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Exclusive Q&A w/ Antoine Jullemier, VP of Gaming at Bidstack

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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.

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Investment Opportunities in the Multi-billion-dollar Gaming Sector

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The Gaming industry is growing day by day. It has already become a global entertainment giant. From sweeping open-world quests to quick, addictive mobile games, the industry has expanded into a multi-billion-dollar giant.

The global gaming industry was valued at over £135 billion ($184 billion) in 2023 and is projected to reach £184 billion ($250 billion) in 2030. It is driven by cloud gaming, which eliminates the need for costly consoles, high-speed internet, and immersive technologies like VR and AR. Revenues from VR gaming alone in 2023 exceeded £1.9 billion ($2.6 billion), and the AR gaming business is set to grow at a pace of over 30% annually.

The transition from physical to digital is virtually complete: in large markets, over 90% of games sold today are digital, with downloads, live services, and subscriptions replacing cartridges and discs.

Alternative Ways to Invest in Gaming

The gaming industry is not merely a business of copying the most recent blockbusting release; it’s a rich, diverse ecosystem with several streams of revenue, from historic game publishing to aggressive esports and the burgeoning betting and online gambling sector. Today’s investors are able to access entertainment-oriented and wagering-led segments, each with their distinct risk and reward profiles.

Video Game Development & Publishing

Envision house brands behind the mega-franchises of Call of Duty, FIFA or The Legend of Zelda. These brands have enormous fan bases and generate revenue that stretches far past the initial buy, with in-game purchases, downloadable packs and subscription content keeping gamers engaged and expenditures year-round.

Esports

Esports have now evolved from casual living-room games to multi-million-dollar tournaments streamed live in front of a global audience. Internet gambling on esports competitions is also becoming a niche but growing market, offering a new source of revenue for both organisers and financiers.

Online Betting & Casinos

This segment is focused on convenience, accessibility and growing demand for real-money play. Online gaming sites and casinos are taking advantage of more lenient rules in key markets, so that they now represent a more mainstream and profitable part of the gaming economy.

Spotlight on Online Gambling

Online casinos are no longer merely whirring slot machines; they’re pushing boundaries. Some of the top 20 online casinos have gone beyond traditional slots and table games, incorporating esports betting, skill-based game challenges and interactive live dealer games.

Why does that matter to investors? Easy. It signals flexibility. These platforms are captivating players where they are: at their phones, on streaming websites, and in hybrid entertainment spaces that blur the line between socialising and gaming. This flexibility is what can keep revenue streams consistent even when trends shift.

Why Investors are Paying Attention

The gaming market has something that a lot of others envy: loyal consumers who are spenders on a regular basis. It’s £3 ($5) on a character skin or £36 ($50) on a new game, but the spend is cumulative, and it doesn’t evaporate during poor economies.

And gaming pervades everywhere. A hit title in Japan can find fans in Brazil in days. And for companies, that global reach means multiple streams of revenue and endless room to grow.

Risks in Investment

There is no investment without risk. Regulations change overnight, especially in online gaming. Game developers also come and go with their biggest hit; one flop can jerk their stock price. And in this competitive environment, being new is a never-ending struggle.

Gaming Investment Strategies

Diversify among multiple corners of the sector. That way, you’re not betting everything on one game or one trend. Gaming-focused ETFs deserve a look as well if you enjoy a pre-packaged solution that spreads the risk.

The post Investment Opportunities in the Multi-billion-dollar Gaming Sector appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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German Games Market Grows in the First Half of 2025

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The German games market has returned to growth: following a year in which revenue from games, games hardware and online gaming services declined for the first time after many years of growth, the first six months of 2025 have once again seen an increase in sales revenue. 4.6 billion euros in revenue was generated, which equates to an increase of 4% compared to the same period in the previous year.

This was announced by game – The German Games Industry Association at a press conference in advance of the opening of gamescom next week. The sources of this data are the market research firm YouGov and data.ai (a Sensor Tower company). Games hardware enjoyed the biggest increase during the first half of 2025. Propelled among other things by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, revenues in this area grew by 17%. The online gaming services market segment also increased, by 4%. Games, on the other hand, experienced a small decline of 2%, to 2.7 billion euros.

“The German games market’s growth in the first six months of 2025 sends a powerful signal for the start of gamescom. This year’s event has also set a new record for the number of exhibitors. Combined with the increase in exhibition space and the many top companies expected to attend this year’s event, gamescom is set to drive even more growth in the German and international games market. This year’s theme – ‘Games – perfect entertainment’ – is fully in keeping with this boost, as 44 million Germans view games as the entertainment of our age. And not just for themselves: the vast majority of video game players believe that games are particularly good for bringing people of all ages together. It is yet another way that gamescom will be the perfect place to be,” said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, which is a co-organiser of gamescom.

The theme of gamescom 2025 – “Games – perfect entertainment” – reflects the reality in Germany, as was underscored by the findings of a representative survey conducted by the market research company YouGov: some two thirds of Germans consider video games to be the entertainment of our age. This equates to around 44 million people. It is a finding that is also supported by the experiences of the people playing video games. Nearly all of them say that they enjoy playing games (94%), find them entertaining (93%), and see them as a good way to relax (91%). In fact, 86% of video game players say that games put them in a good mood, and 8 in 10 players spend less time thinking about crises or worries thanks to games.

The average age of video game players in Germany is now nearly 40 – and it is continuing to rise. This is because the largest increases in the number of players are in the older age groups. Games have long since established themselves as a medium for all generations. The video game players think so, too: 85% of them say that games offer something for every age group, while 88% enjoy playing with other family members. 79% of players in Germany believe that games can help to bring younger and older people together, and three quarters of players think that playing games together as a family can help people to gain a better understanding of digital media.

The post German Games Market Grows in the First Half of 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Avalanche and Helika Launch New Gaming Accelerator – Applications Now Open

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The Avalanche Foundation and Helika, a leading provider of technical and creative solutions for the video games industry, have officially launched their joint video game accelerator program and opened applications for the first cohort.

The newly announced strategic partnership is designed to engage both Web3-native studios and traditional game developers exploring blockchain integration. The accelerator aims to identify and support the next generation of studios building at the frontier of blockchain-based gaming.

The program is focused on product interaction and is designed to discover, support, and fast-track promising studios and projects building on the Avalanche blockchain. It will provide selected projects with unparalleled access to resources, mentorship from industry leaders, technical support, activations, and funding opportunities for qualifying or top-performing teams.

The accelerator is open to seasoned teams building high-quality, engaging experiences across platforms, from mobile to desktop and everything in between. Projects with prior traction or cross-platform aspirations are especially encouraged to apply.

The program will run for 3 months, with virtual onboarding and IRL showcases planned across major gaming and blockchain events.

What selected teams get:

Funding & Resources: $25,000 in initial support and up to $125,000 in additional funding for qualifying or top-performing teams.

Expert Guidance: Mentorship from game veterans, blockchain experts, and industry leaders through group sessions and 1:1 consultations.

Analytics Support: Comprehensive analytics solutions to track performance, improve retention, and optimize monetization strategies.

Blockchain Integration: Dedicated assistance for integrating with the Avalanche blockchain and optimizing technical performance.

Community & Growth: Activations with partner communities and platforms and support in player acquisition, community building, go-to-market strategies.

Helika Advisory Access: Access to specialized experts from Helika’s network for tailored support.

Ecosystem Access: Direct connection to a vibrant network of developers, investors, publishers, and Web3 enthusiasts.

Showcase Opportunities: A final Demo Day event to present games to investors, publishers, and ecosystem partners.

“We are excited to partner with the Avalanche Foundation to create a world-class accelerator for Web3 gaming. Avalanche’s robust and scalable infrastructure makes it an ideal environment for innovative game development. Studios need tools that work, data that matter, and real support from people who understand what it means to build in this space — this accelerator provides all of that, plus a direct line into a powerful Web3 ecosystem,” said Anton Umnov, Founder and CEO of Helika.

“Avalanche is focused on the long game. There’s no shortage of flashy ideas. What’s missing is the support that helps studios turn those ideas into real, playable, scalable games. Avalanche has long been the go-to chain for speed and innovation, and now we’re channeling that energy into the future of gaming, supporting teams who understand the nuance of player experience, community building, and long-term value creation,” said Parker Heath, Ava Labs Gaming Partnerships Lead.

Avalanche plays host to a vibrant lineup of video games, including Off The Grid and Maple Story Universe, all pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in blockchain-powered play. Thanks to its customizable Avalanche L1s, lightning-fast transaction speeds and low fees, developers can tailor unique environments for their games without compromising on user experience.

Helika has become a cornerstone for modern game studios, equipping developers with real-time insights into player behavior, on-chain economies, and engagement metrics. From Proof of Play and Parallel to Nexon, Ubisoft, and Com2Us, Helika’s platform is shaping how developers build, balance, and scale their games in real-time. This accelerator takes that impact further by embedding support into the earliest stages of development when it matters most.

The post Avalanche and Helika Launch New Gaming Accelerator – Applications Now Open appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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