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gamescom 2020: ‘A strong signal in challenging times’

Published

6 years ago

September 9, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

game draws a positive balance after first all-digital gamescom
More than 2 million people worldwide simultaneously view grand kick-off show ‘gamescom: Opening Night Live’
Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer announces start of major games funding programme at gamescom

gamescom 2020 sends a strong signal in challenging times: the world’s biggest games event was successfully implemented in digital form, despite turmoil in the development plans of numerous games studios due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a comparatively short planning phase. Millions of players worldwide followed gamescom 2020, which took place in parallel on many digital platforms. The digital concept of gamescom 2020, developed in just a few weeks in collaboration with Koelnmesse and the top gamescom exhibitors, shows the great potential of gamescom for the coming years: many companies participated for the first time this year as official partners; in addition, the fair’s international reach has continued to increase significantly. This is the conclusion drawn by game – the German Games Industry Association, the co-organiser of gamescom.

Jens Kosche, game Executive Board member and Managing Director of Electronic Arts for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, says: ‘Even though the use of games has increased in the last several months, the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge challenge for the international games industry too. Physical events have been cancelled and, in many cases, the development of games also hasn’t continued in the usual manner, with the focus on the safety and health of all involved requiring that thousands of developers work from home. This made it all the more important that gamescom could be held successfully online: it was an anchor in the event calendar and attracted the attention of the community worldwide. I expressly thank all of the partners who, this year especially, have dedicated themselves to the success of gamescom, our most important industry event.’

The special highlight of gamescom 2020 was the show that kicked it off, ‘gamescom: Opening Night Live’. Over two million people viewed the event simultaneously, a fourfold increase from last year’s strong premiere. This makes it one of the top three gaming events worldwide that have taken place online in 2020. The livestreams and events of the approximately 370 official gamescom partners have contributed to its global reach. These included, for example, the ESL One Cologne and the numerous livestreams with influencers from around the world who disseminate the content of gamescom in a wide range of languages. Partnerships with platforms like Twitch and YouTube as well as TikTok and Steam also helped gamescom 2020 reach the community everywhere in the internet.

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, says: ‘The extraordinary circumstances made gamescom 2020 extremely challenging, yet especially exciting. The digital concept demonstrates how big the international potential of our games event – already the largest in the world – still is. At the same time, however, it has become clear how important the on-site conference, in addition to further digital development, is for the community and the games industry. So, we now have to take our experience from this year and use it to develop the ideal combined on- and offline event for 2021. We’re also especially happy about the political signals that were sent by gamescom 2020. The launch of the major games funding programme announced by Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Andreas Scheuer is historic and marks the start of our race to catch up as a competitive international site for games development. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’s contribution to the gamescom congress, as well as the Debatt(l)e Royale and the participation of over 200 guests in digital tours, show that, this year too, gamescom remains one of the most important platforms for the exchange between policymakers and the digital generation.’

Further information on gamescom 2020 online participation and international audience can be found here

Next year’s gamescom will be held as a hybrid event in Cologne and on the net from Wednesday, 25 August, to Sunday, 29 August 2021.

About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games, as well as Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry. In 2021, gamescom is planned as a hybrid event to be held on-site and digitally, from Wednesday, 25 August, to Sunday, 29 August. gamescom is jointly organised by Koelnmesse and game – the German Games Industry Association.

game – the German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.

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Weekend Reels | Week 29: Slot Drops & Trends

Published

3 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

weekend-reels-|-week-29:-slot-drops-&-trends

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

EveryMatrix-owned studio Fantasma Games has launched Bonus Bullets, expanding EveryMatrix’s exclusive games portfolio with a new three-reel slot featuring modern bonus mechanics. The game introduces a Bullet Prize mechanic that awards instant cash prizes or one of four jackpots when Bullet symbols align across all three reels.

High 5 Games is marking the 25th anniversary of its Green Machine franchise with a new title, Green Machine Blitz. The company said the game will include a “fast-paced duplication mechanic,” activated collection features, four jackpots, and a LootLink bonus. According to High 5 Games, special symbols can duplicate across the reels to create chain reactions.

BGaming has launched The Godfather: 3 Pillars of Power, a new slot title built on The Godfather film franchise. According to the supplier, the game includes the likeness of Vito Corleone, portrayed by Marlon Brando, alongside the film’s voice and musical score.

Evoplay has launched Flame of Ra, a new ancient Egypt-themed online slot featuring scatter-triggered free spins and a bonus buy option. The game is played on a 5×4 grid. Wild symbols substitute for all regular symbols, while landing three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels activates the free spins feature.

