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Anzu Brings In-game Ads to Animated Sci-Fi Game Virtuverse

Published

6 years ago

October 27, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Today, Anzu.io, the world’s leading in-game advertising platform, announced a new partnership with the game developers of Virtuverse, a third-person PC-based massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The deal will allow advertisers to display non-intrusive blended banner and video ads inside the animated fantasy game. Advertisers looking to connect with gamers in North and South America, Europe, and Russia will benefit the most as these are the most active regions for the game.

Virtuverse is built on the Unreal Engine which is what enables the game to have such captivating and stand-out graphics, a factor that attracts plenty of players and places the game in a premium category. Players can venture into any of the different fantasy lands, defeating monsters and collecting the spoils of war which can be traded for in-game items or exchanged for real money. While gamers, who average an unprecedented six and a half hours of playtime per session, explore futuristic worlds, they will encounter video and banner ads displayed on immersive billboards and interior screens in built-up settlements. These objects naturally fit into the futuristic game, with the ads enhancing the environment.

Since its first early access release in 2018, in addition to regularly adding new content, the development team has prioritized community building and listening to player feedback, which shows their ongoing commitment to creating a game that their dedicated fans love playing.

Virtuverse’s team is committed to keeping the game within the free-to-play model and supporting its costs through blended in-game ads. The game’s dedicated community has been vocal about supporting this monetization method, according to CEO and Founder Fin Yeates. The new partnership will contribute to what Yeates refers to as the ‘gaming economy’. Yeates said, “Virtuverse seeks to utilize Anzu to drive down costs for its players and offset operational costs with an immersive, in-game advertising system. Anzu’s the right partner for this!”

As players gravitate towards free-to-play games instead of paying around $60 per game, developers are actively looking for alternate ways to fund their businesses. In-game advertising has become a hot topic because it provides developers with a stable income stream that doesn’t rely on players paying for games. It also gives developers an opportunity to reduce the selling price of games without risking their bottom line. Anzu’s platform is the answer industry players have been waiting for. It provides gaming studios with a sustainable revenue stream, gamers with free game content, and advertisers with the ability to increase brand awareness through in-game ads that are non-disruptive and respect the gamer experience.

Anzu already works with big advertisers including Samsung and Vodafone, and gaming companies such as Ubisoft, Unfinished Pixel and Vivid Games to bring ads to games in the sports, racing, and simulation categories. With this partnership, Anzu extends its game genres to include animated fantasy, abating the doubts that industry had regarding how natural ads could look when placed in such an environment. Once again, Anzu has proved that the solution can work in any type of game content.

“Gamers won’t tolerate disruption anymore so we created a solution that works for them, game developers, and advertisers,” Anzu’s CEO and Co-founder Itamar Benedy said. “Many people were unsure of how video and banner ads could be harmoniously blended into an animated game, but we are happy to prove them wrong through our partnership with Virtuverse.”

Financial

Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

playtech-raises-its-full-year-2026-adjusted-ebitda-forecast-to-e270-million

Playtech PLC on Thursday said it expects 2026 results to beat market expectations, with its first half supported by an “excellent performance in the US”.

Playtech shares jumped 18% to 378.60 pence each in London on Thursday morning. It is up around 3% over the past 12 months but had been around 10% lower prior to Thursday’s surge.

The Douglas, Isle of Man-based gambling software firm now expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of EUR270 million, “significantly above the current analyst consensus”. It puts the current consensus range at EUR205 million to EUR225 million.

Playtech’s current forecast represents a 37% rise from the EUR197.0 million achieved in 2025.

“Playtech’s trading has delivered results significantly ahead of market expectations, driven by excellent performance in the US and continued strength in Mexico, Colombia and certain European markets. The performance in the Americas, as consistently flagged since the start of the year, continued to accelerate through May and June,” the firm said.

It expects a first half adjusted Ebitda of over EUR155 million, rising at least 69% from EUR91.6 million a year prior.

Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer said: “We achieved an excellent performance in the first half of 2026, reflecting continued momentum in regulated markets, notably the Americas and certain European markets. Performance in the US, driven by our partnership with Hard Rock Digital, has been exceptionally strong, and we are delighted to see returns on our investments over recent years accelerate and contribute significantly to profitability and cash flow.

“Playtech continues to further establish itself in regulated and regulating markets going into the second half of the year, and we are pleased with the progress towards our medium-term targets.”

