Gaming

Code Coven Uses Unity Charitable Fund Grant to launch “Code Coven Create: The Solstice Program”

Published

3 years ago

June 2, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Code Coven, the first global award-winning game development accelerator for underrepresented talent, is using the grant provided by Unity’s Charitable Fund alongside support from two of the biggest names in gaming to launch its latest “Code Coven Create: The Solstice Program.” The program, which is being supported by Unity’s Charitable Fund, Riot Games and Xbox, aims to guide 10 teams through their development journey in creating social impact themed games with the goal of launching them commercially to prospective investors, publishers and studios.

Unity’s Charitable Fund earlier this year, generously provided a grant of $100,000, enabling the Introduction to Game Making by Code Coven course. This new program springs into action on the back of the original program’s success, which empowered novice game developers with structured guidance, mentorship and financial support.

“Code Coven Create: The Solstice Program” runs for 12 weeks from 8 August to 28 October.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The course is open to under-represented groups within the industry who want to learn prototyping. The course provides guidance from Code Coven, Unity’s Charitable Fund, Riot Games, and Xbox partners and mentors.

Selected participants will apply within teams of up to five members and will be building interactive experiences including games, education platforms, VR, and XR outlets which are centered around social-impact. Unity has made some great commitments to social impact and defines it as “focusing the power of our talent, technology, and grants to empower anyone to foster a more sustainable and inclusive world.”

With social impact being at the centre, the “Code Coven Create: The Solstice Program” also aims to:

Teach developers how to effectively run a Sprint Zero

Empower developers to design and build prototypes that focus on social impact

For each team to walk away with a prototype that will set them up for future funding opportunities.

Democratise access to lesser-known topics, such as financing

Reach developers of the global majority

Develop everyone’s networks, from participants, to mentors, to speakers, to Code Coven

Tara Mustapha, Founder and CEO at Code Coven says, “Continuing our work with Unity has been a real pleasure, and we can see tangible results that we are making a difference to the wider industry by providing such unique and catered courses for our cohorts. Being able to bring on and work with Riot Games, Xbox and Clever Endeavour is only further highlighting that the games industry is welcoming change and open to a diverse range of developers. Teams that sign up to this course are learning so much and the access that they’re being given is definitely a chance not to be missed!”

“We’re thrilled to support Code Coven’s work in increasing access and opportunities for underrepresented developers, furnishing them with the skills and knowledge to excel across both games and creative tech industries.” Said Kevin Truong, Education Grants Program Manager, Unity. “In addition to educational resources and courses, Code Coven’s new Solstice Accelerator Program will empower new diverse creators, enabling them to design and build meaningful social-impact experiences through high-quality workshops and personalized mentorship.”

Code Coven is excited to partner with such strong partners for this project. By having these key industry stakeholders to help power this project, it aids Code Coven in the organisation’s goal for global empowerment of marginalised developers. Riot Games believes that the Solstice Program is a great new opportunity for underrepresented developers to take that leap.

“We believe the path to a more inclusive industry is better achieved through collective action. This partnership with Code Coven will enable us to provide a unique opportunity for underrepresented creators and entrepreneurs who have been traditionally overlooked in gaming,” said Farah Sutton, Senior Manager of D&I Strategic Partnerships, Riot Games. ” Through tools and resources provided within the Solstice Program, accelerator participants will be prepared to take their projects to market.”

Since the inception of Code Coven, the team has supported over 450 marginalised game developers from 35 countries.

Gaming

XSOLLA PARTNERS WITH POCKET GAMER CONNECTS TO EMPOWER MOBILE GAME DEVELOPERS IN 2025

Published

5 days ago

February 27, 2025

George Miller

xsolla-partners-with-pocket-gamer-connects-to-empower-mobile-game-developers-in-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, is deepening its commitment to mobile game developers through a strategic partnership with Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) in 2025. As the industry leader in Web Shop development and management, with over 500+ Web Shops generating revenue, Xsolla is also leading the way in direct-to-consumer monetization in the video game industry. Xsolla will showcase its latest innovations in mobile game monetization, user acquisition, and cross-platform analytics throughout key global PGC events.

