gaming
Exclusive Q&A w/ Antoine Jullemier, VP of Gaming at Bidstack
Tell us about your career to date and how you came to join Bidstack? (highlights and stories)
I’ve been immersed in the video games industry, digital environment and ad tech for the last 7 years, and specialise in advertising and monetisation. In 2016, I left my dear France to join the London branch of the French ad-exchange Mozoo and develop the Surikate product in Europe, which was the direct performance arm of the business (UA) for leading games and lifestyle apps. Following a period of significant growth, Mozoo acquired AdinCube in 2017, a leading ad mediation platform for game app developers. Here I was given the opportunity to join the new team, where I utilised my expertise to secure publisher partnerships across the EMEA region. A year later, in 2018, following a rapid period of expansion, AdinCube was acquired by Ogury, where I successfully built the gaming publisher portfolio from the ground up. Here I was able to onboard game studios such as Miniclip, Kwalee, Outfit7, Crazy Lab Games, Good Job Games and many more. In 2021 I was given the opportunity to join Bidstack to scale up the publisher portfolio across mobile, PC, and console and I am now responsible for the supply side of the business in Europe and in various other markets globally.
What does your role as ‘VP of Gaming’ at Bidstack entail?
Primarily it is focused on managing and working with a young and entrepreneurial team who are passionate about gaming and helping game developers and publishers to unlock a new, incremental revenue stream that protects the gaming experience for the end user.
Reporting to our US-based SVP Gaming, my role is essentially to lead business development for Europe with game developers and publishers across the UK, EMEA and other international territories.
Our mission is to educate studios on the benefits of integrating Bidstack’s monetisation technologies, regardless of platform and structuring deals with AAA publishers, leading game studios, and AAA titles.
What drew you to the games industry?
My path into gaming was carved out quite naturally. If I take a step back, I’ve always been passionate about gaming and have been a player myself for as long as I can remember. I can still see myself playing the SEGA Mega Drive with my brothers and spending hours on my Gameboy or Nintendo DS before evolving with each generation of new consoles like the PS1, PS2, the Xbox 360 etc.
When I started my career, I began in digital and advertising on mobile, first on the UA side of things at Surikate from Mozoo and then on the in-game monetisation side through various ad mediation platforms and ad networks; this gave me the opportunity to engage with game studios for the very first time.
The creativity, genuine talent, and passion surrounding these individuals really made an impression on me, and I found it amazing to discover more about programmatic exchanges and all the rules, processes and technical considerations that were happening in the background of the games themselves in order to drive revenue for those studios.
Today, I’m very grateful to work within such a fast-growing and ever-evolving industry. The gaming market is a multi-billion dollar industry that engages around 3 billion gamers yearly, and that number only looks set to grow.
The industry is no longer a niche interest; video games are now mainstream and very much a part of everyday life for billions. Advertisers have started to pay more attention to that in addition to their traditional media mix like TV, Print or Social Media, which makes it the best place to be, in my opinion.
What’s super exciting in our industry is that you can never get bored. From new user privacy and data protection laws, new monetisation formats and gaming platforms to record-breaking mergers and acquisitions, there is always something new happening.
Are you a gamer in your downtime/what do you play?
I’m still a gamer myself, mainly on console. I’m a big fan of my PS5, and if you don’t find me hitting some COD Modern Warfare 2 these days, I will probably be trying to finish Elden Ring!
Bidstack is an in-game advertising and video game monetisation platform. What does this mean in practice?
Bidstack’s mission is to empower game developers to dynamically control and monetise space within and around their gaming environments.
Our programmatic platform pioneered how brands deliver ads into natural spaces within video games – with these brand experiences varying from trackside banners and cityscape billboards to pitchside LED boards, skins and other contextually relevant surfaces within a gaming environment.
The platform was designed with performance in mind, and all of our products ensure stability and security for our partners across their in-game, rewarded video, and in-menu inventory. Our proprietary technology also ensures that the realism of a game is maintained by rendering effects on top of creatives to make them a seamless part of the experience.
