Latest News
Recognising excellence in game development: Nominations open for CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards
SBC is excited to announce that nominations for the Game Creation and Game People categories of the prestigious Game Developer Awards, returning to Malta for their third edition in May, are now open. The nomination period will last until 24 February.
The awards ceremony, which is part of the CasinoBeats Summit conference and exhibition, will take place at the InterContinental Hotel on 25 May. The lavish event that recognises and celebrates the creative and innovative game development teams behind the industry’s most successful titles will be attended by 400 guests.
The CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards will feature 19 categories that honour the top game studios, individual casino games, streamers and game elements as well as innovation and the people who have contributed to the success of the best casino titles of the year. The categories are divided into five main groups:
- Game Performance (Slot of the Year, Slot to Watch, Slot Debut, Slot Legacy Title, Slot Collaboration of the Year)
- Game Creation (Game Mechanic of the Year, Game Feature of the Year, Game Licensed Content, Game Retro-style, Game Design & Art Direction, Game Music/Soundtrack)
- Game Marketing (Streamer of the Year, Innovation in Marketing)
- Game People (Product Manager, Game Designer, Game Composer).
SBC has also once again teamed up with SlotCatalog, a casino game ranking and insights platform, to create three data-driven categories for the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards 2023.
These categories include Outperforming Game Studio of the Year, which will be presented to the three game studios (small, medium, large) whose slot rank has increased the most compared to their position a year ago; Game Studio of the Year, which will be given to three game studios with the highest slot rank over the last 12 months; and Rookie of the Year, which will be awarded to the new game studio that went from having no distribution last year to achieving the biggest impact over the past year
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of the event organiser SBC, said: “The CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards are a truly special occasion in my eyes. This ceremony is an opportunity to honour the often overlooked elements of game development, such as the best soundtrack, innovative game mechanics, unexpected success, and the individuals who made it all happen. It’s an event that recognises and celebrates the creativity, fun, and entertainment that make our industry a great place to work.”
The shortlists for the Game Performance and Game Marketing categories of the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards will be selected by SBC’s independent panel of judges, and the winners will be chosen through audience live voting at the CasinoBeats Summit conference and trade show.
The Game Creation and Game People categories will be open for nominations from 12 January to 24 February and the winners will be decided by the independent panel of judges. The Game People category is a new addition to the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards that aims to recognise and celebrate individuals who have actively contributed to the success of a top casino product.
The SlotCatalog categories, which are purely data-driven, will not require nominations or go through a judging process.
Last year’s winners of the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards included companies such as Blueprint Gaming, Habanero, Peter & Sons, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming and Stakelogic.
This year’s ceremony at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel will feature a welcome drinks reception and a lavish three-course dinner with complimentary beer, wine, and spirits. Tables and individual tickets are available to purchase here.
The shortlists will be announced on 21 March. Nominate here.
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3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win
Gaming Corps launches 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win
New 3 Pigs slot uses a 3×5, 243-ways setup with a Hold & Win-style bonus and a stated 5,000x max win.
Gaming Corps has launched 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win, a new title in its 3 Pigs slot series. The Sweden-based, publicly listed developer said the game is themed around US Independence Day.
The game runs on a 3×5 grid with 243 ways to win. Gaming Corps said it is built around “Hog & Win”, its pig-themed take on Hold & Win, where Prize Coins worth 1x to 5x the total bet can land in the base game and be collected via Collector Vaults.
According to the studio, the Bonus Hog & Win Game is triggered by collecting red, white and blue Pig Coins, with a stated top prize of 5,000x the total bet. In the bonus, the Red Pig “Grow” upgrade can add rows to increase the grid up to five symbols high, the White Pig “Boost” applies multipliers up to 10x, and the Blue Pig “Extra” adds respins. The Liberty Pig can also appear and reveal as one of the three Pig Coins.
The game also includes four collectable Banknote Prizes—Hamilton, Oinkrew, Grunt and Benji—which fill progress bars toward larger rewards, Gaming Corps said. A “Lose to Win” mechanic can also trigger on losing spins to reshape the grid into a win or send players into the Hog & Win feature.
Viacheslav Pechernyi, Product Owner at Gaming Corps, said: “The 3 Pigs have become real characters for us, and half the fun is deciding where they turn up next. An American Independence theme was the perfect fit for their loudest, brightest adventure yet.
“Beneath the celebration there is a genuinely rewarding game, with the Hog & Win feature, the grid-growing upgrades and the Banknote Prizes giving players plenty to chase. It is bold, good fun, and we think it will go down well wherever the 3 Pigs have found a following.”
The post Gaming Corps launches 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Astana
Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027
IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.
Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.
IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.
“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”
Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”
Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”
IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.
The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
QTech expands crash and fast games lineup with XUP Studio content
QTech has signed a new content agreement with XUP Studio to add more crash and fast games to its aggregation platform, extending its catalogue for operators across emerging markets including Latin America and Africa.
XUP Studio was founded in 2025 and is focused on crash and fast games. The studio said it is building new mechanics rather than relying on reskins. It currently has three games live, including Pingwin and Pigaboom, with four more in development and a further three planned for 2026.
Philip Doftvik, QTech’s CEO, said: “XUP Studio’s initial launch of some jaw-dropping crash and fast games is premised on clever mechanics, easily intelligible gameplay, high payouts and colourful graphics. This kind of content is well-suited to LatAm and African markets, which directly tracks our ongoing expansion throughout these territories. After such a dazzling beginning, we can’t wait to see what’s next from this rising star.”
Nikoloz Kadjaev, Co-Founder of XUP Studio, added: “Our idea was to build new mechanics in the fast and crash game segments. With the market flooded by reskins, XUP’s vision has always been to create something truly unique – not just visually, but mechanically as well. Emboldened by the breakout success of Pigaboom, our team will continue building games with mechanics that stand apart from everything else on the market. Having such a strong in-house think-tank enables us to carefully craft each product to a high standard. We are in no rush, never compromising on quality for faster delivery. In short, we don’t copy – we create something fresh that we would love to play ourselves.
“Partnering with QTech represents an ideal opportunity for us to strengthen our product distribution across emerging markets and deliver our fantastic crash games to more and more top-tier operators, unlocking untapped jurisdictions from Asia, through Africa and Eastern Europe, and on to Latin America for diversified growth.”
The post QTech expands crash and fast games lineup with XUP Studio content appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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