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Lockwood Publishing Adds Senior Development Talent to Bolster its Web3 and Metaverse Expansion Plans

James Cox, Rob Hendry and Chris Tilston join the studio behind smash hit ‘Avakin Life’
Vast experience will help drive Lockwood’s ambition to be UK’s leading metaverse developer
Leading British metaverse games developer and publisher Lockwood Publishing has added significant firepower to its development team with the addition of three key strategic hires. James Cox (VP of Engineering), Rob Hendry (VP of Production), and Chris Tilston (Studio Design Director) will help spearhead Lockwood’s further efforts to cement Avakin Life as one of the world’s foremost metaverse and web3 experiences.
Avakin Life, a proto-metaverse launched on mobile 2013, boasts 200million user accounts and 6million monthly active users. Industry veteran James joins Lockwood from NaturalMotion, and he has previously worked in senior roles at Konami and at PlayStation where he was Head of Development for PlayStation Home for almost a decade. James will head up client, server, systems and tools development for Avakin Life and future projects. He will also oversee cyber security, automated testing, QA, live operations for Avakin Life feature development, and drive R&D initiatives for new metaverse products.
Rob was Executive Producer of storied fantasy-MMO Old School RuneScape before joining Lockwood. He boasts more than 25 years in the games industry with prior roles at NaturalMotion, Marmalade and Warthog Studios. Rob will be working closely with the executive team and Lockwood’s passionate team of developers to craft and deliver the strategies and organisation to meet ambitious goals for shaping the Avakin Life metaverse and future product development.
Rounding off the big-hitting triumvirate of hires, Chris started at Rare almost 30 years ago and has occupied senior design roles at Konami and at EA’s fabled DICE studio, and was most recently the Head of Design at Smilegate Barcelona. Chris will be primarily focused on improving both monetisation and fun in Avakin Life, and building an in-house design team.
Halli Bjornsson, Lockwood Publishing CEO, said: “Being able to attract such amazing talent to Lockwood is a testament to our ambition in an industry that’s only really now catching on to the immense possibilities that games such as Avakin Life have in the metaverse. James, Rob and Chris bring to Lockwood a combined 80 years’ experience in the games industry. That kind of talent is invaluable to our company’s maturation and transition plans to be market leaders in the web3 space. We’re confident that this is just the start of a massive year for Avakin Life and for Lockwood, both of which are evolving at pace.”
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243 Chili
Tom Horn Gaming Turns Up the Heat with 243 Chili

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Tom Horn Gaming is turning up the heat with its latest release, 243 Chili – a fiery fruit slot that blends vibrant visuals with proven mechanics to boost player engagement and operators’ revenues.
Set under the blazing Mexican sun, the reels of 243 Chili burst with colour, bringing together ripe tropical fruits and sizzling chillies. The visuals add flavour, but it’s the gameplay that sets the reels on fire with 243 Wild wins, 5 simple winlines transforming into 243 ways to win, respins, and multipliers of up to x5.
Tom Horn’s proven 243 Wild respin feature, a favourite among players who enjoy short, fast-paced feature cycles with high win potential, takes centre stage in this game. When the 243 Wild lands on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th reel in a winning combination, it triggers the criss-cross mode with a respin and dynamic multipliers that can climb up to x5.
The addition of QuickX, Tom Horn’s proprietary bonus buy feature, allows higher-stakes players and thrill-seekers to jump straight into the hottest action – a guaranteed respin round with a multiplier. By purchasing a multiplier of their choice, ranging from x1 to x5, players can increase the intensity of their experience. Playing with an x1 to x4 multiplier allows for a progression up to an x5 multiplier. This rare addition of a bonus buy option to the classic fruit slot game gives 243 Chili a competitive edge and makes it stand out in a crowded fruit slots market.
243 Chili brings together one of our most successful mechanics – 243 wild respin – enhanced with QuickX
said Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming. , giving players even more control over their gameplay,
It’s a perfect example of how we balance simplicity with innovation in a simple yet engaging slot that is set to drive higher revenues for our operator partner.
243 Chili delivers medium volatility gameplay across a 5×3 game grid, with bet levels ranging from €0.50 to €100. From seasoned punters to casual players who are drawn to colourful graphics and easy-to-grasp game mechanics, the game speaks to a diverse player base. Its mobile-optimised design ensures that players can enjoy quick spins and crisp visuals on any device.
243 Chili goes on general release on 7 October worldwide.
The post Tom Horn Gaming Turns Up the Heat with 243 Chili appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Europe
Realistic Games strengthens Dutch presence with Starcasino partnership

