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One year later: YAS HEAT ESPORTS celebrates first anniversary following significant strides in just 12 months
Yas Marina Circuit-based esports squad looks back over a hugely impressive 12 months
YAS HEAT ESPORTS celebrates an important milestone this month, as August 2021 signals the first anniversary of the team’s conception, when a new era for esports in the Middle East began.
One year on, and the Yas Marina Circuit-based team continues to raise eyebrows and turn heads on the global esports stage across multiple platforms and gaming titles. In just 12 short months and a total of 1168 races, YAS HEAT has achieved 786 podiums (67%), 493 victories (42%) and nine championships.
In addition, YAS HEAT has participated in some of the esports calendar’s most prestigious events, including a seventh-place finish in the Virtual Olympics for Angel Inostroza and a Red Bull, Fordzilla and R8G-beating V10 R League campaign.
A number of high-profile partnerships have also emerged during this period. A collaboration with Microsoft resulted in the immensely popular Microsoft GP – featuring high-profile competitors such as Jamie Chadwick, MaximeMXM and Ramez Azzam – while Pirelli and Richard Mille also came on board with their own special edition eye-catching liveries.
The YAS HEAT Academy has also seen unprecedented success in its first year, discovering regional talent and offering aspiring virtual racers an opportunity to prove their worth at the highest level. The young hopefuls also received expert knowledge on what it takes to be a professional sports person from the academy’s specialist lecturer and ex-England Rugby player Tom May.
While these achievements certainly highlight YAS HEAT as one of the world’s most competitive esports teams and a force to be reckoned with, the squad shows no signs of slowing down with the Le Mans Virtual Series and many other championships on the horizon.
Saif Al-Noaimi, Team Principal, YAS HEAT said: “What YAS HEAT has achieved in just one year is nothing short of spectacular. We’re going up against established teams in the esports industry and we have won 493 races and nine championships – it’s just incredible.
“We’re not stopping here though. We have grand plans for the next 12 months of YAS HEAT and we’re going to be pushing to be better than ever, continuing our academy programme as well as entering into more and more championships – we can’t wait!
“Of course, we have to mention all of our hard-working drivers, dedicated sponsors and all those behind the scenes who keep our operation running smoothly. Without them, the success we’ve achieved and the reputation we have built would not be possible.”
Ygam and TSB Bank have joined forces to help increase understanding of in-game spending and help young gamers manage their money with confidence.
Ygam and TSB Bank have joined forces to help increase understanding of in-game spending and help young gamers manage their money with confidence.
As part of this collaboration, they have co-created specialist educational resources for schools. Developed with Ygam’s expertise and delivered by TSB Bank staff as part of their school’s programme which runs throughout the UK, the module aims to provide young gamers with practical guidance on managing their money and understanding potential financial risks while gaming.
A recent Censuswide survey of over 2,000 young gamers, commissioned by TSB, found that while the average initial cost of a game is £32, gamers spend an average of £540 annually on in-game purchases and subscriptions. Nearly half (47%) of those who spend money in-game feel they have little or no control over their spending while playing.
Linda Scollins Smith, Director of Programmes at Ygam, said: “Gaming now plays a central role in young people’s lives, offering significant benefits. However, it is always important to safeguard against the risks, and the increasing sophistication of game monetisation through microtransactions and in-game purchases underscores the need for education on this issue. We are delighted to be working with TSB to support their school programmes, combining financial education with gaming education, to help young gamers develop healthy habits and navigate the digital world safely.”
Kate Osiadacz, Head of Responsible Business, TSB, said: “Gaming is often one of young people’s first interactions with spending or managing their money digitally; so we’re pleased to be working with Ygam to reach young people with targeted advice. Our Money Confident schools programme greatly benefits from Ygam’s insight – and we’re keen help empower the next generation to make informed decisions for their financial lives ahead.”
According to a 2024 Mumsnet survey commissioned by Ygam, 88% of parents in the UK believe schools should provide education on gaming, despite only 35% reporting that their children currently do. Furthermore, 99% of these parents think this education should begin by the end of Key Stage 2.
Alongside developing educational resources, Ygam and TSB Bank will collaborate on a range of initiatives throughout 2025 to raise awareness of this issue and support families in avoiding unexpected costs from gaming.
For more information about Ygam and our portfolio of education programmes, please visit our training pages or email [email protected].
