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PUT YOUR ROLLERSKATES ON WITH LIGHTNING BOX™ SMASH NUDGE SKILLSTAR™

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Exciting Free Games mode stars in modern-day throwback

Light & Wonder, Inc. has announced the release of Smash Nudge Skillstar, a compelling new title from specialist slot provider Lightning Box, one of Light & Wonder’s in-house studios.

Set in a futuristic roller derby arena, Smash Nudge Skillstar is a captivating 4×5 slot which showcases an enchanting Free Games round, where players are awarded up to 20 Free Games.

The Free Games round also exhibits a multiplier wheel, which multiplies any prizes up to 10x on that particular spin. A Wild Nudge also appears in this mode, as this can nudge adjacent symbols off the grid, allowing further Wild Nudge tiles to fill the reels.

To activate the Free Games feature, players must land either three, four or five Scatter symbols, with the maximum number granting 20 Free Games. Once the Free Games mode has been unlocked, Scatters can retrigger, meaning a further 20 Free Games are granted.

During the base game, the Wild Nudge operates exactly the same as in Free Games by replacing any adjacent symbol with other Wild Nudges, allowing users to collect wins as these top up the reels.

The SKILLSTAR ™feature is a play-for-fun bonus for players to enjoy and test their skills to see who can obtain the highest score on the leaderboard through dodging opposing players, oil spills and collecting gold trophies.

Smash Nudge Skillstar will be available to customers of Light & Wonder’s industry-leading OPENGAMING™ platform, alongside popular new titles such as STELLAR CASH DRAGON PALACE™ and BLOOMIN’ BUNNIES™.

This game is now available for online players, and it will initially be exclusively available to Kindred and 32 Red in Europe and UK, before being released in all markets thereafter.

Michael Maokhamphiou, Operations Manager at Lightning Box said: “Smash Nudge Skillstar is our newest hit release, and boasts a distinctive Free Games round that players can immerse themselves in.

“The aesthetics of this game are truly dazzling and this goes hand-in-hand with the thrilling gameplay that will keep players on the edge of their seats.”

Rob Procter, VP of Game Development at Light & Wonder said: “Lightning Box has delivered an epic title, one which will make a really big impact with players across the globe.

“The Free Games mode exhibits numerous ways to win some enthralling prizes and users will resonate with a modern twist on a classic feature.”

anime

G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25

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The esports organisation’s second anime apparel collaboration will be sold exclusively via g2esports.com/shop.

G2 is launching a limited-edition G2 | One Piece capsule collection on June 25, with the drop available exclusively through the organisation’s online store at g2esports.com/shop.

The collection is inspired by One Piece’s Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy and includes hoodies, zip-ups, t-shirts, caps, sleeves, and tote bags. According to G2, the items use a black-and-white palette and feature a minimalist embroidered logo alongside a custom G2 | One Piece Jolly Roger that combines the G2 samurai emblem with Luffy’s straw hat.

“At G2, we’re continuing to push the culture and fashion of esports beyond competition alone, and this One Piece collection is a natural extension of that,” says Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports. “We wanted to create a capsule that continues to elevate the esports fashion space – understated, premium, and stylish enough for everyday wear, while still carrying the spirit of adventure, ambition, and individuality that defines One Piece and G2 alike. Every piece is designed to bridge the gap between fandom and everyday style, and continuing our mission to redefine what esports fashion can be.”

G2 described the drop as its second anime collaboration, following a previous apparel collaboration with Solo Leveling. The company positioned the release as part of its broader effort to connect esports, anime, and streetwear.

One Piece debuted in 1999 and remains one of the largest anime franchises globally. G2 cited over 600 million manga copies sold and more than 1,160 episodes for the series.

The post G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Ygam joins four UKRI-funded gambling harms research partnerships

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Projects sit within UKRI’s Research Programme on Gambling and the GHR-UK Evidence Centre, backed by the statutory levy.

Ygam has been named as a partner on four projects funded through the UKRI Research Programme on Gambling, supported by the statutory levy. The charity will work with academic teams including the University of Birmingham, Bournemouth University, the University of Plymouth, Lancaster University, and Liverpool John Moores University.

The four projects sit within the Gambling Harms Research UK (GHR-UK) Evidence Centre, which coordinates 19 one-year Innovation Partnerships under the programme. UKRI has been appointed by the UK Government to oversee research commissioned through the new statutory Gambling Levy. Under the levy, 20% of annual funding will be allocated to research, equating to £22.1 million in 2025/26.

Emily Tofield, Chief Executive of Ygam, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with leading university partners, contributing our expertise in a key strategic area of our work. A defining strength of our approach is that it is grounded in robust insight and research, underpinning everything we do. This enables us to understand how and why harms emerge and translate that into practical, preventative education that is credible and scalable. We look forward to achieving these outcomes together and informing effective measures to prevent harms among children and young people.”

Ygam said its advisory panels — including young people, individuals with lived experience, community and faith leaders, gaming and esports representatives, and student ambassadors — will help shape the research to reflect “real-world experience and diverse community perspectives.”

The four partnerships are: INTEGRATE (University of Birmingham, Ygam, Al-Hurraya and Community Connexions), focused on intersectional gambling harm and interventions for children, young people and emerging adults; “From Evidence to Action: Safeguarding Neurodivergent Young People in Gamified Digital Environments” (Bournemouth University, Ygam, Work’n’Diversity CIC), focused on gambling-like risks in gamified digital environments; GRASP (University of Plymouth-led partnership including NatCen, NHS and third-sector organisations, and Ygam), mapping support pathways and gaps in prevention and recovery; and GRACE-Net (Lancaster University and Liverpool John Moores University with local authorities, NHS partners, third-sector organisations and Ygam), testing collaborative approaches in the North West of England and sharing learning more widely.

The post Ygam joins four UKRI-funded gambling harms research partnerships appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases

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EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.

The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.

On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.

The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.

Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”

Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”

Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”

The post Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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