Latest News
Helsinki: The Home of Mobile Gaming Innovation Hosts Pocket Gamer Connects’ 40th Event
Returning to its roots after a successful Toronto sprint, the Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) conference lands once again in the heart of Finland’s gaming landscape – Helsinki. Join Pocket Gamer on September 12th and 13th, at Wanha Satama, Pikku Satamakatu 3-5, Helsinki, Finland to celebrate the 40th instance of Pocket Gamer Connects.
Helsinki’s gaming influence extends beyond mobile, with a 16% rise in active developer studios and a remarkable 200% increase in developer studio investments post-pandemic, encompassing PC and console platforms. This legacy cements Helsinki’s role as a natural host for PGC, offering an environment where innovation and gaming unite effortlessly.
The countdown begins for this year’s Helsinki event, situated in the very birthplace of mobile gaming, Finland, renowned for its collaborative gaming community rooted in the mid-1980s demoscene movement. With some of the most well-known companies in the sector (including the likes of Supercell and Rovio, the latter recently attracting a SEGA takeover). At the forefront of innovation, Finland leads the charge in VR, XR, and metaverse technologies, too, with plans to invest up to 13 million Euros by 2030 to shape the digital future.
This year’s edition of Pocket Gamer Connects will feature 200 speakers such as Elina Arponen of Quicksave Interactive, Tommi Lappalainen from Rovio, Veli-Pekka Puolakanaho from Remedy Entertainment, Jussi Tähtinen of Nitro Games, Jaakko Kylmäoja of Fingersoft, and many more. The event will also feature tracks such as Ad Insights, AI Advances, Big Screen Gaming, Industry Visions & Values, and many more. Developers, publishers, along with other influential speakers have been invited to share their insights and experiences with a network that aims to grow the mobile games community.
Dave Bradley, COO of Steel Media says, “We’ve been hosting events in Helsinki now since 2014. It’s one of the most vibrant and collaborative ecosystems for games in the whole world. After successful events in Seattle, Dubai and Toronto already this year, we’re excited to be back seeing our friends in Finland. It’s always a huge pleasure to be able to host this event in the spiritual home of mobile gaming and innovation! And this year, we’ve partnered with Games Forest Club to support sustainability within the games industry. We won’t just be celebrating the booming games industry here, we’ll also be promoting environmental responsibility.”
Recognised worldwide, Pocket Game Connects brings together leading minds and innovators in the gaming industry. This year’s PGC event in Helsinki will broaden its scope to encompass themes such as AI and Web3. Attendees can also connect with investors and publishers, while showcasing their mobile games and offering live demos. Celebrating the 40th edition of PGC Helsinki signifies a notable milestone, providing participants with a valuable chance to engage in a significant event within the gaming community.
Pocket Gamer Connects returns on September 12th and 13th in Wanha Satma, Pikku Satamakatu 3-5, 00160 Helsinki, Finland.
Tickets for the event are now live, and available here. The event supports the work of indies (the Global Game Jam is PGC’s official indie partner) and there are heavily subsidised options for indie teams to take part and even showcase their games in the expo area.
iQOO S8UL
iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments
iQOO S8UL, the MOBA Legends 5v5 team of S8UL Esports, emerged victorious at the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA tournaments, with a nail-biting 4-3 win in the grand final held in Kolkata on February 18. The championship secured the team INR 12.5 lakh in prize money and reinforced S8UL Esports’ dominance in the Indian competitive MOBA scene.
The month-long tournament featured 1,024 teams in open qualifiers, culminating in a top-16 main event. Led by in-game leader Mohammad Saad (Apex), alongside Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot), iQOO S8UL displayed remarkable composure and strategic execution throughout.
The team’s path to victory included:
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Quarterfinals: 2-0 win over Megatron Esports (Bo3)
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Semifinals: 3-1 victory over PEAK (Bo5)
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Group A Finals: 4-0 sweep of Elusivity Esports (Bo7)
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Grand Final: 4-3 triumph against Godlike Esports (Bo7)
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder of S8UL Esports, commented: “This win is a testament to our long-term vision and structured support system for elite players. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is growing rapidly, and victories like this validate our investment in building top-tier lineups and nurturing talent.”
IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex) added: “The grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played. This title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”
The victory strengthens S8UL Esports’ reputation as a leading Indian esports organization, highlighting its commitment to developing elite talent and elevating India’s presence in both national and global esports arenas.
The post iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
PG Soft returns with dual sponsorship for SiGMA Africa 2026
PG Soft, a leading mobile games developer, returns to SiGMA Africa 2026, taking place from March 3–5 at The Grand Arena, GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town, South Africa, with two high-profile sponsorships.
Africa remains a rapidly growing and increasingly savvy iGaming market, forming a key part of PG Soft’s long-term expansion strategy.
The HD Screen at Entrance Sponsorship puts PG Soft’s logo on giant screens next to registration, accompanied by a looped promotional video showcasing its diverse game portfolio to every attendee.
Meanwhile, the Registration Counter Sponsorship gives the brand prominent exposure at the start of the SiGMA experience, featuring full branding and two dedicated screens for maximum visibility.
The dual sponsorship underscores PG Soft’s commitment to the African iGaming market and its ongoing strategic growth in the region.
A PG Soft spokesperson said: “Africa continues to be an exciting frontier for iGaming innovation and growth. By sponsoring SiGMA Africa once again, we’re reaffirming our dedication to this vibrant market and our belief in its potential. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and partners at one of the continent’s premier gaming events.”
The post PG Soft returns with dual sponsorship for SiGMA Africa 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Belatra
Rods at the ready for Belatra’s Ice Bass slot
Belatra, the innovative online slots developer, is back with the highly anticipated sequel to its hit Blast the Bass, introducing Ice Bass.
The familiar fisherman returns, swapping summer gear for a heavy-duty parka and an ice drill, ready to fish beneath a frozen lake for a maximum win of 5,000x. Each spin is accompanied by an energetic soundtrack that intensifies as players progress through the game’s new levels.
Fish icons represent both standard payline elements and credit symbols, with multipliers ranging from 2x to 1000x. The Fisherman-Wild, appearing exclusively in Free Games, collects all visible values on the screen, with multiple Fishermen multiplying the haul.
Players can unlock boosters during the pre-game fishing phase—triggered by three or more Scatters in Free Games—that add Fishermen, extra spins, or guaranteed Fish symbols. The round continues until the dreaded Old Boot is hooked, with the Booster panel stacking rewards and multipliers as the feature progresses.
Hot Mode, activated by five Scatters in the base game, immediately awards active multipliers and additional games. Players can increase Scatter frequency with the Bet +25% option or jump straight into Free Games or Hot Mode using the Buy Bonus feature.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented: “Get your winter gear ready for our slick new Ice Bass, a worthy follow-up to the much-loved Blast the Bass. We wanted to create a game that packs the same punch as the original but in a thrilling winter setting—and the team has delivered a game that’s scorching hot even below zero!”
The post Rods at the ready for Belatra’s Ice Bass slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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