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| (Image Source: PR Newswire/Globant Investor Relations) |
Globant, a digitally native company focused on reinventing businesses through innovative technology solutions, and Riot Games, the company behind global eSports phenomena League of Legends (LoL) and VALORANT, recently announced a multi-year strategic partnership to support some of Riot’s most critical innovation initiatives and fan communities across League of Legends and VALORANT eSports. This collaboration brings together Riot’s world-class eSports experiences with Globant’s global expertise in digital reinvention.
As its new digital transformation partner, Globant will support some of Riot Games’ most critical tech initiatives including future explorations in artificial intelligence that augment eSports viewing experiences and mobile integration capabilities. During the multi-year partnership, the two companies will push the boundaries of technology to unlock teams to deliver richer, more tailored experiences for millions of players and fans globally. “Globant shares our commitment to deliver the most resonate and engaging experiences for players and fans around the world. Their deep expertise in technology will help us accelerate areas of the business so Rioters can focus on pushing creative boundaries of what’s possible in eSports and live events,” said Riot Games Global Head of eSports Partnerships and Business Development David Mulhall. “We are thrilled to join forces with Riot Games to expand the future of gaming and eSports. This partnership reflects our shared belief that technology and creativity can reshape how communities connect, play, and experience entertainment,” said Globant Co-Founder and CEO Martin Migoya.
Globant brings extensive experience across media, entertainment, and gaming that reinforces its role as a transformative technology partner. Through its Media & Entertainment and Games Studios, the company supports global organizations in areas such as content creation and management, streaming platforms, game development, art services, quality assurance, product management, and ongoing live operations. Globant is also a trusted partner to leading sports and entertainment brands, including FIFA and Formula 1®. By combining deep industry expertise with advanced technologies like AI, Globant has established itself as a key enabler of innovation and fan engagement for some of the world’s most influential organizations in sports, media, and gaming.
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Game Developers Can Now Capture More Holiday Demand With Xsolla's Expanded Payments Portfolio
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| (Image Source: ANTARA News/Xsolla) |
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, recently announced new local payment methods across key markets in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Timed for the peak holiday season, this expansion helps developers reduce friction at checkout and convert seasonal demand into long-term engagement. The expansion introduces 10 new local payment options that match how players already pay in their home markets, including:
Europe: MB Way (Portugal) adds nationwide, mobile-first checkout with instant confirmations and broad recognition.
Asia: JKOPay (Taiwan) delivers a trusted, mobile wallet with QR payments and loyalty; Paidy (Japan) offers card-free Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) with single-bill or installment options.
Africa: Airtel Mobile Money (Tanzania, Madagascar) and MTN Mobile Money (Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Zambia) enable app/USSD approvals and real-time confirmations; Paga (Nigeria) reduces card friction with in-app wallet payments; Bank Transfers (Nigeria) meet demand for Pay-by-Bank flows; MVola (Madagascar) brings nationwide reach as the country’s leading wallet; Spenn (Rwanda, Zambia) offers wallet-led payments with instant confirmations.
Latin America: Mercado Pago (Uruguay) provides a leading regional wallet with multiple funding sources and real-time confirmations.
“Holiday launches are won or lost at checkout,” said Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla. “By adding preferred local payment methods players already trust from digital wallets across Africa and Latin America to BNPL options in Japan and mobile wallets in Taiwan and Portugal, we’re helping studios turn festive demand into loyal long-term relationships,” said Xsolla President Chris Hewish. Across these regions, mobile wallets, Pay-by-Bank, and flexible credit options continue to outpace traditional cards, especially among younger, mobile-first players. Aligning with local rails delivers instant confirmation, familiar authentication, and materially higher completion rates during peak holiday volume periods. For more information about Xsolla’s expanded payment coverage and how to enable these methods, please visit xsolla.pro/RNPM25.
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Skillprint And Mindless Play Partner To Explore The Science Of Improvisation And Play
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| (Image Source: GamesBeat/Skillprint) |
Skillprint, an AI-powered mind health platform that uses games and cognitive science to enhance wellbeing and performance, recently announced a pilot partnership with Mindless Play, an independent game studio known for its improvisation-based casual games that emphasize creativity, connection, and cognition. The partnership will explore how Skillprint’s AI-driven cognitive and mood insights can complement Mindless Play’s improvisation-driven design, combining science and spontaneity to better understand how play impacts creativity, focus, and emotional wellbeing.
