Gaming
Zynga and Warner Bros. Pictures Bring Wonka to Words With Friends and Other Games
Zynga Inc., a wholly-owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) and a global leader in interactive entertainment, announced a collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures to feature one of this holiday’s most anticipated films, Wonka, in multiple Zynga games, including its iconic franchise Words With Friends. The game integrations will give players an inside look at the magical world of Wonka through custom in-game challenges, rewards, and film content.
Starring Academy Award® nominee Timothée Chalamet in the title role, Wonka tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician, and chocolate maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. With familiar faces and brand-new characters and inventions, the film will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time. Starting on December 12, the film’s limited-time in-game integration will surprise and delight players in Words With Friends 2, as seen in today’s new game trailer:
In Words With Friends 2, a stylized Wonka avatar based on Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of the character in the film will invite players into his magical world to play chocolate-themed Friendly Faceoff word games. Those who win two games against the bright-eyed candy maker will earn an exclusive Wonka-themed frame as a sweet treat to proudly display on their player profile. To further celebrate, “Chocolatier” will be featured as the Word of the Day, putting players in a magical mindset ahead of the film’s premiere. Zynga players will also have access to limited-time challenges and rewards in Wonka’s World of Candy and other Willy Wonka titles.
“Zynga is excited to continue our ten-year history of successful collaboration with Warner Bros. by bringing the world of Wonka to players in Words With Friends and other titles across our portfolio,” said Yaron Leyvand, Executive Vice President, Games at Zynga. “We’re always looking for new ways to bring engaging experiences to our players, and inviting our community to interact with one of the world’s most beloved characters is a perfect golden ticket holiday surprise.”
“Wonka is one of the most highly anticipated movies this holiday season. By combining it with Zynga and four of their games, including Words With Friends—an evergreen cultural sensation that has connected millions of players for over a decade—we are creating unique opportunities for engagement that unite gaming and film fans across the big screen and mobile devices,” said Cameron Curtis, EVP, Worldwide Digital Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Launched in 2009, Words With Friends has grown from a popular mobile game to a global pop culture sensation. The franchise has expanded to new platforms such as Facebook Messenger, launched a hit sequel with Words With Friends 2, and brought innovative new ways for people around the world to play. The franchise’s success through this more than decade-long journey has been powered by player connections made through quick and clever wordplay that has become a touchstone in fans’ lives.
Gaming
Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention
Soft2Bet has unveiled MEGA Islands, the latest addition to its MEGA Suite, designed to enhance player engagement and retention across both casino and sportsbook offerings.
The new engine introduces a persistent progression system that carries over across sessions, giving players an ongoing reason to return. Through island-building, resource collection, and continual advancement, players embark on a long-term journey that transforms short play sessions into sustained engagement.
First previewed in Soft2Bet’s recent Lodur release, the MEGA Islands system allows players to develop their own islands over time. Resources earned through gameplay can be used to construct new buildings, upgrade existing structures, and unlock further stages of progression. Each upgrade opens new goals, creating a loop of continuous advancement that keeps players invested.
The engine also incorporates plundering mechanics, giving players an additional path to gather resources by raiding other islands. This feature not only accelerates growth but also maintains a dynamic and engaging progression loop. With no fixed endpoint, MEGA Islands is built to encourage repeat play through a satisfying cycle of building, collecting, and advancing.
“MEGA Islands is designed to make retention feel natural by providing players with a progression journey they want to return to,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet. “By building islands, collecting resources, and unlocking upgrades—including through plundering—each session becomes part of a longer experience. It gives players a clear reason to come back while providing operators with a retention tool that integrates seamlessly across casino and sportsbook.”
The launch of MEGA Islands underscores Soft2Bet’s commitment to gamification as a driver of long-term growth. As part of the MEGA Suite, the new engine offers operators a powerful tool to extend player journeys, increase engagement cycles, and deliver consistent value in competitive markets.
The post Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade
Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+
Pragmatic Play, a prominent content provider for the iGaming sector, has enhanced its arcade collection with the debut of Chicken+, a retro-themed game showcasing fast-paced action and significant winning opportunities.
Brought to existence with retro 8-bit visuals, the game tests players to evade approaching vehicles and various dangers, leading the chicken safely over the road.
With each lane successfully cleared, the win multiplier increases. Players can withdraw their earnings whenever they choose or try to navigate all lanes for the top reward, but a single random mishap concludes the round as a defeat. Players are able to view the possible winnings and the likelihood of success in reaching each lane to aid in their decision-making.
There are four levels of risk – Easy, Mid, Hard, and Daredevil. Raising the level reduces the number of lanes per round and increases the volatility, enhancing the maximum win potential from 24x in Easy mode to over 3,000,000x in Daredevil.
Blending nostalgic visuals with an eccentric theme, a user-friendly interface, and rapid betting rounds, Chicken+ meets the increasing demand for engaging, fast-paced games.
