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Riot Games Wraps Up V5: A Landmark Celebration of VALORANT’s Five-Year Journey in South Asia
Five years ago, VALORANT arrived in South Asia with a simple promise: to deliver clutch gameplay and high-octane FPS hero shooter action. What followed was far more – late-night team talks in dorm rooms, friendships built in cyber cafes, taunts turned into inside jokes, and a vibrant community that made the game unmistakably their own. This month, on VALORANT’s 5th anniversary, Riot Games brought that journey full circle with V5, a campaign built as a tribute to every South Asian player who made VALORANT more than just a game.
V5 was designed to be a true reflection of the players, a campaign that lived in the same spaces they do: on their campuses, in their cafes, and on their timelines. Rooted in cultural nuance, it celebrated the reality of the player experience through animated shorts based on real stories, UGC-driven content, murals, college activations, and a host of community-driven celebrations.
“V5 is our ‘Thank You’ to a generation of players who made VALORANT their own,” said Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, Riot Games India & South Asia. “Whether you’re top-fragging in ranked matches or reminiscing over your first LAN, this campaign is about your story. We wanted V5 to reflect the unique way South Asia has embraced VALORANT. The response has been uplifting, and it only reinforces why we build with community at the center.”
At the heart of it all was the V5 key visual, a vibrant and colorful tapestry of South Asian gaming culture. It was as much about memory as it was about mood: a steaming cup of chai to honor the all-nighters, subtle nods to LAN café setups that birthed both rivalries and friendships, and the unmistakable “NHK?” (“Nahi ho raha kya?”) jibe, which has become part of the everyday VALORANT vocabulary across the region. This logo was a visual time capsule, recognizable, relatable, and a proud representation of the region’s gaming culture..
As part of V5’s on-ground presence, Riot reimagined the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Kota with an OOH (Out-of-Home) campaign that didn’t just speak to the community, it spoke like them. Across Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Delhi, LED billboards lit up with iconic in-game callouts like the playful jibe “Kal aana kal” and the ever-reliable pre-round “Skin dede bro!” phrases that have become part of everyday VALORANT banter. In Kota, the campaign took a hyperlocal twist, with traditional billboards across high-traffic areas. What made the campaign stand out was that these callouts weren’t just written for the community; they were voted on by them, turning the streets into shared arenas of recognition and pride.
One of the most timely and playful moments of the V5 campaign landed on June 2 — the day IIT-JEE Mains results were announced, a high-pressure milestone for millions of students across India. Seizing this cultural flashpoint, Riot rolled out ‘VAL Toppers’, a cheeky twist on the way coaching centres in cities like Kota celebrate academic success. But instead of JEE rankers, these billboards spotlighted Radiant-ranked VALORANT players, honoring them with the same visual fanfare usually reserved for exam toppers. With VAL Toppers, Riot offered a tongue-in-cheek nod to South Asia’s competitive spirit, proving that top-tier aim and top-tier ambition can shine in very different arenas.
The campaign made its presence felt at the VCSA Split 2 finals, where VALORANT set up an open-access booth at the Phoenix Market City, Mumbai. Visitors, many new to the game, got hands-on with VALORANT and a lot of exciting swag like custom marshmallows featuring their favourite agents and t-shirts capturing elements of V5. It was a low-barrier, high-impact entry point that turned casual curiosity into active interest.
To close the campaign, Riot hosted V5 Game Night at ApeCity, India’s first org-led gaming cafe in Navi Mumbai, transforming it into a celebration zone with friendly showmatches, video games, and a comedy set by popular comic Raunaq Rajani. It was a final nod to the players who built the community and a call to those who’ll define what comes next.
According to the Lumikai State of India Interactive Media and Gaming Report FY24, India’s gaming market generated $3.8 billion in FY24 and is projected to grow to $9.2 billion by FY29. With 66% of gamers coming from non-metro cities and 43% being first-time earners aged 18–30, the data reflects gaming’s growing cultural and economic weight. V5 is a reflection of this moment, when games stop being pastimes and start becoming part of how an entire generation communicates, celebrates, and connects.
V5 ultimately proved that VALORANT in South Asia is lived, embedded in comms, cafe walls, student timetables, and weekend routines. And now, it has cemented its place in India’s entertainment mainstream.
The post Riot Games Wraps Up V5: A Landmark Celebration of VALORANT’s Five-Year Journey in South Asia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion
Sports & Wellbeing Analytics (“SWA”), a fast-scaling innovator in AI-powered sports data and betting models, today announced the appointment of Gavin Hamilton as Chairman of the Board.
Hamilton is a widely respected leader in the gambling and gaming industry, known for scaling high-growth companies and driving innovation in regulated markets. His previous roles include CEO of Red Tiger Gaming – where he led the company through explosive global growth and its acquisition by Netent AB – as well as senior leadership positions at NetEnt AB, Flutter, and Evolution.
Speaking about his appointment, Gavin Hamilton said “SWA is sitting on transformative IP that could reshape how the industry thinks about live betting, integrity, and athlete data,” said Gavin Hamilton. “The team has built something genuinely unique at the intersection of sport and real-time analytics, and I’m excited to help steer the next phase of global expansion.”
Caspar Hobbs, CEO of SWA, welcomed the appointment: “Gavin’s arrival is a major endorsement of our strategy and ambition. He brings not just deep sector knowledge, but also the credibility and leadership needed to help SWA scale in key markets and take advantage of the incredible demand for smarter, faster, and fairer sports data.”
The post Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ExpressVPN Announces New Partnership with Riot Games
ExpressVPN, the global leader in consumer privacy and security, has announced a new partnership with video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organiser, Riot Games.
As a Summer Split Partner, ExpressVPN will sponsor the championship series taking place from August – September, culminating in this year’s League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) taking place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. From September 26 to 28, the last standing and best teams from the Summer Split will battle in front of over 10,000 in-person spectators for the Summer Split Champion title and a chance to qualify for the 2025 World Championships – one of the most iconic esports competitions in the world.
Riot Games players will have access to a free 14-day trial of ExpressVPN, empowering gamers with advanced digital privacy and security. League of Legends players will also unlock Hextech Chests when they subscribe to ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN works with all major gaming consoles, enabling gamers to protect their digital privacy and giving them access to a global network of server locations. ExpressVPN’s custom-built Lightway protocol is built with speed and performance in mind—ensuring protection against DDoS attacks and ISP throttling while allowing gamers to enjoy a fast and secure connection that helps them stay competitive.
Riot Games is one of the world’s leading video game developers and publishers, with its flagship game, League of Legends. The company also organises major esports Championships such as the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and World Championship.
Zac Eller, GM of Global Partnerships & Business Development at ExpressVPN, said: “For today’s gamers, privacy and performance go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s protecting against DDoS attacks, reducing ping, or unlocking global content, we’re here to help players compete at their best. Riot Games has built a world-class esports ecosystem, and we’re proud to work with them to ensure gamers have the tools they need to stay safe and secure online while supporting the League of Legends community.”
Charlie Allen, EMEA Director of Commercial Partnerships & Biz Dev at Riot Games, said: We’re always looking to collaborate with partners who understand our community and what matters to them. ExpressVPN gets that League of Legends and the LEC aren’t just about gameplay and high stakes, they’re about trust, stability, and showing up in the right way. This partnership isn’t just a logo on a screen; it’s about adding that final layer to elevate the fan experience, connecting two worlds in a way that feels natural and earned – it directly supports our community by helping protect their internet connection and security. Whether you’re grinding ranked, co-streaming the LEC, or traveling to a live event like the Summer Finals in Madrid, digital security matters. It’s a collaboration built not just around shared audiences, but shared values.”
The post ExpressVPN Announces New Partnership with Riot Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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IGT to Showcase Localised Linked Games and Gaming Systems Advancements at 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo
IGT is going to present an exciting, performance-focused showcase of games, cabinets, systems and FinTech solutions at the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE 2025) which will take place at ICC Sydney from Aug. 12-14. With a market-attuned portfolio of more than 50 unique link and standalone game titles, IGT will reflect the Company’s focus on delivering innovative player experiences and creating value-add opportunities to gaming floors across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).
“As IGT enters a new era of growth and transformation, AGE 2025 is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our laser-focus on delivering an unrivaled solutions portfolio, and our unique position to serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for our customers across Australia and New Zealand. At AGE 2025, IGT will present a diverse range of standalone and linked progressive games with exciting new titles such as Hot Stuff Link and Bandit Link & Loot, as well as our IGT ADVANTAGE CLUB system with advancements to Service Window and other convenience-enhancing modules,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT SVP and COO, APAC.
“IGT’s line-up for AGE 2025 is the most exciting portfolio that we’ve presented in recent years. In addition to showcasing ten new game families, we will reveal our revamped jackpot strategy for the ANZ market, as well as IGT’s rejuvenated on-screen look and feel. Our development focus has been on delivering an elevated player experience through trending mechanics and enhanced art packages. For example, our Firework Link provides players with a Hold and Spin inside Hold and Spin experience, coupled with new innovative free-game mechanics; and MegaVault Link morphs the two most popular mechanics that the ANZ market has seen over the last 20 years – Chose Your Volatility and Hold and Spin,” said Matt Wright, IGT Product Director APAC.
Everi, an IGT brand, will highlight its portfolio of integrated FinTech solutions at AGE 2025 in a dedicated space alongside IGT’s exhibit. Everi’s trusted suite includes cash access, player wallets, AML compliance, loyalty and payments — each built to work together and designed to meet the demands of modern casino and venue operations.
These offerings integrate directly with IGT’s powerful systems, creating a unified financial and engagement platform. From cage to cabinet and kiosk to mobile, operators gain a consistent and configurable experience that reduces friction, enhances visibility and streamlines operations across land-based and digital environments.
Everi’s solutions also support responsible gaming by incorporating tools like spending limits, discreet messaging and data-informed alerts — helping operators promote sustainable play without disrupting the entertainment experience. By combining Everi’s FinTech innovation with IGT’s global infrastructure, operators can benefit from a flexible, modular foundation that delivers smarter data, stronger compliance and personalised engagement at every touchpoint.
Together, IGT and Everi are reimagining how payments, loyalty and compliance come together — helping operators move faster, serve smarter and lead the next era of connected gaming.
The post IGT to Showcase Localised Linked Games and Gaming Systems Advancements at 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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