In this edition of HIPTHER Community Voices, we talk with Victoria Trofimova, the CEO and co-founder of Nordcurrent, the biggest game studio to come out of Lithuania and the Baltics. Since starting the company in 2002, Victoria has led Nordcurrent from a small team to an international gaming success story — all without external funding.

She shares how key decisions like focusing on mobile games, building a diverse team, and staying true to their creative vision helped shape Nordcurrent’s growth. We also dive into how she’s helping put the Baltics on the global gaming map, supporting young talent, and what advice she has for the next generation of women leaders in tech.

Nordcurrent has grown into a Baltic powerhouse since its  founding in 2002. What were some of the pivotal moments that  shaped the studio’s identity and success—especially as a bootstrapped company?

One key moment was our decision to focus fully on mobile gaming early on. That shift, around 2010, allowed us to scale globally with titles like Cooking Fever, which became a long-term success story. Another pivotal step was building and retaining in-house capabilities, from development to marketing, while staying self-funded. Being bootstrapped taught us discipline, resilience, and how to make bold yet thoughtful decisions without external pressure.

You’ve scaled a 360-person team across multiple countries.  What have been the biggest challenges—and advantages—of  growing Nordcurrent without external funding?

The biggest challenge has been growth pacing. We had to build sustainably, without shortcuts. But that’s also been our advantage; we’ve kept creative control, built long-term trust with our team, and stayed focused on profitability and product quality. It’s a different rhythm, one that favors deep thinking over hype.

Diversity in gaming is still lagging behind. What concrete steps has Nordcurrent taken to drive inclusion, and how do you embed this into studio culture, hiring, and leadership?

We don’t overcomplicate it, we hire the best people who want to build great games with us. We don’t separate or label by gender, background, or title. If someone brings talent, drive, and a collaborative mindset, they belong here. That approach has naturally led to a diverse team, including strong female leadership across departments. We focus on creating an environment where everyone is treated equally, trusted, and heard.

You’ve spoken about attracting global talent to Lithuania and the Baltics. What makes the region appealing—and what misconceptions do you often have to overcome when recruiting internationally?

The Baltics offer a great work-life balance, strong tech ecosystems, and a tight-knit creative scene. But we still need to overcome outdated perceptions; for example, that it’s cold, isolated, or lacking opportunity. The truth is, Vilnius and other cities here are dynamic and are increasingly being recognized for innovation.

In such a saturated gaming market, how does Nordcurrent approach innovation and stay relevant without falling into trend-chasing?

We listen deeply. To players, to data, and to our instincts. With over two decades of experience, we’ve built a rich internal library of what works, what lasts, and what connects. Innovation for us isn’t about reinventing the wheel every time. It’s about layering insight, emotion, and cultural nuance onto strong foundations. We don’t chase trends, we ask how a game fits into people’s lives. That’s why titles like Airplane Chefs resonate. They’re familiar yet fresh, culturally rich but globally accessible. Years of learning has given us the confidence to trust our gut and the clarity to know when to try something bold.

From mobile hits to console and PC publishing—how has your portfolio strategy evolved, and how do you decide what kinds of games to invest in today?

Our mobile success gave us the freedom to diversify. With Nordcurrent Labs, we now publish PC and console games that align with our values: original IP, strong storytelling, and long-tail potential. We look for teams with vision and grit, whether it’s cozy games or narrative-rich adventures.

You recently acquired River End Games and the Cinemaware catalog. What’s the strategic thinking behind those moves, and what can players expect from these legacy properties going Forward?

River End Games brings deep narrative talent and AAA craftsmanship, which complements our publishing ambitions. With Cinemaware, we’re reimagining classics for a new generation. These acquisitions aren’t about nostalgia only, they’re about unlocking untapped creative value in ways that feel both respectful and bold.

How are you helping to nurture the next generation of game developers in the Baltics, and what role do you think studios should play in education or early talent development?

We take this responsibility seriously. As the largest Lithuania-born game developer, we feel a strong duty to help grow the industry, not just our studio. We actively collaborate with the Lithuanian Game Developers Association, support local game jams, and organize major meetups that bring the community together. Our goal is to make the gaming industry more visible, more accessible, and more appealing, especially to young people who may not yet see it as a real career path.

It’s not just about hiring talent, it’s about helping to create it. We believe studios should take an active role in popularizing the industry, opening doors, and building a future where game development is seen as a creative and respected profession.

You’re leading a company that’s rooted in Eastern Europe but competing on a global stage. How do you balance local values with global ambitions?

We don’t see it as a conflict. Our roots give us authenticity and resilience, and these are qualities that resonate globally. We build games that are grounded in strong craft and cultural richness but are universally relatable. Staying true to who we are has been our best strategy for going global.

And finally—what advice would you give to aspiring women leaders in tech and gaming who want to break into this industry and rise through the ranks?

Own your voice. You don’t need to fit a mold to lead. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you. And remember, leadership isn’t just about a title, it’s about taking responsibility, lifting others, and staying curious. Tech and gaming need your perspective, and there’s room for you at the table.

BETBY, the innovative sportsbook supplier, is redefining how chess is experienced in the betting world, launching an innovative suite of markets designed to deepen engagement and bring fresh energy to one of the world’s oldest strategy games.

Marking a new chapter for chess within the iGaming space, BETBY’s upgraded betting content portfolio goes far beyond traditional markets like outright winner or total moves. Bettors can now engage with detailed, event-specific outcomes including the first move made, the first piece captured, number of checks, castlings, and whether a game will feature a pawn promotion, an en passant, or end in stalemate. Several markets also focus on the timing of critical moments, such as whether a checkmate will occur before a certain move, offering more dynamic, real-time decision-making for players.

This launch follows six months of dedicated product development across BETBY’s chess vertical and reflects the company’s long-term vision for the game as a core part of its sportsbook strategy. With chess now officially included in the Esports World Cup, the timing marks a natural convergence of two verticals where BETBY continues to strengthen its position: esports and traditional chess.

As part of this expansion, BETBY is also introducing another exclusive: live betting on the Top Chess Engine Championship (TCEC), a prestigious AI-based tournament. While the event follows a defined schedule, it opens up a new betting experience through intense matchups between powerful engines, enriching the overall chess offering.

Currently, BETBY offers pre-match coverage for around 20 chess tournaments per month, totaling approximately 400 matches. The addition of these expanded markets marks a strategic leap forward in delivering a modern, high-engagement chess product to sportsbook partners and players.

“Chess has always been a passion of ours, and today we’re proud to announce the launch of a truly comprehensive chess offering,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY. “By expanding our market depth and introducing innovative tournaments, including both traditional and AI-driven formats, we’re giving our partners and players a completely new way to engage with the game. Our vision is ambitious: we want chess and betting to become synonymous, to the point where no modern sportsbook feels complete without chess markets. We’ve already done this with Betby.Games and esports, now it’s time to do the same with chess.”

BETBY’s long-term global brand ambassador, five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, will represent Team Liquid at the Esports World Cup. His participation in the tournament, which begins on July 7th, reinforces chess’s growing presence in global esports and its potential as a premium betting vertical.

World’s leading B2B marketplace BETBAZAR brokers new agreement enabling the full integration of Platipus games into Agreegain Limited iGaming platform.

Betbazar, the industry’s leading B2B global iGaming marketplace, has facilitated another successful software partnership after announcing that Agreegain Limited has agreed to add to its platform the full suite of Platipus slots.

As the go-to destination for companies looking to acquire third-party casino, sportsbook solutions and data content, Betbazar continues to drive growth across the iGaming industry. Among its standout offerings, the innovative and visually striking slots from Platipus immediately captured the attention of Agreegain.

Keen to enhance its platform’s content offering and give its clients access to high-performing games, Agreegain chose to integrate the entire Platipus portfolio — more than 150 titles, including a number of player-favourite jackpots.

This integration means that Agreegain’s network of B2C partners will now have access to standout titles such as Lord of the Keys, Bacon’s Bank, and 7 & Fruits Rush, enriching their game libraries with engaging themes, fast gameplay and compelling features.

With Betbazar managing the logistics of the deal, all Platipus content will be fully integrated into the Agreegain platform and will be available to its partners. The agreement also ensures ongoing technical support and seamless delivery of new releases moving forward.

This partnership further cements Betbazar’s reputation as a key facilitator in the global iGaming space — connecting top-tier suppliers with ambitious platforms through its unique marketplace model.

Maria Afzaal, Senior Partner Manager at Agreegain Limited, said: “As a growing aggregator focused on delivering top-tier B2C solutions, Agreegain is constantly searching for standout content that helps our partners enhance their casino offerings.

Using a marketplace like BETBAZAR — where some of the industry’s most innovative providers are gathered in one place — makes this process incredibly efficient, and we’re very pleased to have discovered Platipus through their platform. We’re excited to bring Platipus’s dynamic portfolio to our clients and are confident these games will resonate strongly with players.”

Stanislav Mykhailov, CCO at Platipus, said: “For an independent software provider like Platipus, having a reliable way to connect with the right partners is essential – and being part of BETBAZAR’s B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace makes that process incredibly smooth.

Thanks to their intelligent and streamlined platform that brings together content creators and aggregators, we were able to present our portfolio to Agreegain Limited – and we’re thrilled they found our content to be a great fit. With all Platipus games now integrated into their library, Agreegain can deliver even more value to their clients — and we’re looking forward to seeing our games reach new audiences through this collaboration.”

Vanna Kraljevic, Business Development Manager at BETBAZAR, said: “We’re really pleased to have facilitated the deal between Agreegain Limited and Platipus through our industry-leading B2B iGaming marketplace. We believe this new partnership will bring tremendous value to both parties and their wide networks.

The ease with which Agreegain Limited was able to explore our curated portfolio and identify the right content fit highlights the strength and efficiency of the BETBAZAR model — and with one seamless integration, the full suite of Platipus games is now live on their platform.”

About Agreegain Limited

Agreegain is a fast-growing B2B iGaming solutions provider that offers a comprehensive aggregation platform that connects casino operators with a vast portfolio of top-tier gaming content via a single API. With a focus on speed, scalability, and compliance, Agreegain delivers turnkey and white-label casino solutions, sportsbook integration, and advanced operational tools — including fraud prevention, reporting, and 24/7 technical support.

About Platipus

Platipus Ltd is an EU-based leading online game development studio producing cutting-edge HTML5 slots and table games that excite, thrill, and entertain players around the world. The company boasts a talented and dedicated team of developers, designers, and artists who work tirelessly to deliver top-quality games. Platipus’ expertise lies in developing visually stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and exciting features that captivate players and enhance their gaming experience.

About Betbazar

Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is building a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with buyers to accelerate growth powered by best-in-class products. 

Website: https://betbazar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betbazar