Mark MacCombie, Chief Commercial Officer at Games Global, discusses how combining creative evolution with strategic precision keeps franchises like Gold Blitz at the forefront of player engagement and market performance.

New games drop daily, and the challenge is not just to be seen, but to be remembered. While it might seem tempting to think the only way to make noise is to completely reinvent the wheel, in reality, sometimes the smartest path to longevity is knowing when to build on established foundations. In an industry that moves at breakneck speed, the boldest move is often to double down on what you already do best and elevate proven concepts to new heights.

At Games Global, we know that the titles which stand the test of time strike the right balance between refreshed ideas and lasting appeal. Franchises succeed when they preserve the elements players already love, then expand on them with purpose and precision.

It is important for us as a global company to approach franchises as a core strategic pillar. They are not a byproduct of success, but rather a deliberate move, built with intent, shaped by an understanding of what drives player loyalty, and guided by an ambition to grow across markets and over multiple releases.

Success in this space comes from respecting the DNA of a title while having the courage to enhance it in ways that add genuine depth. Every decision is grounded in data from real player behaviour, insight from our operators, and the creative instincts of our studio partners. That combination of perspective and imagination is what allows us to launch games that feel instantly recognisable yet undeniably fresh.

The Gold Blitz franchise exemplifies this philosophy perfectly, with Gold Blitz Express, the fourth instalment in the core Gold Blitz series, retaining the dynamic audiovisual design and Cash Collect mechanic that make it instantly recognisable for returning players. At the same time, it introduces the brand-new Express feature, which has already gained significant traction across our wider portfolio, alongside deeper bonus round progression with an Accumulation Trail, integrating an entirely new concept into the franchise.

These enhancements upgrade the overall experience, increase reward potential, and build intrigue, keeping energy high from the first spin to the last. When we set out to create Gold Blitz Express, the objective was to build on what already worked rather than replace it. This is not change for the sake of change, but a considered approach focused on refinement, adding value and variety while remaining true to the heart of the original game.

This evolution is intentional. Every creative choice is part of a development process that combines discipline with innovation. Our studios have the freedom to explore bold ideas, but they are supported by a central framework that offers performance data, trend analysis, cross-market insights, and operator feedback. Obtaining this balance encourages experimentation while ensuring each title aligns with commercial goals.

Every sequel is approached as an opportunity to refine gameplay, adjust the pacing of features, and introduce surprises that feel like a natural extension of the brand. Features like this are what spark the interest of players while preserving the qualities they already love. The aim is to deliver games that keep people returning, not because of habit, but because each session offers something worth returning for.

Commercially, franchises offer powerful advantages. Operators know they are working with a dependable performer, while players experience a sense of trust that has already been established. This creates momentum from day one of launch, enabling faster adoption and longer lifecycle performance than a completely new IP might achieve.

Franchises like Gold Blitz show how a well-considered evolution can have more impact than a complete reinvention. They demonstrate the strength of building on a solid foundation, adding new layers of engagement without losing the heart of the experience.

In a crowded marketplace, the real differentiator is smart progression, the kind that earns attention quietly and holds it for the long term. It is this progression – not the loudest change – that keeps a title relevant, rewarding, and poised to thrive for years to come.

The post Striking a successful franchise: Building enduring value through high-impact IP appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

DEGEN Studios has launched Plague City, a Scatter Pays slot built around visible progression, escalating features and a 10,000x max win chase. Every winning combination spreads infection across the reels, creating bigger setups as players build towards Plague Wave Respins, Plague Breakout Free Spins and Super Free Spins.

During the base game, any position that forms part of a winning combination becomes infected, and as wins and cascades continue, the outbreak can spread across more of the reels.

A Med Kit should stop the outbreak. In Plague City, it starts the next stage. Landing a Med Kit while infected positions are active triggers Plague Wave Respins, where infected positions remain active, Wilds become sticky with multipliers, and Respins continue until every infected position has been healed or no further wins occur.

Every Sticky Wild begins with three lives. Each winning cascade reduces a Wild’s life by one, while every newly landed Wild increases the multiplier value of all active Wilds, allowing multiplier chains to continue growing throughout the feature.

The chase escalates further in Plague Breakout Free Spins. Triggered by four, five or six Scatters, every Free Spins feature begins with eight Free Spins. Scatter symbols are replaced by Vaccines, which award retriggers and upgrade the Starting Wild Multiplier, allowing future Wilds to land with increasingly higher multiplier values.

Land six Scatters and the outbreak reaches Super Free Spins, where every newly landed Wild increases the multiplier value of all active Wilds by +2x. From there, the max win chase becomes a race to collect Vaccines, extend the feature and continue landing new Wilds as multiplier chains grow towards 10,000x the bet.

For players looking to accelerate the chase, Buy Bonus and Activate options offer direct entry into Plague Breakout Free Spins, Mystery Buy, or boosted chances of triggering both Free Spins and Plague Wave Respins.

Danny Gordon, Head of Studio at DEGEN Studios, said: “At DEGEN, we’re obsessed with building gameplay that players can actually follow. In Plague City, every mechanic has a purpose. The infection spreads, Vaccines extend the feature, Wild multipliers continue growing and every step brings the max win chase closer.”

The post DEGEN Studios unleashes the Plague City chase appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

SlotsMAX and CrashMAX titles roll out via one-click access for Hub88’s operator partners, alongside tiered progressive jackpots.

Hub88 has signed a content distribution deal with AccaMAX to add the studio’s slots and crash portfolio to its aggregation platform, making the content available to Hub88’s operator partners via one-click access.

Under the agreement, AccaMAX’s catalogue will be delivered through Hub88, including the provider’s SlotsMAX and CrashMAX collections. The companies said the integration will also include AccaMAX’s four-tier progressive jackpot network.

Hub88 said AccaMAX’s titles are tested for “fairness, performance and regulatory compliance across all major jurisdictions,” positioning the content for multi-market operator rollouts.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “AccaMAX has been making waves over the last year, since the launch of its SlotsMAX library in 2025. With a broad range of themes and a highly motivating jackpot system, the supplier is a welcome addition to our platform. We are excited to deliver their portfolio and see what other surprises await in their roadmap this year.”

Christo Bezuidenhout, CPO at AccaMAX, said: “Partnering with Hub88 means operators can enable our entire product offering in a single step, with none of the usual integration overhead. Every title we ship is crafted for entertainment value and tested for compliance across major markets, and this partnership puts that quality in front of operators worldwide. We’d encourage anyone already on the Hub88 network to switch us on and see the difference for their players.”

The post Hub88 adds AccaMAX slots and crash games to its aggregation platform appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.