Gaming
Gamecity Hamburg brings five start-ups to the Indie Arena Booth at gamescom 2024
gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair for video games, is returning to Cologne from August 21 to 25. Through the “Road to gamescom” program, Gamecity Hamburg enables five indie studios from Hamburg to participate in the Indie Arena Booth, the largest joint booth of game developers worldwide. The start-ups will present their games to numerous gamescom visitors as well as potential business partners and the press. Other companies from Hamburg will be at gamescom to showcase projects and hold business meetings.
“With our ‘Road to’ program, we bring indie studios to relevant games events and prepare them to meet publishers, make contacts, and present their games to consumers. Our joint stand at the Indie Arena Booth enables us to achieve all these goals at gamescom”, says Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg. The joint booth of Gamecity Hamburg will present five promising projects from Hamburg at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2, F010g – E019.
These five studios will present their games at the Indie Arena Booth:
Godcomplex Games – Stack ‘Em Up
Godcomplex Games completed the Games Lift Incubator 2022 and received prototype funding for their game in 2023. Stack ‘Em Up is an exciting online and offline multiplayer player party game for up to four players. They absorb slimes with unique abilities, which they can creatively combine and stack to collect points and eliminate opponents in fast-paced battles.
Markus Koepke – Journey Beyond the Edge of the World
Journey Beyond is an immersive first-person adventure set on an abandoned fishing trawler in the middle of the North Sea. Players explore the ship and its mysterious history, which is revealed through puzzles, radio recordings, and atmospheric music. Markus Koepke has successfully completed the Gamecity Hamburg Games Lift Incubator 2023.
Pipapo Games – Map Map – A Game About Maps
Pipapo Games completed the HAW Games Master, further developed their game in the Games Lift Incubator 2023 and received Gamecity Hamburg prototype funding in 2024. In the cozy exploration game Map Map – A Game About Maps, players slip into the role of adventure-hungry cartographers who explore and map the surroundings on unknown islands full of secrets and thus get closer to the trail of a buried treasure.
Slime King Games – Under the Island
Under the Island delivers fantastic graphics and presents a profound adventure story in the RPG genre. After moving to Seashell Island, the protagonist, Nia, must save her home from sinking, together with new friends. Solve puzzles, fight monsters, explore the map: Under the Island offers well-made old-school RPG classics and combines them with renewed ideas and a great soundtrack by Miyoko Takaoka (Sonic, Terranigma and others).
Sven Ahlgrimm & Mathilde Hoffmann – ODDADA
ODDADA is a music construction kit game. Players create their own musical landscapes: machines and buildings become instruments that play new compositions at different levels. The developer duo Ahlgrimm and Hoffmann are from Berlin/Hamburg. Hamburg native Mathilde Hoffmann has been a successful sound designer and composer for games for many years (including Unrailed, Deep Space Gardening, Closer the Distance, and many more), while Sven Ahlgrimm is an experienced programmer, artist, and game creator.
Three of the five projects presented received funding from Gamecity Hamburg, including participation in the Games Lift Incubator and the receipt of prototype funding.
Companies from Hamburg at gamescom 2024
Other companies from the Hamburg games industry will be on-site at gamescom 2024 to present their new games or to initiate new business partnerships. Some examples:
Osmotic Studios will be showing their narrative slice-of-life adventure game Closer the Distance, which will be released on August 2, 2024, for PC, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A demo will be playable at the Indie Arena Booth.
Mooneye Studios will be represented as part of the Home of Indies in Hall 10.2 with the games Smushi Come Home, Farewell North, and Lost Ember.
InnoGames GmbH will be available for press and business contacts for individual appointments.
Bigpoint GmbH will be available in the B2B area for business contacts and press appointments.
Daedalic Entertainment will be available for talks in the B2B area, and they will be presenting the cozy puzzle game Woodo in the indie area in the B2C area.
