Latest News

How remakes and remasters are driving the UK gaming economy

Published

6 years ago

August 11, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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

Booming Games

Booming Games launches Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, second in series

Published

56 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-launches-greedy-for-gold:-hold-and-win,-second-in-series

Irish-themed slot runs a 5×3 layout with 20 fixed paylines and lists a 2,000x max win, plus Hold and Win and bonus buy options.

Booming Games has launched Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, the second game in its Greedy for Gold series. The supplier said the slot uses a 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 2,000x.

The Irish-themed title includes Pot of Gold and Lucky Hat mechanics, plus Free Spins with Jumbo symbols and a Hold and Win feature. In the base game, Booming Games said the Pot of Gold feature collects non-triggering coins and can award Hold and Win on any spin, while Lucky Hat collects Scatter symbols for a chance to trigger Free Spins. Three, four or five Scatter symbols award 10, 15 and 20 Free Spins respectively.

During Free Spins, Jumbo symbols appear across reels 2-4, the company said. Jumbo Scatter symbols award an extra three spins, while Jumbo Value symbols trigger the Hold and Win feature. Value symbols range from 1x to 100x the bet amount, and filling the grid awards the Grand Bonus worth 1000x the bet amount.

Booming Games said Hold and Win starts with three respins, with Scatter symbols held in place and additional symbols resetting the respin counter to three. Players can also purchase a Mystery Bonus for 75x the bet amount or a Super Bonus for 100x, while a Boost+ side bet increases the bet amount by 25% and increases the chance of triggering bonus features with Bonus Buy.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “While we have a dedicated pipeline of releases around St Patrick’s Day, our Irish themed games are popular with players all year round. With a number of innovative bonus features, the game demonstrates our commitment to delivering premium gaming experiences, and we’re confident that players will enjoy this latest addition to our collection.”

The post Booming Games launches Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, second in series appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel

Playson adds Super Wheel mechanic to 4 Pots Riches slot series

Published

56 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

playson-adds-super-wheel-mechanic-to-4-pots-riches-slot-series

4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel introduces a wheel-trigger tied to Bonus and Mega Bonus modes, with up to 10,000x payouts.

Playson has released 4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel, adding a new “Super Wheel” mechanic to its 4 Pots Riches slot line-up.

The Super Wheel feature triggers when a Super Wheel Symbol is present on the reels at the moment either the Bonus Game with Pot Features or the Mega Bonus Game starts. Playson said the wheel then spins to award either a Jackpot Coin, a Clover Coin, or a coin with a value of up to 10x.

In the Bonus Game, Clover Coins are collected by coloured pots above the reels and can trigger one of three pot features: Multi (adds multipliers of up to 5x), Collect (collects symbol values on the reels into the coin value, including multipliers), and Mystery (awards a Mini, Minor or Major Jackpot, or a random value of up to 75x the total bet). The Mega Bonus Game is played on an expanded 5×5 field and is accessed via a Mega Clover Coin in the main game, increasing the chance to land additional Clover Coins and features.

Playson also said a Golden Pot feature can randomly trigger during the Bonus or Mega Bonus Game, transforming into a violet, blue or red Clover Coin to activate or enhance features. Jackpot Coins can also appear, awarding Mini, Minor or Major wins worth 15x, 30x or 100x. Filling all 15 cells in the Bonus Game or all 25 cells in the Mega Bonus Game awards 3,000x and 10,000x wins respectively.

Anton Ivannikov, CPO at Playson, said: “4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel reflects our commitment to evolving successful game concepts with fresh mechanics that enhance engagement and excitement. The new Super Wheel feature adds an extra layer of anticipation to the bonus experience while complementing the proven appeal of our Pot Features.

“Combined with the Mega Bonus Game and Golden Pot enhancements, the release delivers a compelling blend of familiar mechanics and new opportunities. We believe it will resonate strongly with players and further strengthen the popularity of our 4 Pots series.”

The post Playson adds Super Wheel mechanic to 4 Pots Riches slot series appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Altenar

Altenar and Greentube Announce Strategic Sportsbook Partnership

Published

56 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

altenar-and-greentube-announce-strategic-sportsbook-partnership

Leading sportsbook provider joins forces with one of the industry’s most established gaming content and technology brands

18 June, 2026

Altenar, the leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Greentube, the Digital Gaming and Entertainment Division of NOVOMATIC, in a deal that will further strengthen both companies’ offerings across key regulated European markets.

The agreement will see Greentube integrate Altenar’s sportsbook technology, enabling the company to enhance its sports betting proposition with a scalable, feature-rich solution designed to maximise player engagement and operational performance.

Altenar delivers a fully managed and highly configurable sports betting platform, offering comprehensive pre-match and live betting coverage, advanced risk management, personalised promotional tools, and a flexible framework tailored to the needs of operators in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.

By combining Greentube’s extensive market presence and digital expertise with Altenar’s sportsbook capabilities, the collaboration aims to create new opportunities for growth while providing players with a seamless and engaging betting experience.

Charlie Williams, Commercial Director at Altenar, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Greentube, a company that has built an outstanding reputation for innovation, quality and excellence across the global gaming industry.

“At Altenar, we pride ourselves on delivering a sportsbook solution that combines flexibility, reliability and localisation, enabling operators to create unique experiences for their players while remaining competitive in increasingly demanding markets such as Spain and the UK.

We look forward to working closely with the Greentube team and supporting their continued growth.”

Ronald van den Brink, Chief Commercial Officer at Greentube, added:

“Partnering with Altenar reflects our commitment to evolving our product suite in line with the demands of regulated markets. Our players expect a broad, high-quality entertainment experience, and sports betting is an increasingly important part of that.

Altenar has a strong record in delivering sportsbook solutions that perform across diverse jurisdictions, and by bringing that capability together with our content portfolio and technology platform, we’re well placed to offer something compelling in markets where the bar for quality continues to rise.”

The collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for growth while delivering enhanced value to operators and players alike.

About Altenar
Founded in 2011, Altenar is a leading turnkey sportsbook provider committed to meeting the unique needs of its clients. Renowned for its flexibility and customer-centric approach, Altenar specialises in customising solutions to new markets, audiences and requirements. With a focus on building enduring partnerships, Altenar aims to be the most partner-oriented iGaming software provider in the industry.

www.altenar.com

About Greentube

Step inside the “Home of Games” with Greentube, delivering safe and secure casino entertainment to players around the world. As the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, Greentube offers a diversified portfolio of Video Slots, Table Games, AWP Reloaded Slots, Server-Based Gaming, Social Casino Gaming, Video Bingo and more. Greentube’s omnichannel technology is at the forefront of gaming innovation and converges online, mobile and land-based gaming.

The post Altenar and Greentube Announce Strategic Sportsbook Partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.