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EQT Ventures sells its stake in mobile games company Small Giant Games to Zynga
The EQT Ventures fund (“EQT Ventures”) today announces that it entered an agreement to sell its ownership stake in the Finnish mobile gaming studio, Small Giant Games (“the Company”) to Zynga Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNGA), a leading social game developer, headquartered in San Francisco, California. The implied valuation of the Small Giant Games transaction is at USD 700 million. EQT Ventures led a USD 5.7 million Series A round in March 2017 and then led an additional USD 41 million investment in January 2018.
Founded in 2013, Small Giant Games’ team of 47 employees developed the hit franchise Empires & Puzzles. The game blends approachable Match-3 battles with deeper gameplay elements including Hero Collection, Base Building and Social Alliances. Just ten months after Empires & Puzzles’ launch in March 2017, the game had developed a strong new brand and loyal following, and Small Giant Games reported USD 33 million in revenues. In the first four months of 2018, the company had already exceeded 2017’s revenue. In addition, Empires & Puzzles has frequently made it into the the Top 10 Grossing Games on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and has now been downloaded more than 26 million times.
In March 2017, EQT Ventures led Small Giant Games’ USD 5.7 million Series A round and has remained the largest individual owner in the Company since. Following the successful launch of Empires & Puzzles, EQT Ventures was dedicated to supporting the Company’s continued growth journey and, at the end of January 2018, the fund led an additional USD 41 million investment. During the investment period, EQT Ventures – with its team’s mobile gaming experience – supported the Company as it sought to scale Empires & Puzzles.
Timo Soininen, CEO at Small Giant Games, commented: “Our studio has always believed that small, focused and talented teams with a big vision can achieve huge things. EQT Ventures has supported us from the start – not just with capital, but also strategic advice and guidance. The EQT Ventures team’s extensive mobile gaming experience and entrepreneurial mindset has proved invaluable when scaling Empires & Puzzles and we’ve enjoyed working closely with Lars and the rest of the team. I’m confident that partnering with Zynga is now the right next step in our evolution.”
Lars Jörnow, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Ventures, concluded: “Huge congratulations to Timo, Markus, Otto and the rest of the Small Giant team – this is a well-deserved milestone for everyone at the company. The Small Giant team checked all the boxes for EQT Ventures: small, passionate, agile, data-driven and determined to build a global hit game. The EQT Ventures team would like to thank Small Giant Games for letting us be part of their journey – it has been a true partnership and we look forward to the next phase!”
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mkodo and Future Anthem announce AI, Data and Mobile App Partnership
This collaboration will combine mkodo’s market-leading product suite with Amplifier AI to deliver real-time, player-centric innovation
mkodo, the leading provider of mobile apps, websites, front-end UX and geolocation technology to the regulated iGaming, Sports Betting and Lottery markets, has announced a strategic partnership with Future Anthem, the pioneering AI and data science powerhouse. Together, the companies will explore AI-driven real-time personalisation across every stage of the player journey.
This partnership brings together Amplifier AI, Future Anthem’s all-in-one personalisation product, with mkodo’s renowned product suite, aiming to elevate player experiences and expand both companies’ presence in the regulated Canadian market and the global WLA (World Lottery Association) landscape.
Leigh Nissim, CEO of Future Anthem, commented, “This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver unmatched, AI-powered personalisation for the gaming industry. Both companies bring complementary skills and technologies combined with deep industry knowledge, creating a powerful opportunity to generate meaningful experiences for our clients and their players.”
Will Whitehead, Commercial Director at mkodo, added, “This collaboration reflects mkodo’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation. Our shared proactive approach enables us to make rapid improvements that deliver immediate value to our clients, enhancing player engagement and delighting players with personalised experiences.”
The collaboration is set to bring best-in-class technology to meet the rising demand for AI-driven, player-focused experiences, helping operators win the race to real-time personalisation.
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Relax Gaming skates into action with the launch of Winter Champions
Relax Gaming, the leading iGaming aggregator and content provider, is taking players on an exhilarating snowy adventure with the launch of Winter Champions, a sports-themed slot that propels players through the mountain tops in pursuit of golden victories.
At the heart of Winter Champions is the innovative Sliding Respins mechanic, ensuring the reels remain active as long as winning combinations continue to land, adding a layer of non-stop excitement to the gameplay.
With a maximum win potential of 6,000x the player’s bet, this dynamic slot is designed to captivate both sports fans and slot enthusiasts alike.
The game’s standout features are its three thrilling bonus rounds—Ski Jumping, Ice Hockey, and Curling—triggered when three Wild symbols are on the reels at the same time.
In the Ski Jumping Bonus, each Rolling Respin brings players closer to the top prize, with Wilds boosting rewards by up to 5x. The Ice Hockey Bonus sees players collect pucks and score goals to multiply their values, while the Curling Bonus offers the challenge of stacking stones to unlock reel-filling multipliers.
Designed with stunning visuals and a festive atmosphere, Winter Champions is set to become a go-to for players looking for dynamic gameplay and the potential for big wins.
Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: “We are excited to introduce Winter Champions, a slot that truly captures the excitement and competitive spirit of winter sports. The Sliding Respins mechanic adds dynamic gameplay, while the three unique bonus games ensure there’s something for everyone.”
“We believe this game will deliver hours of fun and plenty of big-win potential for players that will continue beyond the winter season.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 was named the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
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Evoplay brings sweet wins and Italian charm with Dolce Dreams
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has revealed its latest immersive slot, Dolce Dreams, offering a sweet twist on the classic Italian café culture, with the experience designed for high engagement and substantial win potential.
Set against the backdrop of a charming streetside cafe, Dolce Dreams features stacked Wilds in the form of waffle ice creams, which substitute for other symbols to maximise winning combinations.
The game’s Ice Cream Collector feature activates when the Ice Cream Collector symbol appears anywhere on the reels, collecting all values from the Ice Cream symbols in view for delicious rewards.
Three or more Free Spins symbols will trigger the Free Spins, which can be retriggered as players look to land wins that will make their tastebuds tingle.
In certain jurisdictions, users can access Free Spins directly by opting for the Bonus Buy feature, with the choice of buying 10, 15, or 20 spins.
It is the latest title to join Evoplay’s portfolio, following successful launches such as Hercules: Sports Legend and Chained Fighters.
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “With Dolce Dreams, we’ve captured the beauty of Italian café culture in a straightforward yet rewarding game structure, focusing on player engagement and dynamic gameplay.”
“As we continue to grow our portfolio, we look forward to strengthening our partnerships by offering innovative content that appeals to a broad audience.”
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