In addition, the Hamburg gaming internet channel Rocket Beans TV will accompany gamescom with numerous live broadcasts.
Gamecity Hamburg supports the Hamburg games industry and the diversity in the industry
In addition to programs such as “Road to gamescom”, the Gamecity Hamburg initiative, which is financed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, supports the regional games industry with other tailor-made funding programs: In the Games Lift Incubator, game developers and founders receive one year of intensive coaching and mentoring from international industry experts in addition to financial support. With prototype funding, Gamecity Hamburg also supports the development of game prototypes in Hamburg with up to 80,000 euros per project. In 2024, Gamecity Hamburg introduced a mandatory diversity checklist for all applicants of the funding programs, which actively contributes to more diversity in teams and projects.
The post Gamecity Hamburg brings five start-ups to the Indie Arena Booth at gamescom 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GGL set to systemize and monetize the world’s largest untapped entertainment audience – the over 3 billion people who play video games worldwide
Las Vegas, NV, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Gaming League (GGL), a global gaming entertainment and media company, announced today the raise of $10 million for its SAFE round led by Solyco Capital. GGL was founded by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum music producer and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks, in partnership with music icon T-Pain and tech visionary Jeff Hoffman (Priceline, UBid, Booking.com).
The Global Gaming League is a first of its kind multi-title gaming league with celebrity owned teams made up of four players each – high profile influencers, actors, athletes, artists, casual and professional gamers – who compete in live events playing everything from first person shooter, sports titles and fighting games to the latest releases and retro favorites. The GGL is not an esports league – it’s a gaming entertainment league that brings together every style of play and every kind of player. It’s multigenerational, multicultural, and converges gaming, music, sports, fashion, celebrity, competition and culture.
“There are over 3 billion gamers around the world,” said Clinton Sparks, Founder and CEO of GGL. “But there’s still no centralized platform that gives everyday players the spotlight—while authentically connecting brands, celebrities, and competition in a way that’s truly entertaining. That’s where GGL comes in. Imagine the energy of the Super Bowl, the fandom of Comic-Con, and the culture of ComplexCon and Coachella. There is currently no place for investors to have any meaningful return on a gaming investment, brands to consistently get an ROI with gaming, publishers to expand their IP to new audiences, celebrities to have an authentic footprint in gaming and nothing set up for all gamers to build a career as a gamer, and have a chance to be recognized globally as true athletes. Until now.”
The GGL’s matches will take place at their state-of-the-art campus and arena in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world and the home of the Global Gaming League. GGL’s studio facility The Campus powered by Vū, is set to elevate the city’s connection with the video gaming community forever. It is the most technologically advanced studio in the area, boasting the largest wrap-around digital screen in the Western U.S. (second only to Sphere) and 43,000 square feet of space with everything for Hollywood-level film and television production and VIP events of all kinds. GGL delivers unforgettable experiences, high-impact sponsorship moments, and a new entertainment format where the audience is just as important as the action.
“Everybody games,” said T-Pain, GGL Director of Strategy and team owner. “67% of people between the ages of 5 and 90 game in some form—in fact, more people watch video gaming than any sport (short of the NFL). 46% of gamers are female, colleges give scholarships for gaming now. and the average gamer is 36 years old, despite most thinking it’s only for kids. Gaming is a faster, cheaper and safer path to success than traditional sports.”
The Global Gaming League is providing real opportunity for gamers around the world to be drafted and earn a salary as a player on a celebrity owned team through the global nomination submission process where gamers can log on to globalgamingleague.com and sign up. Since announcing this, the league has over a quarter of a million entries to play for one of the celebrity-owned teams.
The first team owners to be revealed include:
- T-Pain – Grammy-winning artist and beloved voice in gaming culture
- Bryce Hall – TikTok star, Bare Knuckle brawler and digital entrepreneur
- Flavor Flav – Hip hop legend, reality show icon, and official host of the Olympics
- Ric Flair – 16-time world champion legendary professional wrestler known for his flamboyant personality and signature catchphrase, “Wooooo!”
