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3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown

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More Brits than ever played video games last year to beat the boredom of staying home, and our third lockdown in 2021 has seen the trend gain even more traction. With games being released on more platforms, and more genres than ever now is an excellent time to be a gamer!

Fresh Student Living took a deep dive into the gaming industry in the UK to see just what an impact Covid has had on gaming.

More than four in ten UK gamers say they’ve been gaming more during the COVID-19 outbreak (43%). Plus, UK gamers now make up over two thirds of the population (67%); six in ten of this group say they play mobile games (52%); a quarter PC games (25%); and three in ten console games (28%).

When the pandemic first put a stop to everyday life, the gaming world expanded with regular players putting in even more time, and new people joining the trend to connect with friends, kill time and indulge in much-needed escapism. As more people picked up controllers, the UK gaming population exploded by a whopping 63%! People reported feeling happier and calmer, with a higher sense of freedom, thanks to how immersive the best video games are.

The Average Gamer Spent the Equivalent of 39 Days Playing Last Year

Games like FIFA 21, Call of Duty, Animal Crossing and Last of Us were some of the most played games of 2020, with 3 in 10 people skipping showers and meals to play uninterrupted. Almost 6 in 10 Brits also admit to losing sleep due to gaming sessions.

Pre lockdown, the average gamer spent around 13 hours a week playing their favourites. This increased by 5 hours during lockdown with Brits spending 18 hours or more exploring new worlds online – that’s equivalent to 39 whole days spent gaming!

The average gamer usually sets aside a conservative 1-3 hours to play, but in the UK, at least 3% of the population confesses to playing for 15 hours or more in one sitting.

What Video Games is Everyone Playing?

Most Played Video Games of 2020 According to Units Sold

FIFA 21 dominated in 2020 as one of the most anticipated games in the UK, with around 14 games selling per second in the UK last year.

  1. FIFA 21 (2.18 million)
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1.4 million)
  3. Grand Theft Auto 5 (1.1 million)
  4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (800,000)
  5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (660,000)
  6. The Last of Us Part II (530,000)
  7. NBA 2K20 (480,000)
  8. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (430,000)

More Brits Are Hooked on Video Games

Lockdown has given us all more time to kill, and today the split between male and female video gamers is strictly 50-50. In the UK, 54% of men and women play a game most days, lowering stress and connecting with others being two of the primary motivators.

Multiplayer Games Keep us Connected

With time to kill and social distancing in effect for most of last year, multiplayer games’ popularity soared as more people jumped online to chat and connect. Even ex-gamers again picked up their controllers to join online communities playing games like Call of Duty, Animal Crossing or Fortnite.

Unsurprisingly, lockdown saw most Brits opt for action-packed and interactive genres, with most gamers choosing fighting, action and huge multiplayer Battle Royale games with lots of other players!

Most played genres in 2020

  • Fighting – 81%
  • Action – 79%
  • Massively multiplayer online games – 78%
  • Multiplayer online battle arena games – 75%

The Rise of Covideogamers in 2021

Lockdown has massively changed the gaming community across the world. In the UK, younger gamers spend loads of time playing while self-isolating and spend around two hours a month watching other people play online – a pastime that has increased since lockdown began.

The pandemic has also created a whole new subgenre of gamers known as Covideogamers, who exclusively started gaming during lockdown. Compared to 36% of existing gamers between the ages of 18 – 34, Covideogamers now make up 46% of the population in the same age group – 35% of these new gamers have also admitted it’s so relaxing and stress-relieving, they’re going to start playing more, long after lockdown ends!

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Alex Baliukonis Game Producer at BGaming

BGaming releases Frenzy Clusters slot with expanding grid feature

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New cluster-pay title includes five character companions, Free Spins with progressive multipliers, and a ×10,000 max win at 97.11% RTP.

BGaming has released a new slot, Frenzy Clusters, adding another #Entertainment title to its portfolio. The game uses a cluster-pay mechanic and an expanding grid, with BGaming stating a maximum win of ×10,000 and an RTP of 97.11%.

Frenzy Clusters is built around five selectable character companions—Golub, Hugo, Bloke, Aussie, and Olaf—each positioned as culturally inspired. BGaming says the character choice does not affect outcomes, but characters react to wins with animations and interact with events on the reels.

Gameplay runs on a grid with blocked edge cells that can be unlocked by landing winning clusters next to them, expanding the play area. After wins, the game can trigger one of three random symbol effects: Rockets (clear a horizontal line), Books (clear a 3×3 area), and Spheres (remove all instances of the same symbol). BGaming says grid expansions last one spin in the base game and persist for the duration of the bonus round.

The Free Spins feature is triggered by three or more Scatters. BGaming says the bonus includes a progressive multiplier based on the number of Scatters, with no limit, and that players can access the bonus via Buy Bonus options or use a Chance feature to increase trigger probability.

Alex Baliukonis, Game Producer at BGaming, said, “At BGaming, we encourage our design team to get as creative as possible, and titles like Frenzy Clusters are the kind of magic they deliver.

This is one of our most imaginative titles to date, with each of the game’s five characters being designed to appeal to different players. Fantasy roleplay fans will definitely spot plenty of references in the game, with the team pulling inspiration from some of their favorite campaigns, and we have also been inspired by other popular culture stories.

