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How NetEnt built an empire based on familiarity
Initially founded as Net Entertainment in 1996, NetEnt is one of iGaming’s greatest and most recognisable online slot developers, a company that’s universally known for having a truly unbeatable catalogue of online slots.
But how did this gargantuan Swedish development studio grow in prominence over the years, casting an imposing shadow over the rest of the industry? The short answer, brand power!
That being said, we’re not exactly talking about NetEnt’s brand power here… We’re talking about the fact that NetEnt has traditionally utilised other recognised brands to boost their reputation within the world of iGaming.
In the beginning – NetEnt signs collaborative deal with Universal
NetEnt kick-started this incredibly smart strategy in 2010 when they entered into a landmark multi-year licensing agreement with Universal, the film studio behind some of Hollywood’s greatest movies and television shows.
The first big-name IP that NetEnt developed into an online slot was none other than Mr. Tony Montana himself, the notorious drug lord Scarface. Looking back it’s quite understandable why NetEnt decided to go with an R-rated character.
Not only is Tony Montana all about big money, but it’s much easier to pair a classic bad boy with a form of entertainment such as online slots that have long been looked upon as risqué.
Once it was quite apparent that NetEnt had discovered a winning strategy they continued to sign deals with other major film and television studios such as Colombia Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Sony Entertainment to get access to some of the world’s biggest brands.
These brand partnerships gave NetEnt a competitive edge over other studios who were themselves releasing run-of-the-mill online slots themed around ancient Egypt, Las Vegas and Ireland… Nothing particularly exciting when compared to NetEnt’s slots that are based on hit movies and television shows.
Aggressive expansion – NetEnt’s television and movie-themed slots arrive at casinos across the internet
After the success of Scarface, NetEnt decided to stick with creating branded online slots that feature characters and IP that wouldn’t be ‘tarnished’ by being made into an online slot game. Whether this was a decision made by movie and television executives, or NetEnt themselves remains to be seen… Either way, it worked!
Their next hit games were South Park and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Naturally, South Park featured all of the same rude and crude humour the famous animated show is known for, and as a result, it pulled in a whole host of players (old and new) that were interested in this new and unique crossover.
The same can be said for Creature from the Black Lagoon, a slot based on the unsettling 1954 horror movie of the same name. Despite the fact that not too many players will vividly remember the black and white film, players still flocked to this highly volatile slot.
In the months and subsequent years that followed NetEnt released a huge number of branded TV/movie-themed slots that pulled in huge audiences, these include: South Park: Reel Chaos, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Dracula, Universal Monsters: The Phantom’s Curse, Emojiplanet, Planet of the Apes and Conan.
NetEnt also used their successful partnership with Universal to muscle in on the world of music as part of the developers 20th-anniversary celebrations, they got their hands on the IP for some of the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll stars Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead and Jimi Hendrix.
Having seriously upped their game utilising big-name brands, NetEnt continued to pull out all the stops to wow audiences with new online slots based on iconic people, tv shows and movies.
First came Jumanji Video Slot, then Narcos (based on the hit Netflix series), followed by Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Slot and most recently Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Video Slot.
Building for the future – NetEnt supplement their success by creating their own brand icons
Despite having seen unprecedented success due to their branded slots, credit still must be given to their army of creatives as they’re also responsible for inventing some iconic brands of their own that have gone on to spawn multiple games and feature heavily in casino lobbies.
If you ask anyone today to name a handful of the most recognisable online slot games, odds are they’ll mention NetEnt classics such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Mega Fortune and Twin Spin. All of these games have spawned popular sequels and are often used as part of casino welcome bonuses due to how popular they are with players around the world.
NetEnt seems to be one of the very few successful online slot developers that have found the perfect balance between creating timeless classics of their own and utilising big-name brands from outside the world of iGaming to help grow their reputation.
Blueprint Gaming and Play’n GO are the only two studios that can hold a candle to NetEnt, and it’s hard to say whether any other developers will get remotely close to any of them at this point. Ultimately, the costs and intricacies involved in licensing are just far too great for up and coming developers to front.
Looking back, it’s clear to see that NetEnt took a serious risk in signing expensive deals with Hollywood studios, but it’s one that paid off tenfold. NetEnt is without a doubt the biggest name in online slots, and has been for the last decade.
We believe that their success is entirely down to the fact they’ve played host to the biggest names and therefore gained the attention of the biggest casinos, seeing their games front and centre of slot lobbies all over the world.
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Chess.com, MOONTON Games, and SNK join the ENC alongside Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft, to strengthen the foundation of the world’s first international, nation-based competition at this scale
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the addition of Chess.com, MOONTON Games and SNK for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a landmark tournament where the best esports players in the world will compete for the honor of representing their countries. The ENC introduces national pride to the global esports stage in a recurring format and is the first event of its kind at this scale.
Chess.com, MOONTON Games and SNK join as Official Publishers, alongside Founding Publishers and video game companies EA, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft – the core partners developing the foundational structure of the ENC – bringing with them their iconic titles, global reach, and player communities to enhance the first Esports Nations Cup.
