GamingMalta is getting ready for this year’s edition of SBC Lisbon – and this time Malta has a dedicated booth. For the first time in Lisbon, a unified Maltese delegation will create a space where businesses can connect with the organisations that support Malta’s igaming ecosystem. 

The GamingMalta team will be there, ready to answer any questions about how to Make It in Malta. We’ll be joined by the Malta Gaming Authority, Malta Enterprise, Bank of Valletta, and Identità, so visitors can discuss every aspect of regulation, investment, banking, business requirements, and even access to international talent with the relevant stakeholders in one place. 

SBC will also give us the opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with long-standing industry contacts and hear directly from businesses about how the sector is evolving. This approach is part of the outward-looking, connected economy envisioned by Malta Vision 2050, and helps more businesses Make It in Malta. 

Looking to have a chat to see how we can help you set up or grow your business on the island? Schedule your meeting with us at Hall 2, Booth 251 by following the link below:  https://www.gamingmalta.org/make-it-in-malta/  

SBC Summit takes place between 29th September and 1st October in Lisbon, Portugal

One of the most anticipated game releases for 2027 is heading to gamescom, and it is being developed right here in Malta by 4A Games, a Maltese-Ukrainian studio based in Sliema.

The 4A Games team will travel to Cologne to showcase METRO 2039, the studio’s biggest title yet, during gamescom 2026. Here, the public will be able to experience the post-apocalyptic FPS for the very first time.

METRO 2039 will also feature during gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, ahead of the main event running from 27^th to 30^th August. This is an excellent opportunity for conference visitors to be among the first in the world to get hands-on with the game. And for Malta, this is another example of the calibre of international game development taking place within our local ecosystem.

This is exactly where the goals driving Malta Vision 2050 become tangible, and we couldn’t be happier to continue seeing Malta-based studios taking their work from the island to one of the world’s biggest gaming stages, reaching players and industry leaders on a global scale.

Malta’s gaming talent is heading to Köln this August! 

On 25th August, GamingMalta will once again support the European Game Night (EGN), SpielFabrique’s exclusive indie game showcase and networking event marking the start of gamescom week. 

The event, which is now in its seventh consecutive year, brings together emerging studios and industry professionals from across Europe. It is known for creating a dedicated space where developers can present their work, make new connections and gain greater visibility within the international games sector. 

Representing Malta this year are PawBeans Studios, a collective of MCAST students whose collaboration began through various projects and school-led game jams, as well as FEENIX Group, an international creative studio operating from base_camp in Malta and the UK, creating games and interactive experiences for globally recognised brands including Paddington and Puffin Rock, as well as Roblox experiences and esports projects. The two homegrown studios follow previous Maltese participants PlayonWords Studios, Zarzilla Games, Team DIEnosaur and HASOO, continuing Malta’s presence at an event designed specifically around Europe’s independent development community. 

For PawBeans Studios, this marks their first opportunity to pitch their work to an international industry audience. By supporting emerging developers as they transition from education into the games industry, GamingMalta is investing in the next generation of talent. Creating opportunities for students to gain industry exposure, build professional networks and develop practical experience reflects both GamingMalta’s North Star of growing Malta’s games ecosystem and the talent development objectives set out in MaltaVision 2050. 

FEENIX Group represents the type of studio growth GamingMalta is working to encourage. Having expanded its operations from the UK into Malta, the studio demonstrates the country’s growing appeal as a destination for game development and interactive entertainment. By supporting internationally active studios that invest in Malta, GamingMalta is helping foster innovation, strengthen international collaboration and grow a sustainable games ecosystem, supporting the long-term ambitions of MaltaVision 2050. 

As Malta’s games ecosystem continues to grow, initiatives like these give local talent and studios the opportunity to build international connections, showcase their work and contribute to the country’s long-term vision for interactive entertainment. We look forward to seeing PawBeans Studios and FEENIX Group represent Malta in Köln. 

BLAST Premier Bounty Season 2 came to a close at BLAST Studio Malta in Ta’ Qali, following four days of live Counter-Strike 2 competition from 30th July to 2nd August 2026. 

The scale of the event was reflected both inside the arena and far beyond it. Around 900 fans attended the live stages in Ta’ Qali, with 14.9 million hours watched across BLAST’s broadcast and digital platforms. With a peak concurrent audience of 587,000 and 53 million live views, the finals delivered major international exposure for Malta and confirmed the island’s ability to host esports competition with genuine global reach. 

The tournament began online with 32 international teams competing for a place in the live stage. Eight finalists advanced to Malta to compete live in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final at BLAST Studio Malta in Ta’ Qali. After progressing through the final stages, MOUZ claimed the BLAST Premier Bounty Season 2 championship, defeating Team Spirit in the best-of-five grand final. 

