Consumer & Commercial Payments
May 20, 2025
Česká spořitelna, the Czech Republic’s largest and oldest-standing bank, has partnered with Warhorse Studios, a world-leading Czech gaming studio, on one of the most highly anticipated games of 2025: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The card technology is based on IST’s IDEMIA Starlight card technology, which lights up a distinctive pattern when placed near an NFC-enabled device—no battery is required.
With a nationwide marketing campaign, the card has sparked extensive excitement among gaming fans on social media and local media outlets. Just 2,000 exclusive payment cards were issued, with a limited batch released daily to customers throughout February, making each card a rare and coveted collector’s item. Customers could apply for a card daily via the bank’s app during a one-hour window. These highly sought-after cards were snapped up within seconds of being released daily.
In an interview with IST, Juraj Pilka, card issuing business lead at Česká spořitelna, explained the strategy behind this partnership, highlighting several parallels between the card’s features and a collaboration with the gaming brand. He pointed out that with 40% of the population aged 14-64 identifying as gamers, the card’s light-up feature speaks directly to their passions: “For gamers, RGB lighting is life.”
Serving over 4.6 million customers, Česká spořitelna is known for its extensive branch and ATM network. A member of the Erste Group since 2000, the bank is dedicated to financial health, digital innovation, and supporting initiatives that promote financial literacy. Pilka emphasises the connection between banking and gaming, explaining how spending behaviour in the gaming world can play a key role in shaping financial health in the real world for their gaming audience.
At a time when payment services are becoming increasingly digital, the physical payment card remains a vital, tangible tool for creating a connection between card issuers and their customers. As such, card design plays a crucial role in representing card issuers’ brands and acting as a key differentiator. Česká spořitelna serves as a prime example of this. Pilka confirms this: “With people getting more used to paying with wallets and virtual cards… physical cards can [be] a way of expressing yourself…”
Aaron Davis, SVP Europe, payment services, IDEMIA Secure Transactions, says: “It’s been an honour to partner with Česká spořitelna for nearly a decade. This latest collaboration on the limited-edition gaming card has been truly exciting, as we explored a new and innovative payment card technology to capture the interest of gaming enthusiasts. Together, we continue to enhance customer experiences and elevate the way Česká spořitelna serves its clients.”
Juraj Pilka,, card issuing business lead, Česká spořitelna, says, “This project has been a really fun and exciting journey for us. The success of the collaboration with Warhorse and IDEMIA Secure Transactions on the Kingdom Come Deliverance II OLED card has been phenomenal. It truly highlights the role that relevant card design can play in today’s digital age, as well as the importance of staying in tune with your audience and collaborating with the right partners to make a big impact.”
Take a look at our full interview with Juraj Pilka, where he explains the reasons behind the limited-edition card, from its illuminating feature to the partnership with Warhorse Studios: IDEMIA Secure Transactions and Česká spořitelna launch a light-up card for game enthusiasts. – YouTube
Take a look at IST’s white paper, which talks about the latest consumer payment trends: https://campaign.idemia.com/how-people-prefer-to-pay?utm_source=PaymentsAssocUK&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Article
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