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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.”

Affiliate Succes

Gamblers Connect Marks Its Fifth Anniversary

Published

13 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

gamblers-connect-marks-its-fifth-anniversary

Gamblers Connect, the acclaimed iGaming media and affiliate platform, is marking its fifth anniversary and currently ranks as one of the most prominent affiliate media brands in the iGaming sector.

Gamblers Connect was established with a distinct purpose: to create a transparent, player-centric platform. What started as a simple idea rapidly transformed into something much more important. In its inaugural year, the company had already obtained its initial industry accolade. Since that time, Gamblers Connect has kept broadening its services by introducing new sections, tools, and features, while consistently achieving significant milestones and enhancing its visibility at prominent industry events, conferences, and speaking engagements.

The launch of the Responsible Gambling Index enhanced the platform’s offerings, serving as a unique assessment tool that has become a key aspect, encompassing both game providers and casino operators.

This advancement has been evident in industry accolades, featuring several awards and nominations at major events, such as Casino Affiliate of the Year, News Affiliate of the Year, Crypto Affiliate of the Year, and Best Affiliate of the Year.

In the last five years, Gamblers Connect has transformed past the conventional affiliate framework. The platform currently functions as a comprehensive iGaming media brand, generating a wide variety of editorial content, industry news, interviews, and B2B-related coverage, catering to both players and industry stakeholders.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “2026 marks not just an anniversary, but a clear step forward. The launch of the GC Contributors Program, the introduction of the iHub, and an entirely new platform currently in development signal where Gamblers Connect is headed — deeper into the industry, more ambitious in scope, and built for what the next five years demand.”

The post Gamblers Connect Marks Its Fifth Anniversary appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Highlight Games

HIGHLIGHT GAMES EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH STANLEYBET GROUP

Published

13 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

highlight-games-extends-partnership-with-stanleybet-group

London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that it has extended and expanded its partnership with the Stanleybet Group, one of Europe’s most established betting operators.

In addition to its longstanding online content agreement, the expanded deal will include the deployment of Highlight’s premium video virtual sports portfolio to Stanleybet’s retail estate for the first time. Content will include Highlight’s flagship SOCCERBET games, featuring genuine archive footage from some of the biggest football leagues in the world.

Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: “I’m delighted to extend and broaden our partnership with the Stanleybet Group, which shows a clear endorsement of the strength of our content and the trust Stanleybet places in our products. We look forward to bringing our award-winning video virtuals to an even wider audience.”

Nicola Allinson, IT Director, Stanleybet Group added: “Our partnership with Highlight Games continues to go from strength to strength, and this retail expansion is a testament to the quality of their content and the level of engagement it inspires in players. We are confident that Highlight’s products will perform as strongly in our European retail venues as they have online, and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH STANLEYBET GROUP appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bingo

Published

1 hour ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

End2End, a global technology provider dedicated exclusively to multiplayer bingo solutions, is set to strengthen its presence in Brazil during BiS SiGMA South America 2026, taking place from April 6–9 at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.

As Brazil’s regulated gaming market continues to evolve, digital bingo is emerging as a compelling complementary vertical for licensed operators. With a deep-rooted cultural connection to bingo, Brazilian players are primed for modern, multiplayer digital experiences, offering significant opportunities for operators to diversify their portfolios.

At the event, End2End will showcase its expertise in the Brazilian market, engage with potential white-label partners for the End2End Bingo Network, and explore new affiliate partnerships to expand distribution and differentiate operator offerings.

Founder and CEO Alejandro Revich and Chief Commercial Officer Pablo Bonifacich will be on-site throughout the expo to meet with operators, affiliates, and partners seeking innovative product solutions for the Brazilian ecosystem.

End2End’s technology is designed as a complete end-to-end solution, combining its proprietary multiplayer bingo platform, Player Account Management (PAM) system, and network infrastructure to enable scalable deployments across mobile, online, and retail environments. All solutions are certified for Brazil and fully compliant with GLI-19 standards, underscoring the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and high operational standards.

Alejandro Revich, Founder and CEO of End2End, commented:
“Brazil is one of the most exciting gaming markets in the world, and with our certification in place, bingo is poised to become a key vertical as operators expand their offerings. The cultural affinity for bingo is undeniable, and the digital infrastructure is ready. At BiS SiGMA, we aim to demonstrate how our network model works and why End2End is the ideal partner to bring bingo to life in Brazil. We’re here to grow our network, build partnerships, and show that when it comes to bingo in Brazil, End2End is the clear choice.”

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