Latest News

Pixel Federation joins the Playing for the Planet Alliance

Published

4 years ago

December 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Together with SEGA Europe, Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc, Perp Games and Creative Assembly, Pixel Federation joins the fight to save our planet.

Pixel Federation is the first games company in Slovakia to pledge to keep environmental activity at the heart of its games.

Pixel Federation, a Slovakia-based game development studio, today announces its membership of the Playing for the Planet Alliance. After a successful year of landmark new games and local efforts to fight the pandemic, Pixel Federation is now implementing environmental initiatives, joining the Playing for the Planet Alliance, facilitated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Playing for the Planet Alliance is driving the video games industry to reduce its carbon footprint and integrate environmental activities in live games. In joining the Alliance, game companies have made commitments to positively impact the environment, ranging from integrating green activations in games to reducing emissions. Green activations refer to educational content focusing on different environmental topics integrated in video games. Pixel Federation is determined to make environmental contributions a key part of its strategy moving forwards; prior to joining the Playing for the Planet initiative, it participated in a project ‘10,000 trees’ by the city of Bratislava planting close to 100 trees in the city.

Lucia Sickova, one of four co-founders and Chief Learning Officer at Pixel Federation said, ‘Participating in the Playing for the Planet Alliance will drive us even further in our awareness of our climate change activities.’

She continued: ‘The world is changing in front of our eyes and I truly believe each and every one of us can be the cause for the change that needs to happen. Every small decision an individual makes is the difference we can make to our planet. Being the first game developer in Slovakia to join Playing for the Planet Alliance is just the start of a set of new initiatives we are putting in place so we can play our part in making the world a greener and cleaner place for future generations.’

Core Commitments

As part of the Playing for the Planet Alliance Pixel Federation has committed to undertake the following initiatives, among others:

First, Pixel Federation will inspire action by supporting off-the-grid (physical) innovation through education. Pixel Federation already supports and works with a number of key educational projects aimed at supporting tech and innovative education and opportunities for young people in Slovakia. Pixel Federation’s next initiative is to educate people around supporting our planet and provide students with tangible and innovative solutions to tackle climate change.
Pixel Federation will host on-the-grid events (in game) to target its already dedicated fanbase, encouraging action against deforestation and ocean cleaning. Games including fan favourites Diggy’s Adventure, Trainstation 2 and Port City – which cumulatively see 250,000 DAU (daily active users) – will host these in-game events to drive action in a rewarded capacity, and inspire physical activity outside of the game.
Pixel Federation pledges to map its carbon footprint in 2021, with the long-term aim of achieving net-zero emissions.
Pixel Federation will also participate in the Green Game Jam 2022.

These commitments will see Pixel Federation driving environmental change in the gaming industry, and even further within tech in Eastern Europe, encouraging fans and users to take action.

Annually, the Playing for the Planet Alliance’s Green Game Jam brings together the biggest names in the games industry across mobile, consoles and PC to educate and empower millions of players to act for the environment. Thrilled to be part of the Green Game Jam, one of Pixel Federation’s core beliefs is supporting the next generation of game developers. It is already doing this through a number of impactful charitable projects that focus on encouraging and driving education, technology skills and opportunities for young people in Slovakia as well as existing Pixel Federation employees and Slovakian developers.

“When it comes to climate, keeping all our emissions down will require all hands on deck. The video gaming industry is a new ally in the race for a net zero and nature positive planet.” said Sam Barratt, Chief of Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). “We are delighted to have the support of Pixel Federation. The commitment of these gaming companies shows recognition that we all must play our role in the global effort to lower carbon emissions and effect real change towards sustainability.”

The games industry and related technologies are constantly growing and adapting, and with a global reach, people are rightfully looking to this industry to see how it is participating in the fight against the climate crisis. The Playing for the Planet Alliance already has the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Ubisoft in its corner, and now with Pixel Federation joining the ranks, game developers from every corner of the globe are coming together to tackle this emergency head-on.

Latest News

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: