Gaming
Anzu Completes $48 Million Series B Funding Round From Bandai Namco and Others
Round brings new investors on board, including Emmis, PayPal Ventures, Bandai Namco Entertainment 021 Fund, Evolution, and Simon Equity Partners
Anzu, the most advanced intrinsic in-game advertising solution, announced a $48 million Series B funding round, significantly increasing its valuation and adding several new high-profile investors. The new round will also include converting the SAFE notes and investors exiting with a 10x valuation increase.
The funding round was led by Emmis Corporation, one of America’s most respected media, sports, and entertainment companies, with additional investments from PayPal Ventures, Evolution, Simon Equity Partners, and Bandai Namco Entertainment 021 Fund, a corporate venture arm of a Japanese multinational entertainment company, Bandai Namco Entertainment. Existing Anzu investors include Sony Innovation Fund, NBCUniversal, WPP, Bitkraft, Samsung Next, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) Ventures, Axel Springer and Marquee Ventures — the venture capital fund anchored by the parent company of the Chicago Cubs.
In-game advertising continues to grow as more advertisers and developers become aware of the enormous opportunity it presents to reach a new market of gamers. On the heels of Anzu’s recent hire of Nerissa MacDonald, EVP Global Sales, the company will use the funding to continue to build out its global leadership team. Anzu will also seek to grow its U.S. footprint by developing teams across the country. The funding will allow Anzu to remain independent and fully focused on its mission to make advertising in games better.
“We are thrilled to close our Series B funding round and bring some exciting new investors on board,” said Itamar Benedy, Co-Founder and CEO of Anzu. “We are confident that in-game advertising has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar market, and Anzu is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this huge opportunity. Over the past year, we have achieved some significant milestones towards our vision, and have connected with more exclusive AAA games and premium content, expanded our measurement capabilities for advertisers, and secured patents for our unique intellectual property.”
On the new funding, Emmis Corporation Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smulyan said: “In-game advertising is ready to become the next major advertising category as marketers connect their brands with billions of cloud, PC, console, and mobile gamers worldwide. We look forward to partnering with Anzu as it delivers the technology and business system to make in-game advertising a large part of every marketer’s media buying plans.”
PayPal Ventures Managing Partner James Loftus said: “As the clear market leader in the nascent space of in-game advertising, Anzu brings highly sophisticated advertising into complex, 3D environments. We’re excited to support Anzu as they build on their proprietary technology, broaden their robust ecosystem of partners and expand their team in the U.S. and globally.”
Diamond Coins
Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins
Wazdan, the gain-focused game developer, has bolstered its high-performing Hot Slot
portfolio with the launch of Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins, a vibrant new title that merges the series’ retro charm with mechanics from its flagship Coins
collection.
Staying true to the Hot Slot
format, the game spans 15 reels and features fan-favourite mechanics including Cash Infinity
and Hold the Jackpot
, alongside specially designed Bonus symbols to boost engagement.
In the Hold the Jackpot
Bonus Game, players compete for a Grand Jackpot of up to 3,000x their stake. Standard Hot Slot
symbols also remain active on any reel without a Bonus symbol, using two paylines to deliver consistent base-game wins.
The Chance Level
feature adds an extra layer of strategy and excitement, increasing the likelihood of triggering the Hold the Jackpot
Bonus Round and offering players a more personalised gameplay experience.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said:
“Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of the Hot Slot
series. By combining the retro aesthetics players love with the proven performance of our Coins
mechanics, and layering in Cash Infinity
, Hold the Jackpot
, and Chance Level
, we’ve created a dynamic experience that immediately captures attention and delivers engaging, high-energy gameplay from the very first spin.”
Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins is now available for integration, designed to perform across global markets and appeal to a broad player base.
The post Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
PopOK Gaming Launches “Matatu Juu”: A Fast-Paced Journey to 10,000x Multipliers
PopOK Gaming has launched its latest title, Matatu Juu, a fast-paced crash game that brings the vibrant energy of urban commutes to the gaming world. Inspired by the lively “Matatu” culture, the game challenges players to chase escalating multipliers, with the potential for wins of up to 10,000x.
High-Stakes, Player-Controlled Action
At the heart of Matatu Juu is the intuitive Cashout mechanic, giving players full control to decide the perfect moment to secure their rewards before the inevitable crash. Timing and strategy define the thrill, creating a tense, adrenaline-filled experience with every spin.
Key Features:
- Massive Multiplier Potential: Chase multipliers soaring up to 10,000x for life-changing wins.
- Player-Centric Control: Cash out at your own pace—play safe or go all-in for the ultimate payout.
- Seamless Gameplay: A clean, engaging interface that’s easy for newcomers but addictive for experienced players.
- Vibrant Urban Theme: A colorful, energetic design that blends cultural flair with modern gaming mechanics.
“With Matatu Juu, we wanted to capture the thrill of a fast-paced commute and turn it into a rewarding gaming journey,” said Luiza Melikyan, Head of Business Development at PopOK Gaming. “Combining simple crash mechanics with huge win potential keeps players on the edge of their seats from start to finish.”
Matatu Juu is now available for integration, offering operators a high-engagement title perfectly suited for players seeking instant-win, social-style gaming experiences.
The post PopOK Gaming Launches “Matatu Juu”: A Fast-Paced Journey to 10,000x Multipliers appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BGaming
Hook Huge Rewards in Fishing Club 2
Fast-growing content producer announces its involvement in a long-awaited sequel.
Renowned iGaming content developer BGaming aims to capture significant victories once more in Fishing Club 2, the follow-up to one of the firm’s most profitable #Casual games.
Participants settle in around a picturesque lake before dropping their lines into the water to discover what prizes they might reel in. The game offers a first-person perspective, engaging players directly in the action while conveying the soothing ambiance of an actual fishing experience.
BGaming has considered players’ opinions on the original game and provided them with greater freedom in their gameplay of Fishing Club 2. Players can fish at three spots located at dawn, dusk, and twilight. This provides each session with a unique twist and enables players to discover the atmosphere that suits their preferences.
The new Fishing Club game offers two bonus features. The Fishing Net bonus, capable of being activated for ×60 the player’s wager, spreads widely, while the TNT Bonus, valued at ×100 the wager, creates a massive blast in the water. You can acquire both of these by using the Buy Bonus button, ensuring a victory.
A skilled angler retains trophies, and the game enables players to track theirs with the well-known features Best Win and Best Catch. These show the greatest single-spin win amount and the largest multipliers achieved.
Vasili Pauliuchenko, Game Producer at BGaming, said, “The original Fishing Club title is one of players’ most-loved #Casual games by BGaming. Having listened to their feedback, we are taking them back to the open waters in Fishing Club 2 with a few pivotal updates.
We love to give our players more control over how they play, and that is on full display with Fishing Club 2. They can decide when and where they fish and what tools to use for most successful angling. We are sure that such personalization will be a hit with the game’s fans and those new to the series.”
The post Hook Huge Rewards in Fishing Club 2 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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