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Gaming Time Soars Across Europe in 2022, Samsung Ads Finds

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Samsung Ads, the media and advertising division of Samsung, has revealed the latest insights around gaming across its ecosystem in a new report, “Behind the Screens: Gaming Trends Report”.

As per the report, the number of Samsung Smart TVs used for gaming in Europe has increased 12% YoY, growing from 4.8 million in Q1 2021 to 5.4 million in Q1 2022. In the UK, this figure grew 14% to 1.5 million active Samsung gaming TVs in Q1 2022.

The growth of the Samsung gaming universe correlates with strong smart TV sales, coupled with the enhanced gaming experience on Samsung TVs and continuous adoption of next-generation game consoles.

In the UK, the number of total hours spent gaming on Samsung Smart TVs grew by 7% YoY, increasing from 191 million hours in Q1 2021 to 205 million hours in Q1 2022.

Overall, European gamers are playing more frequently year-on-year, which is reflected in a 2% growth in the average gaming sessions number per Samsung TV.

Different Habits for Different Consoles

When it comes to the generation of consoles, gamers in the Samsung universe who use consoles from previous generations – such as PS4, Switch, and Xbox One – still make up a majority share, accounting for 79% of all Samsung connected gaming consoles in EU5. However, next-generation consoles – such as PS5 and Xbox Series X & S – are also catching up, especially considering they were only released in November 2020.

Samsung Ads saw a 149% increase in the number of active next-generation consoles in the UK in Q1 2022 compared to the same time last year – the period immediately after the new generation consoles were released.

Next-generation console users tend to be particularly engaged with their new gadget and spend significantly more time per day playing than previous console users. In the UK in Q1 2022, the average time spent playing per Samsung TV per day was 2 hours 12 minutes on next-generation consoles, compared to 50 minutes on old generation consoles.

Gamers vs. Non-gamers

Gamers are engaging more with their Smart TVs, with the average total screen time among gamers 45% higher than that of non-gamers. Whilst Gamers spend 51% more time in streaming environments than non-gamers, they also spend 32% less time in linear environments than non-gamers.

When it comes to which environments Gamers are spending most of their time on Samsung TVs, Gamers spend nearly twice as much time in streaming environments as they do in linear TV, with 101 hours per quarter spent in linear compared to 195 hours of streaming.

When looking at the propensity to streaming amongst gamers, 35% of UK gamers are heavy streamers. Conversely, 40% of UK heavy streamers are gamers, demonstrating the strong correlation between gaming and heavy streaming audiences.

Streaming and gaming combined make up 75% of gamers’ total screen time on Samsung TVs across EU5 countries.

Gamers and AVOD

Gamers are often seen as early adopters of tech trends which is mirrored in their content consumption habits; AVOD accounts for 34% of streaming hours on gamer TVs, and the average time spent in AVOD environments is 41% higher amongst gamers than non-gamers.

Currently, YouTube is the leading platform in the AVOD category, but free, ad-supported streaming platforms such as Samsung TV Plus, Pluto and Rakuten are growing in popularity across Europe as viewers embrace premium, curated streaming content and no extra cost to them.

Gamers’ propensity for streaming is also reflected in their likelihood to watch Samsung TV Plus – Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming service. Across EU5, gamers are 10% more likely to watch Samsung TV Plus than non-gamers. Among the genres on Samsung TV Plus, UK gamers tend to favour Entertainment, Documentaries and Sports programmes which have come out as the top three genres in Q1 2022.

“The growing scale of Samsung’s gaming universe and continued engagement among gaming audiences post-pandemic, reflects that gaming is now firmly cemented as a habit amongst Samsung TV users. Samsung’s unique position in gaming allows us to understand the gaming audience from both hardware and behaviour perspectives,” Alex Hole, Vice President of Samsung Ads Europe, said.

“Gamers outstrip our non-gamer audience in terms of time with their TV by 45% – and this can’t be accounted for by gaming alone. They’re more likely to access a range of Smart TV options from linear TV to on-demand streaming platforms. For gamers, Smart TVs are truly the hub of the home,” Alex Hole added.

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Sends company confirmed its participation in the ICE London Conference 2024

Published

3 months ago

January 17, 2024

Zoltan Tundik

ICE is the global showcase of innovative technologies, home to 600+ international brands providing access to products and services designed to enhance growth potential. Sends financial company confirmed its participation in the conference inviting to the brand’s stand for meetings.

The 6th of February is the opening day of ICE London 2024. The Sends team will spend three days of the conference meeting the current partners and establishing relationships with new ones in London. On its LinkedIn page, the company noticed that it had set up a stand to provide all the information about activity and business propositions, to meet with associates, and to engage with conference participants.

“Sends team is eager to meet the partners and new people at ICE London 2024. This event is iconic among gaming companies and market players. Organizers predict record attendance for the last London edition. We can’t miss this global event’s opportunities” , commented Anastasiia Pervushyna, Director/MLRO in Sends.

One of the shareholders (owners) of this company is Alona Shevtsova, a businesswoman, philanthropist, and active participant in the Ukrainian and UK FinTech community.

