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Tickets are available now for Red Bull Home Ground 2022: Talent and the first round of teams announced for the pro VALORANT invitational!

Published

3 years ago

October 12, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Red Bull Home Ground will see eight of the best VALORANT teams go head to head in December for the finals, broadcast from Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.
The first round of teams for the pro invitational has been announced including Team Liquid, Team Vitality, FOKUS Clan, the Turkish Qualifier winners FUT Esports & EMEA Qualifier winner Team BIG – with the full lineup set to be released via Red Bull Gaming socials.
Yinsu Collins returns to host the third iteration of Red Bull Home Ground, alongside Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.
Special appearances from G2 Gozen and “Legends Never Die” singer Chrissy Costanza.
AGON by AOC is the official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins Red Bull Home Ground as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.

Tickets are now available for the one-of-a-kind pro-VALORANT competition, Red Bull Home Ground. As an official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments and returning to the vibrant city of Manchester for its third iteration, eight of the world’s elite teams will battle it out to be crowned champions in a unique ‘Home and Away’ format from December 9th-11th.

9th December: Best-of-three group stages begin; two teams will immediately pass to the semi finals, four will pass to the quarter-finals, and two will be eliminated.
10th December: Kicking off at 16:00 CET, the quarter-finals will switch to a best-of-five format, eliminating two more teams.
11th December: Fans can catch the four teams battling it out in the semi finals from 13:00 CET, with the losing teams from each match-up facing an immediate knockout. Leaving two teams to battle it out in the finals for the Red Bull Home Ground 2022 trophy.

For the first time, Red Bull Home Ground has opened its doors to teams outside of Europe who are set to make waves going up against the EMEA’s best teams, taking their best shot at the $100,000 prize pool. These invitations promise fierce competition as Red Bull Home Ground will witness rivalries reignite for the first time outside the VALORANT Champions Tournament. Before, we’ve seen EMEA battle it out on the Red Bull Home Ground Stage, but now it’s time for the Americas teams to prove their skills.

Fans will get the chance to see eight world-class international VALORANT teams, including last year’s Red Bull Home Ground champions Team Liquid go head-to-head as the first round of teams has been announced, with more set to be revealed soon:

Team Liquid
Team Vitality
FOKUS Clan
TO BE ANNOUNCED
TO BE ANNOUNCED
TO BE ANNOUNCED
FUT Esports – TR Qualifier
Team BIG – EMEA Qualifier

FUT Esports grabbed their spot during the closed Turkish Qualifiers in August. This year’s EMEA Open Qualifier took place on Sunday and saw German organisation Team BIG emerge victorious. In an incredibly close final, BIG went head to head with KOI, securing the win over the Spanish squad.

Providing insight into the team’s dynamics and expert opinions throughout the tournament, Yinsu Collins is set to return as the host of the invitational alongside commentators; Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.

An official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments, Red Bull Home Ground will also feature special guest appearances from from G2’s female VALORANT roster G2 Gozen and Against The Current front-woman and recent desk host of the VALORANT Champions Tour, Chrissy Costanza. Taking a break from inventing, VALORANT Agent “Killjoy” will also make her way to Red Bull Home Ground; stay updated on her journey via her TikTok closer to the event. Fans can also anticipate some exciting cosmetic content drops throughout the tournament’s gameplay.

Red Bull Home Ground pioneers a pulse-racing Home and Away structure that puts an exciting curveball on the traditional VALORANT format. The two competing teams will select a “home ground” to play on for the open two maps. This structure rewards tactical awareness, map knowledge and wider map usage; if a team wins both opening “home” and “away” matches, they automatically win the tie, while a stalemate will default the tie to the traditional best of format.

Embracing the pulsing atmosphere of Manchester, the Red Bull Home Ground cyberpunk aesthetic sets a futuristic mood for this year’s event. The combination of eight world-class teams, global rivalries, and famous hosts offers the live audience a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Victoria Warehouse. The event will be brought to life for digital audiences across the globe, made available in several languages on Twitch and YouTube.

VALORANT analyst, commentator and content creator Beatriz “Kaquka” Alonso said: “Red Bull Home Ground brings together some of the world’s top teams, giving us the opportunity to see completely new match-ups and teams partnerships ahead of next year. The unique format means we’ll see teams perform and strategise in totally new ways, bringing unpredictability to one of the most anticipated tournaments for some time. I look forward to catching up with the UK VALORANT community and fans in the vibrant city of Manchester- see you there!”

Going into its third edition, Red Bull Home Ground is the premier Red Bull event for VALORANT and, alongside Red Bull Campus Clutch – an open global VALORANT tournament for students – encapsulates the brand´s continued commitment to support the VALORANT community and uplift its competitive ecosystem, from a grassroots level with an array of local initiatives to the very highest echelons of esports. National Qualifiers are taking place across the world right now, head over to redbull .com/campusclutch for more information

To level up last year’s tournament and create a truly unforgettable experience for teams and fans alike, Red Bull Home Ground has teamed up with gaming and esports industry leaders. AGON by AOC, a global leader in gaming monitors, is the Official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Also supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.

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

Published

5 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.

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

Published

5 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.

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

Published

5 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: