GAME-HIVE: Your Ultimate Destination for Gaming News, Reviews, and Tips

Reading Time: 2 minutes   Will Bolton, Editor of G3 has been named the first ‘David Orrick Journalist of the Year’. Presented at ICE Barcelona by Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter, the Award has been created in memory of respected gambling industry writer David Orrick who passed in September 2024 aged 75. Making the presentation, Stuart Hunter said: “Last year the industry sadly lost one of its most ardent and articulate supporters with the passing of David Orrick. David worked in the industry first as a journalist editing trade title EuroSlot and then heading-up PR and media relations for a raft of internationally recognised gambling brands. “From the moment he joined the industry in 1995 he participated in our events first as a journalist and then as an exhibitor handling comms for many of the land-based sector’s best known manufacturers. “David was a formidable personality steeped in the industry, highly knowledgeable and internationally respected. When David sha...

Reading Time: < 1 minute   Toshi.bet introduces a streamlined crypto gambling experience with instant transactions, no KYC requirements, and tailored deposit bonuses. Toshi.bet, a growing cryptocurrency casino, is expanding its presence in the online gambling industry with a focus on instant withdrawals, privacy, and a broad selection of gaming options. Operating as a no-KYC platform, Toshi.bet provides players with an alternative to traditional online casinos by leveraging blockchain-backed security and provably fair gaming. Key Features of Toshi.bet Notable Growth in the Crypto Casino Sector – Toshi.bet has seen an increase in its user base, with thousands of players engaging in its gaming platform daily. Instant Deposits & Withdrawals – The platform supports Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDT, and various other cryptocurrencies, enabling near-instant, fee-free transactions. Privacy-Focused Gaming – With no KYC requirements, Toshi.bet offers users the ability to pla...

Reading Time: 2 minutes   PopOK Gaming, a leading innovator in the iGaming industry, is pleased to announce the launch of the groundbreaking Poly Live Casino Studio by world-renowned street artist Alec Monopoly. This one-of-a-kind live casino experience merges the excitement of classic table games with Monopoly’s signature artistic flair, offering an electrifying new dimension to online gaming. The Poly Live Casino Studio introduces two premium live dealer games – Poly Blackjack and Poly Roulette – delivering an unparalleled fusion of art, entertainment, and immersive gameplay. Featuring exclusive designs by Alec Monopoly, the studio is set to captivate players with its bold visuals and dynamic atmosphere, transforming traditional casino gaming into a work of art. A Live Casino Experience Like No Other The Poly Live Casino Studio is a fully interactive, high-energy gaming environment where players can engage with professional dealers in real time. Designed to reflect Alec Monopo...

Reading Time: < 1 minute   Stretch Network is thrilled to unveil the Knockout Poker League 2025, the premier two-season poker tournament series of early 2025, featuring a substantial prize pool of €1.3 million. This prestigious series is set to deliver a dynamic and thrilling poker experience, marking it as a standout event in the global poker calendar. The Knockout Poker League 2025 includes an assortment of competitive events tailored to diverse player skills and preferences. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in two major Main Events, as well as a series of Mini Main and Omaha tournaments, each designed to offer both challenge and substantial rewards. A highlight of the series are the innovative Mini ELITE and Mini MASTER tournaments, which provide a platform for intense poker action with manageable buy-ins. These events are designed to cater to both seasoned and novice players seeking to make their mark in the competitive poker arena. Adding to the excitemen...

Reading Time: 3 minutes   For its 10th edition, the prestigious fighting game tournament returns to its origins in Paris, France The anticipated showdown will take place 5–6 April at Paris’ historic La Maison de la Mutualité 8 of the world’s greatest Street Fighter legends will go head-to-head against 8 hungry challengers locked inside the iconic Red Bull Kumite cage Public participant registration to compete opens 31 Jan, 8pm CET via Start.gg: start.gg/rbk2025 Spectator tickets are available now: redbullkumite2025.eventbrite.fr Supporting the event, AGON by AOC returns as the official Monitor Partner alongside PlayStation Tournaments and Opel Legendary fighting game tournament, Red Bull Kumite, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a highly anticipated return to the city that started it all. Descending in Paris, France at the historic La Maison de la Mutualité on 5–6 April 2025, the event promises two thrilling days of Street Fighter 6 action as 16 of the world’s...