Supporting Mobile Developers at PGC Events Worldwide

Xsolla will sponsor Pocket Gamer Connects events in 2025, bringing its expertise in direct-to-consumer monetization and engagement strategies to the following locations:

PGC San Francisco (March 17-18)
PGC Dubai (May 7-8)
PGC Barcelona (June 3-4)
PG Summit Shanghai (July 30)
Mobile Games Awards at Gamescom (August)
PGC Helsinki (October 7-8)

Xsolla will engage with developers at each event through thought leadership sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. It will offer data-driven insights and solutions to help mobile developers maximize revenue beyond traditional app stores.

Advancing Web Shop Monetization with AppsFlyer Integration

A key component of Xsolla’s presence at PGC will be its partnership with AppsFlyer, the global leader in mobile measurement and data analytics. Together, they have developed a first-in-the-industry integration that solves cross-platform attribution challenges, giving mobile game developers the tools to:

Measure Web Shop purchases as in-app events for accurate LTV and ROAS tracking.
Seamlessly attribute Web Shop revenue to mobile user acquisition, re-engagement, and retention campaigns.
Optimize ad spending across mobile and Web Shops with real-time analytics, all without requiring coding from developers.

Xsolla’s Web Shop solution has already transformed mobile game monetization, enabling 500+ developers to generate direct-to-consumer sales online while pushing players to pay on their mobile devices. By integrating AppsFlyer’s measurement tools, Xsolla ensures that mobile developers gain a complete, end-to-end understanding of the user journey across platforms, allowing them to make smarter business decisions and improve ROI.

“Xsolla’s Web Shop has revolutionized how mobile game developers monetize online, and our integration with AppsFlyer takes it to the next level,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “By bridging the data gap between Web Shops and mobile applications, we empower developers with the insights they need to optimize performance, increase revenue, and engage players more effectively. We look forward to engaging directly with the community and hearing from the Pocket Gamer community throughout the year at each event around the world.”

Strengthening the Global Mobile Gaming Ecosystem

Xsolla’s continued investment in mobile game commerce solutions aligns with Pocket Gamer Connects’ mission to support and connect game developers worldwide. With the combined power of Web Shop, AppsFlyer integration, and a direct presence at major industry events, Xsolla is committed to helping mobile game creators navigate monetization challenges and drive sustainable growth.

“Pocket Gamer Connects is the world’s leading event series for mobile game developers (and others) and we’re thrilled to have Xsolla as a key partner in 2025,” said Chris James, CEO at Steel Media, Pocket Gamer’s parent company. “Xsolla’s expertise in mobile commerce, cross-platform engagement, and Web Shop monetization makes them an invaluable resource for developers looking to scale their businesses.”

By partnering with Pocket Gamer Connects, Xsolla ensures mobile developers worldwide can access the latest technology, insights, and business models to thrive in today’s competitive gaming market.

For more information on Xsolla Web Shop and its integration with AppsFlyer, visit: xsolla.blog/xsolla-appsflyer

Join us at Pocket Gamer Connects 2025 to connect, learn, and explore new opportunities in the gaming industry.

The post XSOLLA PARTNERS WITH POCKET GAMER CONNECTS TO EMPOWER MOBILE GAME DEVELOPERS IN 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Gaming

Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched

Published

4 weeks ago

February 6, 2025

George Miller

portside-game-assembly:-studios-behind-dead-cells,-dungeon-clawler,-dorfromantik,-blasphemous-on-board-and-ticket-sales-for-brunch-and-party-launched

Reading Time: 2 minutes

With Portside Game Assembly, Gamecity Hamburg is welcoming studio heads and directors from successful indie game studios on a conference ship and other extraordinary locations in Hamburg on June 27. Benjamin Laulan, Co-Founder of Evil Empire, (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) will give a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative started by the French studio. At the Triple-i Showcase 2024, over 30 “iii games” were announced in 45 minutes, and 150,000 views were achieved on YouTube alone. Further speaker on board is Philomena Schwab, Founder of Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village).

Portside Game Assembly celebrates its premiere as B2B-conference for international indie game leaders on June 27. There will be no direct ticket sales for the conference; instead, a curated list of participants will ensure that only studio heads and decision makers attend the conference on board a ship sailing through the port of Hamburg.

