“You can’t approach the online casino market with a one-size-fits-all approach, especially if your client base spans multiple markets and verticals.” emphasised Andy Whitworth, CCO of NetEnt as he explains the company’s strategy behind its consistent stream of new content.
In the past month, the operator has released Irish Pot Luck and Hotline 2 to its ever-growing portfolio of online slots as well as Red Tiger recently revamping one of its original titles to produce, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways.
SlotBeats spoke to Whitworth about the benefits of a consistent stream of the content, their inspirations behind the company’s two latest releases and why the industry is seeing more rejuvenated titles.
“We operate in a high-churn market where players are always looking for fresh new games to try their hand at, “
SlotBeats: You’ve recently released a handful of games, what are the benefits of releasing a consistent stream of new content?
Andy Whitworth: Thanks to our years of experience in the online casino sector, NetEnt has the capacity to build several quality titles a month that meet the demands of the industry’s diverse customer base. We operate in a high-churn market where players are always looking for fresh new games to try their hand at, and our roadmap enables us to deliver a range of games that suit a variety of preferences.
You can’t approach the online casino market with a one-size-fits-all approach, especially if your client base spans multiple markets and verticals. Releasing a steady stream of titles allows us to best serve our partners’ nuanced needs with tailored portfolios.
SB: Red Tiger recently revamped your slot title Gonzo’s Quest, why are we seeing more games being rejuvenated?
AW: Gonzo’s Quest is an all-time player favourite that continues to be a standout performer to this day. That said, the industry has moved on since it was first released in 2011, and mechanics advanced significantly.
By combining one of the most popular slots on the market with a really popular game mechanic, Megaways, we’ve created a winning combination that has injected new life into the classic title. The result is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year that is on track to match the long-standing success of the original.
SB: What was your inspiration behind your two latest releases, Hotline 2 and Irish Pot Luck?
AW: In a similar way to Gonzo’s Quest, with Hotline 2 we wanted to provide fans of the original with a fresh new sequel. The game takes the features of the first title that players love whilst adding engaging new mechanics and a vibrant new setting to take the experience to the next level.
Meanwhile, the idea behind Irish Pot Luck was to reboot a classic theme with a jackpot twist and quality movie animation-style graphics. It’s bold, bright and offers a light-hearted gaming experience that suits both traditional players and those who prefer modern slots.
SB: How do you look to achieve the highest quality while still producing a consistent quantity?
AW: NetEnt wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for our commitment to high standards. Each of our releases goes through a thorough research and development process, as well as countless simulations to ensure the end product meets our expectations. It helps that our studios and developers are passionate about gaming, which shines through every title.
“We have a handful of exciting releases up our sleeve before the year ends.”
SB: What can we expect from NetEnt in terms of slots in the near future?
AW: We have a handful of exciting releases up our sleeve before the year ends. To begin with, Rage of the Seas will be out soon and it’s one of the most feature-loaded titles in our portfolio. We will close the year by launching two NetEnt classics with a MegaWays twist and I really look forward to putting these games in front of players.
In general, the last few months have been transformational for our business with the ongoing integration of Red Tiger, making 2020 one of the most significant periods in the company’s history. Our combined roadmaps promise to see the year off in style, and we’re looking forward to what the next 12 months has in store.
