Latest News
Escape Studios partners with Epic Games and leading European animation schools to deliver world’s largest training programme in Unreal Engine
Mark Flanagan, Education Partner Manager, Epic Games said: “The Summer of Unreal is an incredible opportunity that is open to professionals in animation and VFX all across Europe, and we couldn’t be happier to invite the industry to participate. Escape Studios is a wonderful partner who, along with a number of Europe’s best animation schools, are running this programme, which is set to be the biggest Unreal Engine training that we’ve undertaken to date. We’re excited to help all learners find new ways to tell awesome stories and express their creativity using Unreal Engine.”
Saint Walker, Deputy Dean of Escape Studios, said: “The Summer of Unreal is a fantastic opportunity for animation and 3D CGI professionals across Europe to discover more about the cutting-edge technology on offer with Unreal Engine.
“We’ve worked with top animation companies to create a novel animation-centric way of teaching Unreal Engine, in one of the most ambitious training programmes that Escape Studios has been involved with – our vision of a pan-European festival of learning in Unreal Engine has gained us amazing academic partners in the form of some of the best animation schools in the world. We invite learners across Europe to join us. Make your summer staycation Unreal!”
The Summer of Unreal will be taught online in English and is free-of-charge to professionals working in the animation, motion graphics and VFX industry who want an informal group experience of learning Unreal Engine over the holiday period. The course will feature daily workshops covering all the major aspects of using Unreal Engine interspersed with practice time, teamwork, as well as demonstrations and masterclasses from some of Europe’s premiere companies and artists showing how they use the platform in their work.
Mark Spevick, Escape Studios’ Head of 3D VFX will be the main ‘showrunner’ for the Summer of Unreal. The unique role used in Escapes’ larger courses ensures that tutors get to hear and address the most important questions from the online shop floor through Mark’s advocacy. Mark combines teaching and programme design with senior industry experience, having worked at Peerless Camera, the production house co-owned by Terry Gilliam.
Partner quotes
Timothy Leborgne, Head of Talent & Skills Development, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College
“A course such as Summer of Unreal is very welcome. Whether you look at film, animated series, or games we can all see a growing demand for rapid development and competent animators. And Unreal Engine is one particularly advanced tool and software we can’t avoid as professionals in the future. So, I am excited and happy we bring such a valuable course to professionals in our industry. By partnering with such competent institutions and studios across Europe, we have ensured that the course will deliver the best training.”
Gilbert Kiner, President, ARTFX
“Since its creation in 2004, ARTFX has been dedicated to training students using the latest technology and software. Beyond using this engine for our Games courses, Unreal has also been integrated into the previz pipeline for our VFX programs. We are very happy and proud to have been chosen as the exclusive French partner for this collaborative initiative.”
Felix Balbás, Area Director of Animation & VFX at La Salle-URL
“Unreal Engine is a reality we can’t ignore. No longer only in videogames and recently virtual production, now more than ever the future of any visual content creation and in particular animation and VFX, must take this evolution into account. Not only in previs stage, but also in full production. This is why La Salle-URL’s commitment towards promoting state-of-the-art training along with leader institutions at a European level is reflected in the Summer of Unreal.”
Miljana Jovović, Executive Director, Crater Training Center
“We are happy to join the Summer of Unreal as partners for Southeastern Europe, as we see this project as a great chance to upskill and connect professionals across the continent. We have spent the first part of 2021 educating university professors in Serbia in Unreal Engine so they could implement the newly-gained knowledge to their study programs and introduce the software to their students.”
Katja Schmid, Visual Effects and Post Production Professor, Hochschule der Medien
“Many artists in the industry have been waiting for this course. Now the time has come. At the moment, Unreal is one of the most in-demand tools in the industry. The response to the course announcement has been fantastic. It’s just an amazing opportunity not only to get trained for free but also to be part of a most inspiring community! We are very impressed by this large-scale project and excited to be contributing.”
Gareth Lee, Screen Skills Ireland Manager
“Screen Skills Ireland is hugely excited to be part of the Summer of Unreal. This is a unique opportunity for Irish screen sector professionals to learn about the powerful capabilities of Unreal Engine from industry experts, as well as connect with their peers across Europe.”
A BetVictor customer has turned a 10p jackpot side bet into a life-changing £1,744,000 win after landing the top-tier Epic jackpot prize on the slot game Magnificent Power Spartan.
The extraordinary win occurred last Friday via The Jackpots — an exclusive in-house jackpots product available across the portfolio of gaming brands operated by BVGroup. The feature allows any qualifying spin to trigger one of four progressive jackpot tiers, including the headline Epic prize.
On this occasion, a single 10p side bet instantly transformed into a seven-figure payout.
The winning BetVictor customer, based in Scotland and choosing to remain anonymous, successfully triggered the Epic jackpot — the largest prize available — demonstrating that every qualifying spin carries the potential to unlock a substantial reward.
Eoin Ryan, Director of Sportsbook & eGaming at BVGroup, commented:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to congratulate our first newly created millionaire. This life-changing win perfectly demonstrates how The Jackpots are designed to work, where any spin can trigger any jackpot, including the Epic pot. We’re excited to deliver many more unforgettable moments for our customers over the remainder of the year.”
The win has been fully verified, with the payout processed in line with standard casino verification and payment procedures.
This milestone highlights the continued appeal of progressive jackpot mechanics and reinforces BetVictor’s commitment to delivering high-impact gaming experiences across its platform.
