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XSOLLA SET TO LAUNCH THE XSOLLA STARNEST ACADEMY AND INCUBATOR PROGRAM IN BAKU
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, has announced a strategic partnership with StarNest and Azerbaijan’s Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) to establish the Xsolla StarNest Academy and Incubator Program. This transformative collaboration was unveiled at the region’s largest gaming festival, Gamesummit Winter Edition 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Gamesummit Winter Edition 2024 spotlighted the growth of the gaming industry in Azerbaijan, featuring discussions on trends, global best practices, and presentations of locally developed games. At the festival, IDDA and Xsolla revealed plans to empower local developers, game designers, and studios with cutting-edge training, incubation and accelerator programs, and access to financial and technological resources. This partnership will redefine Azerbaijan’s role in the global gaming industry while fostering local talent and innovation.
“This collaboration opens up extensive opportunities for implementing joint projects that will drive the development of Azerbaijan’s gaming sector,” said Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Head of IDDA’s Innovation Ecosystem Department. “Azerbaijani game studios will have access to the tools and resources needed to make a mark in the global market.”
“This partnership represents a significant milestone for Xsolla as we collaborate with Azerbaijani leaders to unlock the region’s potential,” said Rytis Joseph Jan, SVP of Global Strategic Partnerships at Xsolla.“By combining our global expertise with the visionary leadership of our partners, we aim to empower the next generation of talent in Azerbaijan and drive meaningful innovation with global impact.”
Xsolla Incubator & Accelerator in Azerbaijan
The Xsolla Incubator and Accelerator will support Azerbaijan’s game development community by providing tools, mentorship, and resources to turn ideas into successful projects. The Incubator will help early-stage developers refine concepts, gain technical expertise, and collaborate with international experts. The Accelerator will assist established studios in scaling their projects, offering access to funding, mentorship, and global industry connections. These programs aim to position Azerbaijan as a key player in the gaming industry, creating opportunities for local talent to succeed globally.
Xsolla StarNest Academy
The Xsolla StarNest Academy will provide 90 young individuals with specialized training in game development. Additionally, an incubation program will launch in 2025 to support local game studios, offering mentorship from international experts, access to financial resources, and opportunities to showcase games globally.
StarNest, an Azerbaijani telecommunications company, will lead efforts to secure a dedicated facility for the Academy, ensuring an environment conducive to growth and learning. IDDA will offer strategic oversight to align the initiative with Azerbaijan’s national goals for digital transformation.
Regional Headquarters
Xsolla is also exploring options to establish its regional headquarters for Central Asia in Baku to further support its commitment to the community and game developers in the region. Not only will it serve as a regional hub, but also a technology center for the leading edge development and support of its industry leading solutions.
With the Xsolla StarNest partnership this marks a new chapter for Azerbaijan’s gaming sector reflecting the shared vision to position the country as a regional game development and digital innovation leader.
This groundbreaking collaboration sets the stage for Azerbaijan to become a hub for gaming innovation and talent development.
The post XSOLLA SET TO LAUNCH THE XSOLLA STARNEST ACADEMY AND INCUBATOR PROGRAM IN BAKU appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Sofascore Player of the Season Award Show Premieres on CBS
This summer in Zadar, sporting legends and top broadcasters came together for the first-ever Sofascore Player of the Season Award Show, filmed during the Sunset Sports Festival. Now, the show has reached millions as it premiered on CBS, bringing together football stories and data-supported awards.
The show celebrated Europe’s top performers from the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and many more leagues across the world, all chosen just through Sofascore’s objective performance ratings. No votes, no popularity contests. Mohamed Salah topped the Premier League with a 7.78 rating, Raphinha led LaLiga with 7.80, Mattia Zaccagni claimed Serie A’s best with 7.34, Joshua Kimmich was Bundesliga’s highest rated player with 7.91, and Achraf Hakimi shined in Ligue 1 with 7.76. Beyond this, the awards also celebrated the highest-rated player in the UEFA Champions League, the top leagues in women’s football, and many more standout performers from around the globe.
Hosted by Kate Scott and Peter Schmeichel, and directed by Emmy Award-winner Pete Radovich, the event featured exclusive insights from football greats and top analysts including Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and Alessandro Del Piero. Raphinha shared his pride as both LaLiga and Champions League’s top-rated player, while Luka Modrić made history by receiving Sofascore’s first-ever Founders’ Legend Award. In the audience, big names like Dimitar Berbatov, Stipe Miočić, and Šime Vrsaljko added extra prestige to the celebration.
The Player of the Season celebration extended beyond the TV broadcast, with massive billboards in London, Liverpool, Barcelona, Munich, Rome, Frankfurt, Lyon, Metz, and other European cities, showcasing Sofascore’s award winners. From Raphinha and Alexia Putellas in Barcelona to Mohamed Salah in Liverpool and Joshua Kimmich in Munich, fans across Europe could see the season’s best right in their own cities.
The Sofascore Player of the Season Award is built on objective data, not public votes. Every goal, pass, tackle or miss contributes to a rating that reflects what truly happened on the pitch. That’s why, for players and all football fans around the globe, Sofascore’s Player of the Season trophy is the only award that counts.
The post Sofascore Player of the Season Award Show Premieres on CBS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has released Don Juan Peppers, a fiery new slot that blends bold bonus features with festive flair.
Set in a sun-soaked Mexican town bursting with colour, rhythm and celebration, the game invites players to join the charismatic Don Juan himself for a lively fiesta across 20 fixed paylines.
The action centres around two types of bonus symbols. Landing three Chili Bonus icons on reels two, three and four triggers seven Free Spins. During Free Spins, each appearance of a Chili Bonus symbol awards an Instant Chili Prize corresponding to the value shown above its reel.
Meanwhile, landing six or more Bonus symbols activates the bonus game. In this mode, all Bonus and Chili icons lock in place and reset the spin counter to three. Chilis in this round boost the value of up to four Bonus symbols before transforming and continuing the chase for bigger wins.
The bonus game also gives players a shot at four fixed jackpots: MINI, MEGA, SUPER, and the GRAND prize of 3,000x the bet. For players who want to skip straight to the fiesta, a Bonus Buy feature offers direct access to either the Bonus Game or Free Spins.
Don Juan Peppers is the latest release in Evoplay’s growing portfolio of standout slots, blending engaging gameplay with vibrant storytelling and proven features.
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Don Juan Peppers is a celebration of bold design and dynamic mechanics. By blending familiar bonus features with a distinctive aesthetic and rhythmic theme, we’ve created a slot that feels both familiar and fresh.
“It’s a fantastic showcase of our approach to delivering high-performing content with real personality.”
The post Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ZITRO DIGITAL TO SHOWCASE NEW DIGITAL GAMING LINE-UP AT SBC SUMMIT LISBOA 2025
Zitro Digital, the online division of global gaming leader Zitro, announces its participation in SBC Summit Lisboa 2025, taking place from 16–18 September at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, Portugal.
As a key player in the digital gaming space, Zitro Digital will present its latest online slot and video bingo titles portfolio, reflecting its continued investment in innovation, omnichannel strategy, and game performance at scale. Visitors to booth B530 will have the opportunity to explore the company’s newest content, including the debut of ‘Dreams’, the first title in the Fairyland Quest series — a digital adaptation of one of Zitro’s most successful land-based games.
Also featured will be ‘Elysium’ from the Legendary Sword series, ‘Autumn’, the latest addition to the popular Fu Pots collection, and ‘Monk’, the newest release in the Bashiba Link series. The company will also offer an exclusive first look at ‘Tomahawk’ — an upcoming standout title from the all-new Cash Totems series — which will be on display at SBC Lisboa ahead of its global release.
Alongside its expanding games portfolio, Zitro Digital will spotlight GameGate, the company’s new player engagement tool designed to guide users through its growing universe of content. GameGate enhances retention and gameplay by creating personalized journeys across multiple titles, completely transforming how players experience Zitro Digital’s slot offerings.
“Our goal at Zitro Digital is simple: to create engaging games that not only engage players but also drive measurable results for our partners,” said José Javier Martí, COO at Zitro Digital. “We combine the proven appeal of our land-based hits with new digital innovation to offer products that perform consistently across regulated markets. Events like SBC Summit Lisboa are essential for us to connect directly with operators, understand their evolving needs, and demonstrate how our portfolio can support their growth and stand out in competitive markets”.
The post ZITRO DIGITAL TO SHOWCASE NEW DIGITAL GAMING LINE-UP AT SBC SUMMIT LISBOA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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