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Exclusive interview with Henri Mirande, CTO and Co-founder of Kinetix
In a nutshell, Kinetix is an AI-driven platform that allows users to generate 3D content easily and quickly. But it is much more than what that quick summary suggests. Here we have with us its co-founder and CTO Henri Mirande in a free-flowing chat about the platform, its features, its vision, its philosophy and its future. So, without any more ado, over to Henri!
Q. Let’s start on a personal note. Tell us briefly about your life and career.
A. I’m an avid gamer. I spent my teenage years playing strategy games, clocking up a total of four thousand hours on Civilization IV alone. As a passionate gamer, I decided to study Engineering in Computer Vision, a field that would allow me to be close to the games industry. After conducting research I joined multiple exciting tech companies bringing solutions to developers and publishers, such as Dynamixyz. My experiences helped me see that AI technologies will transform multiple industries, which is when I made up my mind to start my entrepreneurial journey in AI for gaming!
Q. Now we shall move to Kinetix. What’s the story behind Kinetix? Kinetix, as we understand it, is a product of the Covid-19 era. What were the founding objectives of Kinetix?
A. Kinetix started after I met my co-founder, Yassine Tahi, during the Entrepreneur First program in 2020. We share a common passion for gaming and belief in the potential of AI. We started by interviewing some experts and pros who were our potential users. What brought us together is that we were both convinced that, with recent breakthroughs in research, we didn’t have to limit the AI opportunity to the pros but think about it as a tool for casual users too. In many of our early stage discussions investors were pushing for a SaaS model to address the market of 3D animation professionals. We were convinced that AI was going to give everyone new abilities and that a bigger market was going to be addressable in a short time frame. We made the choice to develop technologies for the mass market setting. The Kinetix vision is to Humanize Metaverse by allowing everyone to create their own stories through Emotes. This unique positioning gave us a strong first-mover advantage and we’re now seeing a lot of players starting to develop AI for broader audiences.
Q. Did you have a clear-cut idea at the beginning about the kind of platform you were going to develop for Kinetix and the kind of technological backbone required for it? Or did you innovate on the go towards the present platform and technological model?
A. We knew we wanted our tech to be very user friendly and as accessible as possible. We evaluate and make all our tech infrastructure choices with that objective in mind. It guides our development and we always leverage what we learn from our users to further simplify the creation or integration process. Our main metrics on our studio are the percentage of our users becoming creators and time it takes them to make their first creation. The metric we monitor on our SDK is the time it takes developers and publishers to integrate it, and we’re happy to say it now takes less than one day for junior game devs. By improving on these metrics, we ensure we’re creating tech that is able to onboard thousands of users and their User Generated Emotes into games and virtual worlds.
Q. You mentioned making the process of 3D content generation easier and more accessible. How far has Kinetix succeeded in doing that? Could you provide some stats, regarding the number of users and the amount of time needed to develop 3D content using Kinetix?
A. On average, our users need 2 to 3 minutes to create and finalize an Emote. More than half of the created Emotes use more than two of our AI and editing features, demonstrating they easily navigate through and play with the multiple creative tools we offer to create awesome Emotes. You don’t have to take our word for it though – give it a try and see how easy 3D content creation can be! Our user base is constantly growing with more than 33% growth each quarter.
Our biggest recent success is for our SDK. We engaged hundreds developers in a beta program that helped us develop it. We are still accepting registrations and invite every developer interested in integrating Emotes in their projects to sign-up as a beta tester.
Q. You also talked about monetization for the users and fairer sharing of ad revenue with the creators. Could you provide some details – for example, stats about sharing of revenues with creators before Kinetix and after Kinetix?
