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

Published

5 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.”

EPIC agree

Onrise and EPIC agree strategic partnership for gambling harm prevention

Published

3 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

onrise-and-epic-agree-strategic-partnership-for-gambling-harm-prevention

Onrise, the trusted mental health platform for athletes across the US, has entered a strategic partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, a leading consultancy in gambling harm prevention. The collaboration aims to enhance support services for athletes and coaches at professional and collegiate levels amid growing concerns around sports wagering and gambling-related risks.

EPIC Global Solutions brings expertise grounded in lived experience of gambling addiction. Through this partnership, EPIC will provide education and training—both face-to-face and digital—to supplement Onrise’s network of over 250 peer support experts. These services are designed to help sports organizations promote safer relationships with gambling products.

The Onrise platform already offers a comprehensive support system, including licensed therapists, psychiatric care, sports performance coaching, and retired athlete peer support, all delivered securely through one-on-one sessions with flexible scheduling.

Kim Quigley, Founder and CEO of Onrise, commented:
“Student-athletes live in a time where gambling and sport intertwine in so many ways, with significant wagering interest in collegiate sport. This partnership with EPIC Global Solutions is about getting in early, before a bet becomes a burden carried in silence. By pairing world-class gambling education with Onrise’s athlete-specific mental health care, we can spot risk sooner, intervene faster, and protect their health, future, and the team communities depending on them.”

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, added:
“This partnership arose from a shared alignment of values. Gambling and sports wagering is growing fast in the US, particularly in sports and college sectors. Together, we can provide stronger, athlete-focused support to promote mental health, wellbeing, and performance.”

The partnership coincides with Problem Gambling Awareness Month in the US, running throughout March to raise awareness of early identification and prevention of gambling-related harms.

The post Onrise and EPIC agree strategic partnership for gambling harm prevention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Dota 2 Team

LEON Esports Expands its Partnership with GamerLegion to Include a Dota 2 Team

Published

3 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

leon-esports-expands-its-partnership-with-gamerlegion-to-include-a-dota-2-team

Online casino and sportsbook LEON has strengthened its esports involvement by extending its partnership with the organisation GamerLegion to cover the team’s North American Dota 2 roster.

Previously sponsoring GamerLegion’s Counter-Strike 2 team, LEON’s expanded collaboration marks the next step in the brand’s growing esports strategy.

GamerLegion’s Dota 2 squad, formed in late 2025, played its first official match on November 15th and is currently ranked approximately #17 globally. The team has already competed in major tournaments, including PGL Wallachia, DreamLeague, and BLAST Slam.

As part of the extended partnership, LEON and GamerLegion will introduce exclusive giveaways, fan activities, and collaborative content for the esports community, further strengthening engagement across both teams and their audiences.

The post LEON Esports Expands its Partnership with GamerLegion to Include a Dota 2 Team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Colombian market

GoldenRace reinforces leadership in the Colombian market alongside Olympia Apuestas Virtuales

Published

3 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

goldenrace-reinforces-leadership-in-the-colombian-market-alongside-olympia-apuestas-virtuales

GoldenRace, a global leader in Virtual Sports and the first and only ACDV-certified provider in Colombia, has signed a partnership with Olympia Apuestas Virtuales. This collaboration expands GoldenRace’s footprint in the Colombian retail sector while raising standards for virtual gaming.

Colombia has long been a strategic market for GoldenRace, and its compliance with Coljuegos regulations ensures operators can run certified, fully transparent products. Olympia’s terminals now feature GoldenRace’s full virtual sports portfolio, demonstrating how advanced technology can seamlessly adapt to local legal and operational requirements. Since November 2025, Olympia has successfully deployed multiple terminals, highlighting growing player demand for fast, secure, and accessible gaming experiences.

GoldenRace virtual betting delivers instant excitement, with events every five minutes and betting options across football, horse racing, dog racing, motorcycling, and more. The platform requires minimal registration while offering immediate results, catering to players seeking quick, adrenaline-filled entertainment.

Martin Wachter, CEO and Founder of GoldenRace, commented:
“Our track record in Colombia has allowed us to understand what operators need and what players love. Partnering with Olympia lets us expand in the retail sector, bringing certified virtual games to physical points of sale where trust and immediacy are crucial.”

David Cadavid, Betting Coordinator at BetPlay and Olympia Casinos, added:
“This partnership is central to our diversification and growth strategy. Virtual betting represents both fast, accessible entertainment and a contribution to the national economy. GoldenRace’s certified products are a clear opportunity for innovation, development, and profitability in Colombia.”

The GoldenRace–Olympia alliance is set to continue transforming the virtual betting landscape in Colombia, offering players instant action while supporting sustainable business growth.

The post GoldenRace reinforces leadership in the Colombian market alongside Olympia Apuestas Virtuales appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.