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Helsinki: The Home of Mobile Gaming Innovation Hosts Pocket Gamer Connects’ 40th Event
Returning to its roots after a successful Toronto sprint, the Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) conference lands once again in the heart of Finland’s gaming landscape – Helsinki. Join Pocket Gamer on September 12th and 13th, at Wanha Satama, Pikku Satamakatu 3-5, Helsinki, Finland to celebrate the 40th instance of Pocket Gamer Connects.
Helsinki’s gaming influence extends beyond mobile, with a 16% rise in active developer studios and a remarkable 200% increase in developer studio investments post-pandemic, encompassing PC and console platforms. This legacy cements Helsinki’s role as a natural host for PGC, offering an environment where innovation and gaming unite effortlessly.
The countdown begins for this year’s Helsinki event, situated in the very birthplace of mobile gaming, Finland, renowned for its collaborative gaming community rooted in the mid-1980s demoscene movement. With some of the most well-known companies in the sector (including the likes of Supercell and Rovio, the latter recently attracting a SEGA takeover). At the forefront of innovation, Finland leads the charge in VR, XR, and metaverse technologies, too, with plans to invest up to 13 million Euros by 2030 to shape the digital future.
This year’s edition of Pocket Gamer Connects will feature 200 speakers such as Elina Arponen of Quicksave Interactive, Tommi Lappalainen from Rovio, Veli-Pekka Puolakanaho from Remedy Entertainment, Jussi Tähtinen of Nitro Games, Jaakko Kylmäoja of Fingersoft, and many more. The event will also feature tracks such as Ad Insights, AI Advances, Big Screen Gaming, Industry Visions & Values, and many more. Developers, publishers, along with other influential speakers have been invited to share their insights and experiences with a network that aims to grow the mobile games community.
Dave Bradley, COO of Steel Media says, “We’ve been hosting events in Helsinki now since 2014. It’s one of the most vibrant and collaborative ecosystems for games in the whole world. After successful events in Seattle, Dubai and Toronto already this year, we’re excited to be back seeing our friends in Finland. It’s always a huge pleasure to be able to host this event in the spiritual home of mobile gaming and innovation! And this year, we’ve partnered with Games Forest Club to support sustainability within the games industry. We won’t just be celebrating the booming games industry here, we’ll also be promoting environmental responsibility.”
Recognised worldwide, Pocket Game Connects brings together leading minds and innovators in the gaming industry. This year’s PGC event in Helsinki will broaden its scope to encompass themes such as AI and Web3. Attendees can also connect with investors and publishers, while showcasing their mobile games and offering live demos. Celebrating the 40th edition of PGC Helsinki signifies a notable milestone, providing participants with a valuable chance to engage in a significant event within the gaming community.
Pocket Gamer Connects returns on September 12th and 13th in Wanha Satma, Pikku Satamakatu 3-5, 00160 Helsinki, Finland.
Tickets for the event are now live, and available here. The event supports the work of indies (the Global Game Jam is PGC’s official indie partner) and there are heavily subsidised options for indie teams to take part and even showcase their games in the expo area.
On July 3, 2025, Trophy Hunter – the latest game developed by the Ten Square Games team – launched globally across major markets. With this title, the company expands its presence in the fast-growing hunting game segment, where it already has solid experience. Trophy Hunter is the third Ten Square Games project in this genre – this time designed as a skill-based game, offering an accessible yet competitive experience for a broad player base.
“- Ten Square Games was one of the pioneers in the mobile hunting games segment. Since the release of Hunting Clash, the market has grown significantly, and players’ expectations have evolved. Trophy Hunter is our response to those changes – a skill based game that emphasizes fast-paced gameplay, reflexes, and strategic decision-making. We’re building on a world we know well, but offering a new style of play that opens up fresh growth opportunities,” says Jakub Noganowicz, Product Owner of Hunting Clash and Trophy Hunter.
About Trophy Hunter
Trophy Hunter is a hunting game designed for players who enjoy quick, dynamic gameplay and competitive PvP action. Its core mode features three-round duels where precision, reaction time, and decision-making under pressure matter most – rather than exploration or resource management. Players can upgrade their personal base (Hunter’s Lodge), customize weapons, and compete in a structured league system.
“- The launch of Trophy Hunter is a test for both an alternative gameplay model and a more hybrid approach to monetization. We see this moment as the conclusion of the game’s first development phase. Now begins the most important stage – one driven by player feedback. The success of the project will depend not only on how the game is received but also on our ability to scale the title and consistently grow its player base,” says Andrzej Ilczuk, CEO of Ten Square Games.
