Asia
IGT Presents Regionally Attuned Solutions and Compelling New Jackpot Links at Australasian Gaming Expo
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) has announced that the Company will showcase its latest portfolio of cabinets, games, services and systems at the 2023 Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) August 15-17 in Sydney. Designed to meet gaming opportunities of today and the future, IGT’s regionally attuned solutions will be presented in stand 590.
“AGE provides an ideal platform for IGT to showcase its localized solutions that are designed to deliver peak player entertainment and help grow customer revenues in the ANZ market,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.
“IGT continues to leverage its global strength with a localized focus to create diversity across our games, hardware and systems portfolios, and we are excited to share our latest innovations at AGE. The event will serve as the regional launch of our PeakDual27 and PeakCurve49 cabinets, which are both enjoying exceptional performance and market penetration in North America; new gaming experiences from our four local game studios, including the Portal Link and Cash Ching standalone progressive games; and a showcase for the latest developments in IGT’s cashless and systems-based jackpot solutions.”
An assortment of IGT link and standalone games will be on show for operators to experience, including:
- Portal Link & Portal Loot – the evolution of IGT’s successful Outgrow family with enhanced gameplay, second chance and respin features for a more dynamic player experience.
- Cash Ching – this standalone progressive series takes the traditional respin mechanic to a new dimension with repeat win opportunities and includes four game titles, each offering unique free game features.
- Prosperity Link – brings IGT’s award-winning global performer to the Australian market. This new link offers four game titles and combines two exciting gameplay features to create a special respin bonus feature.
- Boost It Up – new link and standalone progressive series with an innovative game mechanic and added player interaction for heightened win opportunities.
In addition, IGT will demonstrate its Peak hardware family including the PeakDual27 and PeakCurve49 cabinets. Offering many of the popular features from IGT’s Crystal cabinet series, the Peak cabinets deliver a range of enhanced attributes including a re-imagined play experience with screens perfectly optimized for players, seamless curved dual-screen gameplay transitions and an ergonomic, dynamic player panel that features dual bash buttons.
The IGT Systems team will be on stand demonstrating exciting products including the Company’s digital wallet solutions that are deployed in the current digital wallet sandbox trial at Club York and beyond. The IGT ADVANTAGE CLUB system, which enables venues to be more agile, competitive and efficiently adapt to change, will also be on display. The solution delivers a simple, user-friendly experience which can help accelerate player adoption of cashless gaming technologies.
This high-performing portfolio will be paired with IGT’s legendary hospitality and entertainment for a highly engaging experience within IGT’s AGE 2023 showcase.
“We invite customers in our AGE booth to meet IGT’s local studio teams and engage with game concepts, experience game design ethos and explore what our studios have in store for future game development,” added Orchard.
Asia
Nazara announces five investments totalling INR 196 Crores to drive growth across Gaming and Entertainment
Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: 543280 | NSE: NAZARA), India’s only listed diversified gaming and sports media company, has unveiled a series of strategic investments aimed at solidifying its position in the gaming and entertainment ecosystems.
Nazara has announced new Investments in Funky Monkeys & Learntube.ai
Nazara has expanded into physical entertainment with the acquisition of a 60% stake in Funky Monkeys Play Centers Private Limited, a leader in indoor soft play centers for children, for INR 43.7 crores. Funky Monkeys operates 11 centers across India, offering interactive play experiences for children.
Co-founders of Funky Monkeys, Binita Putcha and Sanjay Ghadiali, said: “We are excited to join hands with Nazara, whose vision for digital and hybrid entertainment aligns closely with ours. With Nazara’s expertise and resources, we are confident we can scale Funky Monkeys and bring even more joy to children and families across India. We also see synergies with digital IP’s owned by Nazara such as Kiddopia and will work to maximise these opportunities”
Nazara will also invest INR 4.2 crores for a 4.7% stake in Learntube.ai, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing education with 1:1 interactive and gamified learning. Catering to over 20 lakh learners, LearnTube is the world largest personalised learning platform that offers affordable, interactive gamified learning experiences for professional skilling.
