Latest News
Sorare raises a €40m Series A from Benchmark and Accel Partners to help fans own their football passion online
Sorare, the digital collectible football platform, announces that it has received €40 million in Series A financing, led by Benchmark, with additional funding from Accel and new business angels. The angels include Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Vaynermedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, football players Antoine Griezmann and Rio Ferdinand. The financing brings Sorare’s total funding to €48 million. The capital will be used to fuel the growth of the community, accelerate the hiring of a world-class team and launch a mobile application.
Fantastically real collectibles
Football is a common denominator for more than 4 billion people globally but today, fans feel further away from the game they love than ever before. As we spend more time online, the need for connection has significantly shifted to digital experiences. Sports card collectibles have long helped fans celebrate their love of the game, and now they can experience a whole new world online. Sorare is leading the new era of online football fandom, where fans can live football moments and true connections like never before.
The company’s mission is to build “the game within the game” and to give fans the platform to celebrate, share and own their football passion. Through tradable digital cards, Sorare is designing a collective fantasy football experience where you can manage your favorite players and hone your passion to earn prizes. Anyone, anywhere, can connect with the beautiful game on Sorare.
Growing across the globe
The company, which is already profitable, has experienced an explosive 52% month-on-month growth over the past 12 months, going from €50K worth of cards traded on the platform in January 2020 to €3.5M in January 2021 across 120 countries.
More than 120 football clubs have launched their digital cards on Sorare, with all European Champions actively participating in the growth of the game. Partnerships with Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus make Sorare the first digital collectible platform to offer cards from Europe’s top five league champions. The company’s ambition is to onboard the top 20 football leagues globally. This next-generation gaming experience allows leagues and clubs to expand their international brand by reaching an untapped audience of fans. Sorare is effectively opening up a new traceable and sustainable revenue stream for them.
Crypto’s next consumer application
Sorare collectibles are backed by blockchain technology to provide transparency and portability into other games. More importantly, the blockchain Ethereum enables the act of collecting in the digital space by creating digital scarcity through “non-fungible tokens” (NFT). It secures the passion of fans and creates a new level of trust and freedom for gamers who can freely trade their assets over the internet.
Sorare joins the ranks of culturally impactful companies and innovative brands in the Benchmark and Accel portfolio, including Twitter, Snap, Instagram and Spotify.
Nicolas Julia, CEO at Sorare explained: “Sorare was born from our love for football. We’re building a gaming experience fueled by passion where fans can connect with football and a global community. On Sorare, they can truly own the game. Today is a watershed moment – both for Sorare as a company and for our community – that will enable us to touch new markets and radically improve our product to become the game within the beautiful game.”
Peter Fenton, General Partner at Benchmark commented: “We’re thrilled to partner with Sorare as their lead Series A investor. The company combines the global passion for football collectibles with the excitement of real-world play in fantasy league tournaments. The founders early work in blockchain technology gave them the unique insight into a killer application for a new NFT – real players in real games creating enduring value for a digital artifact. Their explosive growth codifies the utility of these technologies in everyday life.”
Andrei Brasoveanu, Partner at Accel added: “Sitting at the intersection of fantasy football and sports collectibles, Sorare is revolutionizing the way fans across the world engage with and enjoy sports. In just a year, Sorare has built an incredible viral community and secured partnerships with more than 130 football clubs, including five European Champions. This impressive growth is a testament to the ambition and determination of Nicolas, Adrien and the entire Sorare team. We’re excited to join Sorare on the next stage of their journey and help build the leading digital sports collectibles platform worldwide!”
Christian Miele, Partner at e.ventures, commented: “We have been impressed by Nicolas’ and Adrien’s vision from day one. For the first time in human history a digital collectible holds a utility and can be used in a wide field of applications to attract soccer fanatics, collectors, and investors alike. This is why Sorare is best positioned to create one of the largest next-generation entertainment companies in the world.”
Gerard Piqué, Strategic Advisor at Sorare, explained: “As world football has shifted from local supporters to global fanbases, football fans are looking for new ways to be connected to the game, the players and other fans. Nicolas and the team have a unique gaming experience with real-world impact, bringing fantasy to reality. I’m looking forward to helping the team and the Sorare community connect with more football clubs and leagues.”
