Central Europe
New Metaverse Game Star Life by iCandy’s Flying Sheep Receives German Government Funding
Flying Sheep Studios, a subsidiary of iCandy Interactive, an Australian-listed international games studio, is proud to announce it is developing Star Life, a social massively multiplayer online (MMO) game focused on cooperation, and community-driven experiences that will prioritise socialising and being the party and event part of the metaverse, eventually hosting events and concerts.
iCandy Interactive has an international footprint of having other video games studios across Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) and Flying Sheep Studios is its first major investment made in Europe.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action has agreed to support the development of Star Life with a generous funding of approximately EUR 1.1 million (approximately USD 1.2 million). Flying Sheep Studios, known for its expertise in HTML5 web-based game development, is utilizing its skills to create a sophisticated web-based metaverse game.
High-Availability Metaverse
One of the key features of Star Life is its high accessibility, making it conveniently playable from any browser on any device without needing downloads, installations, or high-end technology.
Players can start entering the Star Life metaverse with just one click via a web browser on both desktop and mobile devices. The game also prioritizes diversity, offering players various options for character creation, shopping, and community-driven events, such as concerts and exhibitions.
In addition, Star Life will incorporate optional blockchain-enabled items, or NFTs, giving players more ownership and agency over their virtual belongings. These belongings can be transferred and used on different platforms, making the process streamlined and convenient. Star Life will be a free-to-play game available to everyone.
“We are grateful to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for their support and trust in our project. This funding demonstrates the federal budget for video games working as intended, fostering the development of cutting-edge technical know-how ‘made in Germany’ and creating and securing jobs,” says Thomas Rössig, Founder and Managing Director of Flying Sheep Studios.
Addition of Senior European Industry Talent
For the development of this groundbreaking project, Flying Sheep has also hired additional talent, including four industry veterans:
Renke Bahlmann – Lead Game Designer
With 12 years of experience working on browser games for industry leaders such as Bigpoint, game development allrounder and media technology expert Renke Bahlmann is the perfect fit for the position of Lead Game Designer. He will guide the team in creating a highly engaging game experience.
Frank Reitberger – Lead 3D Developer
Flying Sheep’s new Lead 3D Developer Frank Reitberger is renowned for his work as a Designer and Programmer. In the past two decades, he has worked for well-known brands and customers such as Porsche, IBM, and Activision Blizzard.
Daniel Schemann – Head of Back-End Development
Cultivating his passion for multiplayer experiences in the early days of MUDs, Daniel Schemann founded his studio Silent Future in the early 2000s and would later work on free-to-play MMO Earthrise. In his new position as Head of Back-End Development at Flying Sheep, he will create the foundation for the multiplayer experience of Star Life.
Nina Kiel – Head of Diversity & Inclusion
As one of Germany’s foremost game diversity experts, Nina Kiel has worked in various industry-related fields such as games journalism, game development, game event management, game studies and media education for over a decade, and published several books. Now they’ve joined Flying Sheep as Head of Diversity & Inclusion to support the studio in making diversity and
inclusion a key part of their endeavors.
Central Europe
Relax Gaming celebrates twenty-one Mega Jackpot winners as Hungarian player hits Dream Drop prize
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has announced its 21st Dream Drop Mega Jackpot winner after a Hungarian player landed a cool €2.9 million prize from a €0.30 spin.
The incredible win occurred at Vegas.hu, the first legally operating online casino in Hungary. The jackpot was hit playing Money Train Origins Dream Drop, a high-octane release that blends the gritty aesthetic of the original Money Train with the legendary Dream Drop jackpot.
Released in June 2023, Money Train Origins Dream Drop is part of Relax Gaming’s growing portfolio of jackpot titles. With engaging features and the proven popularity of the Money Train franchise, the title has delivered on every front, offering a compelling experience for both new and returning players.
This latest win marks the 21st time the top prize has been triggered since the jackpot launched, reaffirming Relax Gaming’s position as a leader in jackpot innovation. It also comes hot on the heels of the supplier’s recent upgrade to the product, with fast-paced Daily Jackpots added to the Dream Drop network earlier this month.
Martin Stålros, CEO of Relax Gaming, said: “This latest Mega Jackpot hit is another brilliant moment for Relax Gaming and for one very lucky player.
“We’re especially pleased to see the jackpot drop at Vegas.hu, a key partner and a trailblazer in regulated online gaming in Hungary. With the addition of Daily Jackpots to our network, Dream Drop continues to lead the way in offering the most exciting jackpot experience in the industry.”
Laszlo Siba, Online Casino Director at Vegas.hu, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have hosted Hungary’s first Dream Drop Mega Jackpot win here at Vegas.hu. Delivering standout moments like this is exactly what we strive for. Long may Relax Gaming’s innovative content continue to engage and excite our players, especially the Dream Drop series!”
The post Relax Gaming celebrates twenty-one Mega Jackpot winners as Hungarian player hits Dream Drop prize appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship products are now live online in Poland with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.
Highlight’s flagship soccer products which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers. Iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams. Additional content featuring ATP Tennis, MotoGP and other premier associations will be launched in the near future.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to announce that Highlight Games’ premium video virtuals are now live online in Poland with our valued partners at Fortuna. It’s always an exciting time as we introduce our award-winning products to new customers, and we look forward to bringing additional content to Fortuna’s channels in the future.’
Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘Highlight Games’ exclusive soccer games featuring archive video footage are an incredibly exciting addition to our virtual sports offering and we can’t wait for our online customers to enjoy them. Highlight Games’ reputation as an innovator in the virtual sports market is undeniable, and we’re delighted to be working with them to bring their content to Poland.’
The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE ONLINE WITH FORTUNA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Euro Games Technology will partner with the Casino Operations Summit for another year in a row. The Bulgarian gaming equipment manufacturer will be a gold sponsor of this year’s event, taking place from May 13 to 15 in Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
The conference is tailored to European multi-channel casino operators and will traditionally bring together keynote speakers who will elaborate on the latest topics in the industry. This year’s main themes will focus on how land-based casinos can successfully address the challenges of the modern world, remaininng relevant and attractive to players, and navigate the ever-growing importance of Casino Online Systems and Casino Management Systems.
In addition, attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of EGT’s newest high-potential products. Among the highlights will be the S 32-32 ST cabinet, which is part of the latest Supreme slot series. Following the contemporary design trends with its 2 high-resolution 32-inch UHD 4K monitors and a frameless UHD 4K display, this model will offer visitors an engaging gaming experience thanks to its numerous ergonomic features. It will also present the Supreme Red Selection and Supreme Bonus Prize Bonus Buy Selection multigames. The mixes offer a rich variety of well-known and brand-new slot titles from the company’s portfolio, allowing everyone to find their preferred type of game.
The slot display will be complemented by the jackpot top performer Bell Link with the multigame Bell Link 2, Bell Link Boost, as well as the popular cabinet G 50 J2 ST.
The post EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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