Canada
Gaming Poised to Continue Accelerated Growth According to Unity Gaming Report 2022
Unity, the world’s leading platform for creating and operating real-time 3D (RT3D) content, has released UnityGaming Report 2022. Pulling insights and data from Unity’s Create and Operate Solutions divisions, the report offers an extensive view on the state of gaming, revealing player behaviors throughout the pandemic and detailing trends propelling the industry’s growth.
The report highlights how gaming has brought people together and provided human connection in a time of distance and isolation. Unity’s data also shows that far from a “pandemic spike” the changes in the games industry appear to be long-lived and sustainable. In 2021, the number of people playing games is at far higher levels than they were pre-COVID and the industry has continued to step up to feed the demand.
Gaming is on track to reach over $300 billion by 2027. In 2021, the number of games made with Unity increased by 93%, and the number of new creators increased by 31%. Furthermore, players are spending more on games than ever before. The pandemic spike raised gaming revenue by 30% for games operated with Unity, and that bump is expected to stay.
“In the face of high player demand and even greater player expectations during these unique times, we have seen creators step up and deliver incredibly inspiring, creative, and innovative ways for people to engage and connect through gaming. This passion and resilience from our developer community fuels our commitment to make it as simple and as easy as possible for them to bring their vision to life. It remains our mission to equip developers of all sizes with everything they need to build, scale, and manage their games successfully,” said Ingrid Lestiyo, SVP & GM, Unity Operate Solutions.
“Whether from growth in established studios or from hobbyists making the leap to game development as a full-time gig, I am amazed at their sheer creativity as they bring their visions to life. We’re proud to be providing tools that help creators everywhere make great games,” said Marc Whitten, SVP & GM, Unity Create.
Key findings include:
- More creators are making more games – The production slump of the pandemic’s early phase is now far behind us. Mirroring other industry reports highlighting continued growth in the gaming sector, in 2021, the number of Unity creators increased 31% compared to 2020. Additionally, there were 93% more games made on the Unity platform in 2021 than in 2020.
- The demand for games remains high – The total number of daily active users (DAU) playing games rose from before the pandemic, reached a peak, then settled at far higher levels than before COVID began. PC/Console DAU has increased by 62% since the start of 2019, and mobile DAU has increased by 74%.
- The “pandemic spike” raised gaming revenue – and it’s here to stay – Gaming revenue grew by almost 30% for creators in 2021. Unlike sectors of the economy where pandemic bubbles have popped, the changes in gaming appear to be sustainable, bolstered by revenue growth in ad revenues and in-app purchase in the United States and Europe.
- As game development becomes more ambitious, creators are increasingly turning to third party solutions to stay competitive – Studios of all sizes are increasingly using a different mix of out-of-the-box solutions so they can free up resources to do what they do best: design great player experiences. Among enterprise creators, over 91% use player engagement and segmentation services, 88% use in-app purchase services, and 76% use analytic, authentication, and privacy services. Smaller studios use similar solutions but also invest heavily in ad monetization and user acquisition support.
The Gaming Report 2022 draws on fresh, original data from the 230,000 developers who make and operate over 750,000 games using the Unity Engine and the Unity Gaming Services portfolio of products. These powerful gaming solutions span mobile, PC, and console gaming, giving a unique view of the entire gaming industry. To provide a complete snapshot of the industry, this data is placed in context with information from outside reports and insights from creators.
Unity will be highlighting the trends outlined in this report alongside an array of in-person and online sessions at the 2022 Game Developers Conference from March 21–25, 2022 in San Francisco. Attendees will get an overview of all the latest Unity tools – many of which are interoperable with other game engines – to enable the success of our creators to deliver the best player experiences and build robust businesses. There will also be sessions where developers can get further insight into the trends, benchmark, behaviors, and analysis presented in the Gaming Report 2022. For more details on Unity at GDC 2022, visit unity.com/gdc.
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Canada
Fennica Gaming Expands its Partnership with Loto-Québec by Launching eInstant Games
Building on the momentum of its successful market entry, Fennica Gaming announced the expansion of its partnership with Loto-Québec by launching also its portfolio of eInstant games. This second phase follows the recent successful launch of Fennica Gaming’s online casino games, making its full suite of innovative online games available to players on Loto-Québec’s digital platform, the only legal online gaming offer in the province of Québec.
The launch of the eInstant portfolio completes the initial offering, delivering a diverse and engaging gaming experience designed with Fennica Gaming’s signature player-first approach. The move solidifies Fennica Gaming’s commitment to the Canadian market and its strategy of building long-term, sustainable partnerships with regulated lotteries and operators.
“Launching our casino games was the first step; following it up swiftly with our eInstants is about delivering on our promise. Our partnership with Loto-Québec is built on shared values of responsibility and providing engaging, high-quality entertainment. This isn’t just a content drop; it’s a commitment to our partner’s long-term success and to bringing fresh, reliable gaming experiences to the players in Québec,” said Joni Hovi, SVP of Customers and Marketing at Fennica Gaming.
