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With 50 Million Master Bakers, ‘Bake It’ Is Now Kwalee’s 2nd-Biggest Mobile Game
Kwalee’s Bake It has officially passed 50 million downloads, making it the publisher’s second most-downloaded hypercasual game to date. Its impressive download count is topped only by Draw It (95 million+ downloads).
Released in May 2020, this tactile game about baking perfect cakes and treats took the mobile game market by storm – it ranked at #1 in the ‘Simulation’ category in 20 countries, and achieved close to 10 million downloads in the first month alone!
Bake It gives the player a chance to explore their delicious itch for culinary baking. Players bake monumental cakes, dressing them with a smorgasbord of sweet toppings and icing and sprinkles and candies – based on what the customer’s sweet tooth craves, of course.
2020 was a testing time for Kwalee, as it was for everyone. The company — headquartered in Leamington Spa — faced the challenge of swapping the shared physical space of its studio with a remote, digital development environment due to the rampant COVID-19 pandemic.
Bake It, Kwalee’s first game launched under these circumstances, proved to be the standard-bearer in the firm’s impressive adaptation to remote working. Kwalee began 2020 as a developer and publisher with just over 60 staff, all firmly UK and office-based, and now finds itself with more than 160 team members, across 13 countries and three offices – Leamington Spa, Bangalore and Beijing.
CEO David Darling expressed his thoughts on the game’s success and its role in Kwalee’s development as a globally-distributed team:
“Seeing the success of Bake It along with a few other hit games of ours, like Object Hunt and Shootout 3D – it gives us confidence in remote working as the new model for our work culture. There’s a lot of potential we’re seeing in working this way to bring more hit games in the long term, especially with a globally-distributed team, so we’re excited about that.”
For an even greater insight into the making of Bake It, Kwalee’s Head of Development Simon Platt published an article soon after the game’s release that dove deep into the team’s experience of handling both development and publishing of Bake It during the pandemic.
Between opening up permanent remote opportunities for candidates globally and working alongside the overseas offices in Bangalore and Beijing, Kwalee’s teams have had to keep their work structure consistent online whilst meeting project goals simultaneously. It has ultimately paid off, with the recent remote releases skyrocketing in the charts.
Kwalee is currently running a challenge for third-party developers called Hypercasual Heroes, in which developers have the chance to get their games published by Kwalee and potentially secure a slice of that Bake It-style success – along with incredible, limited-time awards including a Tesla Model 3 car and $100,000 in advances with uncapped profit share to follow! Open for submissions until 31st August, developers can simply upload their 15-second gameplay video to Kwalee’s new publisher portal in order to be eligible.*
In the case of Bake It, the cherry on top was provided by the fact that interest in baking shot up during the first lockdown, often cited as a therapeutic and productive outlet to bust stress and anxiety. Bake It certainly hit the sweet spot in this regard but more than a year on, it’s also showed impressive longevity.
Bake It continues to receive updates from Kwalee’s dedicated team of designers and developers, who tailor the experiences for all kinds of players so anyone could become the best baker they can be. Android users and iOS users can find Bake It available for download on Google Play Store and App Store respectively.
Kwalee has been nominated in both Best Developer and Best Publisher categories at the upcoming Mobile Games Awards, and you can visit the official website for more information on joining our global team or getting your game published with us.
Balkan's
EGT’s latest innovations to shine at the 15th edition of BEGE Expo
EGT is ready to make another memorable show during this year’s 15th edition of BEGE Expo. The company’s impressive product display will await the guests at booth 4.0. on November 27 and 28.
Several new developments in EGT’s portfolio will be presented to the local gaming audience for the first time. Among them will be the Bell Link 2 multigame, the latest addition to the absolute bestseller Bell Link, as well as the Bell Link Boost jackpot. The mix will introduce visitors to the exciting worlds of 10 titles, 5 of which are brand new, offering them numerous opportunities for winning and entertainment.
Bell Link Boost will also captivate players’ attention with its six exciting games, as well as the Boost feature, which will amplify the amount of the Major and Grand jackpots. The highest levels of Bell Link Boost will be combined with the corresponding levels of Bell Link and Gods & Kings Link, adding even more thrill to the gaming experience.
Two new Asian-themed jackpot solutions will be on display as well. Sheng Sheng Bu Xi will offer players a jackpot combo, giving an extra layer of adventure to their gameplay, and the 4-level Zhao Cai Shuang Yu will further enhance the chances of winning with its Keep & Spin bonus and Free Spins & Wheel feature.
EGT will present its newest multigame series, Supreme Selection, which currently features Supreme Green Selection and Mega Supreme Fruits Selection mixes. Powered by the latest Exciter IV platforms, they will make their local debut during the expo, demonstrating a perfect blend of some of EGT’s most popular titles and brand-new games with enormous potential.
The selection of slot products for the show will be complemented by the General Series cabinets and multigames, as well as the well-known Premium Link, Coin Jackpot and Supreme Combo Link jackpots.
