Gaming
MENA’s Sandsoft Games invests $3.25m in racing game developer, The Tiny Digital Factory
Sandsoft Games, the mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor powered by AAA talent, today proudly announces that it has invested USD $3.25 million (EUR €3 million) in The Tiny Digital Factory (TDF), a leading independent developer of world-class mobile racing and motorsport games.
The investment in the France and Canada-based studio represents a significant addition to Sandsoft Games’ portfolio and will enable the two companies to continue to trailblaze player-first mobile gaming experiences into 2023 and beyond. Sandsoft Games has an established global presence, including its flagship internal game development studio and publishing team based in Riyadh, as well as further publishing teams in Barcelona, Helsinki, and Shanghai. The Sandsoft Games leadership is driven by senior games industry talent, including CEO David Fernandez, and Head of Publishing, Miikka Lindgren, who will team up with The Tiny Digital Factory’s highly experienced team to expand the studio’s successful game development plans. Additionally, Sandsoft will publish TDF’s games in the MENA region, taking advantage of its localization and marketing capabilities to attract players from the Arab world.
The Tiny Digital Factory is led by a veteran of iconic racing game franchises such as Test Drive Unlimited and V-Rally, Stéphane Baudet, who has since created successful mobile-first games including GT Manager. Over the past 18 months, TDF has developed unprecedented expertise in web3 and the power of digital ownership in racing games thanks to collaborations with the early players in the field, F1 Delta Time and Revv Racing. TDF is currently developing a state-of-the-art web3 racer, Infinite Drive, which has already received critical acclaim for its game-first approach and recently announced its official partnership with Aston Martin.
Mr. Abdulaziz Alajlan, Managing Director of Sandsoft, commented:
“Investment in The Tiny Digital Factory is an important step in Sandsoft’s investment vision of facilitating gaming studios on their journey to become the leaders in the mobile and web3 gaming space. This will also contribute to Saudi Arabia’s positive impact to the global gaming industry, in alignment with the national gaming strategy and Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The Tiny Digital Factory’s team has tremendous potential and we are excited to have the opportunity to help drive them forward.”
David Fernandez, CEO at Sandsoft Games, continued:
“We’re thrilled to welcome The Tiny Digital Factory into the Sandsoft Games collective of game makers. It has a tremendous track record of producing world-class racing games, and is a natural partner for Sandsoft Games as we look to create a lasting legacy of innovative, mobile-first core gaming experiences. The Tiny Digital Factory also shares our philosophy for player-first web3 gaming, where any integration of blockchain needs to deliver unique value for players that can’t be achieved with existing technology. Our new alliance is an ideal match because both teams have the player and gameplay experience at the epicentre of our games.”
Stéphane Baudet, CEO at Tiny Digital Factory, added,
“Sandsoft Games is both a major investor in and supporter of global games industry growth and innovation. The team’s ambition enables us to be even bolder, braver and better in the talent and tech we allocate to bring stunning mobile games to new and enthusiastic audiences. We are singularly impressed with the AAA team in place at Sandsoft, and their player first philosophy which is ingrained in their company from top to bottom.”
Sandsoft has recently invested in major IP-linked mobile titles including Rambo: Strike Force, and Pacific Rim: Breach Wars, as well as new and emerging technologies in the gaming space. Sandsoft is the gaming arm of Ajlan & Bros Holding company, one of the MENA region’s largest corporations, providing the company and partners such as The Tiny Digital Factory with access to an unrivalled global infrastructure.
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Gaming
Current Games Activates the Nitro on Neon-Soaked Arcade Combat Racer: Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights

Current Games, a new name in indie publishing, based in the Netherlands, announced that it has assumed publishing rights for Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights, a heart-stopping, breakneck combat racing game, soaked in a neon lit future where speed and survival are the only routes to success!
A thrilling arcade style experience, Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights was first launched in Early Access on Steam in 2024, building a loyal community of dedicated fans passionate in seeing the game succeed. Current Games have heard the call and have spent a considerable amount of time diligently working under the hood, implementing a host of game-changing upgrades, delivering a fully revamped, nitro-powered experience, worthy of the Hot Import Nights (HIN) brand.
With the major update due to go live on July 24th 2025, speed demons are in for the ride of their lives as Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights power-ups on Steam, as well as launching on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and Epic Games® Store!
Make no mistake, this is no mere tweak, from July 24th, a whole host of surprises await fans of the game and newcomers alike. Some of the changes include:
- An all-new sprawling racing track to discover and master
- More cars mean more fun! Discover your favourite vehicles and race like your life depends on it!
- Major balancing changes based on extensive community feedback
- A new single player career mode with championship races
- Overall improvements to the game’s experience and stability
In taking over publishing for Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights Current Games is keen to emphasise their commitment to engaging with and supporting the community. Planned initiatives arriving soon include the reactivation of the games’ Reddit account, a new Discord server and a planned playtest scheduled for pre-launch.
In Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights, street legends are built after dark, as gamers brave enough to face the neon-soaked streets of the future, race, fight, and ultimately conquer with up to eight players competing head-to-head in a fight to survive and pass the winning line alive.
Each chariot in Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is equipped with an arsenal of outlandish offensive and defensive weapons, enabling players to outmanoeuvre and outgun their opponents as they speed towards victory. Choose from a diverse range of customizable vehicles across three weight classes, each with distinct advantages. Lightweight vehicles boast speed but sacrifice defence, while heavyweight vehicles offer greater protection at the cost of agility. Weapons can be charged through pickups or by executing perfect drifts, adding a strategic layer to the high-speed action.
Accessible yet challenging, easy to play, impossible to put down, ruthlessly hard to master and never anything less than exhilarating, Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is racing like you’ve never experienced before!
Roderick Roode, CEO of Current Games commented on the major upgrade and console release of Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights, “We are honoured to assume publishing rights for Cyber Clutch and determined to give this high-impact combat racing experience the love, attention and polish it deserves. Cyber Clutch has attracted a loyal audience in the year since launch, but we know the game is destined for even bigger things, and we’re thrilled to finally deliver a fully levelled-up experience, which we’re convinced will delight combat racing fans. In addition, we’re excited to bring the full Cyber Clutch experience to more gamers than ever, releasing on PlayStation, Xbox and the Epic Game Store, and cannot wait to see players assume their position on the starting grid later this month.”
The post Current Games Activates the Nitro on Neon-Soaked Arcade Combat Racer: Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
German Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär to open gamescom 2025

