Gaming

Gamecity Hamburg funds six prototypes of digital games with 398,000 euros

Published

3 years ago

May 18, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In its funding round for 2022, the location initiative Gamecity Hamburg supports six promising games projects from Hamburg with a total sum of 398,000 euros through its Prototype Funding program. The Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding is awarded as a non-repayable grant. The program enables Hamburg-based developers, studios and start-ups to develop convincing prototypes of digital games for the competitive international games market.

Because of the high quality of the projects submitted, the awarding committee decided to fully use the available budget of 400,000 euros for this year’s Prototype Funding program. The application phase for the next funding round will start in spring 2023. The diversity and quality of the applications demonstrate a positive development of Hamburg’s games industry and a successful promotion of young talent at the location.

Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg, explains: “We see a positive dynamic in the quality of the applications for the Prototype Funding. We also see positive effects from other support programs like our Games Lift Incubator and our new event format ‘Pitch Level Up’. Three of the funded projects are from teams and developers who have previously completed our Games Lift Incubator. In addition, there is a good mix among the funding recipients ranging from start-ups to game studios that are already firmly anchored in Hamburg.”

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The funded projects in 2022:

Hexagone by Tiny Roar – €80,000
Super Party Verse by Super Crowd Entertainment – €80,000
Dein Skat by Bestjack Entertainment – €70,000
Alchymia by Pseudoscience Interactive – €70,000
Prospector by Symmetry Break Studio – €70,000
Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch – €28,000

Hexagone by Tiny Roar is a relaxing strategy-adventure game in which players create and explore different worlds. As adventurers, players individually uncover their game world and its secrets by laying cards on a mysterious world map full of treasures, expeditions, and hidden ruins.

Players can experience a fun multiplayer party in the mobile app Super Party Verse from Super Crowd Entertainment. In a colorful hub world, players can create mini-game events in a growing community, join existing parties and actively fill the world with life by designing their own rooms and avatars. New content will also find its way into the Super Party Verse through brand partners.

Dein Skat by Bestjack Entertainment takes the traditional German card game Skat to a new level as a single-player experience through a sophisticated AI, an entertaining story mode, motivating quests, and numerous challenges for beginners and advanced players in a lovely designed look.

In the construction and management game Alchymia by Pseudoscience Interactive, players must save their city from a horde of undead creatures with the help of alchemical equipment and various potions. In the turn-based game, players make tactical decisions that influence the course of the game. Julia Reberg, the creative mind behind Pseudoscience Interactive and Alchymia, is an alumna of the first round of the Games Lift Incubator in 2020.

Prospector by Symmetry Break Studio is a narrative 2D-adventure game with an intriguing story and an innovative dialogue system. Players experience their adventure in a metropolis on the edge of a crater doused in toxic fog and can only survive using mysterious masks. Symmetry Break Studio are alumni of the Games Lift Incubator 2021.

In the virtual rock musical game Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch, players experience stories and songs of numerous monsters in an abandoned theater, solve tricky puzzles and face their own feelings. Monstersongs VR bridges the gap between musical shows and gaming. With the concept for the game Denise Koch participated in the Games Lift Incubator 2021.

From March 4 to April 11, a total of 18 solo developers, start-ups, and companies from Hamburg applied for this round of the Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding.

The selection was made by an awarding committee consisting of Hamburg-based games industry experts Nina Müller (Head of Publishing, Goodgame Studios), Jonas Hüsges (Publishing Director, Daedalic Entertainment), Valentina Birke (Head of Project, Indie Arena Booth), Jens Unrau (Head of Department Media and Digital Economy, Ministry of Culture and Media Hamburg) and Dennis Schoubye (Head of Gamecity Hamburg).

The successful applicants not only convinced the committee with their project presentations but also with the potential of their projects in other criteria, like the market potential, their team structure, and the promotion of young talent.

About the Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding

The Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding in its current form was launched in 2020. Including the most recent funding round, the program has so far supported the development of 22 prototypes with a total funding amount of 1,240,000 euros.

Call of Duty

Monster Energy and Call of Duty Unite Again with Exclusive In-Game Rewards and Expanded Program Timing

Published

5 days ago

September 5, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

monster-energy-and-call-of-duty-unite-again-with-exclusive-in-game-rewards-and-expanded-program-timing

Monster Energy is teaming up once again with Call of Duty to deliver bonus in-game rewards, bonus 2XP and an expanded promotional window that gives fans even more opportunities to fuel up and power their gameplay.

Gamers and Monster fans can start collecting codes to stockpile rewards ahead of the highly anticipated release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on November 14. Following the record-breaking success of the last year’s program – the 2025 campaign has been extended and will run through March 31, 2026, with code redemption available until April 30, 2026.

Players who purchase specially marked Call of Duty cans of Monster Energy, Monster Zero Sugar, or Monster Zero Ultra can find a unique code under the tab and redeem it online at callofduty.monsterenergy.com. Every can unlocks bonus in-game items and double experience points.

2025 in-game rewards include:

• 1 Can = “Energy Flash” Large Decal + 15 min 2XP

• 2 Cans = “Peacekeeper MK1 – Hyper Green” Weapon Blueprint + 15 min 2XP

• 3 Cans = “Green Fury” Operator Skin + 15 min 2XP

• 4 Cans = “VS Recon – Green Thunder” Weapon Blueprint + 15 min 2XP

• 5 Cans = “Daylight Ripper” Operator Skin Recolor + 15 min 2XP

In addition, select retailers will feature specialty bonus in-game content such as Emblems, Charms, Weapon Stickers, and Dual 2XP.

And as an added bonus, fans who create an account on callofduty.monsterenergy.com before October 31 will score a Black Ops 6 in-game skin – no purchase required.

“Monster Energy is built on fueling competitive spirit and our collaboration with Call of Duty continues to push that to new levels. With expanded timing, bonus rewards and the unmatched value of Double XP in every can, this year’s program is our biggest and most exciting yet,” said Dan McHugh, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Monster Energy.

“We’re proud to continue building on the success of our partnership with Monster Energy. Monster is the go-to fuel of gamers and they are going to drink up these exciting in-game rewards,” added Cody Neal, Associate Director of Global Partnerships, Call of Duty.

The limited-edition Monster Energy Call of Duty cans are available in 16oz in Original Monster Energy, Monster Zero Sugar and Monster Zero Ultra. Special 4, 12, and 15 can Monster Energy Call of Duty multipacks are on shelves now.

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Gaming

Gamescom 2025: New Records and Important Impetus for the Games Industry in Germany and Worldwide

Published

7 days ago

September 3, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gamescom 2025 ended with numerous new records and strong momentum for the games industry in Germany and worldwide. Records were once again set, particularly in terms of key figures such as internationality (70% of visitors from abroad, exhibitors from 72 countries), digital reach (more than 630 million views worldwide by 23 August evening alone), exhibition space (233,000 square metres) and the number of exhibitors (1568). On site, 357,000 fans visited the world’s largest festival of games culture. The number of trade visitors rose to 34,000, with a particularly strong increase in participants from the US, China, Canada and Japan.

“This year, gamescom 2025 is sending out a particularly positive signal. After two challenging years for the games industry, you could really feel the mood improving this year. The new record figures underline not only the global appeal of gamescom, but also the upward trend in the entire games industry. gamescom 2025 is also a milestone for the German games industry: political support for the additional tax-based games funding at gamescom was stronger than ever – from both the federal and the state level alike. This creates hope that progress will be made quickly. But there were also positive signals on many other political topics, whether for e-sports from Federal Minister Bär at the political opening or from Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien, who was just as convinced of the important work of the USK in the protection of minors as she was of the enormous potential of games for the education sector,” said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, the co-organiser of gamescom.

