Five teams have convinced the Games Lift awarding committee of the potential of their game projects.  On September 8, the Games Lift incubator will launch its next round, supporting teams with a one-year workshop and mentoring program featuring input from international industry experts and 15,000 euros in financial support. More than 30 experts from the Games Lift Network will share their experience with the teams and provide professional and tailored support for the game projects. In addition to the extensive exchange, mentoring, and many workshops, the teams will travel to an international industry event together. This combination of benefits makes Games Lift unique as an incubator for games in Germany. The Games Lift Incubator is organized and run by Gamecity Hamburg on behalf of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

In its sixth year since its introduction, a total of 43 teams and solo developers applied to participate in the Games Lift Incubator – more than twice as many as in previous years. The decision on the five participating teams was made by the award committee, consisting of Kristin von der Wense (Publishing Producer, Daedalic Entertainment), Ole Schaper (Managing Director, The Sandbox Hamburg (Sviper GmbH)), Heiko Gogolin (Managing Director, Rocket Beans Entertainment), and Tobias Graff (Co-Founder Mooneye Studios).

Margarete Schneider, Project Manager at Gamecity Hamburg and also part of the selection committee, said: “We are delighted about the rising awareness and popularity of Games Lift – this year we received applications from seven countries and three continents. However, we also see the growing demand as a sign that, in the current industry situation, low-threshold support programs such as the Games Lift Incubator are becoming even more important. We are therefore very pleased to accompany five Hamburg teams on their way to the successful release of their first title.”

The five games and teams for the Games Lift Incubator 2025 are:

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• The Wrong Horse by Sharon Sacks & Vincent Will
• Encaged and Ungraded by Leif Gutowski
• Fading Skies by Distant Blue
• Phasmopass by Curio Compass
• Project: Slimepot by Calluna Games

The Wrong Horse is a colorful murder mystery adventure set at a horse racing track. As a journalist, it is the player’s task to uncover the secrets surrounding the mysterious death of a jockey and identify the perpetrator.

Encaged and Ungraded is a mixture of anomaly horror and job simulation. A shady company forces players into the role of a card grader, where they check various cards for authenticity and quality. But soon, players find themselves searching for eerie and dangerous anomalies – and hopefully they can make it through to the end of their shift.

Fading Skies revives the charm of the PS2 and GameCube era by combining classic 3D platforming with modern action RPG elements. As Ryn, a young woman accompanied by a small magical dragon, players travel through a broken world full of secrets. The mission is to stop the planet’s decay and confront the shadows of a forgotten past.

Phasmopass is a turn-based roguelite. Players lead a team of humans trapped in a never-ending volleyball reality show against ghostly opponents. Powerful items and pacts with other ghosts help players win tournaments to escape the dystopian city of Limbo!

Project: Slimepot (working title) is an action-adventure game in which players explore a dungeon full of monsters, turn them into dishes, and serve them to guests in their tavern. Here, exciting dungeon crawling meets creative cooking and relaxed tavern management.

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, has announced the release of three new online slot titles this July across UK and Malta iGaming  jurisdictions: Chili Poppers™, Bichos Mágicos™, and Bigger Piggy Bank™. Each title is designed to provide distinctive gameplay experiences while delivering strong performance for operators.

Chili Poppers is a spicy, Mexican-themed descendant of the popular Happy Fortune Dragon™, featuring a 5×3 layout with 10 win-lines. Building on proven mechanics, the game introduces pseudo-persistent pots that grow with every Chili Pepper symbol on the centre reel, triggering one of three key features: coin boosts, multipliers, or Free Spins. With locked Wilds and persistent enhancements during Free Spins, Chili Poppers offers explosive win potential and player engagement.

Bichos Mágicos is Inspired first Brazilian Portuguese game. It brings vibrant, cartoon-style charm to an 8-symbol scatter-pays mechanic and fun cascading wins. Multipliers ranging from 2x to 10x can drop throughout the gameplay, culminating in a Mystery Multiplier worth up to 500x after cascades end. Designed for casual players, the game also includes Bonus Buy and Fortune Bet features, giving users more control and faster access to the game’s high-energy Bonus round.

Bigger Piggy Bank, the sequel to Inspired’s successful Big Piggy Bank™, enhances the original’s popular cash collector mechanic with fresh features and more fun ways to win. Players are rewarded with big wins when Collector symbols land on reel five, randomly triggering a Bonus Wheel that offers Free Spins, Prize Pots, or Golden Piggy Free Spins. With the chance to land oversized symbols, Prize Pot Tokens, and a coveted Grand Prize, Bigger Piggy Bank delivers an engaging experience. For added control, players can use the Bonus Buy feature to enter the Bonus directly and Fortune Spins for the opportunity to focus on collecting piggy wins. The Gamble feature allows players to risk their base game wins to win more cash or trigger the bonus game.

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Claire Osborne, Vice President of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “Inspired’s July lineup showcases an exciting portfolio of new content designed for worldwide success, that’s packed with variety and innovative ways to win. Each title combines proven mechanics with exciting features that we’re confident will resonate across diverse markets, this summer and beyond.”

FBM Foundation led a relief operation across Luzon to support the communities affected by Typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong. Through swift mobilization, FBM Foundation prepared and distributed 1,000 relief packages, on July 27th, in Batangas City, Caloocan City, and Quezon City. This gesture offered essential support to hundreds of families facing loss and displacement.

Rapid relief, real impact

​The mission was led by Pepe Costa, FBM Foundation Representative in the Philippines, and Lulu Barreras, Community Service Project Coordinator at FBM Foundation.

The first stop of the relief operation was Batangas City, where 500 relief packs were handed out to families affected by rising floodwaters. With homes submerged and communities evacuated, the FBM Foundation was warmly welcomed by the CSWDO – City Social Welfare and Development Office of Batangas City, who expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Foundation’s committed support and active role in ensuring the relief operations were conducted in an orderly and compassionate manner.

The second destination was Barangay 176-C in Caloocan City, where 200 families received emergency supplies. The area had been hit hard by poor drainage and non-stop rains. Thanks to Barangay Captain Nelfa Cabantac, the relief goods were distributed efficiently, ensuring every affected household received the necessary support.

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Finally, the team reached Barangay Talayan, in Quezon City, where 300 relief packages were delivered to flood-stricken residents. This final effort was coordinated with the help of Richard Cabugsanon, a concerned citizen who proactively contacted the Foundation to extend aid to his community.

United by compassion, our volunteers stood ready with 1000 relief packs for families in need

United by solidarity

​This one-day mission was made possible by 12 tireless volunteers, whose dedication was instrumental to the success of the initiative. Their efforts ensured not only the delivery of goods but also the presence of empathy, hope, and human connection in moments of crisis.

This swift response reinforces FBM Foundation’s ongoing mission to uplift lives, promote resilience, and act when communities need it the most. From immediate relief to long-term support, the Foundation remains committed to driving sustainable, positive change across the Philippines and beyond.

Heartfelt smiles and shared strength between volunteers and families impacted by the typhoons.

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