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Opera buys owner of GameMaker and starts a Gaming division

Published

5 years ago

January 22, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Opera, the browser developer and consumer internet brand, announced its acquisition of YoYo Games, creator of the world’s leading 2D game engine, GameMaker Studio 2, for approximately $10 million. The tuck-in acquisition represents the second building block in the foundation of Opera Gaming, a new division within Opera with global ambitions and follows the creation and rapid growth of Opera’s innovative Opera GX browser, the world’s first browser built specifically for gamers.

Krystian Kolondra, EVP Browsers at Opera, said: “With Opera GX, Opera had adapted its proven, innovative browser tech platform to dramatically expand its footprint in gaming. We’re at the brink of a shift, when more and more people start not only playing, but also creating and publishing games. GameMaker Studio2 is best-in-class game development software, and lowers the barrier to entry for anyone to start making their games and offer them across a wide range of web-supported platforms, from PCs, to, mobile iOS/Android devices, to consoles.

Annette De Freitas, Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Opera Gaming, added: “Gaming is a growth area for Opera and the acquisition of YoYo Games reflects significant, sustained momentum across both of our businesses over the past year. Our new Opera GX browser hit 7 million MAUs in December, 2020, up 350% year over year, while YoYo Games’ GameMaker engine achieved 400K new registered creators in 2020. We’re tremendously excited by the opportunities the combination creates not only for our combined users, but also for the expansion of Opera’s gaming community.”

Stuart Poole, GM at YoYo Games who will remain with the business alongside technical lead Russell Kay stated, “For over twenty years, the vision behind the GameMaker engine was to not just create more games, but expand development within and beyond the game studio. We think the transaction with Opera – whose products are known, trusted and used worldwide by millions of people every month- represents a massive opportunity to accelerate fulfilment of that founding vision, during a period of exceptional growth for both companies.”

“We are very excited to start working with the team at YoYo Games,” said Krystian Kolondra, EVP Browsers at Opera. “We see the Game Maker Studio platform as being an ideal acquisition to complement our global ambitions in gaming, and to help drive awareness and traffic to our Opera GX gaming browser.”

Opera GX, YoYo Games and GameMaker will unite under Opera Gaming, focusing on innovating across the gaming, game development, and browser experience. “We look forward to further growing Opera GX and driving the growth of GameMaker as part of a broader ecosystem, making it more accessible to novice users and developing it into the world’s leading 2D game engine used by commercial studios,” continued Krystian Kolondra. “Opera Gaming will be focusing on accelerating the growth of this emerging ecosystem, combining the 7+ million highly engaged gamers using Opera GX with millions of GameMaker creators. We are also thrilled to continue realizing synergies between YoYo Games’ products and Opera GX.”

GameMakerStudio is an integrated game development software, performance-tuned 2/2.5D engine that fuels many games, including multi-million hits like Risk of Rain, Undertale, or Hyper Light Drifter on an extensive range of mainstream platforms. Starting to build games with Game Maker Studio requires little to zero coding skills. Due to its extensive functionalities and ease of use Game Maker Studio lowers the barriers to entry and empowers a variety of creative people to make their games come alive and share them with the world.

Kolondra explained further: “Performance is essential to even 2D gaming, and sustaining that performance across mobile devices and laptops as well as variable bandwidth and connectivity requires thinking outside of traditional application silos. The line between building good games and good browsers has been eroding for years – with gaming interactivity across internet connections ramping up and browsers growing more multi-function and sophisticated. Traditionally the two types of technology compete for hardware and bandwidth resources. But as Opera GX proved, there was a better way to address that competition and improve the experience across both functionalities. YoYo Games’ team, development expertise and studio relationships lay the groundwork for turning the Opera GX vertical into a new kind of horizontal. This horizontal opportunity is why we’re building Opera Gaming and its infrastructure – so that we can further integrate gaming and browsing in ways beneficial to both in terms of not only monetization, but also experience.”

Free spins

OnlyPlay Releases Pub Fruits

Published

10 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

OnlyPlay has released Pub Fruits, a bright and lively 5×3 video slot with a classic fruit theme and a fun pub atmosphere. The reels are filled with juicy fruits, lucky sevens, shiny coins and warm golden colours. The retro design feels familiar, but the animations make it fresh and modern. Every spin looks colourful and smooth, and the game is easy to understand from the first second. It feels like stepping into a friendly pub where the lights are warm and the mood is always upbeat.