The game goes beyond its aesthetic appeal, offering some big wins and a creative twist on the popular cluster-play dynamic, with the expanding grid providing the kind of engagement and progressive action that is tailor-made for streamers.”

The post BGaming releases Frenzy Clusters slot with expanding grid feature appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered

Games Global and High Limit Studio launch Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered

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Egyptian-themed slot adds Climb Time progression, Guaranteed Wild Meter and a Bonus Booster Wheel with rewards up to 6,250x.

Games Global has launched Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered™ in partnership with exclusive studio partner High Limit Studio. The new Egyptian-themed 5×3 slot adds feature progression, hidden prize reveals and a bonus wheel, with the company stating maximum rewards of up to 6,250x.

At the core is the Cash Uncovered™ mechanic, triggered by landing a Mummy or Wild symbol on every reel. When activated, the feature reveals hidden prizes on Wild symbols and awards all displayed values simultaneously.

The title uses the Climb Time™ progression system to unlock upgrades through play, including Random Wilds, the Bonus Booster Wheel and enhanced Mummy symbols. As players progress, four mummy modifiers are added to reel one: Hot Spin Mummy (prizes up to 1,250x), Boost Mummy (increases prizes up to 15x), Collect Mummy (gathers values up to three times) and Multiply Mummy (multipliers up to 10x).

A Guaranteed Wild Meter tracks Random Wilds landing on reels two to five during the base game. If a spin results in no win, the symbols are collected to build the meter. Landing three bell scatters awards 10 Free Spins, played with the number of Guaranteed Wilds accumulated. Coin symbols also feed a Treasure Pot that can randomly activate a Wheel Bonus.

High Limit Studio Creative Director Adrian Wotton said: “The Egyptian theme was a natural fit for the Cash Uncovered™ mechanic and gave us the opportunity to approach the concept from a different angle. Combined with the Guaranteed Wild Meter and enhanced mummy features, we’ve introduced new layers to the experience while staying true to what made the original title so popular.”

Games Global Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management Dave Reynolds added: “Climb Time Joker Cash Uncovered™ proved how well this mechanic resonates with players, and this release gives operators a follow-up that builds on that success. High Limit Studio has layered in feature progression and the Guaranteed Wild Meter to deepen the experience – evolving a concept players already know into something with even broader appeal.”

The post Games Global and High Limit Studio launch Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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2RBO Affiliates

ToonieBet Named Exclusive iGaming Partner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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2RBO Affiliates is proud to announce that ToonieBet, an iGaming brand featured within its portfolio, has been named the Exclusive and Official iGaming Partner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This partnership brings the Tigers’ spirit to the digital world, uniting a leading gaming platform with one of the most iconic and battle-tested teams in the Canadian Football League. 

The collaboration marks a massive leap in ToonieBet’s expansion across the Canadian market, strengthening its position among a highly engaged sports audience. For affiliates, this is a call to sharpen the claws and prepare for a massive hunt for high-intent traffic and record-breaking conversions. By aligning with a club that defines grit and history, ToonieBet provides partners with direct access to a loyal fanbase where the passion for the play is unmatched and engagement extends far beyond the final whistle. 

Through this alliance, affiliates gain access to premium traffic fueled by a dedicated sports community. By tapping into localized campaigns and sports-led activations, partners can expect optimized conversion funnels and stronger retention. This synergy ensures superior player LTV from a fanbase that lives and breathes the black-and-gold. 

Aviv, Head of 2RBO Affiliates, highlighted the strategic value of this collaboration for affiliates:  

Partnering with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats allows us to engage with a football culture driven by loyalty, tradition, and a deeply engaged сommunity. For affiliates, this unlocks strong opportunities to connect with high-intent audiences, build campaigns around key fixtures in the season, and drive more consistent, long-term performance within the Canadian Football League ecosystem.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet to the family as the Exclusive and Official iGaming Partner,” stated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Press Office. “This partnership strengthens the connection between our club, our fans, and the wider digital world that surrounds the game. Together, we’re bringing new energy to the fan experience—creating exciting ways to engage, celebrate every moment of the season, and stay closer to the action. It’s time to ‘eat ’em raw’ together! 

Ready to make every game count? Drive traffic to ToonieBet and turn player engagement into consistent revenue! 

About ToonieBet 

ToonieBet is a sports-oriented brand with casino and sportsbook features powered by exciting gamification. Players can play a thousand games and bet on sports events hunting for trophies and collecting cups for incredible prizes and generous bonuses. 

About 2RBO Affiliates 

2RBO Affiliates is a high-performance affiliate programme representing numerous iGaming brands. Built on an advanced platform, the programme combines modern gamification features, flexible commission models, and a no negative carryover policy to help maximise partner profitability. With transparent reporting, innovative tracking tools, and a strong focus on partner support and compliance, 2RBO Affiliates delivers scalable growth and long-term collaboration across competitive markets. 

About Hamilton Tiger-Cats 

The Hamilton Tiger‑Cats are a Canadian Football League (CFL) team based in Hamilton, Ontario. The club traces its roots to 1869, accumulating 15 Grey Cup titles, making it one of the most successful and storied football teams in Canada. A pillar of the local sports scene and owned by Hamilton Sports Group, the Tiger‑Cats are known for their longstanding tradition of excellence, both on the field and in the community through local initiatives.  

The post ToonieBet Named Exclusive iGaming Partner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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