Sia Houchangnia, Partner at Seedcamp, concluded: “Sorare is a truly category-defining company and has the potential to become one of the biggest consumer tech success stories out of Europe. In less than 2 years since our pre-seed investment, the Sorare team has built from scratch a complex economy within an incredibly compelling game. Most importantly, Sorare can count on one of the most vibrant communities of early adopters we’ve ever seen. The growth has been astonishing and there’s an entire ecosystem of games and content being built around Sorare’s football cards. This is one of the most exciting businesses we’ve had the chance to work with and we are incredibly excited to have Benchmark and Accel joining the journey.”
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Play’n GO, Playtech, Elk Studios, Pragmatic Play and streamer CasinoDaddy were some of the big names celebrating victories at the 2024 edition of the Game Developer Awards ceremony.
Concluding the final day of the highly successful CasinoBeats Summit, the illustrious awards ceremony, which took place at the Hilton Malta, was a night dedicated to honouring the remarkable achievements of the iGaming industry.
The evening witnessed the return of veteran host Trudy Kerr, alongside award-winning game developer John Romero, as they handed out 28 awards to accomplished operators, game studios and individuals.
Award categories included:
- Game Performance,
- Streamers,
- Game Creation,
- Game People,
- SlotCatalog,
- Casino Platform, and
- Best Game Release.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “The Game Developer Awards offers a pivotal opportunity to honour the remarkable accomplishments of the industry, celebrating both regional and global brands as well as individual talent. This year’s shortlist was by far the most competitive we have seen, and I would like to congratulate all our esteemed winners.”
It was a good night for Play’n GO, who secured the prestigious SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Large) award for the second consecutive year, whilst also picking up the Game Music / Soundtrack accolade for their title Hugo Legacy.
The game creation categories saw:
- Playtech once again take home the Game Licensed Content award for their work on Breaking Bad: Cash Collect & Link.
- Hacksaw Gaming was awarded Game Feature of the Year for their title Chaos Crew 2,
- Relax Gaming was honoured with the Game Design & Art Direction award for Money Train 4, and
- GAMOMAT was named winner of the Game Retro-Style award for Fancy Fruits Deluxe.
Pragmatic Play notably took home two awards on the night, winning both the Game Mechanic of the Year award for their MultiHold mechanic and Slot Legacy Title for Gates of Olympus.
The SlotCatalog categories saw:
- GAMOMAT return to the stage to pick up their second award of the night for Best Game Development Company Central Europe, while
- Playson was awarded Best Game Studio In Development Countries.
- Reel Kingdom secured the SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Medium) award,
- Fortune Factory Studios was named SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Small) and
- IGT Play Digital claimed SlotCatalog’s Best Game Development Company North America.
The coveted SlotCatalog’s Rookie of the Year accolade was presented to industry newcomers Area Vegas.
In honour of the individual achievements in the industry, the Game People categories saw:
- Andrei Filipovich of Aviatrix awarded Game Designer of the Year,
- Julia Aliakseyeva from BGaming named Product Manager of the Year and
- PearFiction Studios’ Jean-Pierre Larouche presented with the Game Composer of the Year award.
EveryMatrix won the Aggregator of the Year award, The Mill Adventure was awarded Platform Innovation of the Year, while the Best Game Release award went to Lambda Gaming for 8Bit Football Twinko.
This year’s edition saw the introduction of two new awards:
- the FTN Game of the Year award which was sponsored by BetConstruct and presented to Rubyplay for Mad Hit Olympic First, and
- the CasinoBeats Annual Community Recognition Award which was awarded to SoftConstruct for its work on BFTH Arena.
It was a big night for CasinoDaddy who took home the esteemed Streamer of the Year award, while The Slot Beasts and Haddzy were recipients of two new Streamer awards, Responsible Streamer of the Year and Next-Gen Streamer of the Year, respectively.
In the Game Performance categories:
- PowderKeg Studios claimed the Slot Debut award for their title Munition Mines,
- Stormcraft Studios won Slot to Watch for their work on Immortal Romance 2, while
- Light & Wonder and Netflix took home Slot Collaboration of the Year for Squid Game.
The illustrious Slot of the Year award went to Elk Studios for Pirots 2.
“Last night’s ceremony was a tremendous success and proved to be a truly memorable night. I would like to thank our official partner Gaming Malta, alongside all our supporting sponsors for their help in honouring the incredible achievements of the industry” Sojmark added.
The awards ceremony concluded the final day of the CasinoBeats Summit, which saw 4,500 industry professionals convene at the InterContinental Hotel in Malta, the hub of iGaming.