Playtech releases half-year results on September 10.

Looking ahead, it expects second half earnings to decline from the first, with UK regulatory measures partly to blame.

“Hard Rock Digital has become one of Playtech’s largest customers and is expected to remain so going forward, albeit Playtech’s revenue with the operator is likely to continue at a lower but more sustainable level in H2 2026 and into 2027. Elsewhere, the company has been investing into a significant partnership in Brazil, ahead of expected signing and launch, which is likely to begin contributing to growth in 2027. In addition, in H2 2026 Playtech will also absorb the full impact of increased remote gaming duty in the UK, which became effective in April 2026,” the firm explained.

From April 2026 there was an increase in UK remote gaming duty 40% from 21%. Remote gaming duty is a levy applied on online casino offerings, poker and slots.

The post Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Balkans

Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

imagine-live-goes-live-with-maxbet-bringing-live-casino-to-the-balkans

Imagine Live, the live casino provider, has partnered with MaxBet, one of the leading sports betting and gaming operators in the Balkans.

The partnership extends Imagine Live’s presence across regulated markets, bringing its live dealer games and game show content to MaxBet’s player base.

Now agreed and rolling out, the collaboration will go live first in Montenegro, followed by Serbia and then Bosnia & Herzegovina.

MaxBet serves around 95,000 online players each month, holding a leading position in its core Serbian market. The business has been majority-owned by Flutter Entertainment – the global operator behind brands including Paddy Power and Betfair – since 2023.

Its players will gain access to Imagine Live’s portfolio of live dealer tables and game shows, streamed from the provider’s studios in Armenia, Romania and Spain.

Launched in 2022, Imagine Live operates more than 200 tables and holds licences with the UKGC, MGA, ONJN, HGC and other regulators, extending its footprint in a region where regulated online play continues to grow.

Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer at Imagine Live, said: “Going live with MaxBet reflects the strength of our content and our focus on partnering with established operators across regulated markets.

“MaxBet is one of the most respected names in the Balkans, and starting in Montenegro before expanding into Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina gives us a strong platform in a region we know well.”

Tornike Tordia, Head of Gaming at MaxBet, said: “Bringing Imagine Live’s live casino content to our players reflects our commitment to offering a varied, high-quality gaming experience.

“Their live dealer games and game shows add real depth to our offering, and we look forward to rolling them out across our markets as the partnership grows.”

The post Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Conferences

Responsible Gaming Strategy Contributes to TaDa’s Success at iGB L!VE 2026

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

responsible-gaming-strategy-contributes-to-tada’s-success-at-igb-l!ve-2026

TaDa’s commitment to responsible gaming and sustainable growth was rewarded with a successful appearance at this year’s iGB L!VE in London, where quality conversations with Tier One operators, strong interest in its latest releases and demand for trusted, UKGC-licenced content validated the company’s strategic direction.

In light of the evolving UK regulation, this year’s exhibition saw a shift in operator priorities. As revised acquisition strategies place greater emphasis on compliance, player retention and long-term value, operators are increasingly seeking certified and established suppliers like TaDa that are capable of delivering engaging content within robust responsible gaming frameworks.

With impressive foot traffic to the stand, TaDa’s account management and business development teams also received highly positive feedback from meetings with regulated market clients, gaining valuable insights for future strategic direction.

Focusing on UK market leading releases, TaDa highlighted Gold Mine Express which continues to generate considerable interest following its strong retention metrics.

Visitors were equally enthusiastic about the Hit the Cash slot Leprechaun Gold Streak which is engineered for stability and Fortune Hook Antarctic which is aimed at diversifying TaDa’s player base while maintaining accessibility across all levels.

In addition to core European markets, the teams engaged with numerous clients from the African market, securing more resources and strategic alignments to further accelerate TaDa’s expansion into Africa.

For TaDa, whose portfolio is certified across multiple regulated markets and supported by a strong reputation for safe gaming practices, the evolving landscapes represent an opportunity to contribute more to both operators and the industry.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development, TaDa Gaming, said: “iGB L!VE showed how operators are looking beyond acquisition and placing greater value on sustainable growth through responsible gaming, player retention and trusted partnerships. Those priorities have always been central to our business, so it was encouraging to see our approach resonate strongly with both existing partners and prospective new customers.”

The post Responsible Gaming Strategy Contributes to TaDa’s Success at iGB L!VE 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.