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Realistic Games is continuing its strong commercial momentum by partnering with operator brand Starcasino. Building on their existing collaboration in the Belgian market, this new agreement sees the developer extend its offering to a Dutch player base, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the region’s rapidly growing market.
Following its launch in September, the agreement provides Starcasino.nl with access to Realistic’s vast selection of popular titles, including Book of Charms, Phantom Tides, and Emerald Frenzy.
Kieran Wilson, Account Manager at Realistic Games, said: “Our partnership with Starcasino is built on a foundation of trust and shared success, which made it a natural next step to extend our collaboration into the Netherlands.
“We are eager to continue building on this momentum and are thrilled to bring our exciting titles to a new audience with a brand that shares our passion for delivering great games.”
Pieter Van den Bos, Director at Starcasino added: “The success we have experienced with Realistic Games in the Belgian market made it a clear choice to deepen our collaboration. We are delighted to extend our partnership into the Netherlands, a move that will allow us to bring their high-quality content to an even wider audience.
“This agreement will further diversify the content on our platform and deliver a continual flow of exciting new games to our players.”
The post Realistic Games strengthens Dutch presence with Starcasino partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Andrew Mook Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite
Midnite Express sees football fans joined by club legends for 460-mile away day

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UK sportsbook and casino Midnite provided free away supporter coach travel for Southampton fans for their 460-mile-round trip to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane
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Saints heroes Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie and Francis Benali joined supporters on board
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Hyper-growth bookmaker Midnite is a sponsor of both Southampton and Sheffield United
Midnite, the fastest growing bookmaker in the UK, provided supporter coach travel for 100 Southampton supporters, as they set off on a 460-mile round trip to watch their beloved Saints take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Midnite, who are the official training kit partner of Southampton and the principal partner of Sheffield United for the 2025/26 season, created The Midnite Express, offering luxury travel filled with entertainment along the way for Tuesday night’s EFL Championship match.
The lucky Saints fans were joined on The Midnite Express coaches by Southampton legends, Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie, and Francis Benali.
With DJ sets, football quizzes and Q&As throughout, fans were treated to a unique experience, all designed to create unforgettable moments for these loyal supporters, while easing the financial strain that comes with away supporter travel.
And Saints fans went home happy as a 2-1 win meant they took the three points back to the South Coast.
Le Tissier, who scored 100 goals in 270 top-flight appearances for Saints, said: “With the cost of living crisis that we’ve got going on in this country at the moment, with the train services, it’s really difficult for fans to get to and from these away games.
“And The Midnite Express initiative of putting coaches on for the fans to get up to Sheffield United was absolutely brilliant. We had a good laugh!”
Former England and Southampton striker, James Beattie, added: “It was great to be part of The Midnite Express and travel down with the Southampton fans. We had a very fun journey and the fans put in a proper shift for such a long journey.”
Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, added: “Everbody hates a long commute, but we wanted to create something for Southampton fans with a sprinkle of Midnite magic.
“These fans are what makes football what it is, and we wanted to reward them with a day that they won’t soon forget by spending the journey with Saints legends and fellow fans. The feedback has been brilliant, and we’re pleased to have been able to ease the financial burden while bringing fans closer to the teams they love.
“The match marked a unique and special moment for Midnite as both of our sponsored clubs met for the first time. We’re already looking forward to the return fixture in January, when we’ll be running the Midnite Express, this time for Sheffield United fans.”
The post Midnite Express sees football fans joined by club legends for 460-mile away day appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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