Gaming
WHAT DO GAME DEVS THINK OF WEB3 GAMING?
Most game developers believe web3 has a considerable role to play in the future of gaming. That’s the headline from an international survey of game developers conducted by Coda Labs, a mobile games company building fun games powered by web3 tech, with Raptor PR, a b2b communications agency for video games, web3 gaming, and media brands.
The survey discovered that three-quarters of respondents expect web3 to play a significant part in their future strategies, while more than half (56%) believe that it will revolutionise the gaming industry. However, a sizable minority disagree. Almost one third (32%) said that web3 games are a fad and won’t be around for long, and 31% labelled them a scam. This information builds upon the findings of the Coda Labs Global Web3 Gamer Study, the biggest ever web3 survey canvassing the opinions of nearly 7,000 gamers, across all platforms, from every continent.
The international survey of games industry professionals comprises responses from 154 participants, with most based in the USA, UK, and Turkey. Three-quarters of those taking part work directly on programming and development, with just over one quarter being company founders or senior management. The study was conducted by Walr.
Sekip Can Gökalp, CEO and Founder of Coda Labs, commented:
“The potential benefits of web3 games for players are well-debated, but the upsides for developers and studios tend to fall by the wayside. This survey shows that a majority of developers have already dipped their toes into web3 game development, driven by benefits such as additional funding, new revenue streams, and player retention. As with our consumer study earlier this year, it’s also clear that there are plenty who don’t perceive benefits for them. As someone who has published mobile games totalling more than 100 million downloads, I do believe that the current model of paid user acquisition and platform fees is out of date, and web3 represents an opportunity for developers to replace it with a more equitable one.”
Rana Rahman, Founder and CEO at Raptor PR, added:
“Despite polarised opinions about web3 gaming in both consumer gaming and games industry circles, there’s an undeniable momentum behind it – as this data shows. This momentum isn’t just purely driven by commercial gain, such as a drive to be the next F2P, but to improve aspects of gaming and the business of the games industry. As well as better revenue share for creators and devs, obvious player-first concepts such as gameplay progression and basic interoperability spring to mind. Based on my discussions with industry leaders from indies to AAAs, there’s a ton of activity happening to deliver games with smart use of web3. It’s not a question of ‘if’ web3 gaming will take off, rather, ‘when’.”
Key findings:
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Web3 games may be a revolution…
More than half (56%) believe that Web3 technology will revolutionise the gaming industry, with 60% agreeing that it will be around for a long time -
…But not everybody’s convinced
Nearly one-third (32%) believe that web3 games are a fad and won’t be around very long. 31% would go so far as to say that web3 games are a scam
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New revenue streams and new users
Developers expect the main benefit they derive from web3 to be new revenue streams via the sale of NFTs (47%) or tokens (43%). 40% anticipate improved user acquisition, with 36% expecting improvements in user retention -
Three-quarters expect to work in web3 in the future
When asked about their company’s future web3 development strategy, 75% expect web3 games to feature -
Web3 work is underway, but launches are few
62% have experience of working on web3 games, but less than a quarter (23%) have already launched one -
Companies are hiring for web3 right now
More than half (57%) say that they are currently hiring for web3 roles, indicating it’s a growth sector -
Player adoption may be a problem
More than a quarter (27%) of participants cited player adoption as the main obstacle for web3 games to overcome. Tying in with this, 21% were conscious of the often complex user experience of web3 games
Despite an ongoing ‘crypto winter’ and a series of crises among web3 companies, investment in blockchain gaming has remained relatively strong. In 2022, at least $7.8 billion has been invested into web3 games and gaming projects, while Animoca Brands has recently announced a new $2 billion fund dedicated to metaverse startups.
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Bone Croo Studios
Tequity Publishing Launches “Cats Balls”
Tequity, the technology partner behind some of the industry’s most scalable and customisable gaming solutions, has announced the latest high-octane release through its Tequity Publishing vertical, Cats Balls.
Developed by Bone Croo Studios and powered by The Fortune Engine technology, Cats Balls is a high-energy, pachinko-style experience that transports players back to the 1980s – an era of loud riffs, bigger hair and alley cats with rock god ambitions.
Cats Balls breaks the traditional slot mould, trading spinning reels for a storm of steel balls dropping like a drum solo. Packed with punk attitude, the game invites players to crank the amp, unleash the balls and watch the feline cast of guitar heroes shred.
The title serves as the latest premier showcase for The Fortune Engine, highlighting the platform’s flexible maths and game templates. This technology allows studios to move beyond conventional formats and create bold, unconventional experiences that resonate with a new generation of players.
