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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.”

Diamond Coins

Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins

Published

19 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

wazdan-enhances-hot-slot-series-with-hot-slot:-diamond-coins

Wazdan, the gain-focused game developer, has bolstered its high-performing Hot Slot portfolio with the launch of Hot Slot: Diamond Coins, a vibrant new title that merges the series’ retro charm with mechanics from its flagship Coins collection.

Staying true to the Hot Slot format, the game spans 15 reels and features fan-favourite mechanics including Cash Infinity and Hold the Jackpot, alongside specially designed Bonus symbols to boost engagement.

In the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Game, players compete for a Grand Jackpot of up to 3,000x their stake. Standard Hot Slot symbols also remain active on any reel without a Bonus symbol, using two paylines to deliver consistent base-game wins.

The Chance Level feature adds an extra layer of strategy and excitement, increasing the likelihood of triggering the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Round and offering players a more personalised gameplay experience.

Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said:
“Hot Slot: Diamond Coins marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of the Hot Slot series. By combining the retro aesthetics players love with the proven performance of our Coins mechanics, and layering in Cash Infinity, Hold the Jackpot, and Chance Level, we’ve created a dynamic experience that immediately captures attention and delivers engaging, high-energy gameplay from the very first spin.”

Hot Slot: Diamond Coins is now available for integration, designed to perform across global markets and appeal to a broad player base.

The post Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

iGaming

PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE

Published

19 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

pragmatic-play-brings-legendary-slots-ip-to-live-casino-with-gates-of-olympus-roulette

Pragmatic Play, a leading iGaming content supplier, has launched Gates of Olympus Roulette, a live casino experience that merges classic roulette with thrilling slot-action, delivering a game show truly fit for the gods.

Set in a temple-inspired studio with a marble-encased roulette wheel at its centre, the game immerses players in a Grecian fantasy world, complete with striking visuals, dramatic sounds, and charismatic presenters.

Each spin offers the chance to hit a Bonus Number and up to seven Lucky Numbers, carrying multipliers of 50x–250x to boost straight-up bets. The Super Booster feature further amplifies wins by multiplying the Bonus and selected Lucky Numbers 2x–10x, enabling potential payouts of up to 2,500x in the base game and 10,000x in the bonus round.

Landing the Bonus Number triggers the Gates of Olympus bonus game, where Zeus presides over a 6×5 slots grid. Starting with 15 spins, players win whenever 8–12+ matching symbols appear anywhere on the reels. Multipliers up to 500x can strike randomly on any spin or tumble, and three or more scatters award five additional spins.

Following the success of Sweet Bonanza CandyLand, which brought the iconic Sweet Bonanza slot to live casino audiences, Gates of Olympus Roulette underscores Pragmatic Play’s expertise in transforming beloved slot IPs into cross-vertical live experiences. The launch complements recent game show hits like Money Time and Mega Roulette 3000.

Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said:
“Gates of Olympus Roulette is a spectacular addition to our portfolio, bringing one of our most celebrated IPs into the live casino spotlight. The epic studio design, dynamic roulette-slot fusion, and immersive Grecian theme showcase Pragmatic Play’s commitment to creating truly standout player experiences.”

The post PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

ELA Games

Thunder Ball: ELA Games Reinvents the Classic Fruit Slot

Published

19 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

thunder-ball:-ela-games-reinvents-the-classic-fruit-slot

Exciting Multipliers, Electrifying Lightning Bonuses, and Four Impending Jackpots Are Ready in this Medium-Volatility 3×3 Game.

ELA Games reveals the launch of Thunder Ball, an energetic 3×3 slot that injects a vibrant boost into the classic fruit machine gameplay. Mixing nostalgic icons with a whirlwind of contemporary, unpredictable mechanics, this game encourages players to wield the force of lightning-like spheres for an opportunity to achieve a colossal 10,000x top prize.

A Roaring Central Gameplay

Operating on a small 3-reel, 3-row setup featuring 5 paylines, Thunder Ball quickly escalates the suspense. The excitement is driven by the Thunder Balls, which are the Bonus Symbols in the game, appearing on the first and third reels with multiplier values that vary from 1x to 15x the player’s bet. The voltage surges when the essential Collect Symbol falls with any of these orbs. This blend instantly activates the Boost Feature, a mechanism that promptly collects all visible Bonus values and Jackpots displayed on the screen, adding them straight to the player’s balance in a sudden burst of rewards.

Unexpected Hits and the Thunderball Reward

Even spins that don’t win can possess winning potential in this chaotic, unsettled environment. The Lucky Respin can randomly trigger after a dead spin, unexpectedly granting players a certain line win, a Boost feature, or immediate access to the Bonus Game.

To achieve the best effect, the Thunderball Feature can unexpectedly launch the Bonus Game directly from the regular spins and can even prepare the grid with Thunderball Multipliers prior to the start of the round. Upon entering the Bonus Game, players are granted three respins that reset each time a new Thunder Ball symbol secures its position.

While the storm continues, Thunderball Multipliers may randomly appear on the grid. When a multiplier lands in an already occupied cell, it increases by +2, progressively enhancing the value of any Bonus Symbols prior to their collection. Amidst the tempest of retro symbols, the Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand Jackpots await, where each flash of lightning holds the possibility of a flood of prizes.

Game Stats:
● Reels: 3×3
● Paylines: 5
● RTP: 96%
● Volatility: Mid
● Max Win: x10,000 (€250,000)
● Buy Bonus: No

The post Thunder Ball: ELA Games Reinvents the Classic Fruit Slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.