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.”
Industry News
Playtika Announces Organisational Changes and New Layoffs
Playtika Holding Corp. has announced a major restructuring plan for Q1 2026. In the streamlining process, the company will dismiss 15% of its workforce during Q1 2026 and will recognise costs of $12-15 million for compensating employees and accompanying costs. At the end of 2024, the company had about 3500 employees. This means the company will shed 500 employees. Estimates are that about 1000 of the company’s employees are in Israel.
Playtika founder and CEO Robert Antokol wrote in a letter to employees, “The decision was not made lightly, and it reflects a fundamental change in the way we operate, so that we can invest in the future and continue to lead in the highly competitive environment of the mobile gaming market.”
Antokol added that for years, Playtika has been operating from a broad growth perspective, while implementing similar resource allocation models across its entire game portfolio. “The economic reality of the industry has changed, and the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is no longer appropriate for the new reality,” Antokol wrote.
According to him, in order to continue leading, the cost structure must be adjusted. “If we do not make the necessary adjustments to the cost structure today, we will compromise our ability to invest in the growth and future of the company. We cannot continue to allocate resources to mature games at the same historical levels while simultaneously trying to build a new future. By precisely adjusting our investment scope across our entire game portfolio, we can free up the resources needed to invest in games with high growth potential,” he explained.
Antokol continued: “This time is different,” because the change opens a new chapter for the company that will create new growth opportunities for it. “This is not a retreat, but a proactive move to focus strength and power. Our aim remains unchanged: to be the leading independent mobile games company in the West,” Antokol wrote, adding that Playtika will do this, among other things, by developing a new game development channel and expanding direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, as well as using AI and automation. “This is our moment to shape the next decade of Playtika. I am confident that with your passion and focus, we will not only get through this period, but we will grow together and lead Playtika to be stronger than ever,” concluded Antokol.
The post Playtika Announces Organisational Changes and New Layoffs appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
crypto sports betting
Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume
Mash.fun, the innovative crypto-powered sports trading platform, has officially launched its first player props markets, giving users a new way to trade the performance of individual athletes.
The move comes as Mash.fun celebrates a major milestone, surpassing $1 million in total traded volume.
The new player props feature enables users to speculate on metrics like the aggregate minutes of goals scored by a specific player. For instance, if a player such as Erling Haaland scores in the 61st and 82nd minutes, the market settles at 143. This approach allows traders to long or short individual player performances, offering a more precise and interactive betting experience compared to traditional match outcomes.
“Player props are a natural evolution for Mash.fun, allowing our users to engage with sports betting in a more nuanced way,” said a spokesperson for Mash.fun. “Hitting $1 million in traded volume within weeks highlights strong demand for this innovative trading model.”
Mash.fun combines the user experience of top Gen Z trading apps with sports betting, featuring unique scalar markets, leveraged positions, and dynamic crypto charts. Built on the Solana blockchain, Mash.fun merges the speed and transparency of crypto with the excitement of live sports trading.
In addition to player props, Mash.fun recently introduced Shirts markets, where users trade indices based on the aggregate shirt numbers of goalscorers, further expanding its creative and engaging market offerings.
For more information, visit Mash.fun and explore the future of crypto sports trading
The post Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Logifuture’s Simulate Forecasts Morocco AFCON Glory After 1,000 Final Simulations
Logifuture’s innovative Simulate sportsbook product has crunched the numbers ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 final, running the decisive clash between Morocco and Senegal 1,000 times to predict a winner. The results point firmly toward the hosts, with Morocco emerging as favourites to lift their first AFCON title in more than 50 years.
Simulate, Logifuture’s cutting-edge virtual sports betting feature, delivers fast-paced simulations across football and basketball, offering instant results or gameplay over 10- and 30-second intervals. Players can run up to 15 simulations simultaneously, creating a constant stream of betting opportunities and immersive engagement.
AFCON Final Simulation Results: Morocco vs Senegal
According to Simulate’s data-driven modelling, Morocco won 433 of the 1,000 simulated finals (43.3%), while Senegal claimed victory 283 times (28.3%). The remaining simulations ended level after 90 minutes, highlighting the fine margins expected in the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Goals are predicted to be at a premium. In line with Morocco’s defensive solidity during the tournament, 67% of simulations (633 matches) finished with under 2.5 goals, reinforcing expectations of a tense, tactical contest.
Early momentum could prove decisive. Only 5% of simulations saw a team recover from a half-time deficit to win in regulation time. Given that Morocco have conceded just once during the tournament, Senegal could face an uphill battle if they fall behind early.
Draws may also shape the outcome, with 28% of simulated matches tied after 90 minutes. Morocco’s resilience under pressure was already demonstrated in their semi-final triumph over Nigeria, where they prevailed 4–2 on penalties.
Third-Place Play-Off: Nigeria vs Egypt
Logifuture’s Simulate also analysed the AFCON third-place play-off between Nigeria and Egypt, running the fixture 1,000 times. The Super Eagles emerged victorious in 467 simulations (46.7%), while Egypt won 333 times (33.3%), with the remaining matches requiring extra time.
Low-scoring outcomes dominated the simulations. Only 267 matches featured over 2.5 goals, while 467 ended with a single goal, underlining expectations of another tightly contested encounter. Goalless draws were rare, occurring in just 67 of the 1,000 simulations, suggesting a breakthrough is likely before full time.
Boosting Sportsbook Performance with Simulate
Beyond predictions, operators using Logifuture’s Simulate have reported sportsbook GGR increases of up to 5%, driven by advanced predictive modelling and enhanced player engagement. By delivering personalised betting experiences and real-time insights, Simulate helps operators optimise offers, improve retention, and drive sustainable long-term growth.
As AFCON 2026 reaches its climax, Logifuture’s Simulate continues to demonstrate how data-led virtual sports betting can enhance fan engagement while delivering measurable commercial impact for sportsbook operators.
The post Logifuture’s Simulate Forecasts Morocco AFCON Glory After 1,000 Final Simulations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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