Netflix is known for just dropping hundreds of hours of movies and TV at a moment’s notice, almost daring you to test your limits of unproductivity to finish it all. This week, it did a version of that by laying out its slate of 2025 films set to be released. Out of the dozens of movies that range from the lowlights… Read more... from Kotaku

On January 30, Microsoft nonchalantly announced that later this year open-world racing sim Forza Horizon 5 would make the leap to PlayStation 5 . That might not mean much to some, but for Xbox’s biggest fans, it marks the beginning of the end of an era that truthfully wrapped up years ago. Read more... from Kotaku https://ift.tt/sctNuM2 via IFTTT

Reading Time: < 1 minute Tom Horn Gaming brings another exciting slot game to players with Book of Darius, a high-volatility adventure set in the deserts of Persia. This title expands the iGaming software supplier’s strong ‘Book of portfolio, with each game offering a new take on this player-favourite mechanic. Book of Darius delivers well-balanced bonus features, including Free Spins, a Special Expanding Wild symbol, and the Stake Booster, which make up for an engaging gameplay experience with high win potential. The Free Spins round is triggered by landing three or more Book of Darius symbols. Before the bonus game begins, a Special Expanding Wild symbol is randomly selected, increasing the chance of massive payouts. The high volatility ensures thrilling gameplay, where one spin can lead to substantial rewards. The Stake Booster feature increases the likelihood of triggering free spins by 300% by adding extra bonus symbols to the reels. With a 1.5x bet multiplier, th...

Reading Time: < 1 minute Samsung recently unveiled the third edition of its premier gaming tournament, the #PlayGalaxy Cup, featuring intense battles on their newly launched Galaxy S25 Ultra. This year, the event captivated over  300 million users, solidifying its status as a major esports spectacle. The tournament saw  12 teams , consisting of  48 elite gamers , go head-to-head in Call of Duty Mobile, vying for the prestigious #PlayGalaxy Season 3.0 Cup. After four high-stakes matches, the team with the highest points emerged victorious. “Samsung has always been at the forefront of bringing powerful devices that can handle demanding gameplay and with the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra, we’ve taken the entire experience a notch higher. With edition 3 of the #PlayGalaxy, we’ve also expanded our reach to 300 million users, up from 150 million users in the previous edition,”  said Aditya Babbar, Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India. In a thrilling and action-packed finale, Pune AI He...

Reading Time: 2 minutes Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, is celebrating a dual-award win during ICE 2025, at the International i Gaming Awards and European iGaming Awards respectively.    The legendary games studio was named the RNG Supplier of the Year at the International Gaming Awards, a testament to Play’n GO’s stellar performance in 2024. Games like Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity , Rise of Olympus Origins and Oasis of Dead took the industry by storm last year , and were just three highlights from Play’n GO’s stunning 2024 portfolio.    Barely 48 hours later, Play’n GO were center stage once again to collect the Best Sustainability Innovation Award at the European i Gaming Awards in Barcelona. Play’n GO has put sustainability to the fore throughout its history, and 2024 saw the release of the company’s inaugural Sustainability Report. Initiatives such as signing up to The Climate Pledge, powering Play’n GO’s Swedish HQ with sustaina...

Reading Time: 3 minutes NODWIN Gaming, a leading company in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports and a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: NAZARA), announces the full acquisition of StarLadder, a driving force in the global esports ecosystem. This acquisition will unite StarLadder’s capability of producing AAA events with NODWIN Gaming’s bold vision to redefine live entertainment for the youth. StarLadder will maintain its identity and the founder Roman Romantsov will continue to run the business while becoming a shareholder of NODWIN Gaming. A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth and Innovation The acquisition comes at a time when NODWIN Gaming is expanding its footprint globally through its recent strategic moves of acquiring Comic Con India, influencer and MCN business Trinity Gaming, the agency business of AFK Gaming, the global esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming based in Germany, West Asia and Turkey-focused marketing and esport...