Under the agreement, Mindless Play will integrate Skillprint’s game portal and assessment technology into select titles to evaluate cognitive and emotional outcomes while Skillprint will feature Mindless Play games within its own platform to highlight their positive effects on mood and mindset. Both companies will collaborate on joint case studies and co-marketing initiatives to share findings with partners, educators, and wellness organizations. “Mindless Play’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, connection, and humor. We’re excited to bring a scientific lens to their games and explore how improvisation and spontaneous play can contribute to wellbeing and cognitive growth,” said Skillprint Founder and CEO Chethan Ramachandran.
“Our games are built to make people laugh, think, and connect. Partnering with Skillprint allows us to measure and understand that impact in a new way — bridging entertainment and evidence,” said Mindless Play Co-Founder and CEO Sammy Wegent. The collaboration will begin with a pilot program covering a selection of Mindless Play’s most popular titles including Rhymoji and Filmoji.
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Blacknut And LG Introduce Ad-Funded Access To ‘Asphalt Legends United’ By Gameloft On Smart TVs
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| (Image Source: Cloud Dosage/Blacknut Games/LG Electronics) |
LG Electronics and Blacknut Cloud Gaming are expanding their ongoing collaboration with Gameloft, the publisher of Asphalt Legends Unite, to introduce a tri-pronged partnership delivering a strategic ad-funded gaming experience on LG Smart TVs. This initiative reinforces the role of Smart TVs as a central hub for entertainment and gaming in the modern home. Available exclusively in the United States through the LG Gaming Portal, Asphalt Legends Unite offers a fully free-to-play experience with all cars and maps unlocked from the start. The game is compatible with the Blacknut companion app, standard controllers, and LG remote controls, giving players flexible and convenient ways to enjoy the action. Designed to make premium racing accessible to everyone, this ad-funded version ensures that anyone can jump straight into the competition — no subscriptions, downloads, or barriers required.
Building on an existing partnership between Blacknut and Gameloft, the publisher worked closely with Blacknut and LG to re-develop elements of Asphalt Legends Unite for the ad-funded model. This included the addition of “point cuts” — designated moments in the race where ads are placed strategically to ensure gameplay is never disrupted. By integrating ads at these precise points, the experience remains smooth and uninterrupted, benefiting players while creating a sustainable model for game accessibility. “Working with Gameloft allowed us to take ad-funded gaming to the next level. This isn’t just about adding ads; it’s about carefully integrating them into gameplay through technical development and strategic design. Our main goal remains accessibility — making it easier for players to enjoy premium gaming without barriers,” said Blacknut Cloud Gaming CEO Olivier Avaro. The ad-funded approach is powered by Player-Won, an advertising and media company, ensuring that ads are relevant, brief, and seamlessly integrated — similar to techniques familiar from film and streaming platforms. Players launching Asphalt Legends Unite on LG Smart TVs can enjoy uninterrupted gameplay while supporting the game through these strategically placed ads. “We’re pleased to see Asphalt Legends featured in this collaboration with LG and Blacknut. It’s great to see our iconic franchise continue to shine through new partnerships, always delivering the high-quality racing experience our players love,” said Gameloft Executive Vice President Yann Fourneau.
This proof-of-concept with Asphalt Legends Unite marks the first step toward extending this innovative approach across Blacknut’s library of 1,000+ games. Players can enjoy seamless cloud gaming across devices, switching effortlessly between Smart TV, mobile, tablet, or PC, all through a single subscription. By combining Blacknut’s extensive library and cloud gaming technology, LG’s advanced Smart TV technology WebOS, and Gameloft’s development expertise, the partnership pioneers new ways to make gaming more accessible, convenient, and enjoyable for everyone in the home. Available in more than 65 countries, Blacknut is the leading independent cloud gaming service, offering instant access to over 1,000 premium titles and curated Blacknut Pass Add-ons from Ubisoft, SNK, and Focus Entertainment. Designed for all ages and skill levels, Blacknut enables local and online multiplayer gaming with up to four Bluetooth controllers, making it easy for friends and families to play together.
