has nearly 2 to 2.5 million creators, with more than 60% of consumers exposed to creator-led content and over 30% of shoppers influenced by creators in purchase decisions.

The post S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Berkley Egenes

Xsolla Brings Creator Strategy and Game Commerce Expertise to Toronto’s Leading Industry Events

Published

5 days ago

May 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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

Published

2 weeks ago

May 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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.