Central Europe
game – the German Games Industry Association congratulates all winners of the German Computer Game Awards 2023
The German Computer Game Awards were presented before a live audience for the first time since 2019. Around 600 guests from the game industry and the cultural, social and political spheres accepted the invitation to celebrate the best German computer and video games, as well as their makers, in Berlin.
The attendees were joined by hundreds of thousands of additional viewers who followed the event via live stream. A total of 800,000 euros in prize money was given out. ‘Chained Echoes’ from Matthias Linda and Deck13 Spotlight was honoured as Best German Game. The award for Studio of the Year went to Paintbucket Games of Berlin. The studio, founded in 2018, has in a period of just a few years made a name for itself with games that take up, and inspire players to reflect on, socially relevant topics through compelling experiences.
Examples include the games ‘Through the Darkest of Times’ and ‘Beholder 3’, the latter of which won in the category Best Serious Game this year. The award in the unendowed category Best International Game went to ‘God of War Ragnarök’ from Santa Monica Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The jury and the community chose Pia Scholz, aka Shurjoka, as Player of the Year. Via live stream, she discusses with her fans not only games but also a broad range of current issues – from diversity to the problems of right-wing radicalism and sexism to mental health and her career as an influencer. With the German Computer Game Awards, the year’s best German-produced computer and video games are honoured by the federal government, represented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), jointly with game – the German Games Industry Association.
‘Congratulations to all winners of the German Computer Game Awards! Finally, we were able to present these awards before a large audience again. This year in particular, the creative minds behind the games more than deserve this large stage, because the nominated games were all created under the difficult conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. And despite these challenges, this period gave rise to outstanding games that have attracted a great deal of attention both in Germany and abroad,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association.
Overview of all winners
Best German Game (endowed with 100,000 euros for the winning game)
Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda / Deck13 Spotlight)
The other two nominees each receive 30,000 euros:
Beholder 3 (Paintbucket Games / Alawar Entertainment)
SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)
Best Family Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)
Die magische Bretterbudenburg (Meander Books)
Newcomer Award – Best Debut (endowed with 60,000 euros for the best debut)
SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)
The other two nominees each receive 25,000 euros:
Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda / Deck13 Spotlight)
Dome Keeper (Bippinbits / Raw Fury)
Newcomer Award – Best Prototype (endowed with 50,000 euros for the best prototype)
Light of Atlantis (Alina Fasen, Luisa Höhne, Vincent Krenzke, Simone Mayer, Alexander Nham / HAW Hamburg)
The other four nominees each receive 25,000 euros:
A Sister’s Journey (Florian Lackner)
Mail Tail (Robin Heisterkamp)
Ova Magica (Claudia Gorsky)
Thief of Smiles (Robert Brand, Lars Hinnerk Grevsmühl, Alina Hies, Felix Kosian, Marcel Zurawka)
Best Innovation and Technology (endowed with 40,000 euros)
BEETHOVEN // OPUS 360 (agon e. V.)
Best Graphic Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)
ABRISS – Build to Destroy (Randwerk Games)
Best Audio Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)
SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)
Best Game Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)
Dome Keeper (Bippinbits / Raw Fury)
Best Serious Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)
Beholder 3 (Paintbucket Games / Alawar Entertainment)
Best Mobile Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)
Dungeons of Dreadrock (Christoph Minnameier)
Best Expert Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)
Touch Type Tale – Strategic Typing (Pumpernickel Studio / Epic Games)
Best International Game (not endowed)
God of War Ragnarök (SIE Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Player of the Year (not endowed)
Pia Scholz (aka Shurjoka)
Studio of the Year (endowed with 50,000 euros)
Paintbucket Games (Berlin)
Special Jury Award (endowed with 10,000 euros)
#FemDevsMeetup
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Central Europe
Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet
Hölle Games has expanded its footprint in the German online gaming market through a new partnership with DAZN Bet (daznbet.de), an innovative sports betting and entertainment platform.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Hölle Games’ ongoing growth within Germany. Having already established a strong presence in the regulated market, the addition of DAZN Bet as a distribution partner ensures that even more players will have access to Hölle Games’ portfolio of visually striking, character-driven slot titles.
Through daznbet.de, German players can now enjoy a broad selection of Hölle Games’ top-performing titles, which blend classic slot inspiration with contemporary visuals and smooth, intuitive gameplay. Developed in Germany, Hölle Games’ content is known for its attention to detail, local market resonance and commitment to player entertainment.
Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of Hölle Games, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see our games featured on DAZN Bet, a brand that is revolutionizing how fans engage with sports and entertainment. This partnership is another step in strengthening our local presence and making our uniquely German-crafted slots more accessible to players nationwide. At Hölle Games, we take great pride in combining creativity with compliance — building experiences that resonate with players while meeting the highest regulatory standards.”
Daniel Berthold, EVP Growth Markets at DAZN Bet, said: “We’re thrilled to enhance our offering with Hölle Games’ impressive portfolio. Their content is a perfect match for our mission to deliver high-quality, engaging, and locally relevant entertainment to the German market. We’re confident our players will enjoy the unique craftsmanship that Hölle Games brings to the table.”
The partnership underlines Hölle Games’ commitment to strengthening its relationships with key regulated operators in Europe and reinforces DAZN Bet’s reputation for delivering diverse, premium gaming content tailored to local preferences.
The post Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime
The Polish Parliament is considering a landmark draft law to curb harmful digital content, specifically targeting the phenomenon known as “patostreaming.”
Patostreaming is recognised as a new term to categorise criminal offences related to the broadcasting of online violence, abuse and sexually degrading content.
The proposed legislation would criminalize the broadcasting of violence, abuse, and sexually degrading material. Additionally, the bill seeks to outlaw the promotion of online gambling by social media influencers. By amending the Penal Code, supporters aim to bridge the legal gap between digital behaviour and offline criminal acts, ensuring online offenders face the same accountability as those in the physical world.
The bill carries the backing of ministers of Poland’s new Civic Coalition (KO) government, formed in late 2025 by the union of the Citizens Platform (PO), Modern (Nowoczesna) and the Polish Initiative (iPL).
Supporters call for clearer enforcement powers to treat the online broadcasting of serious criminal acts as a punishable offence, aligning digital conduct with crimes already sanctioned offline.
If adopted, the legislation would introduce prison sentences ranging from three months to five years for individuals who publicly share real or staged content depicting serious criminal acts via online platforms.
The same penalty range would also apply to influencers found to be illegally promoting online gambling activity that remains heavily restricted under Poland’s state-controlled gambling regime.
KO ministers have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for Polish youth, citing rising exposure to violent digital content and illegal gambling promotions across social media platforms.
The post Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino-Groups
Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups
Sebastian Jarosch is no longer solely the founder and managing director of Casino Groups as he is also taking on the role of Head of AI, at least on an interim basis. This personnel decision marks a conscious step towards closer integration of corporate management and technological responsibility.
In future, Jarosch will not only be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, but also for the further development of the AI systems that already form a central part of the product landscape. Casino Groups is one of the best-known platforms, which has been using and continuously developing an AI-supported rating system for online casinos for some time.
The decision to anchor the role of Head of AI directly at management level was a conscious one. Artificial intelligence now influences almost all areas of the affiliate business, from content structures and data analysis to regulatory documentation and product logic. Such a development requires decisions that bring together economic objectives, technological possibilities and legal frameworks.
Sebastian Jarosch brings this perspective from years of experience in the iGaming sector. As an entrepreneur, he is familiar with economic dependencies as well as the challenges of increasing regulation. The additional responsibility in the AI area makes it possible to set technological courses more quickly, define priorities more clearly and establish innovation as an integral part of corporate management.
The new role of Head of AI fits in perfectly with current developments in the iGaming market. Increasing regulatory requirements, rising acquisition and content costs, and the growing influence of AI-powered search systems are changing the economic fundamentals of the affiliate business. Visibility is no longer achieved solely through reach, but through authority, consistency and verifiable quality.
With this appointment, Casino Groups is sending a clear signal to the outside world. Affiliate companies are increasingly being valued like media or technology companies. Partners and investors are placing greater emphasis on compliance, data competence and sustainable product development. The bundling of management and AI responsibility strengthens the company’s credibility in these areas.
At the same time, Casinos Groups is positioning itself as a player that does not delegate innovation, but actively drives it forward. The interim nature of the role creates space for further development and adaptation without diluting the strategic ambition. For the industry as a whole, this step underlines that AI expertise has arrived at the management level.
The role of Head of AI forms the organisational foundation for this development. It ensures that technological innovation, editorial standards and economic objectives are interlinked. Casino Groups is thus pursuing a clear line: technology as a tool, people as an authority and quality as a connecting element.
The post Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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