Reading Time: 5 minutes   Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming BGaming invites players to roll back the years and turn up the heat with the all-new  Hot Chilli Bells  slot. The game combines the best-performing features of previous hits like the Wild from the Elvis Frog Series, the Expanding Wild from Fruit Million, and the ability to choose your paylines from the popular Burning Chilli X slot.   Kendoo, has launched its most feature-rich title to date with the release of jungle adventure slot Wild Cats Fire: Hold and Win . Set against an exotic jungle backdrop teeming with hidden treasures, the game delivers a visually stunning and immersive slot experience. Wild Cats Fire offers untamed excitement with 20 pay lines, a jackpot accumulation mechanic, and engaging features that keep players entertained with every spin.   Betsoft has released Fury Dragon – Hold & Win , a thrilling new video slot that brings the power and mystique of t...

Reading Time: 2 minutes   This summer’s Women’s Euros promises to be more popular with sports bettors than the Six Nations, Super Bowl and the Ashes, a new survey shows. A new OLBG survey conducted by YouGov shows how bettors are likely to behave in 2025, including the most popular events to bet on, which regions of the country are most likely to gamble and how having kids affects betting behaviour. The quarterly study asked 2,054 adults in the UK how they planned to bet this year. Of people who said they were likely to gamble in 2025, 16% said they would bet on the Women’s Euros, which will take place in Switzerland in July, with England and Wales among the 16 teams in action. That compares with only 9% who said they would bet on the Super Bowl, 10% who would bet on Rugby Union’s Six Nations and 6% who said they would bet on cricket’s Ashes series. The data shows that 18% of men expect to bet on the Women’s Euros, compared with 11% of women. Among the events specified, racing’s...

Reading Time: 2 minutes   Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of cutting-edge business intelligence solutions for the casino industry, and Modulus, an innovator in advanced gaming system technology, are pleased to announce a successful showcase at the International Casino Expo (ICE). Throughout the event, both companies met with dozens of current customers and new prospects, demonstrating the latest in AI technology and data-driven business intelligence tools. By joining forces in the Modulus booth, QCI and Modulus underscored the synergy of their combined technologies, generating excitement among attendees. The live demos highlighted how these next-generation solutions can empower casinos to make data-driven decisions, enhance customer engagement, and streamline operations. “The energy at this year’s ICE was truly inspiring,” said Marc Attal, COO of Modulus. “Our newest technology received an exceptional response, and our digitalization strategy for slots ...

Reading Time: 4 minutes   After achieving an exceptional end to the 2023-2024 season, Team Vitality returns with strong European and International ambitions. Since the start of the season, two superstars have joined the ranks of the Team Vitality roster: Derke and Less, alongside Sayf (IGL), Kicks and Trexx. The club’s new ambassador: Ardiis, will cast their matches all year round. With this team, the goal is simple but audacious: lay the foundations for a new legacy, make history on this new stage and qualify for the VALORANT Champions. Thus, Team Vitality is preparing to write a brand new FPS game story supported by the LEGACY campaign. And its first Ice & Fire chapter begins today! Team Vitality proudly presents its VALORANT roster for the 2025 season. After securing a second European place and qualification for the VALORANT Champions 2024 at the end of last season, the team will endeavour to maintain its high standards and continue to shine on the European (VCT) an...

Reading Time: < 1 minute   Betano becomes the title sponsor of the competition, bringing together the champions of Brasileirão Betano, Botafogo, and Copa Betano do Brasil winners, Flamengo, on February 2nd. Betano, Kaizen Gaming’s online international sports betting and gaming brand, and CBF (the Confederation of Brazilian Football) announce Supercopa Betano Rei 2025. This highly anticipated single-match competition will see Flamengo, winners of the 2024 Copa Betano do Brasil, face off against Botafogo, champions of the 2024 Brasileirão Betano. The showdown is set for Sunday, February 2nd , at Mangueirão Stadium (Estádio Olímpico do Pará) in Belém. As the title sponsor of Brazil’s two largest national football competitions — Brasileirão Betano and Copa Betano do Brasil — Betano reaffirms its commitment to supporting Brazilian football while delivering an unforgettable, safe, and responsible online betting experience for fans. According to Guilherme Figueiredo, Brazil Country ...