GGL will be announcing more team owners in the coming weeks pulling from music, film, sports, fashion, social media and gaming.
Game time is the new prime time.
Gaming is projected to surpass $300 billion by 2026—outpacing TV, film, and music combined. But it’s not just the revenue—it’s the attention. Unlike traditional media, where viewers are distracted, multitasking, or skipping ads, gaming commands full focus. There’s no second screen. No passive scrolling. Just millions of fully immersed fans, locked in and actively engaged.
For brands, this isn’t just a new channel—it’s a new kind of consumer. One who’s not just watching, but participating. One who’s emotionally invested in the moment and wide open to authentic brand experiences that enhance gameplay rather than interrupt it. This is where advertising stops feeling like an ad—and starts becoming part of the story.
“Gaming is a blue ocean opportunity for brands, investors, and new business. Gamers spend 30% more on retail than non-gamers and that number goes up in key categories like automobiles, travel and technology,” said John Garcia, Founder and Managing Partner of Solyco Capital. “Gamers don’t just play—they influence. Today’s gamer spans generations and lifestyles. They watch, buy, and move culture. When I met Clinton Sparks and listened to his vision, I knew this wasn’t just another business idea—it’s a key future in media.”
More Than a League — A Launchpad for Talent, Education, and Opportunity
The launch also includes the GGL Academy—a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on empowering advancement through gaming education, career pathways, and scholarship opportunities. The Academy is built to train, mentor, and connect aspiring gamers, creators, and professionals to real-world roles across the gaming, entertainment, and tech industries.
Strategic partnerships with NYU, UNLV, and Syracuse are already underway, building a direct pipeline from the classroom to the arena. With 74% of Gen Z expressing interest in careers in gaming or digital media, GGL is creating the infrastructure to meet that demand—especially in underserved communities where access to opportunity has been historically limited.
“I came out of retirement for this,” said Jeff Hoffman, GGL Chairman of the Board. “Because this isn’t just about gaming—it’s about access. GGL has the power to connect cultures, build international bridges, uplift underserved communities and close age gaps. And it’s not just meaningful—it’s good business. We’re building a platform that can monetize at scale while making a positive impact. That’s rare, and that’s why I’m all in.”
Sparks adds, “The Global Gaming League is positioned to make gaming a household name in the same manner that the WWE did with wrestling and the UFC did with mixed martial arts, by systemizing and democratizing an industry that already exists with billions of users and hundreds of billions already being generated. Get familiar with the Global Gaming League.”
About Global Gaming League:
GGL is a new kind of league—where gaming, culture, music, sports, fashion, and reality TV collide. With celebrity-led teams, live competitions, global fan engagement, and next-gen media experiences, GGL is building the first entertainment system for the world’s largest and most engaged audience. More info at globalgamingleague.com.
About Solyco Capital:
Solyco Capital is a unique private equity group that delivers capital solutions for late-stage startup and growth companies. Headquartered in Detroit, with offices in Orange County, Dallas, and Miami, Solyco supports high-growth companies with operational guidance through Solyco Advisors. Learn more at solycocapital.com.
Visit: GlobalGamingLeague.com
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FRVR, a global web-based game distribution company providing instant access to thousands of games, has today announced a collaboration with k-ID, a company committed to protecting and empowering kids and teens through age-appropriate online experiences. The partnership will see k-ID’s first-of-its-kind global compliance engine integrated into one of FRVR’s most popular online games, Krunker.
Acquired by FRVR in 2022, Krunker is a free-to-play first person shooter with a large, engaged community of 3 million monthly active players. The integration of k-ID’s safety and privacy compliance technology ensures rigorous online protection for Krunker’s younger players, creating a blueprint for other web-based games and platforms to follow.
k-ID utilizes an age gate as the first line of defense in age verification, providing a simple and intuitive way for users to declare their age. It also offers an optimized, low-friction Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC) flow, which obtains and manages parental consent in a way that meets global regulatory requirements and adapts based on the user’s location. Together, these solutions ensure that every player on Krunker receives an age-appropriate experience while gaming.