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Games For Love Celebrates The Season Of Giving With “Winter For Love”, The Giving Tuesday Itch.io Bundle, And The Game Gala
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| (Image Source: Yogomi/Games For Love) |
Games For Love, a public charity dedicated to easing suffering, saving lives, and creating sustainable futures for children, today announced a season of giving through its Winter For Love campaign. As the holidays approach, Games For Love invites creators, sponsors, and players to come together in support of hospitalized children worldwide through a series of heartfelt, high-impact events.
Winter For Love: Now running until January 2026, Winter For Love is a multi-month virtual streaming fundraiser featuring over 100 content creators uniting to raise funds for hospitalized children. Participants will stream throughout the winter months with giveaways, sponsor integrations, and community challenges designed to inspire generosity through gaming.
ThankFest: A celebration of gratitude, ThankFest invites creators to honor one another with “golden buzzer” moments — live on stream — where they share appreciation for fellow creators and surprise them with wishlist gifts. The event culminates in a youth-voted mini award show highlighting community favorites across categories such as Most Creative Stream, Most Inspiring Moment, and Viewer’s Choice.
Giving Tuesday Itch.io Bundle – December 2, 2025: A highlight of the holiday season, the Giving Tuesday Itch.io Bundle invites players to make an impact through play. Featuring 100+ games donated by developers, every purchase directly funds Distraction Therapy, Play Therapy, and child life programs around the world. Initially introduced as the World Mental Health Day Bundle, this Giving Tuesday edition expands its reach and strengthens its impact during one of the world’s biggest charitable movements.
The Game Gala – December 10–11, 2025 | US Bank Tower, Los Angeles, California: In partnership with Xsolla, Games for Love is taking over the iconic US Bank Tower during The Game Awards week, The Game Gala is a premier two-day immersive gaming experience uniting industry leaders, brands, and creators under one roof for charity. Across five floors of activations, attendees will experience B2B matchmaking and brand networking powered by the Meet2Match platform; the VIP “Streamers Masquerade Ball” hosted by ChicoAlphaWolf, bringing together 150 top creators for an exclusive red-carpet celebration of community, impact, and giving; and a red-carpet-style Game Awards watch party where reators can earn a golden ticket by raising 2.5k for charity.
Support the cause in person — attend The Game Gala by getting your tickets at thegamegala.com. To stay up to date on these events and future activations, visit www.gamesforlove.org and follow Games For Love on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Together with players, partners, and communities, Games For Love continues its mission of Helping Kids For Life.
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Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition Leaps Onto Consoles December 10th
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| (Image Source: Digitally Downloaded/Eastasiasoft Limited) |
Independent developer and publisher Eastasiasoft Limited has announced that the retro platforming adventure Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition will arrive for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation™ 4, PlayStation 5™, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and the Microsoft Store for Windows on December 10, 2025. Review codes for console versions will be distributed soon, and requests are now being accepted.
Originally developed by Robert Jaeger and released in 1984 as Montezuma’s Revenge, The 40th Anniversary Edition resurrects and expands the game to 100 rooms, but now the timeless classic has been updated with 2.5D visuals presented in widescreen HD and now allows gamers to play as either the explorer Pedro or his sister Rosita and delve deep into the dangerous ruins and hunt for treasures untold. Additionally, Robert Jaeger has expanded the original pixel version of his game, complete for the first time and will be made available as a special Director’s Cut. This version is already available on Steam in a Deluxe Edition bundled with Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition and the PC version of the retro original will also be included on a specially branded USB drive as part of the Nintendo Switch physical Limited Edition.
Digital console pricing for Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition has been set at US$14.99/€14.99. A 10% launch discount will be active for a limited time following release. Physical editions for Nintendo Switch are available for pre-order from online retail partner Playasia and are expected to ship coinciding with the digital launch. For more information on Montezuma’s Revenge - The 40th Anniversary Edition, please visit https://www.eastasiasoft.com/games/Montezumas-Revenge--The-40th-Anniversary-Edition. You may also visit the game's official Steam page at https://store.steampowered.com/app/3101230/Montezumas_Revenge__The_40th_Anniversary_Edition/ and request for a review code at https://www.eastasiasoft.com/games/Montezumas-Revenge--The-40th-Anniversary-Edition/review.