“LearnTube’s collaboration with Nazara is a bold step forward in reshaping professional learning and interactive media. We are excited to combine forces to lead innovation on a global scale,” said Shronit Ladhani, Co-founder, LearnTube.
Nazara has Increased its shareholding of existing companies
Nazara will invest INR 148 crores in its existing subsidiaries including Sportskeeda, Nodwin Gaming, and Datawrkz to increase its ownership in them and support their growth.
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Nodwin Gaming: Nazara will invest INR 64 crores through subscription of Optionally Convertible Preference Shares to bolster Nodwin’s growth. The funds will support Nodwins expansion, enhance its intellectual properties (IPs), and strengthen its footprint in emerging markets.
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Absolute Sports (Sportskeeda): Nazara will invest INR 69 crores to purchase shares arising from exercise of ESOPs from the Sportskeeda management to increase its stake to 100% in the company making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
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Datawrkz: Nazara granted in-principle approval for an investment of INR 15 crores in Datawrkz through the subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Cumulative Preference Shares to support ongoing growth of Datawrkz
Speaking on these investments, Nitish Mittersain said: “Nazara is committed to building the largest diversified gaming and entertainment platform out of India and many of our initiatives announced today are geared towards propelling profitable growth in these strategic areas of our interest.”
Asia
India Investigates Google Over Policies for Real-money Games
India’s competition oversight body has ordered a probe into Google over its policies for real-money games on its platform
The investigation comes after a complaint by online gaming group WinZO that called Google’s policies restrictive.
WinZO contacted India’s Competition Commission (CCI) back in 2022, after it was excluded from Google’s Play Store, despite some of its competitors being allowed.
Google’s policy had allowed for real-money games which include rummy and fantasy sports but the company was rejected for carrying games in other categories that Google did not accept – including car racing, puzzles and Indian carrom.
“By granting preferential treatment to select app categories, Google effectively creates a two-tier market where some developers are accorded superior access and visibility while others are discriminated against and thus, left with a competitive disadvantage,” indicates a letter from the CCI.
Asia
SuperGaming’s Indus Battle Royale surpasses 5 million downloads; concludes first international playtest in Manila
SuperGaming’s highly anticipated Indo-futuristic Battle Royale game, Indus, has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 5 million downloads on the Google Play Store and over 100,000 installs on the iOS App Store. This remarkable feat solidifies its position as one of India’s fastest-growing games. The title has also been recognized as the Best Made in India Game by Google Play in their prestigious Best of 2024 awards.
Indus has captivated players with its distinctive Indo-futuristic world setting that seamlessly blends Indian culture with futuristic aesthetics, immersive gameplay, and community-driven innovation. Key gameplay features like the Cosmium Clutch, Grudge Mechanic, and culturally inspired avatars and weapons have particularly resonated with players, offering strategic depth and adrenaline-filled matches.
Building upon this momentum, SuperGaming recently hosted its first international community playtest at the YGG Play Summit in Manila, Philippines. The event featured some of the region’s top esports talent, with Kadiliman Esports emerging victorious. This successful international debut aligns with SuperGaming’s vision to expand its player base while maintaining a deep-rooted connection to its community.
“Surpassing 5 million downloads is more than a milestone—it’s a reflection of the enthusiasm our players have for Indus,” said Roby John, Co-Founder and CEO of SuperGaming. “Hosting our first international playtest at the YGG Play Summit was another defining moment for us, and a reminder of what gaming can achieve—bridging cultures and bringing people together. We’re driven to keep breaking new ground and taking Indus to even greater heights, reaching newer players across the world,” he adds.
Furthermore, in a move to strengthen India’s esports ecosystem, SuperGaming has also announced its year-long Clutch India Movement. The initiative kicks off with the Indus International Tournament, running from October 2024 to February 2025, featuring a massive prize pool of INR 2.5 crores. The tournament will bring together top Indian and international teams across four competitive phases.
SuperGaming remains committed to keeping Indus fresh with regular updates based on player feedback, ensuring the game continually improves. These efforts demonstrate the studio’s commitment to creating a gaming experience that reflects its players’ needs and aspirations while redefining the global perception of Indian gaming.
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