Gaming
Everything you need to know as The International stars clash at the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022, starting March 2nd
The broadcast begins on Wednesday at 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Dubai Time, with the first group matches between Fnatic and Team Spirit, as well as TSM FTX versus Tundra Esports.
Hosted by Galaxy Racer, the largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organization in the world, the tournament stands as the MENA region’s biggest ever Dota 2 competition.
Here is all you need to know about GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022:
Ten of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will be battling it out in an epic LAN Invitational Event in Dubai. The GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will play host to TI10 winners Team Spirit and back-to-back TI champions OG, as well as ESL One Fall 2021 winners Tundra Esports and powerhouse teams TSM and Fnatic.
Taking place from March 2nd, the best Dota 2 teams from around the world will descend on Dubai Studio City to compete for an AED 1,000,000 prize pool over four intense days. This is the first high-tier Dota 2 tournament to be held in the region this year, and the biggest of its kind in the MENA region, as Dubai continues to grow and thrive as a destination for prestigious esports events.
The competition will kick-off with spectacular opening match-ups in the ground round, including between Fnatic and Team Spirit, OG versus Team Secret and home team Nigma Galaxy taking on Tundra Esports. All five days will be broadcast directly from Dubai Studio City, and live on YouTube and Twitch.
Making the competition even more of a spectacle, Dota 2 star Sheever will be leading a lineup of talented broadcast pros bringing the GAMERS GALAXY experience to life throughout the Invitational Series, including two-time TI Champion N0Tail.
Where to watch:
The LAN competition will be played behind closed doors to ensure a safe environment for competitors, but broadcast live from Studio City Dubai on YouTube and Twitch. Galaxy Racer has also arranged a variety of ‘pubstomp’ viewing parties across Dubai’s best gaming venues. Pubstomps at popular Gaming Cafes including Que Club, Rails Billiards, Geek Station Abu Dhabi, DZZRT ESPORTS, Last Resort Gaming Cafe as well Dubai Media City Courtyard.
Format
With ten teams in total, the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will see two groups of five teams compete in a group stage best of one round-robin. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the upper-bracket playoffs’ semifinals. Third and fourth placings of each group will proceed to a best of three play-in and the winners will proceed to the lower-bracket of the playoffs.
Only a total of six teams will advance to the playoffs best of three double-elimination brackets. The grand finals will see the top two teams battle out in a best of five series. The format allows teams to have multiple opportunities to secure a spot in the final, while fans at home will have the chances to witness potential upsets and miracle bracket runs.
Gameplay Patch 7.31 – one of the most long-awaited updates to the game – has now gone live bringing sweeping changes to the game, making the Invitational Series the first major tournament played with the new gameplay patch. One of the biggest patches in recent memory, the update will offer an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament as players and teams tackle the new meta.
Schedule
- Wednesday March 2nd – Group Stage: Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
- Thursday March 3nd – Group Stage, Tiebreakers and Play-In – Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
- Friday March 4th – Playoffs: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
- Saturday March 5th – Semi-Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
- Sunday March 6th – Grand Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
Teams
- Nigma Galaxy
- Fnatic
- Team Spirit
- Virtus.pro
- Team Secret
- Nigma Galaxy SEA
- OG
- Tundra Esports
- TSM FTX
- BOOM Esports
English Language Broadcast
Stage Host & Interviewer:
- Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
Co-Host & Caster:
- Austin “Cap” Walsh
Analysts & Casters:
- Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
- Ioannis “Fogged” Loucas
- Dominik “Lacoste” Stipić
- Kyle “melonzz” Freedman
Analysts:
- Roman “Resolut1on” Fomynok
- Mira “Ephey” Riad
- Andrew “Jenkins” Jenkins
Observers:
- Jonathan “PimpmuckL” Liebig
- Rikard “skrff“Holm Melin
Offsite Casters:
- Gabriel “Lyrical” Cruz
- Trent “TrentPax” MacKenzie
Russian Language Broadcast
Stage Hosts & Interviewers:
- Alexey “yXo” Maletskiy
- Olesia “Olesami” Denysenko
Analysts & Casters:
- Yaroslav “Tekcac” Petrushyn
- Yevhen “Sh4dowehhh” Alekseiev
- Alexander “DkPhobos” Kucheria
- Ilya “Lil” Ilyuk
- Oleksandr “XBOCT” Dashkevych
- Andrii “Ghostik” Kadyk
- Ivan”Akamai” Danishevsky
- Anton “4liver” Pavliukovets
- Aren “VeRsuta” Zurabyan
Offsite Casters:
- Alexander “LanigirO” Potapov
- Darya “Autodestruction” Medvedeva
Broadcast
The GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will be streamed live on the official Galaxy Racer channels and a variety of ‘pubstomp’ venues across Dubai at several gaming cafes such as Que Club, Rails Billiards, Geek Station Abu Dhabi, DZZRT ESPORTS, Last Resort Gaming Cafe as well Dubai Media City Courtyard. across the five days.
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Gaming
Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention
Soft2Bet has unveiled MEGA Islands, the latest addition to its MEGA Suite, designed to enhance player engagement and retention across both casino and sportsbook offerings.
The new engine introduces a persistent progression system that carries over across sessions, giving players an ongoing reason to return. Through island-building, resource collection, and continual advancement, players embark on a long-term journey that transforms short play sessions into sustained engagement.
First previewed in Soft2Bet’s recent Lodur release, the MEGA Islands system allows players to develop their own islands over time. Resources earned through gameplay can be used to construct new buildings, upgrade existing structures, and unlock further stages of progression. Each upgrade opens new goals, creating a loop of continuous advancement that keeps players invested.