Trophy Hunter follows a free-to-play model with microtransactions that let players upgrade weapons and ammo. It also features rewarded video ads**, allowing revenue generation from non-paying users. Thanks to hybrid monetization and a lower entry threshold, Trophy Hunter is aimed at a broader audience. Its lower cost per acquisition offsets the lower ARPU* compared to other Ten Square Games titles. The hybrid business model allows room for scalable growth and expanding the game’s reach.
From prototype to global release
Development on Trophy Hunter began in Q1 2024. In the final production phase, the core development team included 10 directly involved contributors.
In late June 2025, as part of pre-launch preparations, Ten Square Games removed the test version of the app from Google Play and the App Store, replacing it with the final version and opening preregistration. Over 500,000 players only on Google platform used the opportunity to ensure the fastest possible access to the game on global launch day. Those who preregistered received an exclusive in-game reward – a replica of the Beretta BRX1 rifle and 10 rounds of special ammunition. This was made possible thanks to Ten Square Games’ collaboration with the globally recognized Beretta brand, originally established for Hunting Clash.
What’s next
At launch, the game includes 9 playable arenas. The release marks the beginning of a new development chapter for Trophy Hunter. The roadmap includes progressive content expansion and ongoing testing of the game’s global scalability. If this proves successful, future updates will bring more arenas, new gameplay modes, a LiveOps system, Battle Pass, and additional features to boost player engagement and expand challenge variety.
* ARPU – average revenue per user
** Rewarded video – an ad format where players voluntarily watch a video ad in exchange for an in-game reward.
The post Global release of Trophy Hunter – test your skills in the next evolution of hunting games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
HIPTHER Launches Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool Across Its Global Gaming Media Network
HIPTHER, a leading media and events brand in the Gaming and Tech industries, has launched a new Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool, now live across all of its gaming media platforms. This quick, anonymous self-test is designed to help players better understand their relationship with gambling, encouraging safer play through awareness and early self-checks.
The “Play Responsibly” tool is backed by clinical research and built with user privacy at its core, based on the globally recognized Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) – a 9-question framework used to assess gambling risk levels, from low to moderate or high.
No sign-up needed. No Cost. No data collected. No Judgement. Just honest insight.
Whether you’re simply curious or looking to take a proactive step toward support, this free tool delivers instant results and practical next steps – all in under two minutes.
Key Features:
- Completely anonymous – no registration or personal data required
- Instant results with tailored guidance
- Available in 5 languages
- Mobile-first and accessible across all devices
- Fully GDPR compliant
Designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, the tool ensures a smooth and inclusive user experience for everyone. With multilingual support and local resource integration, it helps diverse populations connect with trusted support networks in their region.
“While our media platforms primarily serve the B2B side of the industry, we know they’re also visited by players looking for insights and updates. That’s why it’s important for us to go beyond headlines and contribute real tools that support safer play. This assessment is one small, meaningful step toward that.” – Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER.
Take the assessment today and share it with your community.
Because gambling should always be safe, informed, and fun.
Try it now on any of HIPTHER’s gaming media platforms:
By launching this tool, HIPTHER reaffirms its ongoing commitment to promoting transparency, responsibility, and player well-being in the global gaming industry. Together with our partners and audiences, we continue working toward a safer, more informed future for players everywhere.
The post HIPTHER Launches Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool Across Its Global Gaming Media Network appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Loterías Torito, one of the authorised operators of lottery games in Peru, to supply a tailored portfolio of instant win games.
The collaboration will see five of Evoplay’s most popular instant games, including Adrenaline Rush, Adrenaline Rush: Scratch, Penalty Shoot–out: Street, B–Ball Blitz, and Hockey Shootout, launch on Loterías Torito’s platform. Each title has been localised and tailored to meet the lottery’s regulatory standards and responsible gaming objectives.
Operating both online and across retail locations, Loterías Torito is a trusted name in the Peruvian lottery sector. Its blend of traditional lottery products and digital offerings makes it an ideal partner for Evoplay’s instant game portfolio, which is designed to attract a broader, mobile-first audience.
Breaking into the lottery space marks a significant achievement for Evoplay, following their strategy to expand its presence in regulated markets across Latin America, delivering localised content and tailored solutions to forward-thinking lottery operators.
Frank Cecchini, Head of Lottery at Evoplay, said: “We are immensely proud to be working with Loterías Torito. “I firmly believe our content can bridge the gap between lottery players and online gamers, helping drive revenue in a safe, responsible, and engaging way.”
José Ludeña Díaz, Director of Operations at Loterías Torito, added: “Evoplay’s games are one of a kind. They’re innovative, high-quality, and exactly what we need to appeal to new generations of players while staying true to our mission and values.”
The post Evoplay enters Peru’s lottery vertical through a partnership with Loterías Torito appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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