Latest News
Opera buys owner of GameMaker and starts a Gaming division
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.”
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Amusnet
Weekend Reels | Week 28: Slot Drops & Trends
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
Amusnet has released Golden Snake, a captivating new video slot that blends the timeless appeal of Asian symbolism with innovative mechanics and high-impact gameplay. Designed for players who enjoy immersive themes and thrilling volatility, the title delivers a fresh interpretation of one of the industry’s most enduring and successful game styles.

PG Soft has released Monkey’s Wild Party, a new video slot set on a 5×5 grid with cascading reels, increasing multipliers and Wild Mushroom symbols that convert adjacent monkey symbols into wilds.

BGaming has announced the release of Yokai, the debut title in its new ART Collab series, developed in partnership with one of Portugal’s most influential street artists, Gonçalo MAR. In Yokai, players join a mysterious Samurai on the edge of an ancient Japanese forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji.

Pragmatic Play has launched Big Bass Blast, the latest entry in its Big Bass slot franchise. The game uses a 5×3 setup and adds random multipliers to wilds on reels 1 and 5 in the base game, with multipliers ranging from 2x to 10x.

R. Franco Digital has released Spin Fighters, a new slot title inspired by classic one-on-one fighting video games. The game opens with a character selection screen where players choose two contenders. R. Franco Digital said the core mechanic ties winning spins to “upper icons”, with the icon direction determining which fighter takes damage, reducing a health bar.

DEGEN Studios has launched Plague City, a Scatter Pays slot built around visible progression, escalating features and a 10,000x max win chase. Every winning combination spreads infection across the reels, creating bigger setups as players build towards Plague Wave Respins, Plague Breakout Free Spins and Super Free Spins.

BGaming sends players on a daring railway robbery with the launch of Train Heist Johnny Cash, the newest addition to its growing Johnny Cash series. The game marks the return of Johnny Cash, BGaming’s own gold-hungry outlaw, who is back with another scheme to get his hands on the money.

Swintt has released Duolito Iceman Tower, a new SwinttPremium slot set in Pisa that includes free spins, shifting wilds and a maximum win of up to 10,000x the bet. The game is a five-reel, 10-payline title. It uses ace-through-ten playing card symbols alongside gelato-themed icons.

Games Global has cast its line into the popular fishing genre with the launch of Fishin’ Madness
QUADGROWS
, developed by exclusive partner Posh Monkey Studios, introducing an all-new evolving reel mechanic that continuously unlocks new ways to win.

ELA Games has released a new slot title, Flames Fruits Frenzy Hold and Win, expanding its Flames Fruits Frenzy series with a Hold & Win bonus feature. The game uses classic fruit-machine iconography, including cherries, lemons, oranges, grapes, and watermelons, presented with updated high-definition visual effects, according to the company.

Booming Games has launched Fish Tales: Double Catch Max Scatter, the latest title in its Fish Tales slot series. The supplier said the game runs on a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 10,000x.

Tom Horn Gaming will launch Royal Ruby FeatureStorm worldwide on 14 July 2026, adding a new Hold & Win slot to its portfolio. The game runs on a 5×3 reel layout with nine paylines and is positioned as a high-volatility release. Tom Horn Gaming said the title offers a maximum win potential of up to 13,920x the stake and is built around its Hold & Win FeatureStorm mechanic.

Enjoy Gaming has built on one of its most successful slot releases with the launch of Diamond Slam: Xtra Power, an enhanced sequel that builds on the fast-paced, jackpot-driven gameplay that made the original a standout hit. Retaining the original’s classic 3×3 format with five fixed paylines, Diamond Slam: Xtra Power blends nostalgic fruit machine appeal with even greater winning potential.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 28: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery
Scientific Games announces that a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery‘s sales across the state, headlined by exciting new draw games for players. The technology advancement features Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, including a central gaming system and retailer management system.
In addition to enhancing security and streamlining operations for the Arizona Lottery, the technology upgrade was designed to elevate the player experience, bring fresh energy to the Lottery’s classic draw game lineup, and provide even more opportunities for retail partners to succeed.
“Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” said Alec Thomson, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”
The expansion of the Arizona Lottery’s draw games portfolio includes:
- Massive upgrade to The Pick with an automatic multiplier on every single play, better overall odds of winning and a brand-new instant win add-on called The Pick PLUS
- Addition of a daily midday drawing for the Pick 3 game
- Addition of an all-new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings
- Addition of Powerball Double Play – an exciting add-on offering a second chance to win up to $10 million in a separate drawing immediately following the Powerball drawing
As part of the technology enhancements, Scientific Games upgraded gem | suite, the company’s comprehensive software suite, to accommodate the Arizona Lottery’s expanded draw game portfolio. gem | suite efficiently manages the Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers’ licensing, communications and business intelligence that helps manage products in stores.
“As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.
Scientific Games has been a provider to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands. The company provides services and expertise to the Lottery from its Phoenix location.
Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, the fastest-growing lottery systems provider, and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.
Scratchers® is a registered service mark of the California Lottery.
gem | suite®, and Momentum® are trademarks of Scientific Games. © 2026 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The post All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Arizona Lottery
Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery
New central gaming and retailer management systems support expanded draw game features across the Lottery’s 3,600 retail locations.
Scientific Games said a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery’s statewide sales, including updates to its draw games portfolio. The rollout is based on Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, incorporating a central gaming system and a retailer management system.
Arizona Lottery Executive Director Alec Thomson said the technology and game changes are intended to modernize operations and refresh the draw game lineup. “Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” Thomson said. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”
The Lottery’s draw game changes include an update to The Pick featuring an automatic multiplier on every play and an add-on called The Pick PLUS, the addition of a daily midday drawing for Pick 3, the launch of a new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings, and the addition of Powerball Double Play.
Scientific Games said it also upgraded its gem | suite software to support the expanded draw portfolio and to manage retailer licensing, communications and business intelligence across the Arizona Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers. “As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.
Scientific Games has supplied products and services to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands, and supports the Lottery from a Phoenix location, according to the company.
The post Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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