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ESL Gaming and Maincast extend media rights agreement for four years

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ESL Gaming, the world’s leading esports company, has today announced that it will extend its exclusive collaboration with Maincast for a further four years. With the current agreement running until 2023, the addition of multiple years ensures fans in Russia and the rest of the CIS region can keep enjoying ESL Gaming’s full premium product portfolio in their local language until Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2027.

As part of the extension, Maincast keeps the exclusive rights to broadcast ESL Gaming’s tournaments on its Twitch channels in Russian and other CIS languages. Moreover, the agreement covers the complete product portfolio consisting of ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), ESL Pro Tour StarCraft® II, and ESL Mobile, as well as ESL Gaming’s competitions for Dota 2.

ESL Gaming and Maincast joined forces in 2020, and their partnership has already seen ESL Gaming’s audience in the CIS region grow vastly, and the total amount of views doubled since then. Hitting a peak of 382,000 concurrent viewers during IEM Katowice 2020, Maincast delivered some of the best numbers for CS:GO globally. Additionally, ESL One Los Angeles 2020 became the most-watched online tournament in Dota 2 on Maincast’s Twitch channels with over 13 million views. These are but a couple of the success stories that show how Maincast excels in Russian-language broadcasts.

Maincast is one of our biggest media partners and expertly localizes our competitions to fans all over the CIS region,” said Frank Uddo, Senior Vice President Global Media at ESL Gaming. “They are great to work with and we are particularly excited to see, through this seven-year partnership, how committed they are to significantly invest in esports long-term. It is a testament to how integral esports has become within the region and we look forward to building even more success in the future with them.

“In 2020 Maincast signed a multi-year partnership agreement with ESL Gaming to broadcast their tournaments in Eastern Europe. In this period we’ve created an industry-defining product, finished numerous projects in close collaboration and provided on-site coverage of dozens of events,” said Andrii Grygoriev, CEO and co-founder of Maincast. “We are excited to announce that our partnership with ESL Gaming is extended up till Q2 2027. We’ve already begun working on long-term projects and looking for new ways of refining and improving our product. We will do our best to give our viewers even more high-quality broadcasts and on-site content, which you’ll always be able to find on our channels.”

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Edvardas Sadovskis CPO at ICONIC21

ICONIC21 Reimagines Myth: Medusa vs. Perseus — The Stone Duel

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Intense volatility collides with player-led decisions in a quest for epic 10,000x rewards.

History is shaped by those who win, but in Medusa vs Perseus: Stone Duel, the new slot from sought-after iGaming creator ICONIC21, the result lies with the player.

Transforming one of history’s most renowned rivalries into a 5×5 grid format, ICONIC21 offers a game characterized by intensity, impressive visuals, and clear mechanics.

Central to the conflict are the Full Reel Wilds. When these giants collide, they showcase a potent Multiplier that affects each winning line it connects with. As more Wilds appear and line up, the effect becomes even greater.

The experience genuinely deepens when players select their champion during the Free Spins round:

Perseus’ Momentum: Each Wild fuels an increasing Global Multiplier, culminating in a peak of victories.

Medusa’s Control: Expanding Wilds secure their position, transforming the reels into a pathway of ongoing winning opportunities.

With a maximum win of 10,000 times the stake, the bets align with the magnitude of the legend. The title is crafted to attract a wide audience.

Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “With Medusa vs Perseus: Stone Duel, we wanted to move beyond the standard ‘Ancient Greece’ tropes. By giving players the choice between Perseus’ scaling power or Medusa’s sticky persistence, we’re adding a layer of strategy to the volatility.

“This game is about the drama of the duel. For operators, this translates into deeper engagement and great performance, as players try to master both paths to the 10,000x treasure.

“This is a milestone addition to our portfolio. By delivering a diverse mix of math profiles and mechanics, we have firmly established ICONIC21 as a must-have supplier for any forward-thinking operator.”

The post ICONIC21 Reimagines Myth: Medusa vs. Perseus — The Stone Duel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Gran Madrid | Casino Online

TaDa Strikes Partnership Deal with Spain’s Top Casino Operator Gran Madrid

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TaDa Gaming, a top content provider for the iGaming sector, and Gran Madrid | Casino Online, Spain’s inaugural DGOJ licensed casino, have entered into an agreement that enables Spanish players to access TaDa’s distinctive slot and crash games. Distribution occurs via Light & Wonder Inc.