“Recent international industry events during the past year have already clearly shown the value and significance of in-person events for our industry and we expect that to be very evident in London as well”, Alona Shevtsova added.

Sends provides Internet acquiring, multicurrency personal and business accounts. Opening a SEPA/SWIFT/Faster Payments bank account is available within 48 hours after submitting the necessary documents. Sends is available in the web and app versions.

In 2025, the ICE London conference will relocate to Barcelona, Spain. The historic edition of the world’s largest and most international gaming expo ends in Great Britain. This country has hosted the event since 2013.

ICE London 2024 will be held from the 6th to 8th February at ExCeL London. To schedule a meeting with Sends representatives, please use [email protected] email or the conference application.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED.

SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED is registered in England and Wales (Company number 11070048).

Gaming

It’s time to speed up AI: Slotegrator presented new exciting solutions at iGB L!ve 2023

Published

9 months ago

July 25, 2023

Hunor Pal

A new era in the iGaming industry has begun: AI-powered solutions are now becoming affordable. Slotegrator presented the new AI-powered capabilities of its turnkey online casino platform at iGB L!ve 2023 in Amsterdam.

Every year, Slotegrator presents its newest innovations at iGB L!ve. This year, the company added several new features to its turnkey online casino platform, basing the additions on the results of internal customer research and global market analysis.

Upcoming trends are a constant source of speculation in the iGaming industry. As an industry trendsetter itself, Slotegrator knows what to bet on; last year, the company predicted rapid AI growth, and these capabilities have already been integrated into the company’s solutions.

The upgrades include:

The business intelligence (BI) module has become an Artificial BI module. Now it not only helps operators track the analytical data they need to make strategic decisions, but allows them to compare their project with others that operate in the same market. It’s an effective tool for analyzing competitors’ activities and to improve the entire business strategy.
ChatGPT was integrated to offer operators 24/7 business consultation. While the strategy will ultimately be up to the casino operator, ChatGPT’s capacity to offer advice can prove invaluable.
Fraud Detection (for collecting Big Data to reduce risk) with AI makes it easy for casino operators to set the parameters of what constitutes potentially fraudulent behavior and then segment players accordingly and take action when necessary.

Also, Slotegrator integrated a multiplayer chat function – an effective retention tool that emphasizes the value of live communication and offers opportunities for networking and creating player communities. The solution will see the addition of AI capabilities as well.

“This is just the first set of innovations. We are planning to use AI to boost our platform even further. The industry standards are changing, so the market can’t afford to use old tools now. Our participation in iGB L!ve 2023 demonstrated this completely,” says Dmytro Taran, COO at Slotegrator.

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SANDSOFT GAMES ANNOUNCES SECOND ‘PRESS START’ INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Published

11 months ago

June 5, 2023

Gaspar Incze

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sandsoft Games – the mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor powered by AAA talent, is thrilled to announce the launch of the second season of its pioneering internship program, Press Start. Available to local residents with an interest in getting into the games industry, the full-time internships aim to foster and nurture exceptional talent for the gaming industry in Saudi Arabia.

Following the success of the first Press Start initiative which began in December 2022, aspiring games industry professionals are once again invited to embark on the journey of creating a playable mobile game within a span of six months. Aligned with Vision 2030, the Press Start initiative has been engineered to nurture diverse local talent and provide a boost to the regional games industry. The Press Start cohort will receive support from Sandsoft’s leading industry experts in various areas, allowing them to specialize in one of three disciplines: design, art, or coding.

Successful applicants will work from Sandsoft’s flagship Riyadh Studio, with access to cutting-edge equipment and resources. Press Start is overseen by a team of esteemed games industry veterans who have contributed to renowned gaming franchises like Candy Crush Saga, FIFA, World of Tanks, Need For Speed and more, including Sandsoft’s Head of Studio in Riyadh, Yahsir Qureshi.

Yahsir Qureshi commented:

“Riyadh is a city full of exceptional, diverse talent and love of gaming. It’s our job to identify this talent and help nurture future leaders who will shape the legacy of the KSA and global games industries. The tremendous success of our original Press Start program has been immensely rewarding for both the participants and Sandsoft Games as a whole, with a number of interns expected to join us as full time team members. Initiatives such as Press Start play a significant role in boosting employment prospects in the region and we can’t wait to welcome a new cohort to our Riyadh studio.”

Basem Alasmar, Game Designer at Sandsoft Games and member of the inaugural Press Start program, continued:

“When I first saw the program on LinkedIn, I was immediately drawn to the idea and the challenge it presented. Working in a gaming company has always been a dream of mine, so I was naturally intrigued. What captivated me even more were the experienced individuals at Sandsoft Games and the impressive game titles they had worked on. Their expertise and track record truly impressed me. This program continues to inspire me to strive for greatness, pushing me to create amazing things, learn extensively, and enhance my skills in my chosen field.”

Press Start is open to Saudi Individuals of any age and educational background who have a demonstrable interest in game development and are available to work in Riyadh. Applications are open until July 7, 2023, at 23:59 AST.