ICE PREVIEW Thomas Nimstad
Million Games sets the pace for ICE 2026 with Chicken X & Friends
This has been a breakout year for Million Games. From a high-energy crash hit to a newly granted Swedish licence and growing studio
partnerships, the team enters ICE 2026 with momentum – and a standout sequel ready to showcase.
t the centre of the Million Games stand in Barcelona will be Chicken X & Friends, the multiplayer follow-up to the game that made them one to watch. The original Chicken X – a bold genre cross over between crash mechanics and arcade chaos – didn’t just attract players. It earned a ‘Best Crash Game’ shortlisting at the 2026 Global Gaming Awards, EMEA, validating the studio’s vision for redefi ning player engagement.
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“We develop titles across multiple formats – from familiar maths and mechanic models to
creative hybrids,” says Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “Crash, arcade, social play – they all tap into something different. By merging those styles, we fi nd ways to surprise players without confusing them.” Chicken X & Friends builds on this approach. Designed from the ground up as a multiplayer crash experience, it introduces new characters, shared risk mechanics, and a light social layer that amplifi es the core thrill of ‘when to jump.’ The gameplay keeps the one-touch tension of Chicken X but adds a new twist: this time, you’re not crossing the road alone.
STRATEGIC MILESTONES Beyond the games themselves, 2025 also marked a key strategic milestone: Million Games is now fully licensed in Sweden. For a proudly Swedish-founded company, this was more than a regulatory checkbox – it was a homecoming moment and a gateway to deeper partnerships with local operators. As a result, several games are now being prepared for launch in the regulated market, including Chicken X, Fortune Fairies, and Rudolph’s Gone Rogue.
The Million Games catalogue now spans slots, crash games, multiplayer, instant win, and RNG table games; each built with the player in mind. A part of that offering comes via the studio’s partner programme, Million Stars.
Million Stars supports rising developers with tech, compliance, and commercial backing –allowing them to focus on creativity while Million Games handles the rest. Among the current Stars are Yugo Workshop (Thorfinn’s Journey & Ghost Harbour), Black Cat Games (Captain’s Curse & Island Ices), Wagercomms (Draw Sevens & Hard Eight Poker) and Playsar, an art-driven studio preparing its first release for 2026.
While Million Stars continues to grow behind the scenes, the spotlight at ICE will be firmly on the main stage: Chicken X & Friends will headline the booth at Stand 2C72, offering attendees hands-on access to a game that blends the familiarity of crash with the unpredictability of arcade and multiplayer action.
For operators, aggregators, and platform partners looking to add energy to their content offering, Million Games brings something different to the table. Not just a portfolio, but a perspective: games that are built to perform, but never afraid to play.
WHAT’S NEXT?
In 2026, Million Games will shift from fast-paced output to a more focused release strategy prioritising high-quality slot titles and expanding the studio’s growing portfolio of simple, instant-format games. Visitors to ICE can get a first look at what’s coming in Q1 & Q2 by stopping by Stand 2C72, where the roadmap for 2026 will be on show. Attendees will also have the chance to meet some of the creative minds behind the Million Stars partner studios, who will join the booth at scheduled times throughout the exhibition.
40 DECEMBER 2025 GIO
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