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European Gaming Congress 2024
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Anzu Completes $48 Million Series B Funding Round From Bandai Namco and Others

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Round brings new investors on board, including Emmis, PayPal Ventures, Bandai Namco Entertainment 021 Fund, Evolution, and Simon Equity Partners

Anzu, the most advanced intrinsic in-game advertising solution, announced a $48 million Series B funding round, significantly increasing its valuation and adding several new high-profile investors. The new round will also include converting the SAFE notes and investors exiting with a 10x valuation increase.

The funding round was led by Emmis Corporation, one of America’s most respected media, sports, and entertainment companies, with additional investments from PayPal Ventures, Evolution, Simon Equity Partners, and Bandai Namco Entertainment 021 Fund, a corporate venture arm of a Japanese multinational entertainment company, Bandai Namco Entertainment. Existing Anzu investors include Sony Innovation Fund, NBCUniversal, WPP, Bitkraft, Samsung Next, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) Ventures, Axel Springer and Marquee Ventures — the venture capital fund anchored by the parent company of the Chicago Cubs.

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In-game advertising continues to grow as more advertisers and developers become aware of the enormous opportunity it presents to reach a new market of gamers. On the heels of Anzu’s recent hire of Nerissa MacDonald, EVP Global Sales, the company will use the funding to continue to build out its global leadership team. Anzu will also seek to grow its U.S. footprint by developing teams across the country. The funding will allow Anzu to remain independent and fully focused on its mission to make advertising in games better.
“We are thrilled to close our Series B funding round and bring some exciting new investors on board,” said Itamar Benedy, Co-Founder and CEO of Anzu. “We are confident that in-game advertising has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar market, and Anzu is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this huge opportunity. Over the past year, we have achieved some significant milestones towards our vision, and have connected with more exclusive AAA games and premium content, expanded our measurement capabilities for advertisers, and secured patents for our unique intellectual property.”

On the new funding, Emmis Corporation Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smulyan said: “In-game advertising is ready to become the next major advertising category as marketers connect their brands with billions of cloud, PC, console, and mobile gamers worldwide. We look forward to partnering with Anzu as it delivers the technology and business system to make in-game advertising a large part of every marketer’s media buying plans.”

PayPal Ventures Managing Partner James Loftus said: “As the clear market leader in the nascent space of in-game advertising, Anzu brings highly sophisticated advertising into complex, 3D environments. We’re excited to support Anzu as they build on their proprietary technology, broaden their robust ecosystem of partners and expand their team in the U.S. and globally.”

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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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BGaming introduces first bird’s eye view crash game Top Eagle

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Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has released its new take on the popular crash game genre with Top Eagle. The title has five unlockable plane skins on top of the default one, motivating personal milestones, a flight history bar and an altitude meter which registers multiplier levels.

Brave players must take off and then open their parachute ahead of the plane’s unfortunate crash. After landing safely and winning the prize, their bets will be multiplied. The altimeter at the bottom right of the screen registers the distance the aircraft covers and reflects the possible winning multiplier. Players who cash out after x2, x5, x10, x50 or x100 unlock additional skins for their plane, with one skin per milestone available.

Further tailored milestones await in Top Eagle, with a special Best Drop icon on the top right of the game field. This displays the highest multiplier value scored throughout the gaming session, while the Leading badge is earned once the plane successfully surpasses the player’s previous longest attempt.

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During each round, the bar at the top of the main game records the biggest multiplier reached before crashing. If the player successfully cashes out, the multiplier shows as white, while a non-winning round remains pale grey.

As in other BGaming crash games, Top Eagle’s autoplay mode allows players to preset the number of flights they wish to take, while the automatic cashout gives them the chance to set a multiplier value at which the game will cash out.

Players may also switch between two energetic soundtracks, “Attack” or “Recon”, to dictate the atmosphere of the game, while changing the skin of their plane as they make progress through the game.

Mikalai Dzeneladze, Chief Casual Game Producer at BGaming, said: “Crash games have quickly become a staple in our portfolio, with their appeal stretching across many regulated markets, including LatAm. With its unique top-down view which offers diversity of the background and the illusion of flight, players will remain engaged for longer.

“This game is not to be missed by both long-term crash game fans looking for a new experience, and new players trying the genre for the first time.”

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PopOK Gaming Unveils “First Balloon” in the Thrilling Crash Series

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PopOK Gaming is excited to announce the release of “First Balloon,” the latest game in its popular Crash series. This new addition promises to take players on an exhilarating adventure, where they will soar through the skies and experience breathtaking moments and enticing rewards as their balloon ascends.

“First Balloon” offers a unique and thrilling gameplay experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats. As the game begins, players place their bets and watch as the multiplier starts increasing from 1x and continues to rise. The goal is to cash out at just the right moment to secure a multiplied payout. However, there’s a catch: if players don’t cash out in time, they risk losing their bet.

The excitement builds as players navigate the challenge of timing their cash-outs to maximize their winnings. With the potential to win up to x10,000, “First Balloon” offers the chance for massive rewards.

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How does it work?

Place a bet
Watch the multiplier increase from 1x upwards
Cash out anytime to get your bet multiplied
“First Balloon” is designed to provide a thrilling and immersive gaming experience, combining the excitement of risk and reward with the beauty of a soaring balloon journey. It’s the perfect game for those seeking adventure and the thrill of high-stakes gameplay.

Don’t miss out on the latest addition to PopOK Gaming’s Crash series. Start your adventure today with “First Balloon” and experience the excitement for yourself!

The post PopOK Gaming Unveils “First Balloon” in the Thrilling Crash Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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