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2021 has already overtaken 2020 with more female-led games

Published

5 years ago

January 25, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

While women make up nearly half of all gamers, a continued study by Buzz Bingo has revealed that only 12% of next-generation video games exclusively feature a female protagonist, with 2020 being the worst year yet for female representation.

As part of this continued study, Buzz Bingo analysed every game released on PlayStation and Xbox since 2016 to see how female representation in the gaming industry has developed, as well as how this representation is unfolding in 2021.

1. PlayStation Games Year-on-Year

Our research showed us that 2020 was the lowest year in terms of the number of female-led games released on PlayStation consoles, with only 14 games (8.6%) released that year featuring a female protagonist.
2021 is already looking more promising in terms of the number of games set to be released featuring a female lead, with 23 games (18.4%) with a female protagonist having been announced so far.

Year	Female	Male	Mixed	Ambiguous/NA/TBC	Total
2016	27	120	97	62	306
2017	49	85	115	61	310
2018	27	90	98	42	257
2019	22	87	91	24	224
2020	14	53	67	29	163
2021	23	50	30	22	125

2. Xbox Games Year-on-Year

In three out of the six years we analysed, only 9 of the games that were released for Xbox consoles featured a female lead.
So far, 2021 already ranks second for the highest number of female protagonist led games for Xbox, with 14 games (12.8%) featuring a female lead having been announced or released.

Year	Female	Male	Multiple Options	Ambiguous/NA/TBC	Total
2016	16	83	54	34	187
2017	9	49	65	21	144
2018	10	46	56	29	141
2019	9	49	74	16	148
2020	9	27	49	22	107
2021	14	43	30	22	109

3. The New Generation: Xbox Series X/S and PS5

Research from Buzz Bingo has revealed that only 51 games (12%) out of the 414 confirmed PS5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusively feature a female protagonist compared to 139 (34%) games with a male-only lead.
33% of all games had both male and female protagonists or allowed the user to customise the gender.

Gender of Lead(s)	Xbox Series X/S	PlayStation 5	Xbox %	PS5 %	Total %
Female	21	30	11%	13%	12%
Male	58	81	31%	35%	34%
Multiple Options	68	68	37%	30%	33%
Ambiguous/NA/TBC	38	50	21%	22%	21%

Methodology

We analysed every game released on PlayStation and Xbox since 2016, and then manually checked each game to find out whether the playable character was male, female, ambiguous or had mixed options.
We then broke this down to find out the best and worst years for female representation in video games.
To determine gender, we researched wiki pages for the individual games and searched for the corresponding pronouns when necessary.

Source

HIPTHER

HIPTHER Announces Media Partnership with Nightrush Ahead of Prague Summit 2026

Published

4 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-announces-media-partnership-with-nightrush-ahead-of-prague-summit-2026

HIPTHER is proud to announce a new Media Partnership with Nightrush, officially launching alongside the highly anticipated HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026. The event will take place on 24–25 March 2026 at the OREA Hotel Andels Praha, bringing together leading voices from across Gaming and Technology.

Recognised as one of Europe’s premier boutique events for industry decision-makers, the Prague Summit unites professionals from iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, compliance, and digital innovation. Across two immersive days, attendees will engage in expert-led discussions, curated networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping regulated digital industries.

This new collaboration marks an important step in expanding industry dialogue and strengthening global connections within the iGaming ecosystem.

Strengthening Industry Connections Through Media Collaboration

Nightrush has rapidly established itself as a trusted media platform dedicated to connecting operators, providers, and players through in-depth content, expert reviews, industry news, and community-driven engagement. What began as a focused review platform has evolved into a dynamic hub that promotes collaboration, delivers practical insights, and supports responsible gambling initiatives across the wider iGaming landscape.

Under the leadership of Brand Manager Olesea Naidion, Nightrush continues to expand its influence within the global iGaming community. Olesea will also take the stage at Prague Summit 2026, sharing expertise on brand strategy, digital marketing, user acquisition, and long-term player loyalty.

Through this Media Partnership, HIPTHER and Nightrush will collaborate to amplify key industry conversations, increase visibility for thought leadership, and support meaningful engagement among stakeholders before, during, and beyond Prague Summit 2026.

Prague Summit 2026: Celebrating a Decade of Impact

Marking 10 years of impact across Gaming and Technology, the 2026 edition of the HIPTHER Prague Summit will feature its most ambitious programme to date. The event will host four dedicated stages, covering compliance, expert panels, strategic industry themes, and practical education through the HIPTHER Academy.

Attendees can expect:

In-depth regulatory and compliance discussions
Responsible Gaming and Player Safety sessions supported by international regulators
High-level networking with operators, suppliers, innovators, and policymakers
The prestigious GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Within this context, the partnership with Nightrush will play a key role in advancing knowledge sharing, fostering transparency, and supporting long-term growth across regulated digital industries.

A Shared Vision for the Future

HIPTHER and Nightrush are united by a shared vision: to build stronger connections across the iGaming community and enable collaboration that drives innovation, trust, and sustainable industry development.

