Gaming
KINETIX ANNOUNCES PUBLIC LAUNCH OF EMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VIDEO GAMES AND VIRTUAL WORLDS
Kinetix, the AI startup powering emotes in video games and virtual worlds, today announces the public release of its pioneering Emote Infrastructure. All games and virtual worlds made with Unity can now increase their engagement and open up new revenue streams through an Emote SDK which is compatible with Windows, iOS and Android.
Players use emotes to socialize and express themselves in 3D gaming content. Animations that express emotion have been used in MMO games for more than two decades, but user demand for emotes has skyrocketed after their viral success in Fortnite Battle Royale. A recent report from non-profit research organization Blockchain Research Lab found that 74% of players of games and virtual worlds such as PUBG and Roblox use emotes in games, while 22% do so every time they play.
Meeting this demand has typically required specialist 3D animation skills and emotes that are hard coded into individual games, making it difficult for developers to keep up. In creating emotes that fit seamlessly into almost any virtual environment, the Kinetix Emote Infrastructure mirrors the approach of Ready Player Me which has revolutionized avatar creation by enabling a consistent visual identity across games and virtual worlds. With the free Kinetix SDK, developers can integrate and monetise a growing, cloud-based library of emotes which already numbers more than 1,000 – all of which are compatible with their games’ avatars, visual style and UI.
Through a plug and play approach which allows developers to activate the features they need, developers can select which emotes they want to offer players, integrate the fully customizable Kinetix emote wheel, hotkeys, contextual emotes, and even enable gamers to create their own in-game emotes via a web app which uses the Kinetix Studio’s generative AI technology to convert videos to 3D animations. This means games can respond instantly to changing viral trends and refresh their in-game shops regularly, while the Emote Catalog will also offer access to official collections of emotes from leading brands and IPs.
Following a successful beta, the Kinetix SDK is live or currently being integrated in more than 10 games and virtual worlds including ZEPETO, The Sandbox, Amber Metaverse, and Next Dancer.
Yassine Tahi, CEO and Co-founder of Kinetix, commented:
“In our era of live-service games and user-generated content, the value of an infinite stream of engaging content is beyond doubt. Emotes are an increasingly vital part of this as users demand ways to express themselves in-game. As we make our emotes infrastructure publicly available to all Unity games, I’m extremely proud of our team’s technical feats in optimizing it for developers. From cloud hosting to P2P networking and optimized file sizes, we’ve covered all bases to make sure games can increase their engagement and revenue with ease and with no impact on performance.”
In April 2023, Kinetix announced the launch of its ‘Text2Emotes’, generative AI technology that enables anyone to create emotes with a simple text prompt. Text2Emotes will be integrated into the Kinetix SDK later this year. Since being founded in 2020, Kinetix has raised a total of $12.5 million in seed funding from investors including Adam Ghobarah, founder of Top Harvest Capital, Sparkle Ventures, and multiple virtual world platforms and entrepreneurs.
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François LaFlamme
Motorola Becomes the Official Smartphone Partner of FIFA Heroes Game
Motorola, a Lenovo company, has become the official smartphone partner of the recently announced FIFA Heroes game, published by Solace. FIFA Heroes is an arcade-style, 5-a-side football title that, for the first time, features real players, mascots and fictional IP characters on the same pitch. This partnership brings together Motorola’s cutting-edge mobile technology and the game’s immersive gaming experience, creating a seamless experience for fans to enjoy the world’s most popular sport in a fun and interactive way.
As the official smartphone partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Motorola is committed to bringing the excitement of the tournament directly into consumers’ hands. FIFA Heroes delivers on that promise, offering fans innovative, mobile-first experiences that keep them connected to this unique moment in time.
With this partnership, Motorola’s presence will extend across multiple touchpoints. Motorola will appear directly within the FIFA Heroes game, and many upcoming Motorola smartphones will include instant access to the newest FIFA-licensed mobile game. Fans can also download the game from the Google Play Store, making it simple to play from anywhere.
All Motorola users will gain access to exclusive in-game content designed just for them, including power up tokens and gems, game emotes, a retro razr goal celebration, playable characters, and more. This content is part of a broader collaboration that will unfold through a series of global activations, leading up to and throughout the FIFA World Cup 26, giving fans around the globe new ways to connect with the action, on and off the pitch.
Beyond the content itself, the partnership introduces a gaming experience designed specifically for the brand new razr fold, redefining what a foldable form factor can bring to the gaming space. This exclusive experience optimizes the device’s large 8.1″ unfolded display so that players get an expanded view of the pitch that keeps the action fully in focus. Plus, the extra screen space makes it so that controls can sit comfortably below gameplay for an unobstructed display, and also gives players the flexibility to customise their layout for optimal ergonomics.
“This collaboration goes beyond gaming—it’s about delivering an experience that feels faster, smoother, and more connected for every fan. By working closely with Solace and FIFA, we’ve optimized FIFA Heroes for Motorola devices so players get the best possible performance right out of the box. It’s a powerful way to show how our technology enhances the way people play, connect, and experience entertainment, and we’re excited to share even more in the months ahead,” said François LaFlamme, Chief Marketing Officer at Motorola.
The post Motorola Becomes the Official Smartphone Partner of FIFA Heroes Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bet on Games
Bet on Games Premieres Ranch Robbery — Rugged, High-Octane Crash Experience
Bet on Games unveils Ranch Robbery, a fresh crash game that infuses the wild spirit of the Wild West into the rapidly expanding instant category. The launch enhances the brand’s crash lineup with an audacious thematic approach and performance-oriented features.
As a key segment within the BETCORE ecosystem, Bet on Games keeps growing its instant and crash portfolio, now surpassing 200+ titles ready for integration. With Ranch Robbery, the brand expands its crash offerings, merging established gameplay mechanics with a unique Western theme aimed at distinguishing itself in competitive environments and captivating action-oriented players.
About the Game
Ranch Robbery takes place in a uniquely designed frontier setting where tension escalates in real time. A cowboy dashes across the ranch as the multiplier rises dynamically. The more extended the run lasts, the greater the possible payout; however, if the escape concludes before cashing out, the wager is forfeited.
Every round lasts merely seconds, resulting in a quick decision-making cycle and continuous adrenaline.
The post Bet on Games Premieres Ranch Robbery — Rugged, High-Octane Crash Experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade Gaming
Pragmatic Play Redefines Arcade Gaming with Spire+
Pragmatic Play, a top content provider for the iGaming sector, boosts its presence in the arcade niche with the introduction of Spire+, where effectively climbing the prize ladder can lead to winnings surpassing 250,000x.
Against a night sky setting, players choose boxes to ascend the spire and reveal larger rewards. Participants can withdraw their winnings at any time or attempt to complete all nine levels for the highest payout, but if a flaming skull appears, the round concludes instantly with a loss.
Participants have the option to manage the climb by manually selecting boxes or opting for the ‘Random’ choice to let fate decide the next move. An extra strategy is implemented through five difficulty tiers, from Easy to Master, influencing the quantity of boxes and flaming skulls in each level. Choosing a more challenging difficulty enhances the reward possibilities but also heightens the chance of losing the round.
Spire+ enhances Pragmatic Play’s growing arcade collection after the introduction of Mines+ and the inaugural game Plinko+, which has just been upgraded to feature multiple balls, enabling players to release up to 10 balls on a single wager.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Arcade games continue to grow in popularity, underpinned by fast-paced, intuitive, and customisable gameplay. Spire+ aligns with this trend, handing control to players with numerous configurable settings, alongside significant win potential.”
The post Pragmatic Play Redefines Arcade Gaming with Spire+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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