Gaming

Stefan Heikhaus Becomes New Director of Gamescom

Published

2 years ago

November 23, 2023

Niji Narayan

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The German Games Industry Association (game) has announced that Stefan Heikhaus will serve as gamescom’s next director.

From mid-December he will be directing game’s efforts to continue the development of gamescom and its satellite and content formats, including gamescom asia and gamescomLAN. The world’s biggest event for games, which takes place every year at the end of August, brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to Cologne and is followed online by millions more worldwide. The 2023 event set numerous new records, once again expanding its major international presence. Stefan Heikhaus can look back on a long career as a marketing specialist. He had already spent many years in the games industry working for companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment and Ubisoft before continuing his career at technology companies such as Cisco and Microsoft. He succeeds Christian Baur, who left game at the end of October at his own request.

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, said: “gamescom is tremendously important not only for us here at game, but for the entire games industry. It generates interest in our medium far beyond the world of games, making it clear year in and year out just how important games are as an economic factor, driver of innovation and cultural asset. Without gamescom, many of the successes achieved in the policy sphere in recent years – from the German government’s games strategy all the way to the introduction of federal games funding – would hardly have been possible at this speed. That’s why we’re so delighted that Stefan is taking the helm – a marketing expert who not only has extensive experience in the games industry, but in other related fields as well. He thus brings valuable perspectives which, together with our partner Koelnmesse, will be extremely valuable in the further development of gamescom, the satellite and content formats and the brand as a whole.”

Stefan Heikhaus, Director of gamescom at game, said: “I’m very excited about the opportunities that this position gives me to shape the ongoing development of gamescom, the world’s largest games event. gamescom does more than set new standards for the dynamic games industry again and again – it’s also an outstanding event format that is closely followed by other industries around the globe. That’s because events like gamescom where everyone – from trade visitors to the community at large – meet, are of tremendous importance, even for digital media like games.”

Brasilia

BiS Brasília focuses on responsible governance for Brazil’s gaming and betting future

Published

6 hours ago

May 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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BiS Brasília is confirmed for June 2–3, bringing a strong focus on responsible governance and the future of the gaming and betting industry in Brazil.

The event will take place on June 2–3 at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada hotel.

The event will gather key stakeholders, authorities, and industry leaders to discuss major developments shaping the sector.

In its second edition, the event expects a 20% increase in attendance compared to last year.

“Reaching the second edition of BiS Brasília represents the consolidation of an essential space for dialogue between the private sector, authorities, and experts at a decisive moment for the Brazilian market.

Brasília is the center of the country’s major regulatory discussions, and bringing together key ecosystem players in the federal capital reinforces the event’s commitment to building a more transparent, responsible, and sustainable industry,” said Alessandro Valente, the cofounder.

Tickets are available at: https://brazilianigamingsummit.com/brasilia/

About BiS Brasília

In its second edition, BiS Brasília is an event dedicated to the iGaming and betting ecosystem, fostering dialogue between the private sector, public authorities, and society on the development of Brazil’s regulated market for gaming, casinos, and lotteries.

The event brings together business leaders, regulators, and industry experts to discuss key strategic topics such as Brazilian regulation, taxation, integrity, innovation, responsible gaming, compliance, AML / anti-money laundering, licensing, sports integrity, government relations, advertising, and CONAR standards.

BiS SiGMA South America is part of the SiGMA World events portfolio, one of the leading global platforms for B2B business networking and events focused on the gaming and betting industry.

The post BiS Brasília focuses on responsible governance for Brazil’s gaming and betting future appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

casino games

Tequity Publishing launches Mirror Image Gaming’s K-Pop Drop with Stake exclusivity

Published

9 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

tequity-publishing-launches-mirror-image-gaming’s-k-pop-drop-with-stake-exclusivity

Tequity Publishing has launched K-Pop Drop, a Burst Game from Mirror Image Gaming, with an exclusive first release on Stake. The game went live on 11th May 2026 and will be available only on Stake initially, before expanding to Tequity’s wider operator network the following week.

According to the companies, K-Pop Drop is an anime-inspired Burst Game featuring escalating multipliers and interactive mechanics. The title includes potential multipliers of up to 5000x and follows a character called Sakura as she progresses through gameplay features including boosts, landing zones, bonus triggers, and hazards.

“K-Pop Drop immediately stood out to us as the type of modern, high-energy content we believe is becoming increasingly important within the market,” said Dominic Sawyer, VP Growth at Tequity. “Players today are looking for more interactive, entertaining experiences that feel highly engaging from the first second of gameplay. Mirror Image Gaming has done a fantastic job creating a game with real personality and strong replayability, and we’re excited to launch it first with Stake before rolling it out across the wider network.”

Mirror Image Gaming CEO Gray Wagner said the Stake launch is intended to broaden the game’s reach. “We wanted K-Pop Drop to feel fast, unpredictable, energetic, and memorable – something that instantly stands out both visually and through gameplay,” said Wagner. “Working with Tequity Publishing and launching first with Stake gives the game an incredibly strong platform from day one, and we’re excited to see players experience it.”

Tequity said K-Pop Drop will become available to its wider operator network from the week commencing 18th May.

The post Tequity Publishing launches Mirror Image Gaming’s K-Pop Drop with Stake exclusivity appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bone Croo Studios

Tequity Publishing Launches “Cats Balls”

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

tequity-publishing-launches-“cats-balls”

Tequity, the technology partner behind some of the industry’s most scalable and customisable gaming solutions, has announced the latest high-octane release through its Tequity Publishing vertical, Cats Balls.

Developed by Bone Croo Studios and powered by The Fortune Engine technology, Cats Balls is a high-energy, pachinko-style experience that transports players back to the 1980s – an era of loud riffs, bigger hair and alley cats with rock god ambitions.

Cats Balls breaks the traditional slot mould, trading spinning reels for a storm of steel balls dropping like a drum solo. Packed with punk attitude, the game invites players to crank the amp, unleash the balls and watch the feline cast of guitar heroes shred.

The title serves as the latest premier showcase for The Fortune Engine, highlighting the platform’s flexible maths and game templates. This technology allows studios to move beyond conventional formats and create bold, unconventional experiences that resonate with a new generation of players.

The launch of Cats Balls further solidifies the mission of Tequity Publishing, which provides a distribution and aggregation framework designed to help ambitious studios launch at speed and scale. Through its RGSaaS model, Tequity Publishing provides the full infrastructure, distribution and publishing framework, allowing studios to focus entirely on game creation. With RGS-to-RGS, Tequity offers a technology-first approach for studios already operating their own RGS, enabling them to scale more quickly and deliver through Tequity’s global operator network.

Krzysztof Opałka, CEO at Tequity, said: “The release of Cats Balls is a perfect example of why we built Tequity Publishing. By removing the technical barriers to entry, we enable studios like Bone Croo to bring their wildest creative visions to life without compromise. Seeing this punk-inspired pachinko title hit the market via The Fortune Engine proves that our infrastructure is the go-to choice for high-impact, innovative content.”

The post Tequity Publishing Launches “Cats Balls” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.