Bidstack gives publishers total control over what appears in their games via our AdConsole – here; they are able to approve or reject ads in real-time before they appear in their gaming environments. We further bolstered our ad quality capabilities with the acquisition of Pubguard (a malvertising and ad quality platform) in 2019, with their suite of tools ensuring that we deliver a premium advertising experience for our partners and maintain strict category exclusions.
Bidstack delivered the world’s first programmatic in-game campaign in 2018. Since then, we have grown from a team of 4 staff to more than 80 across 5 international locations and became a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange. We also have a unique sales footprint thanks to our strategic partners and secured a strong portfolio of +150 games across Mobile, PC and Console.
However, Advertising represents just one use case for our technology, with many of our gaming partners utilising the platform as a content management tool to reduce dev cycles and manage brand licensing relationships across their titles.
What are the benefits of in-game advertising for developers and players?
The benefits are numerous. Our technology unlocks a new, sustainable route to revenue for publishers, which is non-intrusive and can work alongside existing monetisation strategies.
Developers can now authentically recreate real-world environments in which audiences have come to expect the presence of realistic advertising, including billboards, banners or product placements across in-game, in-menu and rewarded video formats.
We are the leading solution when it comes to helping developers across all platforms (Mobile, PC, Console, Metaverse) navigate the waves of the medium successfully, opening this new incremental revenue and reducing ad pressure with a better user experience.
In a world where the vast majority of gaming ads are performance-based, the brand advertising we offer reduces churn rates and increases user retention for developers, making the game a more premium and safe environment.
This leads me to the player benefits. Unlike other digital ad types, in-game advertising also sits better with consumers. Seven in 10 UK gamers feel positive or neutral towards organically embedded in-game advertising. Among console gamers, 22% are more likely to buy brands advertised in games.
While some existing and well-established ad formats can be intrusive (full-screen unskippable ads etc.), when done well, in-game advertising, fully native and blended in the environment in a non-clickable way, can really increase the immersion and make the game a more realistic experience. I would personally love to stumble across a billboard promoting the latest smartphone from a real brand when walking around Night City in CyberPunk. This would look awesome and make me feel this is kind of real!
What’s the best in-game ad you’ve seen lately?
Probably our campaign with Paco Rabanne and Starcom into Rezzil, which won the Best Regional Campaign – North America at the TheWires 2022 ceremony recently. It delivered impressive results through the use of contextual and virtual reality, leading the way for future opportunities in that space.
What are some of in-game’s challenges, and how can they be overcome?
One key challenge is the fact that every player is different, especially within the free-to-play arena, and will react to a game’s experience in their own way, so it’s important to explore different ways to monetise your titles.
Harmony between in-app purchases and in-game advertising is key. Both solutions are complementary and need to work in the right balance. As I was saying earlier, there are so many innovative formats in the market now that game developers have a real opportunity to support the development of their games whilst enhancing the experience for players.
Another challenge is keeping up with the new innovations that are driving value in a constantly evolving market. To stay ahead of the game, I think you have to build trust with your players and show them respect by leveraging quality branding ads in formats that are designed to enhance their playing experience rather than polluting the game experience with overly intrusive, non-relevant advertising that will damage the whole experience.
So with players now less accustomed to paying for accessing their favourite games and increasingly frustrated with intrusive monetisation methods, many developers are now turning to in-game advertising as an option that works for game creators and players alike.
Looking forward, what can we expect to see from Bidstack – and you – in 2023?
Bidstack is in a stage of exciting growth. We recently announced some huge hires in the US and 2023 shows no sign of slowing down. Next year, we anticipate expanding our range of products and ad formats, bringing on board more games studios and brands, and further growing our talented team. For me personally, a part of my job that I love is attending amazing technology conferences and gaming events. With the world now fully opened up again, 2023 presents amazing opportunities for us to get our technology in front of the world’s best publishers and brands.
gaming
Take Aim at Mega Wins: ELA Games Unleashes Chaos With New Shooter Game “Shoot Happens”

A chaotic jungle journey with big, bad foes and insane riches.
Welcome to the jungle, where Shoot Happens! Face your opponent, take aim, and fire your way to riches.
