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How remakes and remasters are driving the UK gaming economy

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  • With 37.3 million gamers, the UK gaming industry is the biggest in Europe

  • New report finds remastered games to be a driving force behind industry growth 

  • Gaming is more accessible than ever thanks to the rise of mobile gaming

Nineties teens are 69%1 more likely than the national average to spend between 21 and 28 hours gaming every week. And with this age group 47% more likely to have access to a Nintendo Switch, PS4 (42%) and Xbox One (44%), a new report reveals how developers are tapping into this market to drive the UK gaming economy.

From the impact of remakes and remasters, to how digital downloads are changing the industry, online smartphone retailer, Mobiles.co.uk, has taken an in-depth look at how the UK’s gaming industry is evolving.

The study reveals that the UK gaming industry has experienced huge growth in the past 10 years, with retail sales revenue between 2009 and 2019 increasing by a huge 72.6%2. Further insight also reveals that in 2019, the entire UK video game industry generated a huge £5.35 billion1 in revenue, with £3.77 billion3 of that total generated from video game software sales. But with an impressive 37.3 million4 gamers in the UK alone, what exactly is contributing to this growth?

According to Mobiles.co.uk’s report, the trend for remastered games including Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, Resident Evil 2 and The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening, all play significant roles in the growth of the gaming industry here in the UK.

The new UKIE UK Top Selling Games List for 2019 revealed the below remakes/remastered games were amongst the top 100 best selling boxed games sold in 2019, while the more recent Final Fantasy VII remake quickly became one of the PS4’s best selling game to date:

 

Rank

Title

Monthly Search Volume

16

Crash Bandicoot N.SaneTrilogy

6,6005

21

Resident Evil 2

27,1005

32

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

8,1005

 

Still remaining in the top 20 for the UK’s best-selling games of 2019 two years after its release, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy receives around 6,600 unique searches every month4, its continuing popularity indicates that British gamers are becoming increasingly nostalgic when it comes to their gaming choices.

Crash Bandicoot also features at number 21 in the 2019 list. The remaster spiked the interest of gamers in the UK with a huge 49% increase in search volume over the past 12 months alone5. With an average of 27,100 monthly searches5, the franchise’s decision to reboot this classic was certainly welcomed by the industry, indicating there is a huge appetite for nostalgic gameplay here in the UK.

The final remaster included in the list of the top-selling games is The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening. Originally launched on the Game Boy in 1993, the remake was designed for the Nintendo Switch. As of March 2020, the new Link’s Awakening had sold more than four million copies globally6, and it’s one of the best-selling games of all time for the Nintendo Switch.

Lee Chambers, Psychologist and gaming expert, commented on the research: “Gaming and nostalgia are heavily interconnected, to the point where it fuels trends and shapes the industry direction. Video games are incredible triggers for nostalgia, anchoring us back to an often carefree time, when we had fewer responsibilities and gaming became a social construct as groups of children all sat around in a bedroom socialising while playing.

“The reality of the industry is that nostalgic gamers are now the ones with purchasing power to relive past glories fighting dragons of their youth, while being decision-makers for buying games as presents for their children. And that is gradually shaping the industry, risk aversion for the new, settling for the old. Your average early millennial is approaching 40. They don’t have the time they did as a child to form an emotional bond to a game’s story with life’s distractions, but a remake removes that barrier, making it all the more attractive.”

The new study also reveals the impact digital downloads are having on the industry, with over two thirds (70%)6 of the UK’s total video game sales revenue, generating a total of £2.63 billion6, coming from digital downloads. Even more remarkably, 42%6 of this revenue came directly from mobile games, indicating a shift in the industry towards smartphone gaming.

The report indicates that UK gamers are not only changing the way they purchase games but thanks to recent advancements in smartphone technology – including cinematic displays, advanced GPUs and even the introduction of high-speed 5G – they’re also expanding the devices they play on.

With a projected 2%7 compound annual growth rate, the huge surge in the mobile gaming sector is predicted to maintain its momentum in 2020 and beyond. An estimated 21 million people in the UK played a mobile game in 20197, with 19% of users aged 18 to 24, 37% falling in the 25-34 age bracket and 23% aged 35-447.

Andrew Cartledge, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, says “In the UK, and all across the world, there’s no doubt that the gaming industry is growing at a rapid speed. The excitement for the next remake or remaster makes sure there’s still a place for the old, while the huge shift towards digital assures the industry and its consumers can keep up with the new.

“Mobile gaming is already huge in 2020 and will only get bigger in the years to come. If you’re interested in trying out some of the very best mobile games like PUBG and Fortnite for yourself, make sure you have a powerful handset to play on.”

For the full report on the UK gaming industry, mobile gaming, remasters and more, please visit: https://www.mobiles.co.uk/blog/understanding-the-uk-gaming-industry-mobiles-remasters-and-more/#fn1

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Atlaslive Steps In as Direct Technology Partner for Onabet in Brazil

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The B2B iGaming platform provider assumes the role of Onabet’s dedicated technology partner, taking on platform delivery and operational infrastructure in one of the world’s most dynamic regulated markets.

Atlaslive has entered into a direct partnership agreement with Onabet, a licensed Brazilian operator holding authorization from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) to provide online gaming services across Brazil. Ranked among the top 10 operators in the country by gross gaming revenue, Onabet is one of the recognized names in Brazil’s fast-growing regulated betting industry. Under this agreement, Atlaslive assumes the role of Onabet’s dedicated technology partner—delivering platform infrastructure and continuous operational support.