Reading Time: 2 minutes   After three epic days, BetConstruct has brought ICE Barcelona 2025 to a worthwhile close. From January 20-22, the Fira Barcelona Gran Via beamed with the industry’s biggest event, gathering enthusiasts and professionals under one roof to celebrate excellence and foster innovation. With the largest and most impressive stand in our history and exhibiting a wide array of offerings, the company once again cemented its position as an undisputed leader in iGaming. BetConstruct extends its gratitude to the organisers behind ICE Barcelona for putting together such an event that marked a new chapter in ICE’s history. The event marked the start of many new collaborations that we are excited to unveil in due time. ICE Barcelona Highlights Appearing at ICE Barcelona with their recently announced concept, The Center of Gravity , BetConstruct kicked things off on a high note with an amazing party of the same name. Also participating in the party was the renowned Al...

Blizzard has announced it’s holding a big blowout event for Overwatch 2 next month. The Overwatch 2 Spotlight showcase will take place on February 12 at 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern and will unveil “groundbreaking changes to the PvP experience that will be unlike anything you’ve seen before,” as well as new maps,… Read more... from Kotaku

Over on the Xbox Store you can currently find Mariostro Strikers: Soccer League, a newly released game that is clearly a knock-off of the popular Nintendo-published Mario Strikers series. And yes, the cover is an awful AI-generated nightmare. Read more... from Kotaku https://ift.tt/nHJXGMK via IFTTT

Reading Time: < 1 minute   Sumsub and Funtico announce strategic partnership to elevate player experience while ensuring efficient verification and robust security Sumsub, a global full-cycle verification provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Funtico, a pioneering Web 3.0 gaming platform. This collaboration aims to enhance compliance and security in the iGaming sector, ensuring that Funtico remains fully compliant with evolving regulations. Funtico provides an incentive-driven gaming platform for players for partner gaming studios and Funtico’ in-house developed skill based games. Committed to fostering a secure and sustainable Web 3.0 ecosystem, Funtico ensures a seamless experience for players, developers, and partners. Through this alliance, Sumsub will support Funtico with advanced verification solutions, including Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Fraud Prevention tools tailored for the iGaming industry. “Partnering with Sumsub is ...

Reading Time: 2 minutes   Flip your way to a massive $500,000 guaranteed prize pool  San Jose, Costa Rica – January 30, 2025 – ACR Poker is excited to announce the debut of its Survivor Flips, a fast-paced, action-packed game designed to bring more fun and excitement to tournament play. With an innovative twist on traditional poker formats, Survivor Flips allows players to win their way into major tournaments in just minutes. ACR Poker is offering players the opportunity to explore the new format and flip their way to massive $500,000 guaranteed Survivor Flips tournament, starting on Wednesday, February 5th. “Survivor Flips are fast, intense, and just plain fun—perfect for those looking for quick results and big rewards,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker . “Players can fast-forward their way into the money and qualify for major tournaments faster than ever before.” “I had so much fun being part of the testing group for Survivor Flips. Being able to be deep in a tournament after onl...

Reading Time: 2 minutes Today, esports organisation GIANTX is excited to announce its year-long partnership with one of the UK’s leading frozen food brands, Goodfella’s. The partnership seeks to bring casual gamers and esports fans together, by blending the flavours of Goodfella’s delicious pizzas with GIANTX’s unmatched presence in the industry. Throughout 2025, they will collaborate to unite gaming enthusiasts across the UK by combining a love of good food and engaging content. The gaming community is one of the most loyal globally in regards to consuming content across social platforms, with gaming video viewers 53% more loyal than YouTube’s other 12 most popular video genres including comedy, cooking, lifestyle, beauty and fashion1. The union will seamlessly integrate Goodfella’s into GIANTX’s popular casual gaming content series, innovative social campaigns, and offer fan giveaways throughout the year. GIANTX is renowned for its gaming and lifestyle content, including the iconi...