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär will take part in the official opening of gamescom on 20 August. This was announced today by Koelnmesse and game – The German Games Industry Association. The minister responsible for computer and video games in the German government will give a welcoming address at the opening of the world’s largest games event. Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, has also already been confirmed for the opening. During a tour of gamescom, they and other political guests of honour will gain an impression of the latest developments and trends in the games industry.
gamescom is the world’s largest and leading event for computer and video games. It brings together the international gaming community and entire games industry in a unique way, both in person in Cologne and digitally. gamescom 2025 will take place from August 20 to 24. The event will kick off on August 19, 2025 with gamescom Opening Night Live. gamescom is jointly organized by Koelnmesse and game – The German Games Industry Association.
The post German Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär to open gamescom 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gaming
Global release of Trophy Hunter – test your skills in the next evolution of hunting games

On July 3, 2025, Trophy Hunter – the latest game developed by the Ten Square Games team – launched globally across major markets. With this title, the company expands its presence in the fast-growing hunting game segment, where it already has solid experience. Trophy Hunter is the third Ten Square Games project in this genre – this time designed as a skill-based game, offering an accessible yet competitive experience for a broad player base.
“- Ten Square Games was one of the pioneers in the mobile hunting games segment. Since the release of Hunting Clash, the market has grown significantly, and players’ expectations have evolved. Trophy Hunter is our response to those changes – a skill based game that emphasizes fast-paced gameplay, reflexes, and strategic decision-making. We’re building on a world we know well, but offering a new style of play that opens up fresh growth opportunities,” says Jakub Noganowicz, Product Owner of Hunting Clash and Trophy Hunter.
About Trophy Hunter
Trophy Hunter is a hunting game designed for players who enjoy quick, dynamic gameplay and competitive PvP action. Its core mode features three-round duels where precision, reaction time, and decision-making under pressure matter most – rather than exploration or resource management. Players can upgrade their personal base (Hunter’s Lodge), customize weapons, and compete in a structured league system.
“- The launch of Trophy Hunter is a test for both an alternative gameplay model and a more hybrid approach to monetization. We see this moment as the conclusion of the game’s first development phase. Now begins the most important stage – one driven by player feedback. The success of the project will depend not only on how the game is received but also on our ability to scale the title and consistently grow its player base,” says Andrzej Ilczuk, CEO of Ten Square Games.
Trophy Hunter follows a free-to-play model with microtransactions that let players upgrade weapons and ammo. It also features rewarded video ads**, allowing revenue generation from non-paying users. Thanks to hybrid monetization and a lower entry threshold, Trophy Hunter is aimed at a broader audience. Its lower cost per acquisition offsets the lower ARPU* compared to other Ten Square Games titles. The hybrid business model allows room for scalable growth and expanding the game’s reach.
From prototype to global release
Development on Trophy Hunter began in Q1 2024. In the final production phase, the core development team included 10 directly involved contributors.
In late June 2025, as part of pre-launch preparations, Ten Square Games removed the test version of the app from Google Play and the App Store, replacing it with the final version and opening preregistration. Over 500,000 players only on Google platform used the opportunity to ensure the fastest possible access to the game on global launch day. Those who preregistered received an exclusive in-game reward – a replica of the Beretta BRX1 rifle and 10 rounds of special ammunition. This was made possible thanks to Ten Square Games’ collaboration with the globally recognized Beretta brand, originally established for Hunting Clash.
What’s next
At launch, the game includes 9 playable arenas. The release marks the beginning of a new development chapter for Trophy Hunter. The roadmap includes progressive content expansion and ongoing testing of the game’s global scalability. If this proves successful, future updates will bring more arenas, new gameplay modes, a LiveOps system, Battle Pass, and additional features to boost player engagement and expand challenge variety.
* ARPU – average revenue per user
** Rewarded video – an ad format where players voluntarily watch a video ad in exchange for an in-game reward.
The post Global release of Trophy Hunter – test your skills in the next evolution of hunting games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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