Latest News
Kwalee announces appointment of Mark Greenshields as VP of Bangalore Studio
Kwalee, the UK and global mobile, PC and console games developer and publisher, is excited to announce the appointment of Mark Greenshields as the Vice President of its Bangalore Studio. With decades of experience in the games industry, Greenshields brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role.
Over his career, he has an impressive track record, including as Founder and CEO at Firebrand Games. He has built multiple game engines and launched major IP based on Disney, Pixar and EA properties. At Firebrand, he established his company as the top-rated racing studio responsible for 6 of the top 10 Metacritic Nintendo racing games. He has managed large teams across various locations, combining his ability to influence partners and motivate his people with his commercial acumen and ability to deliver high-quality games on time and within budget.
Starting as a self-taught programmer, Greenshields authored four books on programming, including 8-bit game development classics like “Mastering Machine Code On Your Commodore 64”. He has programmed 35 games, produced hundreds more, and transitioned from a solo programmer to founding several game studios.
In his new role at Kwalee, Greenshields’ primary responsibility will be running the Bangalore studio. However, as a senior leader, he will contribute to strategic decisions and Kwalee’s ambitious growth plans. With Kwalee now a publisher of both mobile, PC and console games, Greenshields’ expertise in launching and porting hit games will be invaluable.
Jason Falcus, COO, expressed his enthusiasm for Mark’s appointment: “We’re immensely proud of the work of our Bangalore team, and we want a member of our top team leading at the heart of its operations. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Mark Greenshields as the VP of our Bangalore studio. His deep-rooted experience and passion for gaming, combined with his unique ability to grow high-performing multi-disciplinary teams, is exactly what we envision for Kwalee’s expansion and continued success”.
Mark Greenshields said of his appointment: “I am thrilled to be joining Kwalee as one of the leading UK publishers. I see a very bright future for them, especially now that they have moved into both the PC/Console and Hybrid/Casual spaces. I am bringing my extensive experience in running studios and especially developing for PC and consoles to them. I will make our Bangalore studio a centre of excellence as part of the Kwalee group. For me, it is great to get once again the opportunity to work with both David and Jason, bringing me full circle from the early days of the C64 to the present. The team they have built is exceptional, and I look forward to helping make Kwalee THE success it will be.”
Regarding the games industry in India, Greenshields acknowledges a common misconception that studios in the country are mainly useful for outsourcing. However, he’s keen to change that narrative, emphasising the talent and potential within the Indian games industry, saying:
“I want the Bangalore studio to have a motivated, empowered team that is recognised for their quality work. It should be seen as a studio that consistently produces high-quality products”.
When asked about his immediate priorities at Kwalee, Greenshields highlighted the importance of learning the challenges of the Bangalore team, strengthening QA processes, setting up a console porting team, and fostering a culture of innovation.
With the appointment of Greenshields, Kwalee reinforces its commitment to pioneering and diversifying its portfolio of games and solidifying its position as a global leader in games development and publishing.
eSports
Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.
EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.
“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”
Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”
EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.
The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brand Partnerships
Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season
Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.
The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.
Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.
Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:
“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.
“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.
“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”
Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:
“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.
“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”
The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGCO
ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch
ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.
The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.
Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”
The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.
ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.
The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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