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Gaming startup GOALS scores $15M seed round to build the number one AAA football game
Online football game GOALS, has announced a $15M seed round. Northzone, a global VC firm which has backed Spotify, Klarna, Trustpilot, and Homa Games, led the round with participation from previous investors Cherry Ventures, Moonfire Ventures, Banana Capital and new investors Not Boring Capital and Cassius. The round features notable angels such as FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique, Sorare co-founder and CEO Nicolas Julia, Axie co-founder and COO Aleksander Larsen, metaverse expert Matthew Ball, and web3 authority Magdalena Kala. The funds will allow GOALS to double their headcount recruiting another 30 game developers by the end of 2022.
GOALS is a fast-paced and multiplayer-first football game primarily for PC and consoles that offers a unique and attractive way for gamers to own in-game digital assets as they play. With a focus on quicker and more responsive gameplay, GOALS is different from existing football games by creating a fun, competitive and rewarding experience. Being free-to-play and cross-platform, GOALS provides a completely frictionless opportunity for gamers and football fans to enjoy the beautiful game like never before.
Through the utilization of environmentally friendly blockchain technology, GOALS allows true digital ownership of in-game assets. These in-game assets are earned for free through gameplay and can be used in the game or traded freely at any point.
“We’re thrilled to announce a seed round by an amazing group of VCs and fantastic angel investors”, said GOALS co-founder and CEO Andreas Thorstensson. “We have been in the very fortunate position where investors reached out to us before we were actually fundraising so we were able to pick the ones we felt had the best fit for GOALS. The current investors have the perfect combination of expertise in gaming, sports, web3 and company growth. With GOALS I am building my dream company. It combines my deep interest in sports, gaming, esports and new technology. After playing most football games on the market and observing the esports scene for a long time I could see that gamers deserved something new. GOALS is a gameplay-first football game. Free to play, cross-play, multiplayer-focused, and esports-ready where the players can finally own their in-game items instead of renting them.”
Football and gaming are respectively two enormous markets. With 3.5 billion football fans and 2.9 billion gamers, the estimated market for virtual goods in this space is valued at close to $190bn. Major players have bet big on realism and licensing to sustain their market positions. This leaves a huge space for companies like GOALS who can deliver an esports ready product that offers the accessibility and non-stop action of other online giants like Rocket League. GOALS’ play-and-own business model is ideally placed to service the new market for NFTs which is itself estimated to reach $80Bn by 2025. Gamers will own their players and teams to take part in professional online leagues.
“Andreas has gathered around him a stellar team. They’ve identified a unique opportunity at the intersection of metaverse and football, the world’s largest sport. Web3 and the technology behind innovations like NFTs will power the next generation of businesses in this space and GOALS is poised to become a leader in their own category”, adds Pär-Jörgen Pärson, a partner at Northzone and sitting on the GOALS board.
“GOALS represents a rare investment opportunity. The game they’re building is original and fun, and their growth and business model is truly impressive. Andreas is as impressive a founder as I’ve ever met, has a solid vision and a clear execution plan. From a personal perspective too, this intersection of football, gaming, esports and NFTs covers so much of what I find fascinating. I’m really excited to see where we go from here” says Mattias Ljungman, founder of Moonfire Ventures.
“GOALS is not just a game, but a team on a mission,” says Sophia Bendz, partner at Cherry Ventures, which also led GOALS’ pre-seed round. “In just a few short weeks, GOALS grew its following to well over 25,000 people on social media and thousands upon thousands in Discord. GOALS is creating something people have long wanted. We’re excited to be with them on their journey in creating a new football game people love.”
Founded in late 2021, GOALS has already built a team with an impressive set of skills and track record of successes in entrepreneurship, engineering, game development, gaming, esport and web3. This funding will allow them to grow further in the game development area. As a gaming start-up, GOALS has taken the lead in offering a diverse and inclusive workplace to better attract developers from competing firms.
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Inside RedCore’s Communications Hub: The One-Integration Solution Powering Faster, Smarter Messaging
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European Gaming Media visited RedCore’s impressive multi-brand booth at SiGMA Central Europe in Rome to take a closer look at one of their most technically impactful products: the Communications Hub. Designed as an all-in-one solution for digital businesses, the Communications Hub aggregates multiple verified communication providers – from SMS and calls to high-volume messaging services – into a single platform with one integration and one admin panel.