The three new publishers and all forthcoming Official Publishers will co-design qualification paths and competition formats for their respective titles — ensuring integrity, competitive relevance, and a consistent global structure.
The EWCF and its Founding Publishers continue to co-develop the ENC to establish the tournament’s foundational framework, structure, and format from inception, representing a deeper level of strategic partnership and commitment than other publishers.
“By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the Esports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in the games that define their careers,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With the seven partners announced so far as close collaborators, we can activate players worldwide and deliver a Nations Cup that feels earned for players and real for fans, and build a stage that national teams can aspire to for years to come.”
As the newest addition to the EWCF portfolio, the Esports Nations Cup builds on the momentum of the Esports World Cup — the world’s largest multi-title esports event — and extends its mission to a new layer of global competition. While the Esports World Cup unites the best clubs, the ENC unlocks a new frontier powered by national identity and regional representation.
The ENC will feature national teams from all major regions – including North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania – competing in both team-based and solo-player formats. A multi-layered qualification model will balance competitiveness and inclusivity: combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries, including solidarity placements, to ensure a broad and representative competitive stage in every game.
The Esports Nations Cup will debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026, before moving to a rotating host model, bringing national esports teams to fans and cultures worldwide. Held every two years, the ENC will provide a dependable structure for players and esports organisations, encouraging long-term investment in national team programmes.
Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks.
The post Esports Nations Cup Confirms New Official Publishing Partners appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Play’n GO introduces Fangs & Fire, a 5×3 video slot that expands up to 5×7 during features, calling forth two legendary protectors of hidden treasures – the fierce Prowler and the mighty Serpent.
In this world of lingering spirits, every strike of the golden Gong echoes with power. Players can encounter four distinct bonus rounds: the prowling Tiger’s re-spins, the Serpent’s towering reel expansion, and the ultimate Serpent & Prowler Bonus, where the reels unlock row by row until the coveted Mythical Prize comes into view.
Golden Gongs are central to the experience. When aligned, they merge their strength in the Link’n GO feature, instantly awarding rewards. Even when quiet, the Celestial Gong may intervene, scattering blessings across the reels in the form of additional Gong symbols. This interplay of guardians and gongs creates a dynamic rhythm, ensuring the narrative of power, precision, and balance is reflected in the gameplay.
Fans of myth-inspired titles will recognise Play’n GO’s commitment to pairing rich folklore with rewarding mechanics. Much like Legacy of Inca or Legend of the Ice Dragon, this release weaves mythos and feature design into a seamless whole, offering players both spectacle and depth. The Prowler and Serpent stand not only as guardians but as extensions of the game’s core identity – strength and wisdom entwined.
Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO, said: “With Fangs & Fire, we wanted to capture the duality of power and grace. The Prowler’s strikes and the Serpent’s rise each bring something distinct, but together they awaken something truly legendary. Players will sense that energy in every moment of the game.”
Fangs & Fire is set to captivate those drawn to stories of guardians, ancient blessings, and treasures fiercely protected.
The post Fangs & Fire unleashes the guardians of fortune appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Belatra, a leading developer of innovative online slots, is welcoming players back to the American wilderness with Big Wild Buffalo 2 – the follow-up to the runaway success Big Wild Buffalo.
Set on the vast American prairies, surrounded by stone canyons, and majestic mountains, Big Wild Buffalo 2 is a 6×4 game that features Wild Symbols with Multipliers, Free Games and the popular Hot Mode. A moving soundtrack helps build an atmosphere of power, nature, and freedom — steady drumbeats rise with wins.
The Wild Buffalo symbol can substitute for any regular symbol and appears on reels two, three, four, and five. If it lands partially, the reel automatically nudges, and the symbol expands to cover the entire reel. Each time the nudge happens, the Wild’s multiplier by +1. If multiple Wild Buffalo symbols appear, their multipliers are added together. Should a Wild land on adjacent reels, they merge and their multipliers multiply. Additionally, in Free Games the merged Wilds become sticky and remain until the end of the entire feature.
Free Games are activated by three or more Scatters landing in any position. Three Scatters returns eight Free Games, four award nine, five award 10, and hitting six Scatters activates 10 Free Games in Hot Mode. During Free Games, Scatters continue to appear and award additional free spins – the max is 100 Free Games. Free Games also has a global multiplier in play that in standard mode starts x1 and increases whenever a special portal appears: a buffalo emerges from it and boosts the global multiplier by +1. All winnings during Free Games are multiplied by the current global multiplier.
In Hot Mode the global multiplier begins between x2 and x10, and it continues to grow whenever a portal with a buffalo appears on one or more reels.
The Hold-and-Win Bonus triggers when six or more special symbols appear on the reels, including Credit symbols, Donors, Magnets, or Cloning symbols. There are also Extra Bonuses and the Buy Bonus for those eager to jump into the action sooner.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, said: “Big Wild Buffalo 2 delivers an unforgettable adventure across the American wilderness that’s enhanced by stunning visuals, thrilling mechanics, and huge win potential. Each spin brings the power and freedom of the wild right to the reels, making it a must-play for both fans of the original game and those just discovering the series.”
The post Belatra grows portfolio with the launch of Big Wild Buffalo 2 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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