Playson has launched 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win, a new slot built around Hold and Win and Pots mechanics with two bonus modes and jackpots reaching 10,000x. The game runs on a 5×3 grid and triggers a Hold and Win Bonus Game with Chili Features when red, orange or green Chili Bonus symbols land, combining with enlarged matching chilis above the reels

Blueprint Gaming has released a new slot, Wolf Fury Fire Blitz, built around an “evolving Fire Blitz mechanic” and two bonus paths: Fire Spins and Blitz Spins. The game uses a Fire Blitz logo above the reels as a meter. In the base game and Power Play, the supplier said every Cash and Wolf symbol contributes to the meter, with boosts able to add extra symbols.

Wazdan has launched 16 Coins Betsson, a bespoke branded version of its 16 Coins title, in partnership with Betsson. The release adapts Wazdan’s Coins series format for Betsson players, combining the original game’s mechanics with operator-specific branding. The game is played across 16 independent reels in a 4×4 layout.

Booming Games has launched Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter, a new online slot released on 16 July 2026 from the supplier’s Malta base. The title is the second game in its Max Scatter series and uses a 6×4 grid with Scatter Pays, cascading wins and a stated maximum win potential of 15,000x.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 29: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Las Vegas

WSOP 2026 wraps in Las Vegas with record 251,899 entries and $469.98m paid out

Published

3 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

wsop-2026-wraps-in-las-vegas-with-record-251,899-entries-and-$469.98m-paid-out

The 57th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) concluded its summer tournament schedule on July 15, 2026, after 51 days at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas. WSOP said the series ran 100 live gold bracelet events and finished with a record 251,899 total entries and $469,975,059 paid out across gold bracelet events.

WSOP reported the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship (Main Event) attracted 9,208 entrants, with the final nine set to return to Las Vegas from August 3 to 5, 2026, to play down to a champion live on ESPN. “The 57th annual World Series of Poker proved that Las Vegas remains the undisputed epicenter of the poker universe,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the WSOP. “What is truly remarkable this year is how our community expanded far beyond the physical walls of the casino floor… we are incredibly proud of this summer’s success and cannot wait to witness the Final Nine battle for the World Championship on ESPN next month.”

The operator also pointed to a redesigned final table arena and an expanded distribution footprint. It said Main Event coverage returned to ESPN and cited a multi-year agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute coverage across HBO Max, Eurosport, and TNT Sports globally. WSOP added that edited broadcasts will air from July 21.

On tournament metrics, WSOP said 35,157 places were paid and 41 prizes of $1m+ were awarded. The operator highlighted several field-size records, including 22,811 entries for Event #63 $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold’em, 1,368 entries for Event #68 $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship, and 11,933 entries for Event #18 $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em. WSOP also said 149 countries were represented across the series and 111 countries were represented in the Main Event field, which it called a new record.

WSOP also reported digital and social growth during the series, citing 378.3 million total views across its social channels and 222,828 new followers overall. By platform, it reported 38.7 million YouTube views (103,128 new subscribers), 125 million Instagram views (54,450 new followers), 127 million Facebook views (56,800 new followers), and 36.6 million impressions on X (8,450 new followers). Looking ahead, WSOP said it is rolling out a revamped $1 Million Global Player of the Year race spanning WSOP Europe, the Las Vegas summer series, and WSOP Paradise, with the overall winner to be crowned at WSOP Paradise at Baha Mar in The Bahamas from December 1 to 17, 2026.

The post WSOP 2026 wraps in Las Vegas with record 251,899 entries and $469.98m paid out appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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iPredicta launches US prediction markets price comparison site

Published

3 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

ipredicta-launches-us-prediction-markets-price-comparison-site

iPredicta has launched a comparison platform for US prediction markets, aimed at bringing live prices from multiple venues into a single interface, including Polymarket. The company announced the launch from London.

iPredicta operates an affiliate model, letting users compare prices on its site before continuing to a participating exchange to register and trade. At launch, the company said it tracks dozens of live markets across two venues, with data updating automatically as markets move.

The platform includes market scoring and notifications designed to help users monitor price differences, liquidity and market movements. It also offers plain-English guides for newcomers and an “AI explanation layer” that summarizes a market’s question, resolution criteria and what the current price implies. iPredicta said the AI “produces the words, not the numbers” and “does not set scores, predict outcomes or give trading advice.”

“Prediction markets have grown rapidly over the past 12 months, yet the information people need is still scattered across different exchanges,” said Charlotte Nimmo, founder of iPredicta. “We launched iPredicta because people should not have to piece everything together across several exchanges just to understand what is happening.

“Whether you are well versed in prediction markets or trying them for the first time, iPredicta brings prices and comparisons together in one place, making it easier to follow how markets are changing. It also gives newcomers a clearer way into a category that can look complicated from the outside.”

The launch comes as prediction markets expand across categories including sport, politics, entertainment, crypto and climate. iPredicta cited CertiK’s 2026 Skynet Prediction Markets Report, which said global prediction market trading volume rose from $15.8 billion in 2024 to $63.5 billion in 2025. Nimmo previously ran affiliate betting platform Best of Bets and founded Cavalier Public Relations, according to the company.

The post iPredicta launches US prediction markets price comparison site appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.