A. The Kinetix Emote SDK has been developed to enable Emote distribution cross games and virtual worlds. AI not only heightens creativity it also guarantees to deliver assets in consistent formats. Our Emotes are 3D animation files that essentially contain information about the position of different points over a given period of time. As opposed to avatar or weapon, they don’t compete with the look-and-feel of the game or virtual world, they can be used agnostically whether the aesthetic is “blocky” (like Roblox), or realistic (like Fortnite). Kinetix Emotes are designed to be interoperable assets and this makes a huge difference for creators, allowing their creations to be used across multiple environments. Interoperability expands usage drastically, which leads to increased asset value, and like many other gaming companies we believe creators must benefit from that fundamental change. Kinetix gives 95% of the value of the first sale of any User-Generated Emote to its creator, as explained in our white paper. This is comparable to what big Web3 virtual worlds offer for their creators, while creator fees on Web2 gaming platforms often range between 20 and 40% of the generated revenue.
Q. The other objectives you had while starting out were better self expression while creating 3D content and interoperability of the content across platforms. After nearly three years of operating, what are your thoughts on these objectives with reference to the performance of Kinetix?
A. With multiple integrations with games & virtual worlds currently being deployed we are beginning to deliver on our ambition of interoperability. One of the most exciting parts in our adventure is how we are progressively changing our focus towards Emotes. We define Emotes as animations that express avatars’ emotions like dances, gestures & celebrations. Working on Emotes and not 3D animations might seem a niche thing, but it is not! It’s a big challenge as we are now dealing with emotions that motions convey. We are creating new categories that are no longer just describing the movements but also the message they share. This is changing how we produce our own content, how we funnel the creative process for users, how we prioritize our R&D projects. We are convinced that this new approach allows us to build tech that is not only capturing movement but what it expresses. We feel that we are heading in the right direction to develop a new standard of self-expression technology.
Q. Now, tell us about the most eye-catching features of Kinetix?
A. The feature I am the most proud of is our Video-To-Emote technology. It is the first one we released but we are now at v1.5 and we can say that our AI has been polished and is getting better and better. Our challenge of delivering high-quality 3D animations with a single camera is very complex. We see many players delivering great tech but their setups are often time-consuming and expensive. We made the decision to give everyone, or at least every smartphone owner, the possibility to become a 3D creator for free and we believe this is the right decision. The level of expertise we reached on our Video-To-Emote technology is awesome and I am proud to see that in addition to the studio we are now offering it as a standalone solution with the recent launch of our “Motion Portal” tool. This solution allows brands to set up a Portal where their fans just upload their 10s videos to animate their favorite brand avatar and universe. It fully relies on our Video-To-Emote and we generate thousands of high-quality videos without any need for animation cleaning. This level of performance is what we were aiming for with my team of 10+ R&D engineers and I am happy to see that the results are engaging our partner communities!
Q. What are the new features to be launched in the near future?
A. We have really exciting features coming soon. One that really excites me is the release of our facial animation feature coming in 2023. My team worked hard to deliver a facial recognition technology embedded within our suite of AI models for 3D animation. Results are outstanding. I am excited to see our community of creators testing it by the summer. We know it will increase the level of fidelity of users’ creations. Mixing body motion capture with facial, style transfer as blend models allows us to provide the most comprehensive suite of AI technologies applied to 3D animations on the market.
Q. Our readers would also love to hear about some of the impressive 3D content generated via your platform. If you don’t mind, provide some great examples.
A. One story I really like is the Next Dancer one. We constantly chat with our community on Discord and also arrange interviews with them. This is how we met with Damien Daube. He is a former professional breakdancer that was using our tech to record his dances and save them as 3D files. When we spoke for the first time he explained to us that he would love to see a game leveraging our tech to allow dancers to bring their dances into a virtual world. It was at the exact moment we were starting to build our SDK. Our paths were perfectly aligned so we went on a common journey and we are really happy that Damien has successfully launched the first version of Next Dancer: the first AI based dance game. This new gameplay is seducing players such as famous IPs, with the French version of “Dancing with the Stars” having already made a collection of dances for the game. Embedding our tech at the core level of such a great game empowers creativity and UGC.
Q. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are witnessing phenomenal changes at a rapid pace. There have been reports that some of the big players in the field are eying 3D content generation using AI, after similar products in text and 2D graphics like ChatGPT and DallE? Do you see a threat or opportunity here?
A. All those new AI releases are a tremendous opportunity. One simple fact that proves it, is that over the last weeks almost every tech enthusiast has learned how to prompt. It is now clear for a lot of people that they will benefit from AI to improve their work and creative process. We believe those general models are putting the spotlight on how AI can impact multiple industries and gaming is a target of choice. Those models are trained on a very large dataset and this is a big difference comparing how 3D animations models are currently being developed. They mainly rely on academic datasets which are way smaller. Being able to collect large sets of animations is one of the main challenges for our technology. As Kinetix not only addresses professionals but creators at large, we built a top proprietary library of animations coming from casual users. This gives us a unique competitive advantage. It sets the foundation for training larger models in animation to excel in our industry. Our R&D tests prove that we are gaining a strong and long lasting competitive advantage.
Q. Finally, do you have any advice or suggestions to new entrepreneurs, especially as someone who started out and succeeded during the Covid pandemic?
A. My advice is to do what you love and love what you do! Founding and managing a company is an exciting adventure when shared with passionate people. What I care about the most is to work with enthusiastic people who have very strong convictions on the future of AI and gaming. We are very cautious in our recruitment process to make sure that every newcomer brings a little more passion to the team.
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Best in Sports named as “Sports Betting Supplier of the Year” by 5 Star iGaming Media Starlet Awards
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FIRST – Best in Sports, the Tier-1 sportsbook technology provider redefining global performance standards, has been honoured as “Sports Betting Supplier of the Year” at the 5 Star iGaming Media Starlet Awards 2025, recognising the company’s innovation, expansion, and leadership across regulated markets.
The award marks another milestone in a transformative year for FIRST, as the company continues to lead the sportsbook vertical with measurable results, a performance-driven product vision, and a growing footprint across LATAM, Europe, and Africa.
Built from the ground up for speed, scale, and absolute reliability, FIRST’s sportsbook engine has become the driving force behind more than 35 of Brazil’s leading operators, expanding rapidly through Mexico, Peru, and Argentina – markets that reward real technological power, not promises.
In regions where regulation is tightening and competition intensifying, FIRST has set a new benchmark for what performance means: instant automation, real-time data orchestration, AI-driven personalisation, and a seamless architecture that adapts faster than the market itself.
2025 was the year FIRST stopped chasing momentum and started defining it. With new strategic partnerships alongside Light & Wonder, Pixbet, and others already in motion, the company is not just participating in the race for innovation – it’s setting the pace. These collaborations are not about validation but about leadership: where others adapt, FIRST dictates direction.
Beyond commercial growth, FIRST has also advanced its regulatory roadmap, securing approvals and pursuing licences in multiple regulated markets, ensuring full compliance and future-ready scalability for its operator base.
Tom Light, Founder & CEO of FIRST – Best in Sports, commented:
“This recognition reflects our commitment to building the most advanced sportsbook technology in the market – one that’s fast, scalable, and truly local. But more than that, it celebrates the mindset of our entire team: we don’t follow trends, we create them. We set the standard for what a sportsbook partner should be.”
As the industry continues to evolve, FIRST remains focused on innovation that drives measurable impact – delivering the performance, reliability, and intelligence that define the future of sports betting.
The post Best in Sports named as “Sports Betting Supplier of the Year” by 5 Star iGaming Media Starlet Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PH iGaming Streamers Unite to Promote Responsible Gaming Amid Crackdown on Creators Promoting Illegal iGaming
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Philippine Esports pioneer Julius “Banoobs” Mariano today announced the launch of YGS Live (Your Game Simulator Live), a next-generation livestream platform built to empower iGaming streamers, creators, and fans through responsible entertainment with PAGCOR-license games. Alongside its debut, YGS Live introduces Battle of the Streamers, a major international iGaming competition featuring an 11-million-peso prize pool that will run every Saturday starting November 15 and culminate in a grand battle event in January 2026 at City of Dreams, Manila.