The company will also showcase its ETG solutions. The main highlight will be the new RK6C roulette, which will be presented in Bulgaria for the first time. Including sleek design and advanced features, it will provide guests with comfortable play stations, dynamic LED lighting, and engaging sound effects. The players will also be able to explore the numerous variants for keyboard configurations, American roulette, as well as the option for connectivity to other EGT Automated Roulette units, enhancing the overall experience.
The well-established GS 32 T, G 32 T, and G 27 T terminals will also show their eye-catching design, numerous ergonomic features, and great flexibility, allowing many possible configurations with other devices. They will be equipped with multigame mixes of Supreme and Power Series, as well as top-performer Jackpot Cards.
Numerous AWP and VLT products, designed specifically for different markets, will be at the disposal of the stand’s visitors. They will also be able to get acquainted with the latest modules of EGT’s casino management system Spider, thanks to which the organization of the daily activities in gaming facilities is easier than ever.
EGT Digital will demonstrate its vast array of more than 120 popular slot games, as well as the in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave with its 4 main modules, each of which can function as part of the complete solution or operate independently, as they allow integration with products of third-party developers.
“Taking part in BEGE Expo is always a great experience for us, especially since this year is even more special as the event celebrates its 15th birthday,” shared Nadia Popova, Chief Revenue Officer and VP of Sales & Marketing at EGT. “We will be happy to meet again with our clients and partners from the region and discuss with them all new exciting opportunities for collaboration. We are also anticipating BEGE Awards, in which we are finalists in several categories.”
The post EGT’s latest innovations to shine at the 15th edition of BEGE Expo appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eloy Fernandez
Endorphina Enters into Partnership with Luckia
Endorphina has entered into a partnership with Luckia, a leading company in the gaming sector. Combining Endorphina’s passion for slots with Luckia’s innovative spirit, this partnership is set to provide incredible gaming experiences to all iGaming enthusiasts.
Endorphina’s Senior Partnership Manager, Zdenek Llosa, shared his excitement about the partnership: “We are thrilled to join forces with Luckia, a respected and influential operator in Colombia, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal. This partnership is a significant step forward in our global expansion strategy, allowing us to reach new players and markets. We are confident that Luckia’s players will appreciate the quality and diversity of our games, and we look forward to a fruitful and enduring collaboration.”
Luckia is a commercial brand of Luckia Gaming Group that combines offline and online gaming, including traditional businesses such as gaming machines in bars and restaurants and gaming arcades, new online gaming activities, and land-based sports betting. By advancing the current concept surrounding gaming, Luckia aims to provide an extensive entertainment experience, democratizing gaming and making it a social, accessible, and trust-inspiring activity.
Eloy Fernandez, Head of Product at Luckia, said: “We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Endorphina, with Mexico being the first market to go live with their creative slot content on Luckia’s platform! Endorphina’s distinctive games will not only enhance our offering but also provide a fresh and engaging experience for our Mexican players. Their unique approach aligns with our mission to elevate entertainment and optimize our services in key markets.”
Bradley Khoury
eCOGRA Approved to Operate in Arizona, Indiana and Panama
eCOGRA, a leading international authority in Testing, Inspection and Certification services for the iGaming industry, has secured new regulatory approvals across three key jurisdictions: Arizona, Indiana and Panama. With these developments, eCOGRA strengthens its position in the U.S. and Latin American markets, offering excellence in compliance through their Quality, Speed, and Service promise.
This strategic expansion allows eCOGRA to conduct independent compliance audits and certification services in each region, addressing the growing demand for rigorous regulatory oversight in the fast-evolving global iGaming industry.
Securing approval in Arizona, where eCOGRA has now been licensed as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier, enables the International Testing Laboratory (ITL) to audit event wagering licensees in line with Arizona’s expanding regulatory landscape. Indiana, which introduced online sports betting in September 2019, has authorised eCOGRA to perform regulatory compliance audits, providing licensed operators with crucial assurance in meeting the state’s high standards.
In Panama, the Board of Gaming Control officially recognised eCOGRA as an Authorised Entity for Compliance Certification, specifically for slot machines and gaming software. This endorsement reinforces eCOGRA’s role as a trusted partner for operators seeking to meet stringent regulatory requirements in Latin America’s emerging iGaming sector.
“Our recent approvals in Indiana, Arizona, and Panama underline our dedication to continually expand our offering, to support our growing portfolio of clients with their global growth plans. We are committed to ensuring that we bring the same quality, speed and service that marks us out to both our clients and regulators in these dynamic markets,” said Will Shuckburgh, Group CEO of eCOGRA.
Bradley Khoury, Chief Technology Officer at eCOGRA, said: “Securing licensure as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier in Arizona and an Authorised Entity in Panama underscores our dedication to supporting responsible and sustainable iGaming operations. We are committed to driving trust and accountability within the industry by providing compliance solutions that uphold the highest standards.”
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