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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021
The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.
Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.
The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.
The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.
The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.
The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.
The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.
From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.
Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”
Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!
“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”
Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”
AMLA
AMLA Launches Public Consultation on Three Draft Regulatory Acts
The Danish Gambling Authority has announced that the new European supervisory authority, AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority), has published three new draft regulatory acts for public consultation.
The draft acts are intended to supplement the Anti Money Laundering Regulation with detailed rules in the following areas:
• Customer Due Diligence procedures. The draft act specifies the detailed requirements for customer due diligence. The main rules are set out in the new Anti Money Laundering Regulation, which enters into force on 10 July 2027. The consultation deadline is 8 May 2026.
• Pecuniary sanctions, administrative measures and periodic penalty payments. This draft act concerns the principles and related elements for determining sanctions to be applied by authorities to entities that fail to comply with the rules. The consultation deadline is 9 March 2026.
• Criteria for identifying business relationships, occasional and linked transactions and lower thresholds. The draft act specifies the criteria for identifying business relationships, occasional and linked transactions, and lower thresholds. The main rules are set out in the new Anti Money Laundering Regulation, which enters into force on 10 July 2027. The consultation deadline is 8 May 2026.
The Danish Gambling Authority encourages gambling operators to submit consultation responses to AMLA’s draft regulatory acts to the greatest extent possible. The public consultations are available on AMLA’s website.
The post AMLA Launches Public Consultation on Three Draft Regulatory Acts appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blueprintx
Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” Nostalgia Series Featuring Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp
Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” – A Social-First Nostalgia Series for 2026
Zingo Bingo has officially unveiled Your Era, a new short-form social media content series celebrating iconic throwbacks, shared nostalgia and the cultural moments that defined generations. The series launches in February 2026 and will roll out weekly across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Designed to strengthen Zingo Bingo’s identity as a home of nostalgic fun, Your Era focuses on authentic conversation rather than traditional promotional content. The format highlights music, fashion, technology and pop culture milestones that shaped each guest’s personal journey.
Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp Headline Series One
The first confirmed guests include Kerry Katona, singer and media personality best known from Atomic Kitten, and Pat Sharp, the iconic radio and TV presenter associated with classic UK entertainment shows. Additional celebrity names will be revealed throughout the year.
Each episode features five themed nostalgia segments crafted to spark memories, conversation and emotional connections among viewers.
What to Expect from “Your Era”
Every guest takes part in recurring throwback features designed to boost engagement and relatability:
- The Memory Bag – Guests reveal five nostalgic items and share the stories behind them
- Flashback Files – A rapid-fire interview covering music, fashion, tech and cultural trends
- Mixtape Memories – Guests curate throwback tracks for the official Your Era playlist
- Taste of the Past – Sampling retro sweets and snacks while rating nostalgia levels
- Yesterday’s News – A humorous headline-guessing game using real throwback media stories
The series aims to tap into the growing popularity of nostalgia-driven digital content while positioning Zingo Bingo as a community-led entertainment brand.
Built by Kinetic Digital and Blueprintx
Your Era has been developed by Zingo Bingo’s operators, Kinetic Digital, in collaboration with long-term creative partner Blueprintx. Blueprintx has previously supported digital and television campaigns for Kinetic Digital brands including Prime Casino and Slingo.
The production strategy prioritises shareable, short-form content optimised for social discovery and influencer amplification, with episodes distributed across dedicated platform pages as well as guest channels.
A Strategic Play for Community Engagement
Jack Watson, Brand Manager at Zingo Bingo, said the series reflects the brand’s commitment to fun, familiarity and connection.
“Your Era is about celebrating the music we replayed, the fads we cringe at and the memories that still make us smile. It’s designed to bring people together through shared nostalgia while reminding audiences that bingo is about enjoying those moments collectively.”
Series one will feature six guests throughout 2026, with new weekly segments designed to drive audience engagement and repeat viewership.
The post Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” Nostalgia Series Featuring Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
app launch Feb 2026
Vibra Solutions Powers Betxico Mobile App Launch in Mexico — Scalable iGaming Platform
Vibra Solutions, the LatAm-focused iGaming technology company, today announced the launch of Betxico’s new mobile app, strengthening Vibra’s presence in Mexico and accelerating Betxico’s rapid growth as one of the country’s fastest-expanding online betting and digital casino operators.
Built for scale and local market needs, the Betxico mobile app represents the latest milestone in a strategic partnership that prioritizes performance, regulatory compliance and user experience. The platform delivers robust support for high concurrent users and real-time transactions, making it well suited to Mexico’s dynamic mobile-first audience.
Fast, local, and scalable technology
Vibra Solutions and Betxico co-developed a scalable technical architecture designed to:
- Support large volumes of simultaneous users and real-time wagering activity
- Ensure low-latency, secure transactions across sportsbook and casino verticals
- Provide localized features and compliance-ready workflows for Mexico’s regulated market
- Enable rapid updates and continuous product innovation through an agile integration model
These technical strengths help Betxico quickly roll out competitive features while reducing time-to-market and operational friction for both mobile and web channels.
Partnership built on growth and trust
“Seeing Betxico establish itself in such a competitive market is extremely rewarding,” said Werter Luna, CEO of Vibra Solutions. “Their high standards and sustained trust have driven product evolution at every stage.”
Francisco Salazar, CCO of Betxico, added: “We’re proud of our progress in Mexico. Having Vibra Solutions as our technology partner was fundamental — allowing us to move forward with confidence and a strong focus on the user.”
Why this matters for Mexico and LatAm
The Betxico app launch underscores Vibra Solutions’ strategy to deliver regulated-market expertise across Latin America by combining localised product design with enterprise-grade platform engineering. For operators and partners, the app demonstrates how technology-led partnerships can accelerate growth while prioritizing player safety, compliance and seamless UX.
Operators, affiliates and players can expect ongoing feature rollouts and performance optimizations as Betxico scales its footprint in Mexico’s competitive iGaming market.
The post Vibra Solutions Powers Betxico Mobile App Launch in Mexico — Scalable iGaming Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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