“Our eInstants are designed with a Nordic innovativeness; they are intuitive, visually engaging, and extremely entertaining – built for sustainable fun. We’ve added the best of mobile gaming expertise, seasoned it with a high-quality, player-centric experience. We are confident that this creative energy offers a distinct flavour that will stand out and connect with players in Québec,” said Kirsi Lagus, SVP of Portfolio and Product Development.
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Canada
CGA Announces Leadership Evolution and 2026 Board of Directors
Amanda Brewer becomes Senior Vice President of Policy & Communications and Brandon Aboultaif becomes Vice President of Western Canada; Salim Adatia (GLI) and Mike Maodus (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP) join the CGA Board as Scott Vanderwel (PointsBet Canada) is appointed Chair.
Amanda Brewer has joined the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) as Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications, and Brandon Aboultaif has assumed the position of Vice President for Western Canada.
Amanda has served as a consultant to the Association for over 15 years, playing a pivotal role in achieving numerous CGA milestones. “I am confident she will apply her enthusiasm and expertise to this new position, which more precisely aligns with her ongoing contributions on behalf of our members,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO, CGA. Amanda remains actively engaged in AML and advertising bill initiatives in Ottawa, along with the Alberta consultation process, where the Association is collaborating with the Government of Alberta and AGLC to prepare the province for its iGaming market launch.
Brandon is the former Press Secretary to Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction and will be a great addition to the CGA. “With the Alberta market soon opening, it has been an important goal to expand our presence into the western part of the country,” added Mr. Burns. His key responsibilities include advancing industry research and education initiatives, supporting member engagement across Western Canada, and fostering collaboration on responsible gaming, innovation, and market development initiatives that strengthen Canada’s gaming ecosystem.
In addition, Salim Adatia, Managing Director, Canada for Gaming Laboratories International, LLC, and Mike Maodus, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, have joined the CGA’s Board of Directors, and Scott Vanderwel, CEO for PointsBet Canada, becomes the Association’s new Chair.
The full 2026 board is as follows:
- Salim Adatia, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
- Bruce Caughill, Rush Street Interactive
- Peter Czegeldy, Aird & Berlis LLP
- Neil Erlick, Nuvei
- Kurt Gissane, Aristocrat
- Charmaine Hogan, Playtech
- Dale Hooper, FanDuel
- Chuck Keeling, Great Canadian Entertainment
- Mike Maodus, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Terry McInally, Gateway Entertainment
- Niaz Nejad, Non-Member Director
- Derek Ramm, Kinectify
- Lindsay Slader, GeoComply
- Richard Taylor, Niagara Casinos
- Shane Thompson, Konami
- Scott Vanderwel, PointsBet Canada (Chair)
- Scott Woodgate, BetMGM
We are also pleased to welcome three past chairs as Emeritus members of the board:
- Ilkim Hincer, IC360
- Carrie Kormos, CK Consulting Inc
- Bob Parente, Light & Wonder
“Amanda and Brandon have joined the CGA as full-time members to oversee several important national campaigns,” stated Scott Vanderwel, Chair of the Board. “We are also pleased to welcome Salim and Mike to the Board. The Board has worked closely with Paul over recent years to advance the Association’s leadership and board structure. We have full confidence in Amanda and Brandon as they step into these key roles, as well as in the valuable contributions that Salim and Mike are expected to bring as we prepare for an active 2026 workload.”
Mr. Burns stated that the newly announced executive and Board appointments will strengthen CGA’s position and support its expansion into Western Canada. “Amanda brings extensive CGA experience, while Brandon contributes knowledge of government policy at both federal and provincial levels. Coupled with our enhanced Board, I am confident they will help drive CGA’s objectives and ongoing growth.”
Source: canadiangaming.ca
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Adam Pentecost Chief Revenue Officer at Gaming Corps
Gaming Corps partners with BetMGM for exclusive Ontario launch
Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has announced a landmark content partnership with BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, marking BetMGM as the first partner to bring Gaming Corps’ full portfolio to players in Ontario. The exclusivity will run for an initial period before the portfolio is rolled out more widely in the market.
The agreement brings BetMGM players in Ontario the full force of Gaming Corps’ premium line-up, from blockbuster titles like 3 Pigs of Olympus and Gates of Hellfire to signature mechanics including the adrenaline-fuelled A-MAZE-CADES
and instant-win Smash4Cash
series.
Available at BetMGM Casino, the portfolio also features the innovative X-MY-WAY
challenge, as seen in Hoop Champion and Golf Champion, which introduces new layers of interactivity and personalised gameplay experiences.
Adam Pentecost, Chief Revenue Officer at Gaming Corps, said: “Ontario has quickly become one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America, and we’re thrilled to be making our debut with BetMGM as our first operator partner in the province. The opportunity to launch with such a high-profile brand, on an exclusive basis, allows us to showcase our content to an engaged player base and demonstrate the unique experiences we can deliver. This is an important milestone in our North American expansion strategy, and we look forward to seeing how Ontario players respond to our portfolio.”
Oliver Bartlett, Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM, said: “Exclusivity matters because it gives our players something they can’t find anywhere else and sets us apart in a competitive market. Gaming Corps’ engaging and interactive content portfolio is a fantastic addition to BetMGM Casino.”
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