The Media Partnership debuting at Prague Summit 2026 represents the start of a broader collaboration focused on year-round content creation, community engagement, and cross-industry dialogue—further strengthening the foundations of the global iGaming ecosystem.

The post HIPTHER Announces Media Partnership with Nightrush Ahead of Prague Summit 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Dream Play

Hyper Gems — A New Cosmic Adrenaline Release from Dream Play

Published

6 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

hyper-gems-—-a-new-cosmic-adrenaline-release-from-dream-play

Dream Play continues to grow its lineup with Hyper Gems, a space-themed slot designed around speed, rising tension, and escalating multipliers.

Set within a deep cosmic environment of glowing nebulae and radiant crystal symbols, the game delivers a sharp, modern visual style. The bottom control panel reflects Dream Play’s signature polish — a centered spin button, sleek metallic controls, and a clean layout that keeps attention firmly on momentum and gameplay.

Fast Base Game, Reactive Multiplier

The base game moves at a rapid pace thanks to avalanche mechanics, where winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place seamlessly.

Multipliers in the base game apply on a per-spin basis.
If a multiplier lands and connects with a win during that same spin, the payout is instantly boosted. Miss the connection, and it resets — keeping each spin dynamic and unpredictable.

The experience feels fast, immediate, and full of energy.

Bonus Game — Where the Adrenaline Builds

The pace shifts dramatically in the Bonus Game.

Once triggered — or activated through the Buy Bonus option — the atmosphere intensifies. The background changes, colors grow bolder, and symbol connections trigger subtle grid shake effects that add impact to every win.

The biggest change comes with the multiplier behavior.

In the bonus round, the multiplier no longer resets. Instead, it accumulates with every spin, even when no win lands. Tension builds as the value climbs spin after spin, until a winning cascade finally connects and the entire payout is multiplied by the full accumulated total.

Several quiet spins can stack significant potential, only for one sudden cascade to unleash it all at once. This is where Hyper Gems delivers its core rush.

Pop-Ups, Sound & Visual Identity

Hyper Gems features distinct Big Win, Epic Win, and Mega Win pop-ups, each with unique animations and visual styling. Transitions are smooth, modern, and fast, designed to maintain momentum rather than disrupt it.

Every win feels lively and visually rewarding.

The soundtrack reinforces the pace with a driving, space-inspired rhythm that rises alongside multiplier growth and intensifies during cascades.

Combined with strong visual effects and subtle grid movement in the bonus round, Hyper Gems delivers a cohesive, high-energy experience.

With its avalanche gameplay, accumulating bonus multiplier, and maximum win potential of x1000, Hyper Gems stands out as a release focused on escalation, tension, and momentum.

Step into the cosmic arena and experience Hyper Gems:
https://api.dreamplay.games/launch/virtual?game=hyper-gems

The post Hyper Gems — A New Cosmic Adrenaline Release from Dream Play appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Dream Play

Hyper Gems — A New Cosmic Adrenaline Release from Dream Play

Published

6 hours ago

February 6, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Dream Play expands its portfolio with Hyper Gems, a space-themed slot built around speed, tension, and multiplier escalation.

Set against a deep cosmic backdrop filled with glowing nebulae and vibrant crystal symbols, the game delivers a sharp, modern presentation.

The bottom control panel follows Dream Play’s polished design approach — centered spin button, smooth metallic controls, clean layout — keeping the focus entirely on action and momentum.

Fast Base Game, Reactive Multiplier

The base game moves quickly thanks to avalanche mechanics — winning symbols disappear and new ones cascade into place without breaking the flow.

Here, the multiplier works per spin.

If it lands and a winning combination connects in that same spin, the payout is instantly amplified. If not, it resets — keeping the gameplay reactive and dynamic.

It’s fast. Immediate. Energetic.

Bonus Game — Where Adrenaline Builds

The real shift happens in the Bonus Game.

Once triggered — or accessed via Buy Bonus — the atmosphere intensifies. The background changes, colors become more aggressive, and during symbol connections the grid adds a subtle shake effect, reinforcing the impact of every hit.

Most importantly, the multiplier no longer resets.

Instead, it accumulates with every spin — even if no win lands. The tension builds. Spin after spin, the number grows. And when a winning combination finally connects, the entire payout is multiplied by the full accumulated value.

Several spins can quietly stack the multiplier — and then one cascade suddenly lands, amplifying the entire win in a single surge.

That is where Hyper Gems delivers its core adrenaline.

Pop-Ups, Sound & Visual Identity

Hyper Gems features distinct Big, Epic and Mega Win pop-ups, each with its own animation style and visual identity. The transitions are dynamic, modern, and fast — designed to enhance momentum rather than interrupt it.

Every win feels energetic and visually impactful.

The soundtrack supports the pace with a driving, space-inspired rhythm, rising alongside multiplier growth and intensifying during cascades.

Together with the visual effects and subtle grid shake in the bonus round, the game creates a cohesive, high-energy presentation.

With its avalanche engine, accumulating bonus multiplier and max win potential of x1000, Hyper Gems stands out as a release built around escalation and momentum.

Step into the cosmic arena and experience Hyper Gems.
https://api.dreamplay.games/launch/virtual?game=hyper-gems