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Riot Games Wraps Up V5: A Landmark Celebration of VALORANT’s Five-Year Journey in South Asia
Five years ago, VALORANT arrived in South Asia with a simple promise: to deliver clutch gameplay and high-octane FPS hero shooter action. What followed was far more – late-night team talks in dorm rooms, friendships built in cyber cafes, taunts turned into inside jokes, and a vibrant community that made the game unmistakably their own. This month, on VALORANT’s 5th anniversary, Riot Games brought that journey full circle with V5, a campaign built as a tribute to every South Asian player who made VALORANT more than just a game.
V5 was designed to be a true reflection of the players, a campaign that lived in the same spaces they do: on their campuses, in their cafes, and on their timelines. Rooted in cultural nuance, it celebrated the reality of the player experience through animated shorts based on real stories, UGC-driven content, murals, college activations, and a host of community-driven celebrations.
“V5 is our ‘Thank You’ to a generation of players who made VALORANT their own,” said Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, Riot Games India & South Asia. “Whether you’re top-fragging in ranked matches or reminiscing over your first LAN, this campaign is about your story. We wanted V5 to reflect the unique way South Asia has embraced VALORANT. The response has been uplifting, and it only reinforces why we build with community at the center.”
At the heart of it all was the V5 key visual, a vibrant and colorful tapestry of South Asian gaming culture. It was as much about memory as it was about mood: a steaming cup of chai to honor the all-nighters, subtle nods to LAN café setups that birthed both rivalries and friendships, and the unmistakable “NHK?” (“Nahi ho raha kya?”) jibe, which has become part of the everyday VALORANT vocabulary across the region. This logo was a visual time capsule, recognizable, relatable, and a proud representation of the region’s gaming culture..
As part of V5’s on-ground presence, Riot reimagined the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Kota with an OOH (Out-of-Home) campaign that didn’t just speak to the community, it spoke like them. Across Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Delhi, LED billboards lit up with iconic in-game callouts like the playful jibe “Kal aana kal” and the ever-reliable pre-round “Skin dede bro!” phrases that have become part of everyday VALORANT banter. In Kota, the campaign took a hyperlocal twist, with traditional billboards across high-traffic areas. What made the campaign stand out was that these callouts weren’t just written for the community; they were voted on by them, turning the streets into shared arenas of recognition and pride.
One of the most timely and playful moments of the V5 campaign landed on June 2 — the day IIT-JEE Mains results were announced, a high-pressure milestone for millions of students across India. Seizing this cultural flashpoint, Riot rolled out ‘VAL Toppers’, a cheeky twist on the way coaching centres in cities like Kota celebrate academic success. But instead of JEE rankers, these billboards spotlighted Radiant-ranked VALORANT players, honoring them with the same visual fanfare usually reserved for exam toppers. With VAL Toppers, Riot offered a tongue-in-cheek nod to South Asia’s competitive spirit, proving that top-tier aim and top-tier ambition can shine in very different arenas.
The campaign made its presence felt at the VCSA Split 2 finals, where VALORANT set up an open-access booth at the Phoenix Market City, Mumbai. Visitors, many new to the game, got hands-on with VALORANT and a lot of exciting swag like custom marshmallows featuring their favourite agents and t-shirts capturing elements of V5. It was a low-barrier, high-impact entry point that turned casual curiosity into active interest.
To close the campaign, Riot hosted V5 Game Night at ApeCity, India’s first org-led gaming cafe in Navi Mumbai, transforming it into a celebration zone with friendly showmatches, video games, and a comedy set by popular comic Raunaq Rajani. It was a final nod to the players who built the community and a call to those who’ll define what comes next.
According to the Lumikai State of India Interactive Media and Gaming Report FY24, India’s gaming market generated $3.8 billion in FY24 and is projected to grow to $9.2 billion by FY29. With 66% of gamers coming from non-metro cities and 43% being first-time earners aged 18–30, the data reflects gaming’s growing cultural and economic weight. V5 is a reflection of this moment, when games stop being pastimes and start becoming part of how an entire generation communicates, celebrates, and connects.
V5 ultimately proved that VALORANT in South Asia is lived, embedded in comms, cafe walls, student timetables, and weekend routines. And now, it has cemented its place in India’s entertainment mainstream.
The post Riot Games Wraps Up V5: A Landmark Celebration of VALORANT’s Five-Year Journey in South Asia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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13 gambling company executives in appeal against ATG’s proposal to raise gambling tax in Sweden
BOS – The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – is today submitting a letter to the government. The letter is signed by 13 gambling company executives and BOS’s secretary general. In the letter, the signatories urge the government not to support the gambling company ATG in their proposal to raise the general gambling tax in favour of a reduction in the tax on horse racing.
As a main argument, the signatories highlight the fact that the level of the gambling tax affects the proportion of consumers who choose to gamble on the legal licensed gambling market, and that too many consumers are already opting out of the safety of the licensed market with its extensive consumer protection.
“Horse betting has a channelisation rate of between 98-99 percent. Online casino, according to the most optimistic estimates, has a channelisation rate of between 72-82 percent. The higher the tax, the greater the risk that the consumer will choose unlicensed gambling, where neither gambling tax nor consumer protection exists. To then lower the gambling tax for horse betting, which already has a very strong channelisation, and raise it for online casino, which has a very weak channelisation, would be completely incomprehensible. At least for those who prioritize consumer protection,” says BOS Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt.
