After a thrilling Grand Final, T1 claimed the 2024 off-season champions title at this year’s Red Bull Home Ground. Emerging victorious with a 3-1 victory over Cloud9, they take home the much-coveted trophy for Korea.

In front of more than 2000 fans experiencing the excitement first-hand in Berlin, Germany and the thousands more watching at home, the professional VALORANT Invitational tournament saw a closely fought finale play out on the Arena Berlin stage.

As the event kicked off on Thursday 21 November, the Group Stages saw both T1 and Cloud9 put in dominant performances as they each went 2-0. While Team Heretics started in a strong position with a win over FOKUS, they fell to Cloud9 and, due to medical issues, were unable to continue, sending FUT Esports straight to the Semis. Vying for their own spot in the semi finals, last year’s champions Fnatic were unable to replicate their 2023 success as G2 headed into the lead with a 2-0 victory.

The Playoffs saw Cloud9 continue their dominant streak as their Semifinals match against G2 Esports went 2-0 with strong performances on both Sunset and Pearl. FUT Esports faced off against T1 in a hotly competitive game, with T1 taking the first map and FUT Esports the second. After a neck and neck showdown, T1 finally took Ascent as FUT bowed out the tournament and T1 advanced to the grand final.

The final stage of the competition saw Cloud9, who came in second place at last year’s tournament, go head to head against T1 in a thrilling matchup. Continuing to step it up in the grand final, T1 were off to a strong start as they took Abyss in a closely fought first match. Although Cloud9 soon equalled the score as they took the second map, it was T1 that eventually emerged victorious, winning the next two closely contested games to claim the trophy and Red Bull Home Ground 2024 champion title.

Following an excellent performance throughout the tournament, Red Bull Home Ground champion BuZz of T1 said: “Winning this tournament means a lot for us. Against international teams we show we’re strong, so that’s why I’m happy we win this tournament and maybe we can keep this momentum until the end of 2025!”

Ela Games signs strategic partnership with Rootz

ELA Games is excited to announce its new strategic partnership with Rootz, an iGaming platform that focuses on exciting tech and automation.

Rootz is an all-encompassing iGaming solution built to help operators manage all aspects of their online casinos and power the brands of the future. Some innovative brands in the Rootz portfolio include Wildz, Chipz Casino and many more.

This strategic partnership will see ELA Games’ catalogue being hosted on many of Rootz’s brands. As a result, more players can experience ELA Games’ unique and innovative games like Cash Crab, Joker Cashpot and more. With many of the studio’s games implementing engaging gamification engines, Rootz’s brands can experience increased player acquisition, retention and engagement.

David Fall, ELA Games’ Business Development Manager and spokesperson, commented on the partnership, “We’re proud to announce this significant strategic partnership and are excited about the positive implications it will have on our growth. ELA Games will increase its market presence by being hosted on Rootz’s various platforms, and Rootz will experience increased player engagement from our innovative games. This partnership will prove to be a mutually beneficial one and a meaningful development for our studio.”

Sam Brown, Rootz’s CEO, added, “At Rootz, our players come first, so we’re always thrilled to augment our lobbies with top-quality casino content, like the titles in ELA Games’ catalogue. We’re sure our players will enjoy them, and we look forward to this mutually beneficial collaboration.”

ELA Games continues to experience expansive yet sustainable growth, as evidenced by this recent significant partnership. The studio continues its commitment to producing games with attractive UI and design that enhances the player experience.

Europe’s mobile gaming market is experiencing massive growth driven by technological rupee growth, change in consumer behavior and increasing accessibility of smartphones. This article explains in detail the reasons behind mobile gaming growth in Europe and what developers are doing to capitalize on this new market.

Trends boosting growth in mobile gaming

As per new forecasts, the mobile gaming segment in Europe was projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.71% from 2024 to 2027 and expected to reach a market volume of around $10 billion by 2027. This expansion is being driven by the increasing number of mobile gamers, which are expected to be around 221.5 million in 2027 based on projections. The transition from basic gaming like Snake on early mobile devices to intricate, engaging experiences on modern smartphones showcases how rapidly the industry has evolved.

Technological Advancements

A rise in smartphone capabilities and availability has fuelled this boom. With better internet infrastructure and the rollout of tech to reduce latency, such as 5G, gaming experiences have greatly improved over the years. Mobile gaming with these powerful processors and graphics cards allows high-quality graphics on the mobile platform and seamless interactions providing an alternative for console or PC gamers. The introduction of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) also created fresh opportunities for engaging gameplay, as evidenced by smash hits such as Pokémon Go.

Diverse Gaming Options

The diversity of games offered on mobile devices is another reason for their widespread use. Developers have often mixed genres, from strategic puzzles to RPGs, to reach every audience. These are appealing types of casual games—which do not require significant investments in time and/or skill to engage with. This means players can play along without needing years of gaming experience. This even extends to online casino providers like Lottoland Malta that are branding traditional casino games for mobile devices without diverting too far away from classic gameplay.

Social Gaming Dynamics

Mobile gaming has evolved from a lone-wolf affair to a social activity. Several games use systems that allow players to connect and interact, resulting in better engagement and community building. This is also evident in the case of online casino games that incorporate social elements into their gameplay. Mobile gaming has never been more attractive — not only are you able to compete against your friends, but you can also just jump into a quick multiplayer experience.

Future Predictions

In the future, the European mobile gaming market will keep growing. More personalized experiences with developers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide tailored, personalized experiences that change based on the behaviours and preferences of each individual player. This not only increases user engagement but also breeds loyalty among players. With high consumer interest in interactive content, developers will be pushed to innovate with greater gameplay features and narrative components.

Final words

Mobile gaming is here to stay – and could quickly become the new normal for millions of people around Europe. With the convenience, social interaction and wide range of gaming options, this industry will only continue to grow for years to come.