Canada
VR Multiplayer Hero Shooter ‘X8’ to Launch Early Access on May 18 on Meta App Lab and Steam
Thirdverse, Inc. announced that its multiplayer hero shooter, X8, will be available Free-to-Play in Early Access on the App Lab for Meta Quest and Steam starting May 18. X8 will hold its first esports tournament offering a $10,000 prize with Virtual Athletics League (VAL) and will feature an array of VR heroes battling across several different maps using unique weapons, items and abilities to clash against each other in thrilling team combat. X8 is a VR multiplayer hero shooter game with customizable loadouts of weapons, armor, items and abilities to equip their heroes before each battle round, along with a range of strategies that gamers can employ in each round.
Additionally, Thirdverse will publish a showcase on YouTube on May 17 at 11:00am Pacific Time to share more updates about X8’s inspiration, roadmap and the first esports tournament.
Masaru Ohnogi, Thirdverse CBO and Executive Producer on X8, said: “X8’s launch into Early Access as a free-to-play game is an exciting milestone for our team. Our focus has been ensuring that we’re providing a high quality, action-packed game that’s fun and accessible to all players. After announcing the game last September, we have been actively testing with content creators and have hosted Closed Beta tests twice. We received a tremendous amount of feedback from the community that we’ve implemented into the game. We strongly believe that community feedback and support are critical to creating a successful game, and we are now prepared to showcase the game for more public testing.”
X8 is a thrilling 5v5 shooter game where a diverse cast of heroes from different FPS franchises meet and battle against each other in interactive, competitive rounds. Each hero has access to three special abilities and their hero-specific items offer situational advantages. Players can build an extensive loadout of weapons, armor and items to equip their heroes during each round and use the funds they earn to purchase more armaments. The objective is to deploy ‘The Syphon’ at specific sites on the map during an attack or deactivate it within 30 seconds using ‘The Defuser’ during defense. The team that eliminates all attackers or disrupts the deployment process determines the round’s winners. Lasting 14 rounds, a play session draw occurs at 7/7 or the first to 8 (subject to change) are victorious.
Ohnogi, continued: “We believe that X8 offers a unique VR experience, giving players the chance to build and customize their own heroes before each battle round and bring strategies to life in thrilling team combat. We’re looking forward to how the VR gaming community responds, along with the upcoming esports tournament that we’ll be offering with our partners at VAL.”
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The Swedish gaming giant confirms its entry into another regulated market, with its industry-leading portfolio of games set to launch in Alberta.
Play’n GO, one of the world’s leading casino entertainment providers, has been granted a licence to supply online gaming content in the Canadian province of Alberta, marking another milestone in the company’s expansion across regulated North American markets.
The licence, awarded by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allows the company to offer its portfolio of premium online casino titles to licensed operators in the province ahead of Alberta’s planned market launch later this year.
Alberta represents an important new regulated opportunity within Canada, complementing Play’n GO’s established presence in Ontario and Quebec, while reinforcing the company’s commitment to operating exclusively in regulated jurisdictions.
Magnus Olsson said: “Being granted a licence in Alberta is another important step in our North American growth journey and further strengthens our presence in Canada.
“Regulated markets are the foundation of our business, and Alberta represents an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint in a jurisdiction that shares our commitment to high standards, player protection and long-term sustainability.”
The Alberta licence forms part of Play’n GO’s broader strategy of expanding through regulated markets, working closely with licensed operators to deliver compliant, high-quality gaming content focused on innovation, responsibility, and long-term commercial value.
As part of its market entry preparations, the company has aligned its technology and game portfolio with Alberta’s regulatory standards and requirements, with an initial batch of titles already undergoing certification to ensure launch readiness.
About Play’n GO
With more than 20 years of experience in mobile-first gaming, Play’n GO is a global leader in casino entertainment and the creator of some of the industry’s most iconic online titles, including Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Reactoonz, and Moon Princess.
A pioneer in the sector, Play’n GO was among the first to recognize the potential of mobile gaming, developing casino content for mobile devices as early as 2005, before the smartphone era.
Today, the company offers a portfolio of more than 450 premium titles, available to regulated operators across over 35 jurisdictions.
Play’n GO is strongly committed to a fully regulated, sustainable gaming industry built around entertainment, safety, and long-term collaboration.
The company works closely with operators, regulators, and research institutions to promote responsible gaming standards across all markets in which it operates.
With a deep understanding of both operators’ and players’ needs, Play’n GO focuses on creating high-quality, enduring content designed for long-term engagement.
In addition to game development, the company also provides backend services and solutions that support operators in delivering a seamless gaming experience.
Beyond gaming, Play’n GO has expanded into complementary entertainment verticals with Play’n GO Music and Play’n GO Shop, and is also a proud partner of the TGR Haas F1 Team.
For more information, please visit www.playngo.com
The post Play’n GO granted Alberta iGaming licence, expanding Canadian market footprint appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Play’n GO has been granted a licence to supply online gaming content in Alberta, as the province prepares to launch its regulated online market later this year.
The licence was awarded by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC). Play’n GO said the approval allows it to provide its online casino games to licensed operators in the province.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, said:
“Being granted a licence in Alberta is another important step in our North American growth journey and further strengthens our presence in Canada.
“Regulated markets are the foundation of our business, and Alberta represents an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint in a jurisdiction that shares our commitment to high standards, player protection and long‑term sustainability.”
Play’n GO said it has aligned its technology and game portfolio with Alberta’s regulatory requirements, with an initial batch of titles undergoing certification ahead of launch. The supplier is already active in Canada, with an established presence in Ontario and Quebec, according to the company.
The post Play’n GO secures Alberta iGaming supplier licence from AGLC appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Dan Keene, who served as the interim CEO of the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), has been appointed to the role permanently, effective April 21, 2026. Under his leadership, AiGC will launch Alberta’s regulated iGaming market on July 13. Keene has played a pivotal role in shaping the province’s gaming landscape, both through his work standing up AiGC and in his previous roles at the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
“Dan brings deep operational experience and a strong track record in gaming and market development. His leadership will be essential as the Alberta iGaming Corporation prepares for launch and delivers a regulated market built on social responsibility and player protection,” said Sanjeev Kad, Board Chair, Alberta iGaming Corporation.
About Dan Keene
Serving as Vice-President, Gaming at AGLC since July 2022, Keene overseen a broad portfolio, including gaming retail services, technical operations, compliance, online gambling, player loyalty, supply chain, electronic gaming, and product development across Alberta. He has been instrumental in advancing consumer-focused initiatives. He co-led the creation of Winner’s Edge, Alberta’s first province-wide casino loyalty program, and guided the operations of PlayAlberta.ca, currently, the province’s only regulated online gambling platform. Previously, Keene worked at AGLC as Manager, Casino Products. In this role, he led a team of specialists responsible for selecting slot games and terminals for Alberta’s 30 casinos and 750 VLT locations. Before joining AGLC, he completed successful tenures with Molson Breweries and Century Casinos Inc.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Appoints Dan Keene as its CEO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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