Latest News
BAFTA announces the best games of 2023
BAFTA released its list of the 60 best games of 2023, selected by over 1,200 BAFTA members, experienced games professionals from across the global industry. The list is the ‘longlist’ for the 2024 BAFTA Games Awards, the industry’s most prestigious awards that celebrate the best games of the year and the people who make them.
Jane Millichip, BAFTA CEO, said: “For 20 years, BAFTA has celebrated great talent in the games industry with the annual BAFTA Games Awards. This year, we hope to amplify that celebration by publishing our Best Games of 2023 list – the longlist for next year’s Awards, as voted for by games industry professionals – just in time to inspire some festive gameplay.”
257 games were entered for consideration by BAFTA members this year, which were all released between 10 December 2022 and 24 November 2023. 60 games are now the running for at least one BAFTA nomination across 17 competitive categories. BAFTA members will begin voting to decide the nominations in the Best Game and British Game categories in January 2024. BAFTA juries will decide the nominations in the other 15 categories. The nominations will be announced on Thursday 7 March 2024. Following the nominations, BAFTA’s games members will vote for the winners in Best Game and British Game, and juries will vote for the winners in the other categories.
The winners will be announced at the 2024 BAFTA Games Awards on Thursday 11 April. BAFTA’s annual Awards is one of the biggest events in the international games calendar, attended by the industry and reaching an audience of millions online.
The 60 best games of the year (longlist), in alphabetical order:
- Alan Wake 2 (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Music, Narrative, Technical Achievement, Performer in a Leading Role, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Animation, Audio Achievement, Music)
- Atomic Heart (Debut Game)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Multiplayer, Music, Narrative, Technical Achievement, Performer in a Leading Role, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- Battlefield 2042 (Evolving Game)
- Bluey: The Videogame (Family)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Audio Achievement, Multiplayer, Technical Achievement)
- Cassette Beasts (British Game)
- Chants of Sennaar (Game Beyond Entertainment, New Intellectual Property)
- COCOON (Artistic Achievement, Best Game, Debut Game, Family, Game Design, New Intellectual Property)
- Cyberpunk 2077 (Evolving Game, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- DAVE THE DIVER (Best Game, Debut Game, Family, Game Design, Narrative, New Intellectual Property)
- Dead Island 2 (British Game)
- Deliver Us Mars (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Diablo IV (Artistic Achievement, Multiplayer, Music, Narrative)
- Disney Illusion Island (British Game, Family, Multiplayer)
- DREDGE (Best Game, Debut Game, Game Design, Narrative, New Intellectual Property)
- EA SPORTS FC 24 (Family, Multiplayer)
- EA SPORTS WRC (British Game)
- En Garde! (Debut Game)
- F1 23 (British Game)
- Final Fantasy XIV: Online (Evolving Game)
- FINAL FANTASY XVI (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Music, Narrative, Technical Achievement, Performer in a Leading Role, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- Football Manager 2024 (British Game)
- Fortnite (Evolving Game)
- Forza Horizon 5 (Evolving Game)
- Forza Motorsport (Multiplayer)
- Genshin Impact (Evolving Game)
- Goodbye Volcano High (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Hi-Fi RUSH (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Family, Music, New Intellectual Property)
- Hogwarts Legacy (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Family, Game Design, Music, Narrative, Technical Achievement)
- Horizon Call of the Mountain (Technical Achievement)
- Jusant (Game Beyond Entertainment, New Intellectual Property)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Music, Narrative, Technical Achievement)
- LEGO 2K Drive (Family, Multiplayer)
- Lies of P (New Intellectual Property)
- Lords of the Fallen (Debut Game)
- The Making of Karateka (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Evolving Game)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Music, Technical Achievement, Performer in a Leading Role, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- Mortal Kombat 1 (Multiplayer)
- No Man’s Sky (Evolving Game)
- Party Animals (Multiplayer)
- Planet of Lana (Debut Game)
- POWERWASH SIMULATOR (Evolving Game)
- Sea of Stars (New Intellectual Property)
- Sea of Thieves (Evolving Game)
- Sonic Superstars (Family)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Animation, Audio Achievement, Best Game, Music, Narrative, Performer in a Leading Role, Performer in a Supporting Role)
- Starfield (Narrative, New Intellectual Property, Technical Achievement)
- Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Debut Game)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Animation, Artistic Achievement, Best Game, Family, Game Design, Multiplayer)
- Tchia (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Terra Nil (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (British Game)
- Thirsty Suitors (Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Tron: Identity (British Game)
- Venba (Debut Game, Game Beyond Entertainment)
- Viewfinder (British Game, Debut Game, Game Beyond Entertainment, Game Design, New Intellectual Property, Technical Achievement)
