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Make way for the in-game advertising revolution
Nicola Halpin, Senior Director of Sales at Adverty, on why brands must wake up to the creative possibilities inherent within in-game advertising
In-game advertising remains unchartered territory for the vast majority of brands, yet a large-scale shift towards seamless and non-interruptive in-game advertising which sits alongside the immersive experience of increasingly popular virtual worlds has already begun.
Indeed, with around three billion gamers worldwide, this industry offers unlimited, lucrative opportunities for marketers looking to upgrade from traditional advertising methods.
In the mobile space, 5G is one of the most exciting developments – heralding greater creative freedom and unlimited possibilities. According to a report from games analytics company, Newzoo, there will be some 2.1 billion 5G-ready smartphones globally by 2023, accounting for 42.7% of active smartphones. The mobile market’s transition towards this fifth generation of mobile network technology has already begun, with countries around the world rolling out 5G networks, and many of the leading smartphone manufacturers having launched flagship 5G smartphones.
Meanwhile, Newzoo’s report also notes that the era of hypercasual on mobile is branching out into exciting areas with new ways to play leading to new ways to pay, including bundles, direct purchases and ad-based revenues.
With innovations such Adverty’s unobtrusive In-Play and In-Menu ad formats – designed to make in-game advertising a powerful performance as well as a branding channel – brands are starting to wake up to the possibilities. They will be pleased that they did: Our recent research into the reception of in-game advertising indicated that respondents preferred ads which blended seamlessly into the gameplay experience – compared to 30% favourability for a standard banner ad, for instance.
It is now possible to reach mobile gamers non-intrusively – to add to, rather than to detract from – the immersive experience. And with lockdowns having led to consumers engaging with mobile gaming more than ever, with Adverty’s traffic, for instance, going up 35%, this is a trend that looks set to stay. Post lockdown, rather than diminishing, this traffic plateaued.
Besides, gaming is an increasingly popular pastime for a much broader demographic than many assume, too, with Nick Sperrin, Chief Client Officer, Dentsu UK, pointing out that DGame, its specialist division set up to help brands reach and engage with gaming audiences was developed “in response to a rapidly changing marketplace which has mass, not niche, potential.”
Despite this, there remains a huge disconnect between brand investment that is pouring into social media, by way of example, versus gaming – despite both areas having broadly similar reach. Gamers are both male and female, and many are mature – with significant spending power.
So, with the technology advancing all the time and 5G offering increased sophistication and creative freedom, it’s time that brands made the most of native in-game placements. By way of example, Adverty’s formats can’t be turned off by ad blockers; they offer brand awareness and brand safety – and they can run programmatically. In-Menu represents a clickable ad unit which can lead gamers directly to offers or purchase, with even automotive brands are becoming active in this space – proving that there is increasing awareness that games are not just played by kids, but by decision makers and money makers, too.
Many play games daily, too, while the eSports category is exploding. So it should come as no surprise to learn that brand safe advertising which is well-received in this context, without disturbing game play, delivers results. For instance, for Unilever brand, Knorr, a clickable banner in the mobile casual game, Subway Surfers, delivered over 5.76 million viewable impressions and almost seven seconds in average view time per impression. Besides this, Adverty’s patented BrainImpression technology, which is based on research around the anatomy of the human eye and brain perception, enables us only charge the advertiser when we know the ads have been fully perceived by the consumer. There is no catch: You only get charged for ads that are seen.
What’s more, our recent brand lift study with Dentsu Data Labs highlighted the potential impact of in-game executions – with ad awareness up 84% and brand recall up 78%. Clearly there is minimal risk when it comes to putting your money in this space, with advertising that blends in well. It’s becoming increasingly evident that brands ignore the in-game revolution at their peril.

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Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem
Jelly, one of India’s leading Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) athletes, representing Infinix True Rippers, has issued an appeal to the esports community to stand against cyberbullying and threats in the esports ecosystem.
Following the BMPS 2025 Semifinals 2, where Jelly was performing with the sole goal of helping his team qualify for the grand finals, the player faced a wave of online hate, including abusive messages and death threats, all for eliminating a rival and his former team.
In a heartfelt statement, Jelly explained: “I am here to qualify just like every other team. If there is a fight against GodLike, I cannot just put my guns down and I also don’t know who is in front of me. Every team on this stage is here to play for victory. I wanted both teams to qualify, theirs and mine, but because of mistakes, neither of us made it. It is not because of one fight alone that things went wrong.”