The real excitement starts with the Hold and Win feature. Players can chase four jackpot levels – Mini (x25), Minor (x50), Major (x100) and Grand (x500). Each coin you collect increases your chances and builds tension on the screen. The feeling of risk grows with every spin, and the moment before the result lands is full of anticipation. It is simple to play, but the adrenaline and excitement make it hard to stop.

Free Spins bring even more action to the game. Land 3, 4 or 5 Scatters to unlock up to 15 Free Spins, and retrigger them to keep the fun going. Wild symbols help create more winning combinations, while Jackpot symbols can appear in both the base game and Free Spins.

With 96.93% RTP, a 21.38% HIT rate and medium volatility, the gameplay feels balanced – steady wins with the chance for something much bigger. It is a mix of comfort and thrill that keeps every session interesting. Pub Fruits combines classic style, modern features and real excitement.

The post OnlyPlay Releases Pub Fruits appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Andrew Cardno

QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia

Published

10 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

qci-launches-its-data-community-platform-in-australia

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has launched its Data Community platform in Australia, bringing unified consumer intelligence to the rapidly expanding $13 trillion global Fun Economy. By connecting venues, retailers and destination districts into a single interoperable ecosystem, the platform enables real-time insights, personalised engagement and seamless digital-to-physical experiences.

The Data Community platform enables smarter staffing, stronger tenant collaboration and more personalised engagement, helping operators manage increasingly complex, high-traffic environments. The global “Fun Economy” — spanning leisure, hospitality, retail and entertainment — is valued at over $13 trillion, according to joint research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Zero Labs.

Tony Toohey, Director of TT Management welcomed the platform’s availability in Australia: “The Australian market is increasingly focused on connected, experience-led destinations,” said Toohey.

“Operators here understand the importance of breaking down data silos and collaborating across venues and partners. QCI’s Data Community platform arrives at the right time, enabling a more coordinated and commercially intelligent approach to managing entertainment and hospitality environments.”

Andrew Cardno, Co-Founder and CTO of QCI, said: “Australia represents a sophisticated and forward-looking market for experience-driven destinations,” said Cardno.

“By bringing Data Community to the region, we are equipping operators with the tools to unify their data, understand guest journeys more deeply and curate experiences — not just transactions.”

QCI’s technology is deployed in more than 1000 sites globally, including over 300 casino resorts across North America, Australia and Europe. The company’s platform supports leading brands across gaming, hospitality and mixed-use entertainment districts, helping operators align marketing, operations and guest engagement within a single intelligence framework.

With the launch of Data Community in Australia, QCI continues to expand its role as the intelligence layer powering connected destinations across the evolving Fun Economy.

The post QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alina Mihaela Popa Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21

ICONIC21 Expands into Romania, Securing Launch Agreements with Fortuna and Casa Pariurilor

Published

10 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

iconic21-expands-into-romania,-securing-launch-agreements-with-fortuna-and-casa-pariurilor

The provider increased its presence in Romania by launching with two of the market’s leading operators, Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna.

Popular iGaming content provider ICONIC21 launches with Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna. The integrations represent a further strategic move in the provider’s swift expansion within regulated markets.

Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna rank among the most well-known brands in Romania, possessing a robust retail and online presence, relied upon by a large player community. Collaborating with both operators strengthens ICONIC21’s dedication to providing top-notch, tailored content for prominent brands in competitive markets.

A broad range of ICONIC21’s live casino games is now accessible to its players, featuring prominent titles from the Gravity Series like Gravity Roulette and Gravity Blackjack. The Gravity Series incorporates multiplier mechanics into traditional casino formats, enhancing engagement while maintaining a sense of familiarity. The collection additionally features various roulette versions and well-liked Asian games like Sic Bo and Baccarat, guaranteeing wide player attraction.

The growth emphasizes ICONIC21’s rapidly advancing roadmap, covering live casino, slots, virtual and instant games, dedicated studios, and proprietary promotional tools. Every vertical is created to enable flexible integration, customized environments, and expandable growth for operators.

Alina Mihaela Popa, Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21, commented: “Romania is a key regulated market for us, and going live with Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna confirms the strong demand for our portfolio. We are growing quickly across regulated jurisdictions, and Romania is a clear example of how our products resonate with established operators who prioritise quality, performance, and flexibility.”

Michael Foster, Group Head of Commercial Gaming Operations, added: “Integrating ICONIC21’s portfolio allows us to enhance our live casino offering with strong, performance driven titles. The Gravity Series in particular brings an extra engagement layer to classic games, which aligns well with our strategy of delivering differentiated experiences to our players.”

The post ICONIC21 Expands into Romania, Securing Launch Agreements with Fortuna and Casa Pariurilor appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.