Having generated an estimated $5.96 billion in gambling revenue during its inaugural year of regulation, Brazil’s iGaming market now ranks among the five largest globally. Onabet holds a federal licence under the regulatory framework introduced by Law 14.790/2023, with authorization to offer both sports-themed betting and online gaming products to players across the country.

Working under a direct partnership structure allows both organizations to achieve tighter alignment on product roadmap, accelerated deployment timelines, and unified accountability for platform uptime and performance. Onabet gains tighter coordination with the engineering and product teams building the technology they rely on daily, while Atlaslive advances its strategic focus on direct operator relationships—an approach that drives deeper technical integration and more sustainable outcomes in demanding regulated environments.

“When you work directly with the team that builds your platform, everything accelerates—from feature delivery to issue resolution. That’s the model we believe in, and we’re glad Onabet shares that vision,” said Volodymyr Taftai, Country Director for Brazil, Atlaslive. “Brazil is one of the most demanding regulated markets in the world. Earning the trust of a licensed operator here is something we take seriously.”

Hugo Baungartner, Institutional Director at Grupo Esportes Gaming Brasil, added: “The Brazilian regulated market requires increasingly robust, scalable operations that are aligned with local dynamics. This partnership helps strengthen our technological capabilities and supports the continuous evolution of the experience delivered by Onabet.”

Atlaslive is a B2B iGaming technology company that develops a proprietary platform engineered for sportsbook and casino operations. Its business model centers on sustained operator partnerships, product-driven development, and comprehensive platform delivery.

The post Atlaslive Steps In as Direct Technology Partner for Onabet in Brazil appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Andrzej Hyla Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan

Wazdan Debuts “Score the Jackpot” Initiative in Run-Up to Major Global Sporting Event

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Wazdan, a prominent innovator in game development, has unveiled its latest initiative, the Score the Jackpot campaign, offering operators a comprehensive promotional toolkit designed to tap into the excitement surrounding this summer’s football fever.

With the motto “Our Goal – Your Gain,” the campaign integrates four unique Wazdan games into a football-themed concept, enabling operators to craft engaging seasonal promotions around a balanced selection of captivating titles.

The Score the Jackpot campaign includes Mighty Wild™: Gorilla, Cash Grotto™, 16 Coins™ x5000, and Fisherman’s Luck™. Each game has been carefully chosen to complement the wider promotion, creating a cohesive and dynamic gaming experience.

Mighty Wild™: Gorilla delivers action-packed, bonus-rich gameplay as part of one of Wazdan’s flagship series. Cash Grotto™ offers a visually distinct design and innovative mechanics, adding diversity to the mix. The ever-popular 16 Coins™ x5000 strengthens the lineup as a standout title from the Coins™ collection, while Fisherman’s Luck™ adds a breezy, summer-themed vibe that aligns perfectly with the campaign’s seasonal focus.

Rather than spotlighting individual game launches, Score the Jackpot aims to assist operators in building unified, football-centric promotions. By offering a pre-assembled collection of games, the campaign provides a structured foundation for summer marketing efforts while underscoring Wazdan’s dedication to flexible and results-oriented promotional solutions.

Accompanied by the tagline “Don’t drop the ball this summer,” the initiative highlights Wazdan’s strategy of combining strong gaming content with strategic seasonal engagement. This approach enables operators to capture players’ interest during one of the most celebrated sporting seasons of the year.

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, commented: “Score the Jackpot has been crafted to help operators amplify player engagement during some of the year’s most iconic sporting moments, leveraging a football-inspired, plug-and-play campaign concept.”

He further added: “Each game in the package offers something unique, empowering operators to design diverse promotions that revolve around entertainment, variety, and timely seasonal themes.”

The post Wazdan Debuts “Score the Jackpot” Initiative in Run-Up to Major Global Sporting Event appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetCentury

The Mill Adventure grows Swedish market presence thanks to BetCentury

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The Mill Adventure has launched FunkySpins.com in Sweden, marking the debut brand for BetCentury, an operator group founded by former Kindred CEO Henrik Tjärnström.

The company said the launch is the first in a series of casino brand roll-outs planned through its collaboration with BetCentury. The Mill Adventure is providing a turnkey platform that includes AI-driven SmartLobbies, personalisation tools and real-time business intelligence.

The Mill Adventure said its platform is fully compliant with Swedish regulatory requirements, including responsible gambling frameworks and alignment with Spelinspektionen standards.

Bjørnar Heggernes, Chief Commercial Officer at The Mill Adventure, said: “Launching FunkySpins with BetCentury further strengthens our position in Sweden and highlights the flexibility of our platform in highly regulated markets.

“Our turnkey solution enables partners to move quickly from concept to launch, combining advanced personalisation, automated lobby management and real-time data insight within a fully compliant framework.”

Henrik Tjärnström, Co-founder at BetCentury, said: “Going live with FunkySpins through The Mill Adventure’s robust platform gives us the strong technological foundation we need to bring our vision to market effectively.

“Their platform allows us to move fast, continuously refine the player experience and scale with confidence in a competitive, regulated environment.”

The post The Mill Adventure grows Swedish market presence thanks to BetCentury appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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