ComeOn Group is excited to announce a groundbreaking addition to its Nordic Ruby Lounge portfolio: the launch of the industry’s first dedicated 7-Seat live casino Bet Stacker Blackjack.

Together with partner Evolution, this innovative live casino experience reinforces ComeOn Group’s commitment to delivering premium, player-centric gaming to its audience. Bet Stacker Blackjack joins an already solid lineup in the Nordic Ruby Lounge, which includes Native-Speaking Swedish Classic Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack, further enhancing the diverse and immersive options available to players.

Greg Kett, Director of Casino at ComeOn Group, said: “The launch of Bet Stacker Blackjack marks another milestone in our mission to bring innovative and high-quality gaming experiences to our players. We are proud to continuously push the boundaries of live casino entertainment and set new industry standards.”

The Nordic Ruby Lounge is part of ComeOn Group’s prestigious Ruby Lounge portfolio, which debuted in early 2022 with a strong commitment to premium, safe, and exclusive entertainment. Designed as a “brand within a brand”, the Ruby Lounge live casino studio delivers an immersive experience, featuring expertly hosted Blackjack and Roulette tables by ComeOn’s dedicated live dealers.

With its tailored and personalised approach, the Nordic Ruby Lounge stands out as a truly one-of-a-kind live casino offering, setting new benchmarks in the industry. As live casino gaming remains a strategic focus for ComeOn Group, the launch of Nordic Ruby Lounge marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth and innovation efforts.

Shochiku Ventures, the CVC arm of Shochiku Group, a cornerstone of Japanese entertainment for over 125 years, is launching the Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025, which will offer startups up to $100,000 USD.

The accelerator’s funding is available to startups providing game-enhancing technologies such as middleware, SaaS, and infrastructure. This funding is not for game development itself but for services that improve existing games.

Building on Shochiku’s recent indie game publishing success (e.g., MiSide – 80,000+ Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews), the program focuses on Proof of Concept (PoC) development, leveraging Shochiku’s existing game titles. Selected companies will receive funding, a trip to Tokyo, and access to top Japanese VCs, publishers, and partners.

Key Details:

• Funding: Up to $100,000 (USD) per selected company (non-equity)
• Focus: Game-enhancing technologies (middleware, SaaS, infrastructure – not game development)
• Opportunity: PoC development with Shochiku titles, Japan market entry/expansion, networking with key industry players.
• Backed By: Shochiku Ventures, part of the historic Shochiku Group.
• Application Deadline: May 19, 2025 (11:59 PM JST)

The full press lelease below:

Key Topics Include the Global Gaming Market, Mobile Monetization Trends, Player Engagement Led by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and Rising Investments Tools and Platforms

Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, proudly announces the release of the Q1 2025 Edition of “The Xsolla Report: The State of Play.” This detailed report provides crucial insights, trends, and opportunities shaping the gaming landscape, empowering industry professionals to adapt and thrive in today’s rapidly changing market.

The Q1 2025 Edition focuses on the rapid growth of the global gaming market, which is expected to reach $522.5 billion in 2025 and expand at a 7.25% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), hitting $691.3 billion by 2029. The United States, poised to generate the largest revenue share for mobile games, will further solidify its position as the world’s top gaming market, contributing approximately $141 billion to the total revenue. This surge is driven mainly by the continued rise of mobile gaming, fueled by increasing smartphone adoption, advancing technology, and a more connected global market. The mobile gaming market is expected to accelerate at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%, with 9.9% growth projected for 2025 alone.

The report also highlights shifting player engagement trends, with Gen Z and Gen Alpha leading. These digital-native generations are redefining the gaming landscape by gravitating toward interactive, socially connected, and player-generated content. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube fuel deeper community interactions, solidifying gaming as not just entertainment but as a social and cultural force.

Technological advancements continue to shape the industry, with AI and cloud gaming at the forefront of innovation. Cloud gaming, projected to generate $25.3 billion by 2029, is breaking accessibility barriers by enabling high-performance, device-agnostic streaming. Meanwhile, AI is revolutionizing game development, optimizing workflows, and creating personalized player experiences boosting engagement and retention. As the gaming sector rapidly evolves, industry leaders such as Activision Blizzard, NVIDIA, and Microsoft are positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation, driving investment and expansion across cloud gaming, AI, and new monetization models.

“The convergence of AI and cloud gaming is revolutionizing the industry, making high-quality gaming experiences more immersive, scalable, and accessible than ever before,” said Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer at Xsolla. “AI is streamlining development and enhancing player engagement, while cloud gaming is removing hardware barriers, allowing more players to connect seamlessly while providing alternative payment models like pay-as-you-go for users. This technological shift isn’t just shaping the future – it’s defining it.”

In addition to these findings, the report also highlights a defining trend shaping the industry: the democratization of game development, which is paving the way for social impact gaming. With game development tools increasingly accessible, a new generation of change makers is emerging—young creators leveraging gaming to address community challenges and drive meaningful social engagement.

The full report outlines the current trends and strategic opportunities in the global gaming market, offering invaluable insights for developers and industry stakeholders.

For more information and to access the Q1 2025 Edition of “The Xsolla Report: The State of Play,” visit: xsolla.pro/txrq125