ELA Games unveils its boldest title to date, a combination of decision-making and narrative progression where every shot counts.
In Shoot Happens, you’re not just a player. You’re the main character who has to fend off waves of increasingly dangerous (and valuable) monsters. Armed with 3 shots per round, you’ll need precision and calm nerves to take down the reward and add it to your Winpot. Hit the target for riches. Miss… and it’s back to the beginning.
The Choice Is Yours
Each round is in the hands of the player. Do you cash out now? Or keep slashing through the jungle for bigger and better rewards? Decision-making, timing, and a whole load of guts go a long way.
Expect the Unexpected
Random projectile bonuses can appear in any round, boosting your rewards massively. And just when you thought your journey through the treacherous jungle was over, the final boss appears. While the other monsters may have been a piece of cake, he doesn’t stay down. Each time you defeat him, he respawns for juicier and recurring payouts. Keep going as long as you can handle it, and you might walk out as the top dog of the jungle.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the game’s release, “With Shoot Happens, the team ventured outside of conventional game formats, and we wanted to give players a super engaging experience where they’re in control. This title is a bold approach to game design in this industry, as we’re empowering players with choice and enriching the gameplay experience with strong visuals, narratives, and plenty of replayability.”
Play how you want. The Winpot is yours
Shoot Happens is the perfect blend of fast-paced action, bold decision-making, and interactive gameplay. Whether you’re a cautious player or a complete daredevil, the game is an enticing experience for all.
How deep into the jungle are you willing to go?
The post Take Aim at Mega Wins: ELA Games Unleashes Chaos With New Shooter Game “Shoot Happens” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Evo
Evo Looks Forward to France and the Return of Evo Awards

The Evolution Championship Series (known as Evo) concluded its flagship event in Las Vegas presented by Chipotle tonight, crowning 16 champions while celebrating the Fighting Game Community and its culture with the biggest and most immersive three-day festival of the year. Representing the largest and longest-running fighting game tournaments on Earth, Evo welcomed tens of thousands over the weekend with millions of fans who tuned in globally.
Next up, Evo will make its European debut at the Palais des Expos in Nice, France, on October 10-12, 2025, which will become the largest fighting game festival in EU history. Registration is still open at https://evo.gg/events/2025-france. Evo also announced it will return to Japan on May 1-3, 2026 and Las Vegas on June 26-28, 2026 along with the second annual Evo Awards in 2026 with more details to be unveiled later this year. Evo Singapore is now scheduled for early 2027.
“We feel strongly about the future of Evo after Japan became the largest in-person tournament in the history of the country earlier this year and now Las Vegas as our most immersive event ever,” said Stuart Saw, CEO for RTS, who co-owns and manages Evo along with Sony Interactive Entertainment. “Our team is focused on delivering unforgettable experiences for our diverse and passionate fighting game community, and we can’t wait to reveal our evolution in France.”
Evo Las Vegas packed a punch for everyone over the weekend, anchored by competitors from 60+ countries across the eight Arena Finals and eight Extended Lineup Finals. The Evo Arena on Sunday sold out, hosting 10,000 fans who enjoyed the newly redesigned space with larger screens to not miss a punch. On Saturday, SonicFox won their eighth Evo championship, only second all-time to fighting game legend Justin Wong’s nine Evo victories. Arslan Ash won his sixth Evo championship tonight in dramatic fashion along with his third consecutive Evo Las Vegas title and second-straight TEKKEN 8 championship. MenaRD became the first Street Fighter 6 champion to win Evo Japan and Evo Las Vegas in the same year and now owns three Evo titles.
Fans were also treated to the opportunity to play unreleased major gaming titles for the first time, including Quarter Up’s (Skybound Entertainment) Invincible VS and Arc System Works’ Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls along with new characters in Street Fighter 6, 2XKO and Fatal Fury: City of Wolves.
“Las Vegas is Evo’s flagship event, so we worked meticulously to refine and improve it this year with curated experiences that celebrate competitive fighting games,” said Rick Thiher, General Manager of Evo. “Every year what I love most about Evo is seeing the first timers explore, while at the same time, welcoming back generations of fans who grew up with the community.”
Major publishers surprised fans tonight during the Arena Finals with new announcements for Invincible VS, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Virtua Fighter, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, TEKKEN 8, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes, and Street Fighter 6.
ARENA FINALS CHAMPIONS
Street Fighter 6 – Capcom
Dominican Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II stormed through the bracket for his third Evo title after sweeping “Kakeru” from Japan in the Winners Final and the Grand Final in a rematch of Evo Japan from last year.
TEKKEN 8 – Bandai Namco Entertainment
In a 2024 rematch, Pakistan’s Arslan “Arslan Ash” Ash became a six-time Evo champion after defeating fellow countryman Atif “ATIF” Butt in a thrilling 3-1 Grand Final Reset battle. ATIF swept Arslan Ash in the Grand Final 3-0 before falling in the reset. This marked the third-straight year Arslan Ash has won in Evo Las Vegas.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves – SNK’s
Japanese competitor from Osaka, Goichi “GO1” Kishida faced off against Lin “ET” Chiahung of Taiwan three times in a thrilling competition as Kishida scored a victory, 3-2, in the Grand Final Reset. GO1 became the first Evo champion of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
Guilty Gear -Strive- – Arc System Works
American Kyle “Kshuewhatdamoo” Shumate from Dublin, Ohio., took home the title in his first-ever Evo by knocking off fellow American Nathan “RedDitto” Chen of Monterey Park, Calif., 3-0. “Kshuewhatdamoo” dropped his match in the Grand Final, 3-0, before sweeping his opponent in the Grand Final Reset.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – Cygames
American Matthieu “Kojicoco” Fardet who currently lives in Japan, defeated Matthew “Zane” Wanders from Trabuco Canyon, Calif., in a Grand Final Reset victory, 3-1, showcasing an incredible run from the Losers bracket. In 2024, Kojicoco finished in third place, marking the second consecutive year with a top three finish at Evo in Las Vegas.
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 – Capcom
American Ken “Khaos” Villalobos from Los Angeles, Calif., knocked off fellow American Andy “Vigga” Nguyen from Seattle, Wash., for his first Evo championship in another thrilling contest, 3-2.
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes – Arc System Works
American Jaden “Defiant” E., from Jacksonville, Fla., who finished fourth in Evo 2024, took home the title after defeating fellow Florida native from Palm Bay, Izayah “BigBlack” Davis, 3-2. Defiant came from the Losers bracket and knocked off “BigBlack” in the Grand Final and then again in the Grand Final Reset to become a first time Evo champion.
Mortal Kombat 1 – Warner Bros. Games
American Dominique “SonicFox” McLean from Seattle, Wash., made Evo history winning their eighth overall Evo title, moving second overall to Justin Wong. They pulled out a thriller 3-2 over Nicolás “NicoLas” Martínez from Chile in a rematch from 2024.
EXTENDED LINEUP CHAMPIONS
The King of Fighters XV – SNK
Taiwan’s Lin “ET” Chiahung found redemption tonight after losing the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Grand Final earlier in the day to capture his third Evo championship after beating Kofero “Layec” Honesto of Mexico, 3-1. ET is considered to be one of the best The King of Fighters players of all time.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction – Arc System Works
American Ryane “XCaliburBladez” Jimenez from New York defeated “J-Anson” from Japan in the Grand Final, 3-2, to take the BlazBlue: Central Fiction title back to the Big Apple.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O – SEGA
Fellow Japanese competitors faced off as the top seed “Akani Shiwapo” defeated “Itabashi Zangief” 3-1 in the Grand Final.
Killer Instinct – Xbox Game Studios
Roman “Roman22s” Gilbert from Phoenix, Ariz., made an astonishing comeback from the Losers bracket by winning six-straight games over the defending champion Anthony “DaaChronicle” Garcia from Kerman, Calif. This was Gilbert’s first-career Evo title in his fourth Evo appearance.
