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METANOMIC LAUNCHES ‘THUNDERSTRUCK’ – 1st gamer analysis tool powered by AI

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Metanomic, the complete game economy and player analytics company, today proudly announces the global launch of its Thunderstruck player analytics platform; which is poised to revolutionise game developers’ use of behavioural data to improve retention and monetisation.

Thunderstruck is the first ever video game analytics platform to leverage AI-powered behavioural analytics. It makes use of Bayesian inference-backed AI to understand data from real in-game events, drawn directly from game servers. Thunderstruck analyses player motivations, play styles, and reward preferences, providing developers with live information on who their game is for, what types of players have the highest retention, and which players spend the most in-game. Until now, game creators have had to rely on outdated player classification models combined with market research, and plug gaps in insight with assumptions and guesswork.

Metanomic was founded in 2021 by veteran game designers, AI experts, and professional economists, and has successfully secured USD $2.9 million pre-seed funding to-date. Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types – Killers, Achievers, Explorers, Socialisers, Speedsters, Conquerors, and Scientists – which can be tailored to the priorities of individual game titles. Player types will be refined and added to as the platform analyses data from more titles, while its Bayesian AI means Thunderstruck can even identify the series of events that lead to specific player actions.

Announcing the launch of Thunderstruck, Theo Priestley, CEO and Founder of Metanomic, said:

“For too long, game developers have relied on blunt instruments to understand their players. It’s no exaggeration to say that the bulk of the games industry’s framework for player classification dates back to a 1996 essay by Richard Bartle. A generation later, Thunderstruck is the next big leap forward, taking just a few days to generate more insight than a team of analysts could in a month. We understand that players can straddle multiple personas or even change persona based on their motivations, and use custom AI and live data to accurately anticipate how they’ll respond to metagame changes. Thunderstruck is all about empowering game developers with a better way to identify, acquire, and impact the right players for their game.”

Thunderstruck is equally suitable for mobile, console, and PC; existing as well as new games; and web3 as well as traditional web2 games. It works in tandem with Metanomic’s free Economy Engine platform, which was launched earlier this year to help studios to build, simulate and monitor their game economies.

Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types.

Killers

These players enjoy killing, creating chaos, and competitive elements most of all. They focus on winning, climbing player rankings, obtaining status, provoking, and imposing drama onto others.

Achievers

These players are competitive and enjoy overcoming difficult objectives, whether set by the game or themselves, in order to obtain prestige, prizes, and other types of material possessions.

Explorers

Those that like to learn as much about the game as possible, Explorers seek to understand the finer details of game mechanics. The thrill of discovery and uncovering hidden areas or objectives motivate these players over points or prizes.

Socialisers

Players that experience fun in interacting with other players through social systems like using chat, managing guilds, or role-playing rather than playing the game itself. They tend to collaborate or join forces with others to achieve objectives than they could on their own.

Speedsters

Cheetahs race to objectives in order to be among the first to reach the end-game content or the highest level. They spend most of their time grinding experience and playing for long hours.

Conquerors

Conquerors enjoy the struggle against adversity and beating impossibly difficult odds. They are persistent, forceful, and repetitive in their pursuit to overcome their objectives.

Scientists

Commonly referred to as ‘Crafters,’ Scientists seek to improve their skills by gathering resources and creating or improving items for themselves and to sell to others. They find enjoyment in more passive forms of game mechanics and objectives.

The Thunderstruck player personas are also influenced by ‘passion’ – how often and how well they play.

They can also be tailored by the game developer or publisher depending on their priorities. For example, in different types of game, ‘Achiever’ could mean the highest skilled, the richest, or the players with the most wins.

In future, Metanomic will frequently add additional and more granular player types to further studios’ understanding of their players.

Financial

Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million

Published

2 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

playtech-raises-its-full-year-2026-adjusted-ebitda-forecast-to-e270-million

Playtech PLC on Thursday said it expects 2026 results to beat market expectations, with its first half supported by an “excellent performance in the US”.

Playtech shares jumped 18% to 378.60 pence each in London on Thursday morning. It is up around 3% over the past 12 months but had been around 10% lower prior to Thursday’s surge.

The Douglas, Isle of Man-based gambling software firm now expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of EUR270 million, “significantly above the current analyst consensus”. It puts the current consensus range at EUR205 million to EUR225 million.

Playtech’s current forecast represents a 37% rise from the EUR197.0 million achieved in 2025.

“Playtech’s trading has delivered results significantly ahead of market expectations, driven by excellent performance in the US and continued strength in Mexico, Colombia and certain European markets. The performance in the Americas, as consistently flagged since the start of the year, continued to accelerate through May and June,” the firm said.

It expects a first half adjusted Ebitda of over EUR155 million, rising at least 69% from EUR91.6 million a year prior.

Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer said: “We achieved an excellent performance in the first half of 2026, reflecting continued momentum in regulated markets, notably the Americas and certain European markets. Performance in the US, driven by our partnership with Hard Rock Digital, has been exceptionally strong, and we are delighted to see returns on our investments over recent years accelerate and contribute significantly to profitability and cash flow.

“Playtech continues to further establish itself in regulated and regulating markets going into the second half of the year, and we are pleased with the progress towards our medium-term targets.”

Playtech releases half-year results on September 10.

Looking ahead, it expects second half earnings to decline from the first, with UK regulatory measures partly to blame.

“Hard Rock Digital has become one of Playtech’s largest customers and is expected to remain so going forward, albeit Playtech’s revenue with the operator is likely to continue at a lower but more sustainable level in H2 2026 and into 2027. Elsewhere, the company has been investing into a significant partnership in Brazil, ahead of expected signing and launch, which is likely to begin contributing to growth in 2027. In addition, in H2 2026 Playtech will also absorb the full impact of increased remote gaming duty in the UK, which became effective in April 2026,” the firm explained.

From April 2026 there was an increase in UK remote gaming duty 40% from 21%. Remote gaming duty is a levy applied on online casino offerings, poker and slots.

The post Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Balkans

Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans

Published

2 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

imagine-live-goes-live-with-maxbet-bringing-live-casino-to-the-balkans

Imagine Live, the live casino provider, has partnered with MaxBet, one of the leading sports betting and gaming operators in the Balkans.

The partnership extends Imagine Live’s presence across regulated markets, bringing its live dealer games and game show content to MaxBet’s player base.

Now agreed and rolling out, the collaboration will go live first in Montenegro, followed by Serbia and then Bosnia & Herzegovina.

MaxBet serves around 95,000 online players each month, holding a leading position in its core Serbian market. The business has been majority-owned by Flutter Entertainment – the global operator behind brands including Paddy Power and Betfair – since 2023.

Its players will gain access to Imagine Live’s portfolio of live dealer tables and game shows, streamed from the provider’s studios in Armenia, Romania and Spain.

Launched in 2022, Imagine Live operates more than 200 tables and holds licences with the UKGC, MGA, ONJN, HGC and other regulators, extending its footprint in a region where regulated online play continues to grow.

Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer at Imagine Live, said: “Going live with MaxBet reflects the strength of our content and our focus on partnering with established operators across regulated markets.

“MaxBet is one of the most respected names in the Balkans, and starting in Montenegro before expanding into Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina gives us a strong platform in a region we know well.”

Tornike Tordia, Head of Gaming at MaxBet, said: “Bringing Imagine Live’s live casino content to our players reflects our commitment to offering a varied, high-quality gaming experience.

“Their live dealer games and game shows add real depth to our offering, and we look forward to rolling them out across our markets as the partnership grows.”

The post Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Conferences

Responsible Gaming Strategy Contributes to TaDa’s Success at iGB L!VE 2026

Published

2 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

responsible-gaming-strategy-contributes-to-tada’s-success-at-igb-l!ve-2026

TaDa’s commitment to responsible gaming and sustainable growth was rewarded with a successful appearance at this year’s iGB L!VE in London, where quality conversations with Tier One operators, strong interest in its latest releases and demand for trusted, UKGC-licenced content validated the company’s strategic direction.

In light of the evolving UK regulation, this year’s exhibition saw a shift in operator priorities. As revised acquisition strategies place greater emphasis on compliance, player retention and long-term value, operators are increasingly seeking certified and established suppliers like TaDa that are capable of delivering engaging content within robust responsible gaming frameworks.

With impressive foot traffic to the stand, TaDa’s account management and business development teams also received highly positive feedback from meetings with regulated market clients, gaining valuable insights for future strategic direction.

Focusing on UK market leading releases, TaDa highlighted Gold Mine Express which continues to generate considerable interest following its strong retention metrics.

Visitors were equally enthusiastic about the Hit the Cash slot Leprechaun Gold Streak which is engineered for stability and Fortune Hook Antarctic which is aimed at diversifying TaDa’s player base while maintaining accessibility across all levels.

In addition to core European markets, the teams engaged with numerous clients from the African market, securing more resources and strategic alignments to further accelerate TaDa’s expansion into Africa.

For TaDa, whose portfolio is certified across multiple regulated markets and supported by a strong reputation for safe gaming practices, the evolving landscapes represent an opportunity to contribute more to both operators and the industry.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development, TaDa Gaming, said: “iGB L!VE showed how operators are looking beyond acquisition and placing greater value on sustainable growth through responsible gaming, player retention and trusted partnerships. Those priorities have always been central to our business, so it was encouraging to see our approach resonate strongly with both existing partners and prospective new customers.”

The post Responsible Gaming Strategy Contributes to TaDa’s Success at iGB L!VE 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.