This new partnership marks TaDa’s initial foray into Spain and strengthens the provider’s successful expansion in regulated European markets. Gran Madrid | Casino Online participants will have the opportunity to enjoy TaDa’s certified collection featuring the Fortune Gems, TriLuck™’, and Hit the Cash™’ branded games.

The Hit the Cash™ hallmark of Multipliers, Lock & Respin, and fixed Jackpots has generated considerable interest, with Joker Coins and Fortune Coins now leading releases in Europe.

TaDa’s engaging crash titles include ice hockey, football, and space adventures, along with comical versions featuring a chicken crossing the road and a frog jumping over a lily pond. Go Rush, the dual betting rocket game will be the initial launch in Spain.

Established in 1981, Gran Madrid | Casino Online received its official online gaming license in 2011, becoming the first licensed and recognized online casino in Spain. The groundbreaking operator has since thrived, acquiring tier one content from international suppliers and now provides more than 4,000 titles to its clientele.

Sean Liu, Director of Product Development, TaDa Gaming, said: ‘Our successful growth strategy is based on working with leading operators in each new market. Gran Madrid | Casino Online’s deep heritage in Spanish gaming and reputation for innovative and quality experiences provide the optimum framework for our entry to the Spanish market.’

José Félix Herreros, Country Manager, Gran Madrid | Casino Online, followed: ‘Having built our brand for innovation, working with a provider of TaDa Gaming’s calibre reinforces our position as the leading online casino platform in Spain. We are looking forward to working together on some exciting new experiences for our players.’

The post TaDa Strikes Partnership Deal with Spain’s Top Casino Operator Gran Madrid appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Africa

State of the African Video Game Industry 2026: Xsolla Backs SpielFabrique’s Definitive Market Report

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Xsolla today announced its support for State of the African Video Game Industry 2026, a comprehensive new report from SpielFabrique and researcher PhD Prince Oguguo that maps the size, structure, and growth dynamics of Africa’s fast-evolving games ecosystem. The study delivers data-driven insight into developer realities, market infrastructure, monetization trends and strategic recommendations for partners and investors.

Key findings at a glance

  • Market size: Africa’s video games industry generated approximately $1.8 billion in revenue in 2024, driven predominantly by mobile gaming (≈90% of the market).

  • Growth drivers: A young, mobile-first population, rising smartphone adoption and broader digital services are fueling above-average expansion across the continent.

  • Structural challenges: Persistent pain points include payment friction, limited funding, uneven internet and platform infrastructure, and the lack of a unified continental market.

  • Diverse ecosystems: The report stresses regional variation — with deep dives into Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco — showing how local payment systems, regulation and culture shape monetization and discoverability.

Why this report matters

“Supporting research like this helps ground industry conversations in real data and lived developer experience,” said Ilayda Bayari, VP of Business Development, MEA + Southern Europe at Xsolla. The report equips publishers, platforms, investors and policy-makers with actionable intelligence to build more sustainable partnerships with African developers.

Focus areas and recommendations

SpielFabrique’s study examines three critical levers for growth:

  1. Payments & distribution: Local payment methods and mobile money are essential to improve conversion and lifetime value for African titles.

  2. Funding & infrastructure: Targeted investment and improved developer tools/platforms are needed to scale studios beyond domestic markets.

  3. Talent & esports: Clearer talent pathways, education programmes and esports ecosystems will strengthen local production and audience engagement.

Regional snapshots

The research highlights how national differences influence outcomes: strong indie scenes in Nigeria and Kenya, established studios and distribution channels in South Africa, and growing developer communities in North African markets such as Egypt and Morocco.

Launch and supporting activity

The State of the African Video Game Industry 2026 report became available on January 29, 2026, and was launched with a coordinated website feature, social media rollout and a post-launch community webinar to share insights and facilitate industry discussion.

Voices from the field

“After more than seven years working alongside African game makers and ecosystem builders, I’m proud to share this comprehensive overview of where the market stands today,” said Pr. Odile Limpach, Co-founder of SpielFabrique. The report aims to catalyze cooperation and make markets more visible — enabling partners to act on opportunities while appreciating local challenges.

The post State of the African Video Game Industry 2026: Xsolla Backs SpielFabrique’s Definitive Market Report appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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