A veteran of the Philippine esports community, Banoobs has spent over a decade shaping the industry from the ground up. From his early work with Mineski Events Team in 2007, to his leadership as Twitch Country Manager for the Philippines, and senior roles with Ampverse (Minana) and Blacklist International, Banoobs has continuously championed Filipino talent and esports innovation both locally and globally.
“YGS Live is built for creators who want to grow, collaborate, and elevate the iGaming space responsibly,” said Julius “Banoobs” Mariano, Founder of YGS Live. Beyond competition, YGS Live promotes responsible iGaming as a core mission. “Influence comes with responsibility,” Mariano shared. “We want YGS Live to be a platform that doesn’t just entertain but also educates, helping shape a healthier iGaming culture for players and viewers alike.”
Battle of the Streamers marks YGS Live’s flagship program, bringing together some of the country’s most influential iGaming streamers and content creators, including ChooxTV, Hypebits, Foreigngerms, AD BEAT, BULLDOG, AkosiDogie, and Beatmaster. All participating influencers exclusively support PAGCOR-licensed iGaming platforms, reflecting YGS Live’s advocacy to discourage and curb the promotion of content creators involved with illegal or scam iGaming sites, upholding ethical and responsible content creation.
The weekly competition will feature friendly yet high-stakes matchups among the Philippines’ most-followed iGaming personalities, paired with interactive segments for online fans.. To further engage its community, YGS Live will reward viewers throughout the tournament, giving away 3 million pesos in total community prizes, with 300,000 pesos distributed per livestream to participating fans and viewers.
YGS Live operates as a broadcast network dedicated to iGaming and entertainment-based content. It provides a collaborative, brand-safe environment where creators, partners, and fans can engage openly while upholding ethical standards in streaming and gameplay.
Through YGS Live, Banoobs envisions a future where Filipino streamers and creators are recognized as global leaders in iGaming and online entertainment. The platform is positioned to become a creative hub for responsible, community-driven, and inclusive iGaming, what Mariano calls “the GMA or Netflix of iGaming entertainment.”
The post PH iGaming Streamers Unite to Promote Responsible Gaming Amid Crackdown on Creators Promoting Illegal iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Q3 2025 financial results: Ten Square Games delivers solid progress in portfolio transformation
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In Q3 2025, Ten Square Games Group recorded 4.4% q/q growth in bookings, reaching PLN 85.0 million, driven by the continued growth of Wings of Heroes and the entire flight simulation segment, as well as the addition of Trophy Hunter to the Group’s portfolio. At the same time, the Group advanced its strategic portfolio transformation by executing the rebuild process in its core titles. During the quarter, Ten Square Games successfully launched Trophy Hunter, which had a positive impact on Group’s bookings, finalized preparations for the global launch of Real Combat Simulator, and initiated work on a new prototype scheduled for market testing in Q4 2025 to broaden the Group’s future potential.
-“The third quarter of 2025 brought clear progress in delivering on the key pillars of our strategy: rebuilding the foundations of our core titles, accelerating the growth of Wings of Heroes, and investing in new projects. The successful launch of Trophy Hunter, combined with the dynamic growth of Wings of Heroes, helped offset weaker performance of our main titles and increase the Group’s total bookings. This shows that our ongoing initiatives are beginning to deliver tangible results.”
– said Andrzej Ilczuk, CEO of Ten Square Games S.A.
Global launch of Trophy Hunter
A major highlight of the quarter was the global launch of Trophy Hunter. The game generated PLN 3.2 million in bookings in its debut quarter, supported by PLN 6.1 million in marketing expenditures, and has maintained attractive retention and monetization metrics justifying continued scaling. Since launch, the Trophy Hunter team has executed an ambitious development roadmap packed with new arenas and features that further strengthen the product and keep players engaged. In Q4 2025, the game will be further expanded with a major new social feature and additional arenas. The new feature is designed to further boost player engagement.