To explore the technology behind the product, we sat down with Bohdan Bulatsan, CTO of the Communications Hub and a seasoned software engineer with over a decade of experience.
At iGaming, speed and reliability are everything. How does Communications Hub keep messages flowing flawlessly even under pressure?
We have developed a new engine designed specifically to keep our customers’ messages moving smoothly, even during high-pressure periods. One of the key features is our block-geo mechanism, which allows account managers to block certain message types or specific regions when needed.
Combined with our backup system and intelligent routing, this ensures that messages continue to reach their destination reliably, no matter the load or external pressure.
You’ve made adding new providers incredibly fast. What’s the secret sauce behind this ‘integration magic’?
Our technical team is constantly improving the integration process because it’s a core priority for us. One of the main reasons we can move so fast is our universal SDK (Software Development Kit). It includes all the common features and connection points that most providers rely on, so when we start an integration, we can do it quickly and efficiently.
We also run strict pre-integration tests to catch any potential issues before going live. All of this makes the entire process smoother, more reliable, and much faster for our clients.
With so much analytics coming from every channel, how do you turn all that data into actionable insights for businesses?
That’s a good question. Our analytics model brings together all the data from every service and communication channel and aggregates it in one place. This makes it much easier for our customers to filter, understand, and work with the information quickly.
Because everything is centralized, businesses can see the full picture and make faster, more informed decisions that directly support their growth and profitability.
How is SiGMA going for the Communications Hub? What’s your feedback from the event and what are your plans for the future?
SiGMA has been a very good event for us. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from visitors and participants, which is always great to see. Looking ahead, our focus is on expanding the product even further, adding new features and continuing to scale the Communications Hub to meet the needs of our clients.
The post Inside RedCore’s Communications Hub: The One-Integration Solution Powering Faster, Smarter Messaging appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Peter & Sons Strengthens Its Nordic Footprint Through Partnership with Nordplay Group
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Award-winning game studio Peter & Sons has expanded its presence in the Nordic region through a new partnership with Nordplay Group, the acclaimed iGaming operator behind some of Sweden’s most celebrated online casino brands, including Frank & Fred, Pop Casino, Klirr, Jubla, and Onerush, which also serves players in Estonia and Finland.
Nordplay Group has established itself as a dynamic force in European iGaming — proudly global yet lean in operation, with a curated catalogue of premium entertainment enriched by its distinctive Nordic flair. Guided by its ethos, “We scale impact, not size,” the group continues to build a loyal player base across multiple regulated markets.
Through this collaboration, players across Nordplay Group’s platforms will also be among the first to experience Peter & Sons’ newest December releases — Bad Santa and Barbarossa: Dragon Empire. These fresh additions showcase the studio’s evolving creative direction, blending bold visual identity, heightened storytelling, and high-engagement mechanics. Alongside these launches, Nordplay Group’s audience will gain access to a curated selection of Peter & Sons titles featuring the studio’s signature offbeat characters, distinctive artistry, and immersive game worlds.
The Nordics remain one of Europe’s most competitive and innovation-driven iGaming regions. Partnering with Nordplay Group marks a significant milestone for Peter & Sons as the studio continues its expansion across key regulated European markets.
Yann Bautista, Commercial Director & Founder at Peter & Sons, said: “Partnering with Nordplay Group is a thrilling step in our Nordic journey. Their commitment to premium entertainment, modern player experiences, and smart, scalable growth aligns perfectly with our creative philosophy. We’re excited to bring our unique worlds, quirky characters, and next-gen mechanics to even more players across the region.”
Linda Guranova, Head of Games at Nordplay Group added: “Peter & Sons has carved out a distinctive identity in the industry — their imaginative slots, bold visual style, and narrative-driven gameplay truly stand out. We’re delighted to welcome their games to our brands and deliver even more memorable entertainment to our players in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and beyond.”
This partnership highlights another important chapter in Peter & Sons’ European expansion, following recent market entries across the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, and other regulated jurisdictions.
The post Peter & Sons Strengthens Its Nordic Footprint Through Partnership with Nordplay Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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