The engine also incorporates plundering mechanics, giving players an additional path to gather resources by raiding other islands. This feature not only accelerates growth but also maintains a dynamic and engaging progression loop. With no fixed endpoint, MEGA Islands is built to encourage repeat play through a satisfying cycle of building, collecting, and advancing.
“MEGA Islands is designed to make retention feel natural by providing players with a progression journey they want to return to,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet. “By building islands, collecting resources, and unlocking upgrades—including through plundering—each session becomes part of a longer experience. It gives players a clear reason to come back while providing operators with a retention tool that integrates seamlessly across casino and sportsbook.”
The launch of MEGA Islands underscores Soft2Bet’s commitment to gamification as a driver of long-term growth. As part of the MEGA Suite, the new engine offers operators a powerful tool to extend player journeys, increase engagement cycles, and deliver consistent value in competitive markets.
The post Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade
Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+
Pragmatic Play, a prominent content provider for the iGaming sector, has enhanced its arcade collection with the debut of Chicken+, a retro-themed game showcasing fast-paced action and significant winning opportunities.
Brought to existence with retro 8-bit visuals, the game tests players to evade approaching vehicles and various dangers, leading the chicken safely over the road.
With each lane successfully cleared, the win multiplier increases. Players can withdraw their earnings whenever they choose or try to navigate all lanes for the top reward, but a single random mishap concludes the round as a defeat. Players are able to view the possible winnings and the likelihood of success in reaching each lane to aid in their decision-making.
There are four levels of risk – Easy, Mid, Hard, and Daredevil. Raising the level reduces the number of lanes per round and increases the volatility, enhancing the maximum win potential from 24x in Easy mode to over 3,000,000x in Daredevil.
Blending nostalgic visuals with an eccentric theme, a user-friendly interface, and rapid betting rounds, Chicken+ meets the increasing demand for engaging, fast-paced games.
The title signifies the newest entry in Pragmatic Play’s continually growing arcade collection, succeeding the launches of Plinko+, Spire+, and Mines+.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Chicken+ blends retro charm with simple, high-engagement mechanics. With configurable risk levels and significant win potential, it stands out as another compelling addition to Pragmatic Play’s diverse arcade portfolio, inviting players to test their nerve and cross the road.”
The post Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazil
LOUD and SuperGaming Launch Prime Rush in Brazil, Bringing Battle Royale and Extraction Gameplay for Mobile
Prime Rush, a new mobile shooter blending battle royale survival with extraction-style mechanics, has officially launched in Brazil on the Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS. Developed by SuperGaming in collaboration with Spacecaps—the parent company of LOUD—the game has been shaped by direct input from Brazilian players and creators throughout its Closed Beta and Early Access phases.
Prime Rush introduces a fresh twist on the traditional battle royale formula. Beyond simply being the last squad standing, players can secure victory early by extracting Cosmium, a rare resource that appears during the final circle. This dual win condition forces squads to choose between outlasting opponents or adopting a more tactical approach to secure extraction.
The game also features a dynamic tactical ability system designed for fast-paced mobile combat. Active abilities such as DeadEye, Shield Dome, Super Speed, and Hunter’s Instinct allow players to approach matches with different strategies, focusing on precision, defense, mobility, or intelligence.
Bruno Bittencourt, CEO of LOUD, said:
“We’ve always believed Brazil has one of the most passionate gaming communities in the world, yet for years we’ve been playing games that weren’t built with us in mind. Prime Rush is a game created for Brazilian players, shaped daily by the communities we’ve built over the past decade. We’ve been listening to them every single day. It’s a game that finally feels like home.”
Roby John, CEO and Co-founder of SuperGaming, added:
“Brazil has one of the most competitive mobile shooter audiences we’ve seen, and from the beginning we wanted Prime Rush to be both authentic and accessible. That meant building a game that feels true to Brazil while ensuring it runs smoothly across a wide range of devices, so more players can experience it as intended.”
Set on the island of Maré, the game’s main battlefield supports its battle royale extraction format. It also introduces a Mini TDM mode (Favela)—a fast-paced 4v4 mode designed for quick, high-intensity firefights on the go.
At launch, players can choose from a roster of Brazilian heroes including Juliana, Rafael, Miguel, Rogério, Dos Santos, Julia, and Gustavo, with deep customization options available. Weapon personalization is enhanced through Evo-X skins, featuring upgradeable visuals, multiple Chromas, unique animations, custom sound effects, and distinctive combat feedback elements.
Prime Rush also debuts with several limited-time modes such as DeadEye Rush, Pants in the Air, and Weapon Roulette, offering short, action-packed sessions beyond the core gameplay.
The game launches alongside its first Ranked Season, where players can progress through tiers including Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Champion, Legend, and Cosmic.
Check out the launch trailer right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op5KreKoLmY
Season 1 Battle Pass: Street Legends introduces a range of rewards, including:
- New Avatars: Laura, Juliana, Rafael
- Weapon Skins: Subliminar, Grafitada, Suavidade, Firmeza, Raiz, Brabo, AK-BR7
- Melee Weapon: Chinela (Slipper)
- Vehicle Skin: Lenda Urbana
- Additional items such as stickers, dive trails, emotes, and portraits
Powered by SuperGaming’s in-house SuperPlatform, the game supports Android 7+ devices with 4GB RAM and iOS 15+. Early Access data shows stable performance at 40 FPS on lower-end devices, with up to 60 FPS on mid- to high-end hardware, ensuring accessibility across a broad range of devices in Brazil.
SuperGaming continues to optimize Prime Rush for additional devices, with performance and visual quality varying depending on hardware and player settings.
The post LOUD and SuperGaming Launch Prime Rush in Brazil, Bringing Battle Royale and Extraction Gameplay for Mobile appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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