At the same time, the Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party are open as networking events for interested contacts from the games industry to bring platform holders, publishers, and game companies into contact with the international conference participants. Studio leads from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, France, Spain, Canada, the USA, and Germany are already on board for the conference.

Portside Game Assembly is set to be a platform for decision makers and studio leads to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and face the challenges of the games industry through collaboration.

As the first announced talk of the conference, Benjamin Laulan (Co-Founder of Evil Empire) will present a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative and how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases. In addition, Philomena Schwab (Founder of Stray Fawn Studio & Publishing) will give a short talk about ways for game idea validation.

The program of the Portside Game Assembly will consist of keynotes, short talks, and roundtables.

Selection of already confirmed participants:

Evil Empire (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) / France
Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village) / Switzerland
The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous I & II) / Spain
Toukana Interactive (Dorfromantik)/ Germany
Ghostship Publishing (Deep Rock Galactic) / Denmark
Landfall Games (Content Warning, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator) / Sweden
Chasing Carrots (Halls of Torment) / Germany
Foulball Hangover (Hydroneer) / UK
Siege Camp (Foxhole) / Canada

The post Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Fourth Star

Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform

Published

1 month ago

January 30, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

fourth-star-launches-immersive-media-streaming-platform

Fourth Star, the cutting-edge virtual reality immersive media streaming platform, is officially available to the public. This innovative platform transforms traditional entertainment by enabling users to seamlessly watch standard 2D, 180 and 360 immersive media content and movies. Fourth Star redefines how audiences engage with immersive storytelling, offering an unparalleled first-person centric perspective on entertainment.

“Fourth Star is more than just a platform – it’s a revolution in entertainment,” said Greg Simon, Co-Founder & CEO of Fourth Star. “We’ve created an immersive experience where users can not only consume content but also actively participate in it. Our vision is to transform how people experience media content and movies in a way that has never been done before.”

A New Era of Interactive Entertainment

The largest immersive media streaming platform available on Sidequest, users can explore nearly forty unique environments, interact with AI-driven crew, and experience entertainment in an entirely new way. Fourth Star offers a groundbreaking approach to digital engagement, whether socializing in the Cafe, customizing avatars in private Apartments or Ships, or stepping directly into a movie’s storyline.

“The combination of VR, AI, and blockchain in Fourth Star sets a new standard for immersive entertainment,” said Craig Wiltshire, CTO of Fourth Star. “Our vision is to seamlessly integrate all three technologies into the user experience. We are redefining the entertainment experience from passive observation to active creation.”

Built for Content Partners

Fourth Star is a self-serve platform designed for content partners of all sizes, from individual creators to blockbuster studios. Content partners can set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing their work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience. The Creator Portal empowers partners to distribute and profit from their immersive media with ease, making Fourth Star a truly open and accessible metaverse for digital entertainment.

Key Features of Fourth Star

VR Streaming Platform – Users can access nearly forty environments and own their own luxury apartments and ships all equipped with an immersive media streaming entertainment hub.
Social & Customization – Connect with others in dynamic social hubs, personalize your avatar, and invite your friends to your own luxury apartment and ship.
Player Portal – Users can access the web-based marketplace to explore content, invite friends,
Creator Portal – Set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing your work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience.
Blockchain Integration – The FSTR token, built on the Polygon blockchain, powers the ecosystem, providing secure transactions and exclusive rewards.
AI-Powered Companions – Coming soon

FSTR: The Utility Token Powering Fourth Star

FSTR serves as the primary ecosystem currency within the Fourth Star platform, enabling users to purchase Apartments, Ships, AI Companions, and exclusive content. Token holders benefit from:

VIP Access – Exclusive events, early screenings, and red carpet experiences.
Discounts – 25% savings on in-app purchases (IAPs) and entertainment content.

A New Paradigm in Entertainment

Fourth Star is designed to deliver the future of entertainment through merging cinematic storytelling with interactive gaming, offering:

A seamless transition from passive to interactive experiences.
A thriving community for players, creators, and investors.
Advanced AI integration for interactive AI characters.
Don’t just watch the star in the movie, become the star.

Availability and Access

Fourth Star is now live and available for users worldwide on Sidequest. Whether you’re an explorer, content creator large to small, storyteller, or entertainment enthusiast, Fourth Star provides an immersive space to experience digital entertainment like never before.

The post Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.