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.”
Fotini Matthaiou
R. Franco Digital Partners with Novibet
R. Franco Digital, the Spanish iGaming provider, has bolstered its global presence following a major agreement to go live with international GameTech operator Novibet, across regulated markets in Europe and Latin America.
The partnership sees R. Franco Digital’s diverse and high-performing games portfolio integrated into Novibet’s platform, further enhancing the GameTech operator’s premium casino offering and providing its growing international player base with access to high-quality, engaging content. This move further boosts R. Franco Digital’s status as a top-tier supplier in key jurisdictions across two continents.
Among the initial wave of hit titles to be featured on Novibet’s range of sites are Strange Spins, Valentine’s Dates, Aphrodite, Link City and 40 Super 7 FS. These games have already garnered acclaim for their immersive mechanics and localised appeal, making them a strategic addition to Novibet’s premium and entertainment-led casino experience.
This latest collaboration highlights R. Franco Digital’s continued momentum, as the supplier continues to pursue its roadmap of international expansion by partnering with tier-one operators across established and emerging markets.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, said: “Partnering with a leading GameTech operator such as Novibet, is a testament to the quality and versatility of our content. Their strong presence in both Europe and Latin America aligns perfectly with our strategic goals.
“We are confident that our recent hits, such as Link City and Aphrodite, will resonate strongly with Novibet’s audience, delivering the high-quality entertainment experience players expect. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship as we continue to grow together.”
Fotini Matthaiou, Executive Director of Casino at Novibet, added: “Enhancing our casino offering through strategic content partnerships remains a key priority for Novibet. R. Franco Digital’s portfolio brings engaging, high-quality gameplay experiences that strengthen our proposition, in line with our commitment to delivering premium entertainment and long-term player value across our regulated markets.
“This partnership marks an important step in expanding our presence across Europe and Latin America, as we continue to grow our content offering with diverse and locally relevant experiences for our international audience.”
The post R. Franco Digital Partners with Novibet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
40 Sparkling Crown
TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership
TaDa Gaming marks its entry into the South African iGaming market through a landmark partnership with Betway, bringing premium casino content to local players.
With slots tailored for the SA market, Betway players will have immediate access to releases including Crazy 777, Coin Tree, 40 Sparkling Crown, Devil Fire 2 and Rapid Gems 777 as well as the Fortune Gems series. Distribution is through Light & Wonder Inc.
TaDa is renowned for attracting new and younger demographics with its immersive content. As winner of the SiGMA Africa Slot Newcomer of the Year, 2025, all games are expertly localised and mobile first for lightweight deployment and swift loading times, a critical factor for success.
Taking a glocalised approach has enabled TaDa to build a transnational brand across the continent for delivering scalable, regulated business success in emerging and high growth countries.
This experience gained from operating in over 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania makes TaDa a valuable partner in South Africa, a key destination for the ambitious content provider.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Building our brand for immersive and tailored gaming in South Africa has been enhanced through securing collaborations with key operators like Betway. We are delighted to be working together to deliver new and exciting experiences for players across the SA market.”
The post TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bettingbladet.se
Bettingbladet Aims to Become Sweden’s Central Hub for Gambling Industry News & Trends
Bettingbladet.se, a Swedish gambling industry news platform, announced its ambition to establish itself as a central source for news, analysis and market insight covering the Swedish gambling sector.
As the Swedish gambling market continues to evolve through regulatory change, new product launches, shifting payment solutions and increased investor interest in listed gambling companies, Bettingbladet aims to provide broader and more transparent coverage of the industry in one place.
The platform’s editorial focus goes beyond traditional comparison content and promotional offers. Instead, Bettingbladet seeks to cover the companies, trends and personalities shaping the sector, while also making the market more accessible for readers with an interest in gambling-related shares and publicly traded sector companies.
“Sweden has produced some of the gambling industry’s most influential companies, yet there is still a lack of accessible and transparent editorial coverage bringing the sector together in one place. Our ambition is to make the industry easier to follow for players, investors and professionals alike,” said Mikael Peränen, Editor-in-Chief of Bettingbladet.
Bettingbladet said it plans to monitor developments across operators, suppliers and adjacent gambling businesses, while also highlighting broader industry movements and the individuals behind them. The site aims to offer readers a clearer understanding of both current developments and the structural shifts influencing the market.
In addition to reporting on new products and market developments, Bettingbladet intends to provide context around the evolution of the Nordic gambling industry. This includes historical perspectives on how the sector was shaped during earlier growth phases, including the poker boom years and the rise of Malta as a key hub for Swedish iGaming entrepreneurship and expertise.
“There is strong interest not only in what is happening now, but also in how this industry was built and who helped shape it. We want to keep readers informed about new trends, while also bringing forward the stories, companies and individuals that matter,” Peränen continues,” Peränen said.
Transparency is a central part of the platform’s positioning. In a sector where affiliate-driven business models are common, Bettingbladet said it aims to clearly distinguish between editorial content, analysis and commercial collaborations.
“We believe transparency and honesty are essential for building long-term trust. That is especially important in an industry where the lines between marketing and media have often been unclear,” Peränen added.
Bettingbladet is currently in an early growth phase and plans to expand its coverage over time, with the ambition of building a broader archive of Swedish gambling industry news, analysis and company-related reporting.
The post Bettingbladet Aims to Become Sweden’s Central Hub for Gambling Industry News & Trends appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Africa6 days agoBetConstruct AI to Drive Global Innovation and Strategic Growth AcrossKey Markets in LatAm, Asia, and Africa
-
Centurion Winner Grand Chance™5 days agoNew from Inspired: Luck It Up™ and Centurion Winner Grand Chance™ available online & on mobile
-
Blazin' Bonus5 days agoBooming Games releases Blazin’ Bonus
-
Asia6 days agoMumbai to Host the Prestigious Global Esports Games (GEG) World Finals from March 19–22
-
Australasian Hospitality and Gaming Expo5 days agoIGT Showcases Integrated Gaming, Systems, and FinTech Innovations Designed to Drive Growth at Australasian Hospitality and Gaming Expo 2026
-
Africa6 days agoBetConstruct AI Fuels Global Innovation Strategy Across Latin America, Asia and Africa
-
Cristiano Blanco CEO of SpinCore Group5 days agoSpinCore Group Enters Finnish Market via Finnplay Partnership
-
23 Broadway6 days ago23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform



