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Super Mario developer cautions gaming companies about greed
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Shigeru Miyamoto, the iconic video-game designer who created evergreen games like Super Mario and Donkey Kong, has warned gaming companies about too much greed.
The 65-year-old industry veteran said Nintendo Co. is exploring various ways for charging customers for games, abandoning the free-to-play model that’s become a constant source of income in the $140 billion gaming sector. Instead, he urged other companies to provide games at fixed prices without over-charging players, which will create more sustainable businesses over the long term.
“We’re lucky to have such a giant market, so our thinking is, if we can deliver games at reasonable prices to as many people as possible, we will see big profits,” Miyamoto said at the Computer Entertainment Developers Conference (CEDEC) on Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan.
Miyamoto’s criticism comes as the free-to-play model — including loot boxes and microtransactions — drives record profits. Instead of charging an up-front one-time fee, publishers are increasingly giving games away or selling them at discounted prices, and then nudging players to continually buy in-game products such as virtual outfits or encouraging them to bet money on winning rare items. The revenue model is especially common among mobile and personal-computer games.
Proponents of the free-to-play model say that it increases the longevity of individual titles and creates more predictable businesses, which attracts investors and boosts employment. But opponents say it stunts creativity in game making and promotes gambling-like behavior, which resulted in lawmakers in Belgium and Netherlands banning loot boxes this year.
“I can’t say that our fixed-cost model has really been a success,” the usually candid Miyamoto said. “But we’re going to continue pushing it forward until it becomes entrenched. That way everyone can develop games in a comfortable environment. By focusing on bringing games to the widest range of people possible, we can continue boosting our mobile game business.”
The comments come almost two years after Nintendo unveiled Super Mario Run, the first smartphone game it developed in-house. The title charged a flat fee, which many users criticized as being too expensive for the amount of content provided. The company then switched to free-to-play for the next two titles. One of the games, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, has received criticism for being too focused on profits over fun gameplay.
Miyamoto also said game developers should heed lessons from the music industry, which is still struggling to recover after consumers learned to consume music for free through MP3 file sharing, as well as YouTube and streaming services. He said subscription-style services should play a bigger role in games, but said the key is to develop a culture of paying for good software.
“It’s necessary for developers to learn to get along with” subscription-style services, Miyamoto said. “When seeking a partner for this, it’s important to find someone who understands the value of your software. Then customers will feel the value in your apps and software and develop a habit of paying money for them.”
Nintendo will soon roll out two more mobile games. Dragalia Lost is slated to debut soon and is being co-developed with CyberAgent Inc., a publisher that’s been criticized for using aggressive tactics in monetizing games. The second title, Mario Kart Tour, will be released by March.
Source: bloomberg.com
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Gamblers Connect is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NuxGame, a premier B2B software provider specialising in API-first, modular iGaming solutions.
This collaboration is designed to significantly enhance NuxGame’s brand visibility and solidify its authority across the critical regulated and emerging markets our operator network serves. NuxGame, which has been successfully developing and expanding operator projects since 2018, offers comprehensive Turnkey Casino and Sportsbook Platforms.
The company’s technical strength is unmatched, featuring a massive aggregated content library of over 16,500 games from more than 130 studios, alongside advanced, market-specific tools like its Telegram Casino Software and specialised Sweepstakes Casino Platform.
Gamblers Connect will showcase how NuxGame’s modular, API-first architecture allows clients to quickly launch a fully branded platform, easily scale into complex verticals like crypto, and benefit from full compliance support, including their Romanian Class II B2B Licence and GLI-19 Certification.
By offering transparency around risk management and a comprehensive support system, Gamblers Connect will de-risk the initial onboarding process for operators.
This strategic alliance underscores NuxGame’s commitment to delivering technical excellence and our dedication to providing our audience with trusted, high-value industry partners.
Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Our partnership will leverage Gamblers Connect’s high-authority platform to connect NuxGame directly with decision-makers seeking fast, scalable, and compliant software solutions. Our cooperation will focus on delivering expert content and deep technical insights into the platform’s core advantages.”
The post NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Soft2Bet, a leading provider of iGaming turnkey solutions, has been nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 by Romania Gaming Celebration 11 – Casino Inside Gala Awards. The nomination highlights Soft2Bet’s continued investment in the country and its ability to deliver highly localised and high-performing solutions for local operators and players, powered by its proprietary gamification engine, MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application).
This nomination is the latest in a series of achievements in the Romanian market, highlighting Soft2Bet’s data-driven iGaming solutions for player retention. Previously, the company was honoured as the Best iGaming Solutions Provider in Romania at the 12th Reunion of Gambling Professionals. Furthermore, its local brand, Don.ro, secured the title of Best New Launch of 2024 at the same event, and in the process showcased how its approach to creating compelling brands specifically tailored for Romanian players is highly successful.
Don.ro has rapidly established itself as one of Romania’s most recognisable online entertainment platforms. Its success is built on a highly intuitive user experience (UX), a comprehensive range of casino and sportsbook options, and strategic, locally focused marketing campaigns. In addition, Don.ro has strengthened its brand appeal and established strong trust with Romanian players thanks to its partnership with the CFR Cluj 1907 football club, in the process contributing to local sports.
Don.ro uses Soft2Bet’s advanced MEGA technology to boost player engagement with missions, challenges and personalised rewards. This proprietary technology also ensures responsible gaming. MEGA allows operators to customise player experiences, rewards and activation triggers to fit local market needs. These features increase engagement, retention and long-term value for both casino and sports betting platforms.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, stated: “Being nominated in the Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 category is a clear recognition of all the work our teams have accomplished with Don.ro and confirmation of the success in Romania. Our focus is on building locally relevant experiences, powered by MEGA and supported by strong compliance and design standards. We are proud of what we are achieving in Romania and remain committed to bringing quality iCasino engagement tactics and long-term strategies to our players.”
The post Soft2Bet Nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship soccer products are now live online in Romania with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.
Highlight’s premium SOCCERBET games which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers in Romania via its Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna Romania brands. Available iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to see our SOCCERBET portfolio go live with FEG in Romania. This launch represents another significant milestone in our expansion across regulated European markets, and we look forward to building on our partnership with Fortuna and bringing even more compelling content to its customers in the months ahead.’
Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘We are excited to introduce Highlight Games’ SOCCERBET products to our Romanian customers. The combination of authentic archive football footage and innovative gameplay brings something genuinely fresh to the market and perfectly complements our existing portfolio. At FEG, we are committed to offering players the best and most engaging experiences available, and this partnership with Highlight Games supports that mission. We anticipate a strong reaction from players and see great potential for continued collaboration.’
The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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