Jelly also condemned the personal attacks he has faced and appealed for a safer esports ecosystem:
“No player deserves hate or threats for doing their job and competing. We put in countless hours to train, just like any athlete in any sport. We need to stand for fair, safe, and respectful esports, without fear of abuse.”
With esports continuing to grow as a mainstream sport in India, the need for stronger measures to protect players from cyberbullying and online harassment is more crucial than ever. Jelly emphasized that athletes, content creators, and fans deserve a positive, supportive environment to thrive.
The 24-year-old pro has pledged to use his platform to promote safe gaming practices and challenge toxic behavior within the gaming community.
Infinix True Rippers, the team Jelly represents, also extended their support to his statement, reiterating their commitment to building a culture of fairness, mental well-being, and respect in Indian esports.
The post Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform
Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io sign on following Optimove’s regional launch
Optimove, the creator of Positionless Marketing and the #1 Player Engagement Platform in iGaming, today announced that three leading APAC iGaming operators: Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io have selected Optimove as their player engagement platform. This follows the company’s formal launch of operations in Asia-Pacific and underscores its momentum in the region.
The announcement comes immediately after Optimove’s appointment of iGaming veteran Jack Wheeler to head the APAC region. Wheeler and team are driving regional growth and supporting operators in scaling player engagement strategies through data, personalization, and AI-driven orchestration.
“Our rapid adoption in the region is validation that iGaming operators in APAC are forward thinking, with a deep commitment to meaningful player engagement,” said Jack Wheeler, Senior Account Executive and Head of APAC. “Optimove’s ability to empower operators that embrace Positionless Marketing to increase marketing efficiency by 88% is ushering the APAC iGaming industry into an era where real-time marketing execution is scalable.”
Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform gives marketing teams the power to independently launch and optimize campaigns across channels without waiting on engineering, creatives, or analysts.
The company’s Optimove Ignite+ program, played a key role in accelerating adoption across the region. The comprehensive program is designed to accelerate growth for emerging iGaming and sports betting operators. It offers exclusive access to Optimove’s #1 Player Engagement Platform, along with expert CRM guidance, actionable insights, and proprietary industry benchmarks. Optimove Ignite+ empowers operators to enhance player engagement, improve marketing efficiency, and scale efficiently in a highly competitive market.
“These partnerships mark a major step forward in our mission to help operators across APAC build deeper, longer-lasting relationships with their players,” said Motti Colman, VP of Revenue at Optimove. “It underscores that Positionless Marketing, and its ability to free marketers to execute personalized player journeys without bottlenecks, is a key to growth in competitive markets. We’re honored to be chosen.”
With regional operators facing rising competition and evolving player expectations, Optimove provides the tools to act instantly on data, deliver personalized experiences, and drive lifetime value all from a single, AI-powered platform.
The post Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025
PepsiCo brings back Pepsi and introduces Mountain Dew, energising the global gaming community at the world’s largest esports event.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced its renewed partnership with PepsiCo, establishing Pepsi and Mountain Dew as Main Partners of the Esports World Cup 2025, set to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With Pepsi and Mountain Dew joining the EWC, both iconic beverages will fuel and energize the worldwide gaming community.
The renewed partnership marks the continued expansion of PepsiCo’s footprint in gaming and a bold step forward in delivering world-class experiences to fans in Riyadh and around the globe.
Following its debut as a Founding Partner in 2024, Pepsi returns to the Esports World Cup with an expanded presence across the 2025 festival. Activations will include immersive fan zones, large-scale product sampling, and co-branded content with artists, creators, and players.
Mountain Dew, joining as a Main Partner for the first time, is levelling up players’ game in EWC 2025 to EWC 2025. A long-standing supporter of gaming, the brand will deliver immersive on-site experiences, exclusive merchandise drops, and branded competitions that resonate from grassroots to pro. With a digital-first campaign themed “Dew levels up your game,” Mountain Dew will activate across KSA social channels, broadcast, and festival touchpoints — reinforcing its ambition to lead in gaming culture and power the next generation of players.
Both brands will feature prominently throughout the event — from the Opening Ceremony to hospitality areas — with branded fridges and product placement across esports venues, the Players’ Lounge, and festival grounds, uniting music, gaming, and entertainment to deliver high-energy fan experiences.
Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “We’re excited to have Pepsi and Mountain Dew back as Main Partners for the second year. These are brands that truly get gaming and its fans. With their support, this year’s Esports World Cup will be an even bigger celebration of community and creativity”
Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay, and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.
To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
The post PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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