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European Gaming Congress 2024

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Overwolf Raises $75M from a16z To Further Empower Leading Game Studios and In-Game Creators to Prosper with Community-Created Experiences

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Overwolf, the all-in-one platform that enables creators to build, share, and monetize in-game apps and mods,  announced a $75 million Series D round, led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Previous investors including Griffin Gaming Partners, Insight Partners, Intel Capital, Liberty Technology Venture Capital, and Marker participated. The funding will be used to strengthen and grow the in-game creator ecosystem primarily through CurseForge Core, a “UGC as a Service” solution that enables game studios, IP owners and in-game creators to prosper with game creations.

Overwolf believes that the industry is entering into a new era of gaming led by community-created experiences that are key to extending games’ longevity and player satisfaction. This era is fueled by in-game creators, a new generation of in-game app creators and mod authors.

Overwolf supports both in-game creators and game studios in facilitating community-created experiences via CurseForge Core. CurseForge Core is a white-label solution built to accelerate the community-created content movement by enabling publishers to easily integrate mods safely and seamlessly into their existing and new games, at zero cost.

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Beyond the technical solution, Overwolf offers game developers a full-service UGC experience by managing content moderation including toxicity management, the community of players and creators, IP, UGC-related live ops, compatibility testing, file hosting, and the processing of creator payments. Gamers will have access to an in-game marketplace where they can discover, download, and install approved player-created content without ever leaving the game.

“The biggest social platforms today, including TikTok, Youtube, Instagram, are heavily driven by creators who generate content for friends, family, and the community. As games continue to evolve into social networks, creators and user-generated content will play an equally important role. Overwolf’s platform makes it possible for any player to become a co-creator of their favorite game thanks to a robust development engine, an app store for distribution, and monetization tools for creators to earn a living from their work,” commented Jonathan Lai, General Partner at a16z.

Today, over 87,000 creators are using the Overwolf framework to build, distribute and monetize their in-game apps and mods. More than 20 million gamers use Overwolf’s products monthly, and download more than 15 billion apps and mods yearly. In 2021, Overwolf expects to pay out $29M to in-game creators, nearly three times the amount distributed only a year prior. Earlier this year, the company deployed the Overwolf Creators Fund, a $50 million fund solely dedicated to supporting the work and projects of in-game app creators, mod authors, as well as game studios who plan to integrate mods into new titles.

“Community-created experiences are the future of gaming. No single game studio can compete with the speed of execution and sheer creativity of a passionate community. Instead of resisting community creations, we have seen a shift in perception with leading game studios starting to embrace the value that these creators bring to the community and to the studio itself. It is an honor to be able to provide the framework, tools and expertise to usher in this new era of community creation,” added Overwolf Co-Founder and CEO, Uri Marchand.

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eSports

Max Verstappen to attend GAMERGY, the world’s largest esports, gaming and entertainment event

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In an exciting announcement for motorsports and gaming fans alike, three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen will be making a special appearance at the GAMERGY event for the exciting Heineken Player 0.0 Global Final in Madrid this December. This immersive entertainment and gaming Experience promises to bring together the worlds of motorsport and gaming, offering fans a unique experience.

GAMERGY, one of the largest global gaming and esports events, will take place in Madrid this December from the 13th-15th, 2024. The 10th edition of the event will host exhilarating activities featuring cutting-edge technology, live competitions, traditional sports activations and phygital interactive experiences that cater to a wide audience.

“In the past few years, we have seen how the traditional sports and gaming ecosystems have come closer together in innovative and immersive ways. At our most recent GAMERGY México edition, we saw our tennis, football, boxing, skateboarding and paddle activations being amongst the most popular gaming fair attractions. We are very excited to partner with Heineken in adding Player 0.0 to the digital fandom,” said Cristina Carranza, Global Head of Sales at GGTech.

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Heineken® Player 0.0 Global Final featuring Max Verstappen
23 finalists from all around the world will be joining us in Madrid for a simulated racing competition with the aim of winning the title of Player 0.0 Global Champion. Expect a high-octane race where the finalists will demonstrate their skills, speed and agility. During the Player 0.0 Global Final, festival goers will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Max Verstappen on stage. This unique experience is expected to draw immense crowds and therefore fans are encouraged to arrive early.

Exclusive Merchandise and Memorabilia
Fans attending the event will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive GAMERGY merchandise. Limited-edition collectibles will be available for purchase. Don’t miss the chance to take home a piece of history!

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Xsolla to Present Global Expansion Solutions at Tokyo Game Show 2024

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Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, will showcase its cutting-edge solutions at Hall 4, Booth #04-C48, during the Tokyo Game Show 2024, which will take place from September 26-27, 2024, at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Tokyo, Japan. Xsolla’s booth will feature live demonstrations of its latest solutions aimed at helping game developers and publishers succeed in expanding to international markets.

During the event, Jin Jeong, Regional Vice President of Xsolla Japan, will deliver a keynote session focusing on the critical role of Xsolla’s Merchant of Record (MoR) solutions in transforming the way game companies handle cross-border transactions, taxes, and regulatory complexities. This session will offer developers and publishers a comprehensive look into how Xsollasimplifies global operations, allowing studios to focus on creating games while Xsolla handles the business side.

In addition to showcasing their MoR solutions, Xsolla will demonstrate how their payment systems and cross-play/cross-pay features enhance global reach for game developers of all sizes and across all platforms. Xsolla will also showcase how they help video game companies integrate with various payment methods worldwide, allowing developers to monetize their games across different regions easily.

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David Stelzer, President of Xsolla, emphasized the significance of this event for the company: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Tokyo Game Show and to present our latest solutions designed to empower game developers and publishers to expand globally. Our mission is to support the gaming industry with the tools they need to thrive in international markets, and we are eager to showcase how Xsolla can make global expansion easier and more effective.”

Attendees are invited to visit Xsolla’s booth to meet with the team of experts, who will be available to provide insights, answer questions, and discuss how their tailored solutions can help game developers and publishers grow their businesses. For those interested in more in-depth discussions, Xsolla also offers one-on-one meetings to explore specific solutions for global market expansion.

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Evoplay rolls out successful third-person shooter title Star Guardians to wider operator network

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has expanded the availability of its groundbreaking skill-based title, Star Guardians to all its partners following a successful exclusive release.

Star Guardians blends the mechanics of slot games with the immersive action of third-person shooters. Players can choose from a range of unique characters, each equipped with their own special boosters and abilities, adding layers of strategy and customisation.

The game can be experienced in automatic or manual mode, where movement and shooting are controlled by the player, enhancing the skill-based element of the title.

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Released as Evoplay’s flagship title in 2021, Star Guardians was originally released on an exclusive basis for operators. Due to its exceptional performance and popularity, the game is now being rolled out to the studio’s wider partner network.

Evoplay has continued to hone in on skill-based gaming experiences, including its most recent flagship title, the 3D racing game Adrenaline Rush which is currently available as an exclusive to its partners.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “By merging role playing game elements with gambling, Star Guardians delivers an innovative and unique gaming experience for players.

“As a first-of-its-kind title, Star Guardians has consistently grown in popularity since its debut. With Gen-Z and millennial audiences playing an increasingly significant role in shaping the industry, we expect this wider release to drive even greater success.”

The post Evoplay rolls out successful third-person shooter title Star Guardians to wider operator network appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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