The launch of Cats Balls further solidifies the mission of Tequity Publishing, which provides a distribution and aggregation framework designed to help ambitious studios launch at speed and scale. Through its RGSaaS model, Tequity Publishing provides the full infrastructure, distribution and publishing framework, allowing studios to focus entirely on game creation. With RGS-to-RGS, Tequity offers a technology-first approach for studios already operating their own RGS, enabling them to scale more quickly and deliver through Tequity’s global operator network.
Krzysztof Opałka, CEO at Tequity, said: “The release of Cats Balls is a perfect example of why we built Tequity Publishing. By removing the technical barriers to entry, we enable studios like Bone Croo to bring their wildest creative visions to life without compromise. Seeing this punk-inspired pachinko title hit the market via The Fortune Engine proves that our infrastructure is the go-to choice for high-impact, innovative content.”
The post Tequity Publishing Launches “Cats Balls” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Exprexion
Flexion Launches Mobile Service Suite Exprexion
Games marketing company Flexion has announced the launch of Exprexion. This integrated suite of services provides game developers with a single point of entry to alternative app stores, creator-led marketing and direct-to-consumer sales.
The mobile gaming industry is entering a new era. After years of market domination by Google and Apple, game studios are looking for ways to be in command of their own destiny. High store taxes and rising acquisition costs have squeezed profits for too long. The Exprexion suite of services gives developers the freedom to innovate in market engagement and express their ideas directly to users, moving beyond the traditional constraints of the major app stores.
The Exprexion suite consists of three core services:
Exprexion Markets: This service manages all the technical and operational requirements of distributing games on alternative platforms including Amazon, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and ONEstore. Flexion handles everything from integration to platform relations, typically adding more than 10% in incremental revenue. By taking on these tasks, Flexion reduces upfront and operational costs for developers while reducing risk.
Exprexion Creators: This service focuses on influencer-led marketing and social media strategy. By managing the creative process and relationships with influencers, Flexion helps studios find high-value players who engage with games through organic interest. This approach allows developers to reach bigger audiences through broader market channels and innovative user acquisition.
Exprexion Direct: This service enables developers to sell to their players no matter where those players are. By moving transactions outside of the major app stores, studios can make better margins and reclaim the 30% fee typically charged by platform owners. The service uses proven payment technology from trusted suppliers, like Xsolla, to ensure the buying experience remains smooth.
“The mobile industry has reached a point where the old methods of finding and monetizing players are no longer sustainable for many game studios. For years, developers accepted high fees and limited data access as the cost of doing business. Now, the emergence of a more open market and the shift toward direct-to-consumer relationships have changed the math. We launched Exprexion because the market is finally in a place where developers can feasibly run their own stores and distribution networks without the massive operational overhead that used to hold them back,” said Jens Lauritzson, CEO and Founder of Flexion.
Flexion’s technology, people and expertise are unique in the mobile market. The Exprexion services are fully integrated with one another, meaning each service perfectly complements the others. They can be combined seamlessly or used in any combination to generate profit and grow audiences bigger than ever before.
Flexion currently manages 37 top-grossing games. Four of these titles have reached the Top 10 grossing charts on Google Play. By providing a decentralised path to growth, Exprexion serves as a vehicle for a studio’s financial freedom.
The post Flexion Launches Mobile Service Suite Exprexion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Funding
EasyWin closes second seed round at $20m valuation
Real-money casual puzzle tournament startup says an EU private investor backed the April 2026 round.
EasyWin, a U.S.-based real-money gaming startup, said it has closed its second seed funding round at a $20 million valuation. The company announced the round in April 2026 and said it was backed by a private investor from the European Union.
The company previously closed its first seed round in December 2025 at a $15.5 million valuation. That round included funding from Velo Partners, Vladimir Nikolsky and several private angel investors.
EasyWin was founded by Ivan Leshkevich, a former executive at mobile game publisher and developer Mamboo Entertainment. The startup, which currently has a team of eight, says it has built a global tournament platform for casual puzzle games with cash prizes and operates across major markets.
Since launching in 2025, EasyWin reported 25% month-over-month growth in user spending and a 4.9 average user rating. It also said it has expanded into 12 countries with localized legal opinions and payment infrastructure, received PayPal approval for its MCC, and completed payments-stack integrations with global providers.
The company also said it has obtained GLI certification “confirming compliance with U.S. regulations for skill-based gaming products.” Leshkevich said: “In the long term, we aim to become a leading global skill-based gaming platform. To achieve this, we focus on a strong product USP and new AI-based dev tools.”
The post EasyWin closes second seed round at $20m valuation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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