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (British Game)
The 60 best games of the year (longlist), in order of no. of times longlisted:
Baldur’s Gate 3 (15)
Alan Wake 2 (14)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (10)
Hogwarts Legacy (9)
FINAL FANTASY XVI (8)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (8)
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (7)
COCOON (6)
DAVE THE DIVER (6)
Hi-Fi RUSH (6)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (6)
Viewfinder (6)
DREDGE (5)
Diablo IV (4)
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (3)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (3)
Disney Illusion Island (3)
Starfield (3)
Chants of Sennaar (2)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2)
EA SPORTS FC 24 (2)
Jusant (2)
LEGO 2K Drive (2)
Venba (2)
Atomic Heart (1)
Battlefield 2042 (1)
Bluey: The Videogame (1)
Cassette Beasts (1)
Dead Island 2 (1)
Deliver Us Mars (1)
EA Sports WRC (1)
En Garde! (1)
F1 23 (1)
Final Fantasy XIV: Online (1)
Football Manager 2024 (1)
Fortnite (1)
Forza Horizon 5 (1)
Forza Motorsport (1)
Genshin Impact (1)
Goodbye Volcano High (1)
Horizon Call of the Mountain (1)
Lies of P (1)
Lords of the Fallen (1)
The Making of Katateka (1)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (1)
Mortal Kombat 1 (1)
No Man’s Sky (1)
Party Animals (1)
Planet of Lana (1)
POWERWASH SIMULATOR (1)
Sea of Stars (1)
Sea of Thieves (1)
Sonic Superstars (1)
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (1)
Tchia (1)
Terra Nil (1)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1)
Thirsty Suitors (1)
Tron: Identity (1)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (1)
Top 10s in four awards categories:
Latest News
IAGR announces winners of 2025 Regulatory Awards
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced the winners of the IAGR International Regulatory Awards 2025, with regulators from Australia, Nigeria and Denmark taking home trophies during the IAGR Toronto conference.
IAGR President Ben Haden, who served on the judging panel, said this year’s winners demonstrate measurable progress and sustainable outcomes.
‘Our judges looked for clear problem definitions, robust interventions and evidence of impact. The 2025 winners show how thoughtful reforms, strong governance and targeted education can improve consumer protection and market integrity over the long term,’ said Haden.
- Regulatory Excellence Award: NSW Independent Casino Commission (Australia)
For leading a three-year, milestone-driven remediation of Crown Sydney following the Bergin Inquiry — eliminating junkets, strengthening financial-crime controls, enhancing harm-minimisation and reforming governance.
- ‘The NSW Independent Casino Commission is proud to be recognised for its dedication to restoring the expected standards at Crown Sydney. This has included three years of intense remediation which has completely transformed the casino’s governance, culture, safety and compliance functions.
- ‘The NICC has proven that it is possible to enact long lasting change and in doing so has set a new standard for Australian casino operations.’ – Murray Smith, Acting Chief Commissioner, NSW Independent Casino Commission
- Regulatory Innovation Award: Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (Nigeria)
For SAFEPLAY, Africa’s first regulator-led, multi-operator self-exclusion platform — centrally managed by the regulator and integrated with operator systems — creating a consistent, replicable model for consumer protection.
- ‘We are honoured to receive the IAGR Regulatory Innovation Award for our SafePlay initiative. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to responsible gambling, player protection, and data-driven regulation that puts the welfare of Lagos residents at the heart of our innovation.’ – Bashir A. Are, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority
- Best regulatory campaign: Danish Gambling Authority (Denmark)
For an interactive, school-based education programme that engages young people with practical demonstrations and surveys evidencing shifts away from gambling ‘to make money’ towards safer play and awareness of help services.
- This marks the second consecutive year that the Danish Gambling Authority has received the Best regulatory campaign award. ‘I’m very proud that IAGR has bestowed The Danish Gambling Authority with this award. It’s crucial that young people understand that gambling is designed so the player always loses in the long run. By conveying this message, we hope to promote a balanced attitude toward gambling and I’m extremely honoured that our efforts are recognised internationally.’ – Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority
These awards underscore the importance of collaboration, innovation and dedication in the global regulation of gambling.
The post IAGR announces winners of 2025 Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Yaspa named among CB Insights’ most promising fintech startups for 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Yaspa, an award-winning company specialising in iGaming payments and identity solutions, has been named among the 100 most promising fintech startups by CB Insights, a leader in predictive intelligence on private companies.
Now in its eighth year, the 2025 list showcases the most promising private fintech companies in the world.
Yaspa’s Intelligent Payments solution combines real-time open banking payments with AI-driven insights to help provide operators with broader and deeper player intelligence to optimise LTV, reduce fraud and promote responsible gambling.
