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Why 2022 is being billed as such a big year for gaming
Following the news that popular titles created by award-winning German online slots games developer GAMOMAT are to become available in the Dutch iGaming market, a question begins to form. Namely, is this another portent of an under-the-radar trend that iGames watchers are predicting will explode in 2022?
On the face of it, the evidence doesn’t seem promising – 2021 has turned out to be an unremarkable year for gaming. Yes, the smaller independent developers have been as innovative and enthralling as ever; but the bigger studios have frankly struggled with the Covid blues, delaying big titles because their creative talent were forced to work from home. But that pesky 2021 slowdown is the very spot where it starts to get interesting for 2022.
So, drawing from our extensive experience of the casino iGaming scene, and sites such as Quickspin Casinos, which is a leading fan platform and reviewer of games, let’s dive right in and take a closer look at why 2022 is promising to be a bumper year for gaming.
If 2021 turned out to be a distinctly “dry” year for gaming enthusiasts thirsting for exciting new titles, 2022 is on course to be the most electrifying year in the industry since 2017.
Now, while some veteran gamers may grunt in derision at that claim (it’s become a perennial assertion at the beginning of any year, after all), there are good reasons why 2022 is on course to be different. The delayed blockbuster titles of 2021 are about to be unleashed in 2022, so fasten your seatbelts and remove all loose items that might get lost during the ride.
The fact is, we’re not only about to see the release of eagerly anticipated epic offerings from the most beloved big studios, but a raft of exhilarating new titles from the indie sector, too, which has defied the odds in being able to thrive and explode in scale even in the depths of the business-freezing climate of Covid.
A good proportion of 2022’s biggest releases will be coming from held-back studios making a welcome return. The innumerable fans of George R.R. Martin – he of Game of Thrones fame – can brace themselves for the release of the magnificent-looking “Elden Ring”, which is billed as FromSoftware’s biggest world yet.
Enthusiasts for Bethesda Game Studios’ offerings are in for what promises to be a breathtaking treat with ‘Starfield’, which has been in the making for 25 years and looks set to blaze gloriously after the six-year radio silence we’ve had from the studio since the release of the epic Fallout 4.
But the indie studios have some real gems tucked up their sleeves for 2022, too. Jumpship, for example, will release the aesthetically gorgeous sci-fi post-catastrophe family survival adventure ‘Somerville’ in ’22.
Digital Trends sums up the upcoming year’s gaming scene succinctly:
“While the social lockdowns of 2020 got more people gaming than ever before, it wasn’t the best time to introduce fans to the medium. The game release cycle quickly started slowing down as studios simply couldn’t capitalize on the momentum. That’s going to change in 2022. Start budgeting now.”
Buckle up, everybody. You’re in for a helluva ride.
Latest News
Blask expands coverage with new European and Asian markets
Blask, the AI-driven market analytics ecosystem, continues its rapid expansion towards the goal of providing high-quality iGaming data for the entire world, with the addition of 10 major new markets.
All Blask users now have access to real-time data, including estimates of GGR, FTDs, Blask Index, and Relative market share by brand, for the new markets, which include the Philippines, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Malaysia, and North Macedonia.
“As we onboard more users to Blask, we are listening to them closely and adding new markets based on demand,” said Blask CEO and co-founder Max Tesla. “This latest Europe and Asia-focused update provides the most accurate, real-time data available for some of the most important iGaming jurisdictions in the world. Blask is already providing a data-driven edge to users, and we’ll continue to deliver on our roadmap to make it a must-have for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of our industry.”
Blask now offers data from a total of 34 global iGaming jurisdictions. In August, the team rolled out several new Latin American and African markets to meet the demand for accurate data in emerging regions.
As well as new markets, additional functionality is also being added to Blask. This includes a recent update that brings comprehensive customer profiling to the platform.
The company recently announced the appointment of Greg Penkov as Chief Revenue Officer to help bring Blask to new customers.
eSports
Record Number of Host City Applications for IESF’s Events
The International Esports Federation (IESF) is pleased to announce the conclusion of the bidding process for hosting the 2025 and 2026 IESF Events – the World Esports Championship and Regional Qualifiers. For the first time in our history, we have received a record number of applications, with over 30 cities from across all continents submitting their bids to host our signature Esports events.
The increased interest in hosting IESF events reflects the expansion of the Esports community and the impact these tournaments have had on the intern ational esports scene. From Europe to Asia & Oceania, Africa to the Americas, cities are making significant efforts to develop their local Esports ecosystems while also presenting their capability to host nations from around the world. The opportunity to serve as the home of Esports for a year is seen as a meaningful step forward, with long-lasting benefits in both the local and international growth of Esports.
“Over the last five years, IESF events have grown rapidly, and so has the excitement around hosting one of the world’s biggest esports events. IESF events are truly one-of-a-kind and bring huge value to our host nations – or as we like to call them, the “Esports capital of the world.’ It’s amazing to see this growing interest, and we can’t wait to continue bringing the global Esports community together through these incredible events.”- stated Boban Totovski, the General Secretary of IESF.
We are now thoroughly reviewing the applications to determine which cities meet our criteria and requirements and align with IESF’s core mission of developing Esports in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
IESF is dedicated to ensuring that every event we host leaves a meaningful and lasting impact. The upcoming selection of our host cities will shape the future of many Esports communities across the globe and redefine the Esports landscape by supporting new emerging regions and strengthening the existing ones.
Central Europe
SOFTSWISS Steps In to Assist Southern Poland After Severe Flooding
SOFTSWISS, a global tech supplier of software for the iGaming industry, along with its employees, has actively aided communities affected by the recent flooding in Southern Poland.
In September, Storm Boris brought devastating floods to Central and Eastern Europe, causing widespread damage. Torrential rains left thousands of homes submerged, severely impacting numerous cities in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. In Poland, the southern regions were hit the hardest, with dozens of towns requiring urgent evacuations and support for affected communities.
To provide immediate relief, SOFTSWISS made a financial donation to the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, a well-known Polish charity organisation. SOFTSWISS has two development offices in Poland, allowing employees to quickly join the relief efforts and offer their assistance during the flood.
Under the company’s coordination, Polish employees packed boxes of over 100 kilograms of essential items, including food, hygiene products, and necessities such as matches, candles, and batteries. SOFTSWISS handed these supplies to Caritas Polska, a charitable organisation spearheading relief efforts for the affected areas.
Earlier this year, SOFTSWISS also organised a large-scale charity and awareness campaign to support flood-hit regions in Brazil.
“Unfortunately, natural disasters happen, and we don’t want to stand idly by. We strive to help in any way we can. This aligns with one of our core values, We See People, which applies not only to our employees. We always see the people beyond the business, and I believe our ESG initiatives reflect this,” said Natalia Perkowska, Deputy Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS.
The aid campaigns in Poland and Brazil are part of SOFTSWISS’ broader global strategy focused on social responsibility and sustainable development (ESG). The company also dedicates to long-term social and environmental projects, with notable initiatives such as participation in World Environment Day, Pink October, Movember, and various environmental protection efforts.
Recently, SOFTSWISS was recognised as The Best Employer of 2024 at the SBC Awards.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
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