Political interest in gamescom 2025 was greater than ever before. In total, over 600 politicians came to Cologne to see for themselves the current developments in the games industry and the enormous economic, cultural and technological potential of games. Whether from the federal states, the federal government or the EU, the political guests came from all levels. In addition, a particularly large number of international delegations travelled to gamescom, for example from this year’s gamescom partner country Thailand as well as from Brazil, Indonesia and India.

Gamescom 2026 will take place from 26 to 30 August. It will open on 25 August 2026 with the gamescom Opening Night Live.

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Gaming

Investment Opportunities in the Multi-billion-dollar Gaming Sector

Published

3 weeks ago

August 19, 2025

Niji Narayan

investment-opportunities-in-the-multi-billion-dollar-gaming-sector

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Gaming industry is growing day by day. It has already become a global entertainment giant. From sweeping open-world quests to quick, addictive mobile games, the industry has expanded into a multi-billion-dollar giant.

The global gaming industry was valued at over £135 billion ($184 billion) in 2023 and is projected to reach £184 billion ($250 billion) in 2030. It is driven by cloud gaming, which eliminates the need for costly consoles, high-speed internet, and immersive technologies like VR and AR. Revenues from VR gaming alone in 2023 exceeded £1.9 billion ($2.6 billion), and the AR gaming business is set to grow at a pace of over 30% annually.

The transition from physical to digital is virtually complete: in large markets, over 90% of games sold today are digital, with downloads, live services, and subscriptions replacing cartridges and discs.

Alternative Ways to Invest in Gaming

The gaming industry is not merely a business of copying the most recent blockbusting release; it’s a rich, diverse ecosystem with several streams of revenue, from historic game publishing to aggressive esports and the burgeoning betting and online gambling sector. Today’s investors are able to access entertainment-oriented and wagering-led segments, each with their distinct risk and reward profiles.

Video Game Development & Publishing

Envision house brands behind the mega-franchises of Call of Duty, FIFA or The Legend of Zelda. These brands have enormous fan bases and generate revenue that stretches far past the initial buy, with in-game purchases, downloadable packs and subscription content keeping gamers engaged and expenditures year-round.

Esports

Esports have now evolved from casual living-room games to multi-million-dollar tournaments streamed live in front of a global audience. Internet gambling on esports competitions is also becoming a niche but growing market, offering a new source of revenue for both organisers and financiers.

Online Betting & Casinos

This segment is focused on convenience, accessibility and growing demand for real-money play. Online gaming sites and casinos are taking advantage of more lenient rules in key markets, so that they now represent a more mainstream and profitable part of the gaming economy.

Spotlight on Online Gambling

Online casinos are no longer merely whirring slot machines; they’re pushing boundaries. Some of the top 20 online casinos have gone beyond traditional slots and table games, incorporating esports betting, skill-based game challenges and interactive live dealer games.

Why does that matter to investors? Easy. It signals flexibility. These platforms are captivating players where they are: at their phones, on streaming websites, and in hybrid entertainment spaces that blur the line between socialising and gaming. This flexibility is what can keep revenue streams consistent even when trends shift.

Why Investors are Paying Attention

The gaming market has something that a lot of others envy: loyal consumers who are spenders on a regular basis. It’s £3 ($5) on a character skin or £36 ($50) on a new game, but the spend is cumulative, and it doesn’t evaporate during poor economies.

And gaming pervades everywhere. A hit title in Japan can find fans in Brazil in days. And for companies, that global reach means multiple streams of revenue and endless room to grow.

Risks in Investment

There is no investment without risk. Regulations change overnight, especially in online gaming. Game developers also come and go with their biggest hit; one flop can jerk their stock price. And in this competitive environment, being new is a never-ending struggle.

Gaming Investment Strategies

Diversify among multiple corners of the sector. That way, you’re not betting everything on one game or one trend. Gaming-focused ETFs deserve a look as well if you enjoy a pre-packaged solution that spreads the risk.

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