Latest News
FBM Foundation helps Rio Grande do Sul communities with substantial donation from FBM Brazil
In a heartfelt display of solidarity, the FBM Foundation has announced a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to humanitarian causes through FBM Brazil’s support.
A generous donation of 500 grocery baskets, 500 personal hygiene kits, and 9,000 liters of water will be delivered and distributed to struggling communities in Rio Grande, Brazil. This effort will be carried out in partnership with Central Única das Favelas (CUFA) in Porto Alegre, with J&T Express Brazil and Correios Sedex Brasil providing transportation.
The most recent and devastating Rio Grande natural disasters, that provoked floods, landslides, and extreme weather events, have left communities grappling with immense challenges, from widespread displacement to the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Given the context of these calamities and the urgent need to assist these families, FBM Foundation’s donation emerged as a powerful alliance dedicated to promoting positive change in communities worldwide. With FBM Brazil’s substantial contribution, the organisation aims to make an impact in supporting these communities.
Beyond financial assistance, FBM Foundation recognizes the power of awareness and advocacy in driving meaningful change. Through strategic communication efforts, the organisation aims to raise awareness for additional support from like-minded individuals and organizations.
At the heart of this donation lies a shared vision of creating a brighter, more inclusive world for all. By supporting Rio Grande do Sul, FBM Foundation reaffirms its commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.
“As a foundation deeply rooted in Brazilian heritage, FBM Foundation takes pride in its origins and the rich cultural background of Brazil. We have a legacy shaped by the spirit of proximity, compassion, and innovation, so we want to honour its Brazilian roots while embracing a global perspective in its solidarity endeavours”, shares Renato Almeida, Director at the FBM Group.
As we continue this journey of solidarity, FBM Foundation invites individuals and entities alike to join hands in creating a brighter future for all. Through collective actions, we can uplift communities, inspire change, and leave a lasting impact on the world.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Relax Gaming is bringing classic 8-bit sprites to the reels in its brand-new arcade-themed release, Line Busters Dream Drop. This high volatility three-reel slot allows players a chance to win a maximum of 5,000x their stake through a lucrative free spins bonus. The legendary Dream Drop Jackpot can also be triggered at any moment, potentially landing players the €3,000,000 Mega Jackpot.
Evoplay has rolled out its latest release Belfry Bliss, a sizzling feature-rich slot that showcases the Hells Bells round, awarding multiple money values in conjunction with the hell-raising Dante symbol. The Devil’s Luck feature comes into play in the base game and free spins as two to three random icons can be replaced by Scatters should just one of them land on a spin.
Nolimit City takes fans away from the twisted plastic reality of its latest and highly anticipated slot, Kenneth Must Die. The provider hasn’t fallen short of delivering exhilarating and volatile slots, from re-works of classics such as Tombstone No Mercy to haunting players as was seen in Possessed. They have now turned their focus to an alternate version of 90s infomercial television in Loner.
Endorphina, has announced the official release of its newest Egyptian-themed game. Temple of Ra is a cascading slot 6-reel, 5-row slot that encourages players to uncover the hidden chamber of Ra and unravel the secrets buried within.
Light & Wonder, Inc. has released Claw and Roar, from specialist slot provider Lightning Box, one of Light & Wonder’s in-house studios, exhibiting a plethora of animal symbols that award unique modifiers and features. In this 3×5 adventure, players step into a blissful forest, making friends with a number of creatures along the way, including the grizzly bear, who stars as a Wild symbol.
Latest 3X3 Slot Game from Spin Logic featuring Expanding Reels, Huge Win Multipliers, and 2 Jackpots This week, Everygame Casino introduces its decadent new Wonder Reels slot game from SpinLogic. This lavish new game features Ways Boosters, jackpots, and huge win multipliers. There can never be enough bling in the new Wonder Reels, a luxurious 3X3 slot with an expanding gameboard and free games with win multipliers and jackpots.
Wishbone Games, a Games Global exclusive studio, has launched its latest feature-filled title with a twist in tranquil new release Kingfisher™. Set amongst the wildlife, players join the titular Kingfisher on the reels that are adorned with fish, dragonflies and frogs, unlocking different adventures and features along the way by hatching five eggs that sit above the matrix on the 5×4 grid.
Trigger Happy is the new highly volatile arcade-style slot from BTG that will be blasting its way onto the Evolution Network. The new cluster-pays slot tips its hat to video arcade games of yore, inviting players to blast a cascade of fluffy critters in a 5X5 grid embedded inside an arcade game mechanism. Meanwhile, the 50,000x win potential ramps up engagement levels to the max.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., is delighted to announce the launch of Gold Fever Fortune™ in the B3/LBO market. Gold Fever Fortune™ offers the tantalizing possibility of uncovering riches hidden deep within the mines. Players should prepare for an adventure filled with excitement as they watch progressive cash pots grow, uncover Streak Spins promising guaranteed wins or bonus awards, and delve into the Gold Rush Board, where a multitude of cash prizes await discovery.
Thunderkick has launched its latest release King of the Party, which couples feature-rich gameplay with eye-catching visuals to deliver an entertaining player experience. Lions, hyenas, lynx, lizards, and pigs reside on the reels, each stylised with retro sunglasses and sporting various items of jewellery. These animals represent the mid to high-paying symbols, with the Savannah’s apex predator being the most lucrative.
The latest slot from Hölle Games is now live: “Sin in Berlin”, is a 5×4, 25 payline game/trip into the party-scene of a capital known for its party scene since the Roaring Twenties. The slot also features a special wheel game, which when triggered, can award up to 30 Free Spins with a 3x multiplier! On top of that, the Free Spins always feature an expanding wild character, which can provide some truly epic win potential.
Yggdrasil has released its latest core title, Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax™, built around the studio’s proprietary MultiMax Game Engagement Mechanic (GEM) that can see unlimited multipliers land for huge wins. The popular mechanic allows every win to be multiplied by up to five different multipliers associated with each of the game’s reels. If numerous reel multipliers are applied to a win, they are automatically multiplied and not summed.
Pragmatic Play, sets off on a valiant quest in Heroic Spins, where the game’s fearless protagonist wields expanding wilds to save the city and rescue the princess. Monsters roam the reels in this 5×3 Slot. Whenever one or more wilds hit, they expand to fill the entire reel.
Wazdan has given another popular slot a lighter version with the release of its latest slot game, Power of Gods™: Valhalla Extremely Light. This elegant and fresh addition to the extraordinary Power of Gods™ series offers players an immersive gaming experience, regardless of their internet connection or battery mode.
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll returns to Sin City with buck teeth and an insatiable appetite for bark and big wins in Crucible Gaming’s latest release Beaver Las Vegas. This epic 5-reel, 20 payline slot can see players rack up impressive prizes by way of a free spins feature, lucrative record symbols and the truly spectacular Beaver Las Vegas bonus.
One of the hottest game studios in the industry, Booming Games, is turning up the heat and inviting players to a vibrant fiesta set in the heart of Mexico, complete with a thrilling market hunt for the perfect chillies. With a 5×3 layout and 20 paylines, The Chillies is a hot and tantalising creation from Booming Games with exciting winning features.
Players will be enchanted with this latest hit slot from Stakelogic as they enter the world of one of Greek mythology’s most iconic gorgons. Stone Gaze of Medusa is a 6×5 reel format which encompasses all the fantastic features that players have come to love from Stakelogic including Cascading Reels, and Free Spins – all set within a hauntingly beautiful ancient world.
Leprechaun magic awaits as Blueprint Gaming’s popular folklore series returns with Luck O’ The Irish Gold Spins Trail Blazer, featuring enticing wins courtesy of a new dynamic trail during the game’s Gold Spins. In the familiar 5×4 reel game board, three bonus symbols trigger eight free spins or ‘Gold Spins’, where only the top three symbols and wilds appear on the reels, boosting the chance of securing grand wins.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems and solutions, is pleased to announce its May slots line-up, available online and on mobile. Kong Wonder Wilds™ – 92% and 94.5% RTP, Wild Drop Multiplier™ – 92% and 94.5% RTP and Perfect Prize Pooch™ – 92% and 94.5% RTP.
Reflex Gaming, an omnichannel supplier of gambling games, has once again teamed up with Yggdrasil, a leading iGaming publisher on the launch of Diamond Miner DuoMax™, utilising a powerful Game Engagement Mechanic (GEM) to offer precious prizes. A cascading slot that modifies its reels for win potential, the latest release places players in a deep, dark mine where the only lights shining are the glittering gemstones in the reflection of the miner’s lantern.
The post Week 21/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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