The post Ygam team up with TSB Bank appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
MixRift unveils brand new strategic PvP arena gaming experience
MixRift, an innovative mixed reality (MR) gaming developer, today announced the official launch of Battle Orb, a competitive strategy game which invites players to challenge each other and transform their physical surroundings into dynamic battlefields. Available now for Meta Quest platforms, Battle Orb represents the next evolution in mutli-player MR gaming.
A first PvP game for MixRift, Battle Orb allows players to step into immersive arenas where physical and digital worlds collide. Skill meets chaos in this fast-paced multiplayer strategy game, which challenges players to aim, shoot, and dominate with speed and precision across customized battlefields, combining tactical thinking with physics-based gameplay. Every hit counts as players collide, strategise and outplay opponents from around the world, from the comfort of their own homes. Players can compete in 2-player or 4-player battles, earn trophies, unlock and upgrade powerful units, and master unique arenas to climb the leaderboard.
“With Battle Orb, we’re not just launching a game, we’re basically turning your living room into a fantasy battleground.” said Bobby Voicu, CEO of MixRift. “We wanted to create something where anyone can jump in and start having fun in seconds, but that you could also master and keep replaying. I think this is what the future of gaming looks like, and it’s a blast!”
Key Features:
- HD Graphics: Cutting-edge MR design technology creates a truly immersive gaming experience
- Creative Character Options: Choose from tens of monsters, creatures, and cartoons to play with – each one zanier than the last
- Real-Time PvP Action: Face-off in 2-player or 4-player matches full of high-stakes action
- Physics Meets Strategy: Master the perfect angle, power, and timing to outmaneuver opponents, and perfect your shots to climb through the ranks
- Unique Units & Powers: Earn wins and open loot chests to unlock and upgrade special characters and abilities
- Environmental Integration: Scale your battlefield to fit any space, turning living rooms into competitive arenas
- Competitive Progression: Climb global leaderboards through a rewarding rank system and prove you’re the righteous winner
The game’s intuitive controls ensure players of all skill levels can jump in immediately, while the strategic elements provide long-term engagement for competitive gamers. Battle Orb’s intuitive and quick matchmaking system means players are matched with others in similar ranks within seconds.
Battle Orb has been designed with comfort and safety in mind, earning a “Comfortable” rating and PEGI 3 classification, making it appropriate for players of all ages while still delivering compelling gameplay for serious competitors.
“We’ve created Battle Orb to be a really special mixed-reality competitive experience,” said Voicu. “The way it transforms your physical environment into a strategic battlefield creates moments of gaming magic that simply aren’t possible in traditional formats.”
Availability:
Battle Orb is available now on the Meta Quest Store for Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 2 platforms. The game requires an internet connection for its online features.
For more information, visit https://mixrift.com/ or follow MixRift on social media for updates, tournaments, and community highlights.
The post Physics-Based Strategy Meets Mixed Reality: Battle Orb Redefines Competitive Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Blask, the AI-powered analytics ecosystem for the iGaming industry, has added nine new countries to its Market Overview dashboard — bringing total coverage to 55 global jurisdictions. The latest update significantly strengthens the platform’s insights across Tier 1 and established markets.
Newly added countries include the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and France. These markets are now fully available inside Blask’s Market Overview dashboard, with access to key performance indicators:
- Blask Index – a general signal of overall brand activity in the market
- BAP (Brand Accumulated Power) – reflects audience interest based on search trends and engagement
- APS (Acquisition Power Score) – measures how effective a brand is at acquiring new users
- CEB (Competitive Earning Baseline) – estimates a brand’s potential earnings within its competitive environment
“This expansion sharpens our coverage where it matters most,” said Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask. “Tier 1 markets are where competition is toughest — and decisions need to be backed by data. With these additions, Blask gives operators a clearer edge in navigating regulated, high-value regions.”
The Market Overview dashboard is designed to help operators, suppliers, and affiliates benchmark brand performance at the country level, track market dynamics, and spot early trends.
This release follows previous expansions into Asia, Latin America, and Africa, as Blask continues to respond to user demand for reliable, granular insights across the global iGaming landscape.
The post Blask expands Market Overview dashboard with 10 new countries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ygam team up with TSB Bank
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Blask expands Market Overview dashboard with 10 new countries
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