The post 10p Jackpot Bet Delivers £1.7m Win on BetVictor appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blokotech, a leading innovator in iGaming software solutions, has officially completed its Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for the inaugural Bloko Padel Tour 2026, finalising the premium partner lineup ahead of the tour’s international debut.
The milestone reflects strong industry endorsement for the new sport-driven networking concept. Confirmed Gold Plus Sponsors include Clutch, Felina, Scoreconnect, The Power Plugin, and most recently, Belatra Games.
As the final premium sponsor, Belatra Games will benefit from prominent brand exposure throughout the tournament. The company, which operates its Latin American headquarters in Buenos Aires, will receive visibility across official event branding and publications, as well as customised branded padel rackets and exclusive gifts presented to tournament winners.
Launched in collaboration with SiGMA, the Bloko Padel Tour blends competitive sport, high-level networking, and the global iGaming community across four international destinations in 2026. The tour will open in Buenos Aires before heading to Malta, Miami, and concluding with a Grand Finale in Rome during SiGMA World.
The partnership further reinforces the tour’s strong Latin American dimension. Belatra Games’ long-standing presence in the region — anchored by its Buenos Aires headquarters — makes its involvement particularly aligned with the Argentina opening leg.
Blokotech Co-Founder and CEO Salvatore Messina commented:
“We’re delighted to finalise our Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for the Bloko Padel Tour 2026. The strength and diversity of partners supporting this initiative demonstrates the appetite for meaningful industry connection beyond traditional conference settings. We’re proud to see such strong backing as we prepare to launch in Buenos Aires.”
With its premium sponsor lineup now complete, the Bloko Padel Tour 2026 is positioned to deliver a unique blend of competition, collaboration, and commercial opportunity across key global iGaming hubs.
The post Blokotech finalises Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for Bloko Padel Tour 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
New York has firmly established itself as the definitive US-focused iGaming and sports betting event on the East Coast. As one of the first major industry gatherings of the year, NEXT Summit: New York brings together senior leaders shaping the future of regulated gambling across North America and beyond.
Now entering its third year, the Soft2Bet – NEXT collaboration has evolved into a long-term strategic alliance, reflecting shared growth, stability, and a joint commitment to advancing meaningful industry dialogue. What began as headline sponsorship has matured into an ongoing partnership that has consistently elevated the Summit’s seniority, relevance, and commercial impact.
NEXT Summit: New York 2026 is expected to welcome more than 1,500 industry professionals, with a highly curated audience dominated by C-level executives, founders, and directors. The agenda will focus on regulation, market entry, M&A, player engagement, brand trust, and long-term value creation in regulated markets.
As Headline Partner, Soft2Bet’s collaboration with NEXT.io is designed to foster a collaborative environment for sharing market intelligence and strengthening professional ties across the iGaming ecosystem.
Senior Soft2Bet executives will play an active role in the programme:
-
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, will deliver a keynote session, drawing on over two decades of experience across regulated markets, international expansion, and commercial transformation.
-
David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, will join a panel discussion exploring the evolving dynamics of player engagement, offering a legal and regulatory perspective on one of the industry’s most commercially critical challenges.
Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NEXT.io, said:
“Reaching a third year with Soft2Bet as our Partner says a lot about the strength and stability of this relationship. We’ve grown together, we’ve scaled together, and we share the same belief that meaningful industry progress comes from collaboration, not just visibility. Soft2Bet consistently shows up with insight, ambition, and a genuine commitment to moving the industry forward, which is exactly what NEXT Summit: New York stands for.”
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, added:
“Our partnership with NEXT.io is built on alignment, not just sponsorship. We share a belief that sustainable growth in regulated markets comes from open dialogue, transparency, and collaboration across the ecosystem. Supporting NEXT Summit: New York for a third consecutive year reflects our commitment to contributing to the industry’s long-term development — bringing operators, suppliers, and regulators into the same room to exchange insight and raise standards together.”
Soft2Bet is widely recognised for its innovative iGaming product development, including its proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), and its expanding footprint across regulated global markets. The continued headline partnership reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to North America and its active role in shaping the industry’s most important strategic conversations.
NEXT Summit: New York 2026 will also feature a dedicated side event, NEXT Focus: Emerging Verticals, alongside an expanded programme designed to maximise senior-level networking, deal-making, and knowledge exchange.
The post Soft2Bet Powers NEXT Summit: New York as Headline Partner for Third Consecutive Year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Bagley-Keene Act7 days agoCalifornia Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules
-
iGaming6 days ago
PRAGMATIC PLAY UNEARTHS PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLIERS IN ROLLING IN TREASURES
-
Comatel5 days ago
COMATEL CELEBRARÁ UNA FIESTA PARA CIENTOS DE OPERADORES TRAS FINALIZAR EL PRIMER DÍA DE LA FERIA ESPAÑOLA, INTERAZAR
-
Africa7 days ago
Groove Targets Africa’s iGaming Boom at SiGMA Cape Town 2026
-
Booming Games6 days ago
Booming Games Introduces Instastrike, the Latest Diamond Hits Trio
-
ELA Games6 days ago
ELA Games Powers the Reels with Retro-Electric Slot “Rapid Wild”
-
Africa6 days ago
Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets
-
Alex Green Vice President Games at ZEAL6 days ago
Wunderino Adds ZEAL’s Premium Slots as Partnership Kicks Off
