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BBC Worldwide announces game publishing deal with 6waves for Facebook
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games and 6waves, a global social and mobile game publisher, are joining forces to bring a multitude of new interactive games to Facebook through the 6waves publishing platform, some of which will be based on the BBC’s biggest brands.
One of the first games to launch, Top Gear: Speed World, marks the first ever Top Gear social game and will allow fans of the world’s biggest motoring entertainment show to compete in stunt-filled races and take on challenges. Aficionados of the UK Top Gear will recognize some of the most memorable vehicles and stunts from the show’s history
as they customise and collect cars, build their own tracks, , and challenge friends to beat their track times.
BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games executive VP Robert Nashak said, “With Facebook’s global platform and user reach, it’s a natural fit to extend BBC’s IP to social games that can enrich experiences and connections for our fans and their friends. 6waves was an obvious partner because of the company‘s track record of driving success for the developers and brands it works with.”
6waves senior VP of platform Jim Ying said, “BBC Worldwide has made tremendous strides in expanding its brands to consumers through interactive channels. Social games are a successful way to connect consumers directly with brands they love, we couldn’t be happier to be partnered with BBC in this step in their digital strategy.”
In addition to Top Gear: Speed World, Jane Austen’s Rogues and Romance will launch under this partnership. Set to arrive in spring 2012 and developed in partnership with Legacy Interactive, Jane Austen’s Rogues & Romance will re-create the world of her novels and allow players to take part in an imaginative adventure that follows the path of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy after they are married.
Additional game announcements under the partnership will be made throughout the year.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