Web-based gaming experienced an initial peak in the mid-2000s with games made in Flash. Driven by technological and legislative advances, web games made primarily with HTML5 are projected to become an $8 billion market in 2025. At the same time, laws such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act aim to create safer digital spaces for children. With its collaboration with k-ID, FRVR doubles down on its commitment to foster a better environment for kids and teens online — both on their platform and the wider web.
Quentin Staes-Polet, CEO of FRVR, said:
“As the web gaming sector continues to grow, FRVR is dedicated to ensuring young players have secure spaces to have fun and express themselves online. We’re thrilled to collaborate with k-ID, who bring the best in class tools we need to provide a safer and more responsible experience in Krunker.”
Kieran Donovan, Co-founder & CEO of k-ID, said:
“We are thrilled to help empower and protect the large, engaged community in Krunker. At our core, we’re driven by a mission to deliver empowering, safe experiences that resonate deeply with kids, teens, and everyone. What I love most about Krunker is its accessibility—it’s easy to pick up and naturally creates entertainment and connection between players.”
This fresh collaboration follows recent successes for both companies, with FRVR securing $13.2 million towards its AI engine, Upit, and k-ID being named one of the 2025 AI Gamechangers.
The post FRVR Integrates k-ID into Krunker, Setting a New Standard for Child Safety in Web Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
UMX Studios, backed by Jetapult, has officially released DriftX, a mobile car simulation racing game that combines fast-paced competitive action with immersive gameplay. The game has surpassed many global titles, crossing 1.8 million downloads with its beta, and is aiming for 15 million downloads by year’s end. Furthermore, the game hit #1 in the Middle East and smashed through top charts across regions such as the US on both the App Store and Google Play.
The studio’s game title redefines the mobile racing genre by combining competitive modes such as ranked multiplayer and time trials with open-world exploration, a rare feature in drift games. Its physics-driven mechanics strike a perfect balance between arcade accessibility and technical depth, catering to both casual players and racing enthusiasts. The game also offers seamless social integration with features like Voice Chat, Play Together, and Hang Out, making it a dynamic, community-driven experience with an unmatched realistic experience.
UMX Studios recently secured a $4.5 million investment from Jetapult to accelerate its growth. Through its strategic Invest & Operate model, Jetapult provides more than just financial support; it also equips gaming studios with access to top-tier game design expertise, publishing guidance, and cutting-edge AI tools, all aimed at fostering long-term success. UMX Studios worked closely with Jetapult’s experts, including Creative Director Angelo Lobo (renowned for his contributions to CSR2 and Farmville 2) and witnessed a 35%+ increase in user revenue (ARPDAU). The collaboration helped enhance the user’s multiplayer gameplay experience, balancing the game’s economy and social dynamics.
Ali Alharbi, CEO of UMX Studios, commented, “Our collaboration with Jetapult has helped us refine the game and accelerate its growth. The response to DriftX has been amazing and we continue to focus on innovation and community-driven gameplay. We are confident that we will play a key role in redefining the mobile racing genre globally.”
Sharan Tulsiani, CEO & Co-Founder of Jetapult, added, “DriftX’s rapid success is a perfect example of what happens when talented studios like UMX are empowered with the right resources and expertise. It stands out not just for its strong early numbers, but for how thoughtfully it’s been built—from gameplay mechanics to overall design, the team has delivered a racing experience that’s both accessible and deep. We’re proud to support them as they bring this quality of innovation to players across global markets and continue to reshape the mobile racing genre.”
DriftX game is available on iOS and Google Play
The post Jetapult-backed UMX Studios launches DriftX, a mobile car racing game appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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