The title signifies the newest entry in Pragmatic Play’s continually growing arcade collection, succeeding the launches of Plinko+, Spire+, and Mines+.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Chicken+ blends retro charm with simple, high-engagement mechanics. With configurable risk levels and significant win potential, it stands out as another compelling addition to Pragmatic Play’s diverse arcade portfolio, inviting players to test their nerve and cross the road.”
The post Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazil
LOUD and SuperGaming Launch Prime Rush in Brazil, Bringing Battle Royale and Extraction Gameplay for Mobile
Prime Rush, a new mobile shooter blending battle royale survival with extraction-style mechanics, has officially launched in Brazil on the Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS. Developed by SuperGaming in collaboration with Spacecaps—the parent company of LOUD—the game has been shaped by direct input from Brazilian players and creators throughout its Closed Beta and Early Access phases.
Prime Rush introduces a fresh twist on the traditional battle royale formula. Beyond simply being the last squad standing, players can secure victory early by extracting Cosmium, a rare resource that appears during the final circle. This dual win condition forces squads to choose between outlasting opponents or adopting a more tactical approach to secure extraction.
The game also features a dynamic tactical ability system designed for fast-paced mobile combat. Active abilities such as DeadEye, Shield Dome, Super Speed, and Hunter’s Instinct allow players to approach matches with different strategies, focusing on precision, defense, mobility, or intelligence.
Bruno Bittencourt, CEO of LOUD, said:
“We’ve always believed Brazil has one of the most passionate gaming communities in the world, yet for years we’ve been playing games that weren’t built with us in mind. Prime Rush is a game created for Brazilian players, shaped daily by the communities we’ve built over the past decade. We’ve been listening to them every single day. It’s a game that finally feels like home.”
Roby John, CEO and Co-founder of SuperGaming, added:
“Brazil has one of the most competitive mobile shooter audiences we’ve seen, and from the beginning we wanted Prime Rush to be both authentic and accessible. That meant building a game that feels true to Brazil while ensuring it runs smoothly across a wide range of devices, so more players can experience it as intended.”
Set on the island of Maré, the game’s main battlefield supports its battle royale extraction format. It also introduces a Mini TDM mode (Favela)—a fast-paced 4v4 mode designed for quick, high-intensity firefights on the go.
At launch, players can choose from a roster of Brazilian heroes including Juliana, Rafael, Miguel, Rogério, Dos Santos, Julia, and Gustavo, with deep customization options available. Weapon personalization is enhanced through Evo-X skins, featuring upgradeable visuals, multiple Chromas, unique animations, custom sound effects, and distinctive combat feedback elements.
Prime Rush also debuts with several limited-time modes such as DeadEye Rush, Pants in the Air, and Weapon Roulette, offering short, action-packed sessions beyond the core gameplay.
The game launches alongside its first Ranked Season, where players can progress through tiers including Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Champion, Legend, and Cosmic.
Check out the launch trailer right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op5KreKoLmY
Season 1 Battle Pass: Street Legends introduces a range of rewards, including:
- New Avatars: Laura, Juliana, Rafael
- Weapon Skins: Subliminar, Grafitada, Suavidade, Firmeza, Raiz, Brabo, AK-BR7
- Melee Weapon: Chinela (Slipper)
- Vehicle Skin: Lenda Urbana
- Additional items such as stickers, dive trails, emotes, and portraits
Powered by SuperGaming’s in-house SuperPlatform, the game supports Android 7+ devices with 4GB RAM and iOS 15+. Early Access data shows stable performance at 40 FPS on lower-end devices, with up to 60 FPS on mid- to high-end hardware, ensuring accessibility across a broad range of devices in Brazil.
SuperGaming continues to optimize Prime Rush for additional devices, with performance and visual quality varying depending on hardware and player settings.
The post LOUD and SuperGaming Launch Prime Rush in Brazil, Bringing Battle Royale and Extraction Gameplay for Mobile appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Alberta7 days agoMedia Troopers Prepares for Alberta iGaming Launch with Canadian Gaming Law Firm
-
Asia6 days agoGLI Becomes the First Company Accredited by PAGCOR to Test and Certify iGaming Platforms in the Philippines
-
40 Sparkling Crown7 days agoTaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership
-
Bettingbladet.se7 days agoBettingbladet Aims to Become Sweden’s Central Hub for Gambling Industry News & Trends
-
Barbie Nerz Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg7 days agoPeter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry
-
Games Global7 days agoGames Global and Just For The Win® continue the ghostly adventure in Dark Waters III Power Combo: The Cursed Voyage™
-
ADM7 days agoENJOY gains Italian approval amid advancing regulated expansion strategy
-
Bragg Gaming Group7 days agoBragg Gaming Group Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Revenues