Rivals of Aether II – offbrand games & Aether Studios
American Justin “Plup” McGrath from Orlando, Fla., knocked off countrymate Nick “Stango” Stanton of Philadelphia, Pa., 3-1. It was a dominating performance throughout the tournament from McGrath, who only dropped a single game earning his first Evo championship.
Samurai Shodown – SNK
Brad “Scrub Saibot” Hanasyk, from Edmonton, Canada, defeated “Watanabe Shachou” from Japan in a Grand Final Reset in a winner-take-all game five. This is Scrub Saibot’s first Evo championship and solidified his position as the top Samurai Shodown player in the world.
Capcom vs. SNK 2 – Capcom
Ryo “BAS” Yoshida from Japan won his third Evo championship winning 2-0 over American John “ChoiBoi” Choi from San Jose, Calif., a 2025 Evo Hall of Fame inductee during the Evo Awards in February and who has competed in every Evo.
Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 – Arc System Works
American TJ “Vogue” Huckabee from Lake Forest, Calif., won his first Evo championship 3-2 defeating American Bennett “KTP” Gerlach from Nashville, Tenn., who competed in his first Evo.
Evo produced its most immersive festival yet to unite the fighting game community. Major brands connected with fans at Evo including Chipotle (headlined with the foiled-wrapped Burrito Bus welcoming fans all weekend with free rides to a nearby Chipotle location to satisfy their cravings), AT&T, PlayStation, Qiddiya Gaming, Nacon, Zenni, Red Bull, White Claw Zero Proof, Under Armour, Voodoo Ranger IPA, and Grand Archive TCG.
The Evo Arcade Controller Museum truly came into its own this year with a history of fighting game controllers by PlayStation that channeled the life and soul of the arcade era. The museum also featured an exhibit recreating Evo Moment #37, and its Icons Art Exhibition with guest artists including Shinkiro and jbstyle honoring characters that transcend the experiences found within the games themselves.
At the center of the festival, the Evo Arcade offered fans the opportunity to play for free 300+ classic cabinet games spanning nearly the half of a football field and anchored by the Voodoo Ranger IPA Pop-Up Bar.
The expanded Evo Showcase featured new announcements, collaborations with publishers, and legends including six-time Evo champion Arslan Ash and Japanese influencer Betty facing off against nine-time Evo champion Justin Wong.
Other notable interactive experiences during Evo included the Artist Alley to purchase curated fighting game art at Evo, the Cosplay Contest with Steff Von Schweetz from Las Vegas, Nev., capturing the crown as Cagliostro from the Granblue Fantasy universe and winning an all-expense trip to a future Evo event globally, the BYOC (Bring Your Own Console) community-led area for fighting games, and the new Indie Dev Gallery featuring 14 up-and-coming fighting game publishers for fans to explore.
The post Evo Looks Forward to France and the Return of Evo Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
gaming
Meet Dodo: The New Home for Crash Gaming Fans

Dodo, the newest player in the iGaming space, officially launches as a dedicated network built entirely around the fast-rising crash and instant games. Created to meet rising player demand, it offers top game reviews, trusted casino listings, and free demo play—all in one place.
Dodo answers a clear market need: a centralized destination designed specifically for crash gaming enthusiasts. Dodo network spans 8 specialized verticals: CrashDodo, WheelDodo, CoinflipDodo, DiceDodo, HiloDodo, LimboDodo, MinesDodo, and PlinkoDodo—each dedicated to a specific instant game format.
“We created Dodo because it was time for a site that treats crash games as a category of their own — not a subgenre or a passing trend. With the format’s rise in popularity, players need a dedicated space where they can explore, compare, and play,” said Ethan Thompson, content lead at Dodo.
Dodo also reflects a wider trend—the growing intersection of crash mechanics and crypto gambling. As localisation and hybrid formats expand, Dodo steps in as a natural platform for discovery, guidance and connection between players and operators.
Dodo’s Key Features:
• Curated crash and instant game selections with a free play option
• Game reviews, expert tips, and easy-to-follow player guides
• Trusted casino listings tailored for crash games fans
• Designed with crypto players in mind, offers crypto-related insights.
The post Meet Dodo: The New Home for Crash Gaming Fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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