This year has seen Yaspa celebrate a series of key milestones, including attracting $12m investment led by Discerning Capital, the opening of a new tech hub in Leeds and the formation of a US entity in Atlanta.
In 2025, the Yaspa team has grown to more than 70, including the addition of Chris Lowe as CFO and Renuka Rawlins as Head of Public Policy and Affairs. Earlier this month, Yaspa unveiled its new brand identity as it prepares to accelerate global growth.
Yaspa co-founder and CEO, James Neville, said: “It’s an absolute delight to be recognised by CB Insights for our work. “We’re listed alongside some impressive companies on the Fintech 100. From the foundation of Yaspa in 2017 we’ve been driven by a desire to explore the intersection between identity and money, and it’s rewarding to have this focus – and the value we can bring – recognised both by our growing customer base and the CB Insights analysis. Congratulations to everyone on the list.”
The list features early- and mid-stage startups driving the evolution of fintech. Utilising the CB Insights Strategy Terminal, the 100 winners were selected based on several factors, including CB Insights datasets on deal activity, industry partnerships, investor strength, hiring momentum, and private company signals such as Commercial Maturity and Mosaic Scores.
CB Insights also reviewed Analyst Briefings submitted directly to us by startups and leveraged Scouting Reports, powered by CB Insights’ Team of Agents.
Laura Kennedy, principal analyst at CB Insights, said: “This year’s Fintech 100 showcases a new generation of companies turning Al, automation and digital assets into the backbone of financial infrastructure.”
“This year’s winners are building the infrastructure that will shape the future of financial services.”
Quick facts on the 2025 Fintech 100:
- The 100 winners include 20 companies across digital assets solutions, 16 in financial operations and HR, 14 payments companies, and 13 in wealth management.
- 60+ companies on the list deploy Al in their solutions, and Al agents in particular are moving from workflows to financial infrastructure.
- $5.6B in equity funding raised over time, including more than $2B in 2025 so far (as of 10/22/2025).
- 60 companies from outside the United States, across 26 countries on 6 continents
- 640+ business relationships since 2021, including with industry leaders like Mastercard, Visa, Worldpay, Coinbase, and Circle.
The post Yaspa named among CB Insights’ most promising fintech startups for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
All Roads Lead to the Helicopter — N1 Partners Turns SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a Pit Stop for Deals
Reading Time: 2 minutes
N1 Partners is heading to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 with Booth 5056 G, charged with drive, precision, and the spirit of being first — presenting its top offers, products, and entering the final lap of the N1 Puzzle Promo before the grand finale.
After hitting the road in London and conquering the waves in Lisbon, N1 Partners is taking off to the sky — straight to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome. This time, all roads truly lead to the helicopter.
Inspired by Italian sports car engineering and the spirit of competition, with a true vibe of drive — from Ferrari and Maserati to Formula 1 — the N1 Partners stand merges speed, precision, and style in every detail, creating a space where affiliates can recharge, connect, and explore new opportunities.
Step Up to the HeliRun Challenge
Visitors can take on the HeliRun Challenge — a mechanical time-trial maze where accuracy and focus are key and winners will receive branded mini-helicopters and other limited prizes.
Win a Ferrari
One lucky guest will drive away with a Ferrari — in LEGO form, but full of prestige.
Simply collect a branded card at the booth, follow N1 Partners on social media, and drop your entry into the prize drum.
The draw will take place on Day 3 at 16:00, with results announced on Instagram.
What Awaits at Booth 5056 G
- Meet the N1 Partners team to discuss insights and top-tier deals.
- Enjoy aperol & gelato sessions and exclusive giveaways.
- Take part in interactive activations and surprise drops throughout the event.
- Get exclusive N1 merch featuring the Puzzle Piece — your link to future N1 Puzzle Promo prizes.
Every detail is designed for speed, style, and engagement — making the booth a must-visit destination in Rome.
Why Meet N1 Partners in Rome
For more than eight years, N1 Partners has been accelerating affiliate growth, uniting 14+ licensed casino and betting brands across Tier-1 markets.
The program offers:
- Flexible deals: RevShare up to 45% / Hybrid / CPA up to €700 for partners with top-performing traffic
- Transparent terms: no shave, no delays, guaranteed payouts
- Exceptional performance: Reg2Dep up to 70%
At Booth 5056 G, the team will present personalized offers and partnership opportunities for affiliates working with SEO, PPC, FB, or mixed traffic.
With N1 Partners, you don’t just work with the number one — you become one.
Don’t wait — book your meeting now and take off with N1 Partners.
Next Lap: Helicopter.
The post All Roads Lead to the Helicopter — N1 Partners Turns SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a Pit Stop for Deals appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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