You can read the full letter here: Letter to Government on ATG gambling duty
The post 13 gambling company executives in appeal against ATG’s proposal to raise gambling tax in Sweden appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Momentum Series: A Crash Gaming collection crafted for emotions in your online casino
FBMDS proudly unveils the Momentum Series, a crash gaming collection built to deliver fast-paced thrills, immersive visuals, and strong retention for online casino operators worldwide with the Piñata Rush, Magical Garden and Arctic Jumper titles.
Designed “for emotions” and “born to captivate”, the Momentum Series includes three high-performing titles — Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper — that redefine the crash genre with dynamic gameplay, deep personalization, and stunning 3D environments.
The Momentum Series was created to give players more control, excitement, and emotional connection while providing operators with games designed for longer sessions and better retention metrics. Each title combines intuitive gameplay with high volatility, 97%+ RTP, and a responsive, mobile-first design, ensuring performance across devices and browsers. Players can personalize their experience with auto bets, double bets, and auto cashouts, adapting each round to their individual risk strategy.
Piñata Rush offers a colorful, multiplayer crash gaming experience set in lively Mexican-inspired streets. Players can track others’ progress in real time and enjoy a community-driven atmosphere that keeps engagement levels high. With 97.06% RTP and features such as Multiplayer, Auto Play, Auto Cash-Out, and a configurable Max Bet from 100x to 1000x, this crash game provides vibrant entertainment across Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows.
Magical Garden immerses players in a lush 3D fantasy world where serenity meets suspense. This single-player experience blends calm and thrill through Auto Play and Auto Cash-Out functions, allowing personalized strategies and a Max Bet configurable from 100x to 1000x. With 97% RTP, it offers operators a high-performing product with wide cross-platform compatibility.
Arctic Jumper brings adrenaline to the frozen north with a fully 3D single-player experience. Its immersive visuals and smooth performance are enhanced by Auto Play, Auto Cash-Out, and customizable betting options that match each player’s risk profile. Operating at 97% RTP, this title delivers consistent engagement and retention potential for competitive markets.
“The Momentum Series represents FBMDS’ evolution into crash gaming — a genre built on emotion, timing, and control,” said Renato Almeida, Director at FBMDS. “With Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper, we’re delivering fast, flexible, and emotionally charged experiences that empower both players and operators.”
FBMDS brings a winning portfolio of innovative iGaming solutions, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology to deliver engaging, reliable, and profitable gaming experiences for operators worldwide. With a focus on slots, table games, video bingo, and now crash games, FBMDS empowers partners to scale and succeed in competitive markets.
The post Momentum Series: A Crash Gaming collection crafted for emotions in your online casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Cozy Coast Launches Worldwide: Beach Adventure from InnoGames Now Available
- Sunny feel-good vibes for everyone: Cozy Coast now available for iOS and Android
- New trailer highlights entertaining storytelling, merge-2 puzzles, and diverse gameplay elements
- Upcoming updates with new events and challenges for long-lasting fun
A beach adventure with heart: InnoGames, one of Germany’s leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games, today launches Cozy Coast worldwide, bringing sunny feel-good moments to smartphones and tablets. The game is now available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store. Players in selected regions have already explored the Mediterranean island of Calista and experienced the captivating story of the two protagonists Mia and Elara. The unique mix of merge-2 puzzles, exploration, and heartfelt moments is clearly resonating with players, earning 4.8 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play out of 5 stars.
With today’s launch, InnoGames expands the game’s language support. Alongside the existing languages German, English, and French, Cozy Coast is now also available in Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.
New Features, More Events: Regular Updates for Lasting Fun
In Cozy Coast, players accompany best friends Mia and Elara on a journey across the picturesque Mediterranean island of Calista. For Mia, the island is filled with childhood memories, but its former charm has faded. Together, they set out to restore the island. The gameplay centers on merge-2 mechanics: By skillfully combining items, players fulfill the wishes of island residents, collect resources, and restore buildings to unlock new areas of Calista. Along their journey, Mia and Elara encounter interesting characters, discover secrets, and explore the environment.
Check out the trailer on youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=hpacBlPfio4
Since the initial launch of Cozy Coast in selected regions, the development team has steadily expanded the merge-2 adventure. Customizable portraits, 3D decoration events, special quests with unique rewards, and advanced challenges for experienced players ensure there’s always something new to discover. The holiday season has also arrived: players can earn daily rewards, including the festive avatar “Winter Elara”.
Key Features of Cozy Coast
- Merge items: Strategically combine items to create new and higher-value objects
- Restore the seaside promenade: Renovate abandoned buildings to unlock new areas
- Adventure in paradise: Follow best friends Mia and Elara as they discover hidden places and uncover the secrets of a corporation with questionable intentions
- Characters with personality: Meet fascinating characters. Every encounter comes with a story – sometimes touching, sometimes mysterious, but always full of emotion
- Fresh challenges every day: Participate in competitive, daily, weekly, and seasonal events like exploration quests, puzzle collections, decoration and special story-driven missions to receive exciting rewards and enjoy lasting gameplay
- A personal touch: Use portrait customization to bring individuality and personality to every adventure.
- Unwind in a Mediterranean setting: Experience stress-free gameplay paired with a captivating story of friendship, courage, and hope
- Free to play without restrictions: Available worldwide on iOS and Android (except in Russia and China)
Cozy Coast is available on the App Store for iOS and on Google Play for Android.
For the latest news about the game, visit the official website or follow Cozy Coast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
The post Cozy Coast Launches Worldwide: Beach Adventure from InnoGames Now Available appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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