Latest News
Zynga Acquires Echtra Games Team Led by Developers of Diablo and Torchlight Franchises
Zynga Inc., a global leader in interactive entertainment, announced that it has acquired Echtra Games, a cross-platform game studio composed of a development team whose core members have previously shaped the world of action role-playing games through their work on genre-defining titles including Diablo, Diablo II, the Torchlight franchise and more.
The Echtra Games team strengthens Zynga’s cross-platform play future by adding talented developers with extensive cross-platform play experience as well as proprietary cross-platform development tools and technologies that have been built on top of the Unreal Engine. Specifically, the Echtra Games team will be developing a new, yet to be announced RPG for cross-platform play in partnership with Zynga’s NaturalMotion studio.
“Max and his team at Echtra Games are responsible for some of the most legendary game properties ever created, and they are experts in the action RPG genre and cross-platform development. I’m excited to welcome the Echtra Games team into the Zynga family,” said Frank Gibeau, Chief Executive Officer of Zynga. “This acquisition will be instrumental in growing our iconic licenses and brands from mobile to PCs and consoles, while helping to further expand Zynga’s total addressable market.”
“Echtra Games is delighted to be joining the Zynga family,” said Max Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer of Echtra Games. “We share Zynga’s vision that cross-platform play is an essential part of the future of RPGs and interactive entertainment and are eager to apply our vast experience and talents to this effort.”
Echtra Games was founded in 2016 and is led by an experienced group of industry veterans. Max Schaefer and his leadership team co-founded companies such as Blizzard North, Flagship Studios and Runic Games, and have strong development experience on titles such as Diablo, Diablo II, the Torchlight franchise, The Sims 4 and more. Echtra Games’ veteran employees have worked with companies such as Blizzard, Disney, Electronic Arts, Runic Games, Kabam and Undead Labs. Echtra Games’ development team has published and run live services on mobile, PC, Playstation 4, XBox One and the Nintendo Switch.
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Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
Two new online slot titles go live across the UK and Malta iGaming markets, including a Player Link community mechanic.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. has launched two new online slot titles—Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
—now available across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.
The company said Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel combines its Bigger Piggy Bank
series with Player Link
and a “Super Wheel” community feature. The title includes cash collection mechanics, a Free Spins Bonus and shared wheel prizes.
Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings back the Cops ‘n’ Robbers franchise with a 243-ways setup and multiple bonus mechanics. Inspired said the game includes Free Spins, Wheel Bonuses and random reel modifiers, plus optional features including Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, Fortune Spins and Gamble, and a choice of volatility profiles.
Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to evolve proven mechanics and themes that resonate most with players, and these two releases do exactly that. Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel offers a fresh social-style dynamic through Player Link, creating anticipation that builds beyond the individual player experience, while Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings one of our most recognisable game franchises back with more action, features and entertainment. Together, this duo offers operators two distinctive titles that combine proven gameplay with strong engagement potential and broad market appeal. Whether it’s smashing Piggy Banks or cracking safes, these games are built to keep players coming back for more.”
The post Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm
Sportradar is positioning the 2026 World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026), hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as a major acquisition moment for Latin American sportsbooks—while warning that the expanded tournament format will raise operational and risk demands. In a “World Cup Report 2026,” the company highlights a 48-team field, 104 matches and a “favorable time zone” for Latin American audiences as factors likely to drive spikes in deposits and in-play betting activity.
The report cites the tournament organizer’s projection of approximately 6 billion engagements across traditional TV, streaming, digital platforms, and public screenings, with streaming and mobile consumption expected to represent over 30% of total audience. Sportradar also points to broader consumer intent data it references: around 60% of consumers plan to bet online or via mobile apps during the tournament, including nearly 19% who plan to bet for the first time.
Operationally, Sportradar argues the expanded match schedule increases exposure: “More matches mean more in-play betting windows, greater liability exposure, and higher volatility.” It also frames payments and product depth as differentiators, citing Brazil’s PIX instant payment system as an example of local rails shaping user expectations and internal efficiency, and pointing to growth in Parlays and Bet Builders among its operator partners.
On market context, the report highlights Brazil entering “its first full event cycle under a licensing framework,” stating the regulated market generated R$37 billion (approximately US$ 7.3 billion) in gross gaming revenue in 2025. It adds that Brazil is projected to account for approximately 10% of global betting handle during the tournament.
Sportradar’s recommended strategy centers on three pillars—enhanced betting experience, deeper fan engagement, and “an ecosystem of uncompromising integrity”—with artificial intelligence positioned as the cross-cutting enabler. The company says its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS AI) analyzes “over 30 billion odds movements” annually from more than 600 operators, and claims modern manipulation trends are concentrated in live betting, stating approximately 89% of cases target in-play markets. It also says that in 2025, “AI drove a 56% increase in detections.”
The post Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andy Phillips SportingRisk.com CBDO
Sporting Risk supplies player props and BetBuilder tools to BOYLE Sports
Deal covers pre-match and in-play football markets, including in-play multis and micromarkets across more than 150 competitions.
Sporting Risk has partnered with BOYLE Sports to integrate its Player Props, Pre-canned BetBuilder, and Next-Gen player-centric in-play BetBuilder into the operator’s sportsbook.
The companies said the rollout will increase player market coverage and combinability for BOYLE Sports in the UK and Ireland, with support for player markets across more than 150 global competitions.
According to the announcement, the integration also includes in-play multis and micromarkets aimed at expanding real-time betting options tied to player-driven markets.
Andy Phillips, SportingRisk.com CBDO, said: “It’s great to see us strengthen our position in the UK market via a partnership with a high street brand who have a lot of operational expertise and are driving forward with a great online product. The UK is the most competitive football Betbuilder market and we are helping operators here to surpass the very best products across all the objective metrics we can measure.”
David Burgin, Trading Director at BOYLE Sports, added: “Our focus at BOYLE Sports is on delivering a market-leading experience and this partnership with Sporting Risk significantly enhances our football offering. The depth of player markets, combinability and in-play capabilities will offer more engaging opportunities, and we’re excited to bring these innovations to our customers as we continue to improve the quality and breadth of our sportsbook.”
The post Sporting Risk supplies player props and BetBuilder tools to BOYLE Sports appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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