The event formed part of the multi-year partnership between GamingMalta and BLAST, through which Malta continues to host major esports competitions and develop its capacity as an international tournament and content-production destination. 

GamingMalta’s support for events such as BLAST Premier Bounty forms part of a wider effort to strengthen the local gaming ecosystem, attract international activity and create more opportunities for people working or seeking careers in esports, gaming technology, production and related industries. This long-term approach supports the ambitions of Malta Vision 2050 by investing in talent and reinforcing Malta’s competitiveness as a destination for gaming, technology and world-class esports production.

From the 26th to the 30th of August, GamingMalta will join the global games industry at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, one of the world’s leading business events for the video games sector.  

The GamingMalta booth has been designed as a shared business hub for the local industry. This year, the booth will provide over 20 Maltese game studios and educational institutions with the opportunity to meet international publishers, investors and strategic partners throughout the event.  

GamingMalta will also be joined by Malta Enterprise, whose presence highlights the support, investment opportunities and incentives available to companies looking to establish or expand their operations in Malta. 

Bringing together developers, publishers, investors and technology companies from around the world, gamescom provides an ideal setting to build partnerships, explore investment opportunities and showcase Malta’s growing games ecosystem. 

Participation at gamescom reflects GamingMalta’s ongoing commitment to the objectives set out in Malta Vision 2050, supporting the growth of Malta’s games ecosystem through international collaboration, business development and investment opportunities, while strengthening the country’s position as a hub for interactive entertainment. 

See you in Cologne. 

www.julianhuke.com

www.julianhuke.com

www.julianhuke.com

Esports is not only what happens on stage during tournaments. Behind every match there’s a much larger operation involving tournament systems, player coordination, studio management, community work, production and constant communication between specialist teams. 

This is exactly what the BLAST Shadow Programme tackled, with a number of local students and community members given the opportunity to step inside that operation and experience what it takes to deliver a Tier 1 esports event from Malta. 

Now in its third cycle, the BLAST Shadow Programme has accommodated about 20 students, giving local talent direct exposure to the people and roles behind major international esports events. 

The programme took place during BLAST Premier Bounty Season 2 between 30th July and 2nd August at the BLAST Arena Studios in Ta’ Qali, pairing participants with members of four BLAST departments for an hour of focused, behind-the-scenes learning. 

Participants had the opportunity to shadow the Tournament Operations team, gaining insight into server setup, match-management systems and the communication required to keep the competition running smoothly. Others worked alongside the Player Management team, seeing how schedules, arrivals, practice rooms and match-day requests are managed for international teams. 

The Studio Management team showed how the different parts of the event come together, both during tournament days and in the preparations that shape the experience for teams and fans. Participants shadowing the Community Management team explored BLAST’s work at a local level in Malta, including the planning and delivery of community tournaments and esports initiatives. 

For GamingMalta, the objective does not stop with bringing major esports events to Malta. This is Malta Vision 2050 in practice, creating opportunities for local talent to develop specialised skills, gain exposure to high-value roles and build clearer career pathways within gaming and interactive entertainment. 

Through the BLAST Shadow Programme, Maltese talent got a foot through the door, witnessing the processes and specialist skills behind the broadcast. Participants also helped shape future editions through their feedback. 

The BLAST Shadow Programme gave participants direct exposure to the specialist roles behind a Tier 1 esports event, helping turn industry access into practical learning and career awareness. 

The first live match of BLAST Premier Bounty Season 2 is now under way from Malta. 

The remaining top teams have entered the quarter-finals at the BLAST Arena Studios in Ta’ Qali, with world-class Counter-Strike 2 production and broadcast reaching audiences across the globe. 

GamingMalta’s multi-year partnership with BLAST continues to deliver results, bringing major international esports events to the island and positioning Malta as a regular fixture on the global competitive gaming calendar. Each tournament also brings specialist talent, production expertise and international industry connections into Malta’s growing esports ecosystem. 

This is Malta Vision 2050 in practice, strengthening Malta’s position as a global esports hub while building the local capacity and foundations for a stronger esports ecosystem. 

Another major international esports event is being produced right here in Malta. 

Now that BLAST Roots has wrapped at the BLAST Arena Studios in Ta’ Qali, the winner has been decided, but the conversations around Malta’s grassroots Counter-Strike scene are only getting started. 

After progressing through the tournament, Project EVERSIO and CEPE6PO faced off in the final, with Project EVERSIO claiming the title and the €1,000 prize pool. The event gave both teams the chance to compete on a professional stage and experience the pressure of a fully produced esports event. 

GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti stated: “Our strategy for growing Malta’s esports industry does not stop with attracting international tournaments. We are also working to create room for local players to compete and see a future for themselves in the industry. BLAST Roots brings those two ambitions together, giving homegrown talent access to the same professional environment that hosts Tier 1 competition and turning the goals of Malta Vision 2050 into practical opportunities.” 

Some of the players taking part in the tournament were returning to familiar territory, while others were stepping onto the BLAST stage for the first time. 

CEPE6PO’s Ihor, aka ‘Paul9,’ who has been playing CS for over fifteen years said that he was hoping the tournament would encourage more teams to get involved. 

“We want to see more teams joining because that will make the competition stronger,” he said. “Events like this show younger players that there is a local scene they can become part of.” 

Vladimir ‘ZRC’ Raczewski has competed in Malta for several years: “Playing on this stage is always a great experience,” he said. 

For another player, Marced, gaming has also had an impact beyond competition. “This has helped me practice my English and become more confident speaking to people,” he said. “BLAST Roots is a good way to meet others, learn something new and experience what it feels like to play on stage.” 

Project EVERSIO’s Harrison returned after making his LAN debut at the previous edition. 

“Meeting the local teams and playing against them has been a really positive experience,” he said. “You learn a lot from competing on stage, and I would recommend it to any team thinking about taking part.” 

The same point kept coming up throughout the event: players are eager to see more teams taking part, regular competitions and more opportunities for newcomers to enter the scene. BLAST Roots gives new players an effective starting point, while also offering experienced players a reason to keep returning. 

Aidan McLoughlin, Malta Grassroots and Community Manager, stated: “Giving the players a chance to perform on stage matters to us — it’s how BLAST stays close to the local gaming community. That on-stage LAN experience is key to developing players and helping them break into the international scene. We’re excited to keep growing BLAST Roots and our outreach to Malta’s community.” 

GamingMalta’s partnership with BLAST means the same arena that welcomes Tier 1 competition is also opening its doors to local players, translating Malta Vision 2050 into tangible opportunities to develop talent on the global stage. 

Project EVERSIO left this edition with the trophy. The next step is making sure even more teams are ready to challenge for it.

BLAST Premier Bounty Returns to Malta for Its Final Showdown of 2026. 

The final BLAST Premier Bounty event of the year is heading to Malta, bringing another major international Counter-Strike 2 competition to the BLAST Arena Studios in Ta’ Qali. 

Following the opening online stage, the tournament’s eight remaining teams are travelling to Malta to compete in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final from 30th July to 2nd August. With $1.15 million in total prize pool at stake, the pressure is on, until one team is crowned BLAST Premier Bounty champion. 

BLAST Premier Bounty is a Tier 1 flagship tournament, attracting many leading names in international Counter-Strike 2, together with a global audience. 

The Malta playoffs place the island at the centre of that international coverage, with matches produced and broadcast from the state-of-the-art, 1,000 sq metre BLAST Arena Studios and operations centre in Ta’ Qali. 

Last year’s Bounty showed the scale of that reach, generating 66 million live views, 17.5 million hours watched and a peak audience of almost 800,000, making it the fifth most-watched BLAST Premier event by peak viewership. More than 600 tickets were also issued across four days of studio action, connecting local students, esports community members and local as well as international fans with the event. 

Of course, the real value for GamingMalta lies in what happens beyond the final match. The multi-year partnership with BLAST is turning Malta into a regular fixture on the international esports calendar, bringing teams, broadcasters, production crews and decision makers back to the island. 

Each event strengthens Malta’s position as a global esports hub, bringing major international competition to the island while building local experience and capacity. That is MaltaVision 2050 in practice, growing Malta’s presence on the global esports calendar while creating the foundations for a stronger local esports ecosystem. With last year’s Bounty setting a strong benchmark, this year’s edition is another step in building that long-term presence. 

While Malta will crown the final BLAST Premier Bounty champion of 2026, the island’s esports calendar is far from over. Dota 2 takes centre stage next, with BLAST Slam 8 going live from Malta on 9th October, followed by BLAST Slam 9 on 2nd November, continuing a packed year of international esports competition on the island. 

Project EVERSIO Win!

It’s official! Project EVERSIO are the BLAST Roots S3 champions!

The GamingMalta team sends its warm congratulations to Project EVERSIO on claiming the title after a strong performance on the professional stage.

Our congratulations also go to CEOE6PO, who fought hard throughout the competition and secured a well-earned second-place finish.

We’re proud to continue supporting events like BLAST Roots and the growth of Malta’s grassroots esports scene. We look forward to seeing what’s next for local talent.