Rebuild of the Group’s two largest titles
A key project in the third quarter of 2025 remained the transformation process of the Group’s two largest titles – Fishing Clash and Hunting Clash. Both teams continued intensive A/B testing aimed at improving player segmentation and the first-time user experience (FTUE), while also implementing a series of technical enhancements to improve game stability and performance.
The main challenge of this process lies in its time-consuming and large-scale nature – each A/B test typically lasts at least three months, and not all of them deliver positive results, often requiring the team to redesign and rerun tests. In addition, the number of tests that can be conducted simultaneously is limited to avoid distorting the results. Ongoing activities may temporarily affect game operations, player experience, and marketing activity levels.
Despite these challenges, a systematic, data-driven approach remains the most effective method to identify the root causes of game performance issues and to implement lasting improvements that can, over time, help restore growth in the Group’s flagship titles.
Scaling Wings of Heroes
In Q3 2025, Wings of Heroes recorded a 33.4% q/q increase in bookings, driven by record marketing investment and new social features that enhanced player engagement. The game’s strong performance, together with the continued stable growth of Real Flight Simulator – one of the most advanced mobile flight simulation games on the market – strengthened the entire segment’s contribution to the Group’s results.
In September 2025, the Real Flight Simulator team launched the Real World Engine, delivering the most comprehensive visual and technical upgrade to date and setting new standards for immersion, realism, and navigational accuracy in a mobile flight simulation.
The systematic development of flight simulation titles and their stable growth help the Ten Square Games Group stabilize overall bookings and partly offset weaker performance in its main titles.
New projects
In Q3 2025, the Group focused on preparing for the global launch of Real Combat Simulator, which took place on October 7, 2025. The title, developed in a subscription-based model, is unique in the mobile market, with no direct competitors in its segment. With this launch, the Ten Square Games Group is testing the potential of the mobile flight combat game segment.
The launch took place without marketing support, and the game is scheduled to be featured on major distribution platforms at the beginning of 2026.
In Q3 2025, the Ten Square Games team worked intensively on a new prototype inspired by the proven gameplay model of Trophy Hunter and built on the Group’s experience from previous projects. The first market test, across two selected markets, will take place in Q4 2025. A decision regarding the further development of the prototype into a full game will be made no earlier than in the first half of 2026.
The project represents an attempt to broaden the Group’s portfolio beyond the segments in which Ten Square Games currently specializes, marking an important step toward greater diversification and long-term growth.
Financial performance
In Q3 2025, the Ten Square Games Group recorded bookings of PLN 85.0 million, representing an increase of 4.4% q/q, primarily driven by Wings of Heroes, Trophy Hunter, and Real Flight Simulator. Adjusted EBITDA decreased to PLN 22.1 million, mainly due to the highest quarterly marketing investment in 2025. The net profit amounted to PLN 17.8 million. Cumulatively for the first nine months of 2025, the Group’s bookings totaled PLN 256.9 million, adjusted EBITDA stood at a strong PLN 79.6 million, and net profit increased by 24.3% y/y to PLN 65.2 million, confirming the financial resilience and efficiency of the Company’s operating model, despite lower overall bookings compared to the previous year.
The share of TSG Store in total bookings amounted to 20.3% in September 2025, reflecting the shift in Group’s portfolio and strong performance of titles without TSG Store integration.
Q4 2025 Focus and Outlook
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Ten Square Games Group will continue to focus on three strategic pillars:
- Rebuilding and optimizing core titles to stabilize performance and rebuild long-term value.
- Supporting the growth of Wings of Heroes and the flight simulation segment through continued product, supported by marketing investments in Wings of Heroes.
- Developing new projects with the potential to diversify and strengthen the Group’s portfolio.
The fourth quarter is traditionally a highly competitive period in digital marketing due to the holiday season. As a result, user acquisition costs are expected to rise, which may temporarily reduce marketing activity in selected titles.
The post Q3 2025 financial results: Ten Square Games delivers solid progress in portfolio transformation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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