During the finale of this series of SlotBeats Spotlight, we asked our experts to cast their eyes into the future and tell us what innovation within slot features we can expect to see in the coming months.
As we’ve entered a new year, what can we expect to see in the slot industry in regard to innovation within slot features?
Rob Procter, SG Digital: Whether it’s Twitch, YouTube streamers, game review forums or slot review sites that hold a lot of sway, these factors are fuelling where the industry is moving to in terms of game design.
More and more, you see bigger suppliers asking how content can be produced that harnesses the power of social channels. We are keeping a close eye on developments in this regard, and we are very much up for collaborations with online influencers.
More generally, there is always a focus on the next jackpot mechanic to reach the market and how it differs from others. There are still gaps in the market and we are pushing hard in this area with Mega Drop Jackpots and Jackpot Wars. Our goal is to really push these products further, to really challenge and surpass our competitors in that space.
Ondrej Lapides, Tom Horn Gaming: Providers will continue to push the boundaries in terms of innovation and technological excellence whilst trying to surpass the rest of the pack with new approaches to in-game features or introduction of new player retention tools.
Apart from slot features, mobile-first design will remain a high priority in 2021 with many studios investing their time and energy into perfecting their UX designs to provide the smoothest possible player experience across a variety of devices.
Localised content will also be high on the agenda as it is crucial to deeper market penetration. I believe we will see a more diverse, tailored gaming offering with more creative approach to features and gameplay in the coming months.
Matej Sopóci, Synot Games: I think there will be a couple of surprises that will come to light since we are more focused on online rather than on land based, due to the recent global issues. As the closure of casinos continues there is a higher demand of simple online slots.
The clientele has shifted and it is up to us to handle them. If I may, I would consider it a kind of “renaissance” of the good old basic slot games coming online in new dresses.
This will definitely bring some bulbs to light up and create something new from something old. I expect more simple games to arrive on the market with enhanced graphic visuals incorporating some enjoyable themes.
Asko Heiskanen, Yggdrasil: Citius, Altius, Fortius! That’s the trend we know continues throughout the industry and at Yggdrasil. It will be one hell of a feature galore looming in the future. Foremostly, product development is an iteration based process leaning on both intel and trial and error.
Leading suppliers like Yggdrasil innovate and test new mechanics and features constantly. Some of them succeed, some fail but most importantly, we always learn something and have new eureka-moments. It will open new avenues to explore and test.
We surely see more focus on game mechanics targeted at increasing longer-term player retention, clever ways to make players invested in the game and to make games stickier.
As many regulated markets are banning popular buy-a-bonus features, we also see that these types of features are becoming more popular and valued by players in other jurisdictions. These ‘metagames’ will evolve to become a real in-game gambling experience.
Not just one-click-raffle events but more engaging and aspiring key moments within a gameplay flow. Overall, there are more people involved in iGaming product development now than ever before in the past. More brains, more disruptive solutions and innovations will surely surface in 2021 and onwards. The race is on.
Yuriy Muratov, Booongo: I believe there will definitely be even more Megaways products to come. It’s already one of the most popular brands on the market and that is set to continue for some time.
Hold and Win games aren’t quite as popular yet, but there’s already increased market penetration and popularity is on the rise. It’s an area of gaming that Booongo enjoys a strong foothold within, with a number of our top-performing titles featuring Hold and Win mechanics.
Combining these with other mechanics, such as Expanding wilds and others will no doubt drive further innovation or even create an entirely new wave of game, packed with features that gives players a never-before-seen experience. It will just be about finding balance.
Combining different mechanics game preferences can alienate players if done too much, leaving games that appeal to nobody. Finding an equilibrium is among the most important tasks with innovation.
Make sure to attend the CasinoBeats Slot Festival next week to see a selection of new titles from some of the industry’s most renowned developers, including SG Digital.
To read part one of our Spotlight series into features, click here.
To read part two, click here.
To read part three, click here.
To read the part four, click here.
