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Is Play’n GO the King of online slot franchises?
With a rapidly growing portfolio of intriguing and thrilling online slots, Play’n GO is undoubtedly one of the coolest iGaming developers out there. The Play’n GO journey began back in 1997 when a group of software developers banded together to offer their services to larger companies.
After finding out that the iGaming industry was seriously lacking in terms of truly imaginative online slots – Play’n GO were determined to change that. Trust, Energy and Quality are the three values that are the cornerstone of everything that Play’n GO does which is why it’s no surprise that the developers are one of the leading creators within the industry.
As soon as you see the Play’n GO logo on an online slot, you know that you are in for an exhilarating time. The same can be said for Play’n GO’s extensive online slot series collection which expands year after year. This is why it can be easily argued that the iGaming giant is the King of the online slot franchise and here are the reasons why.
Trendsetters within iGaming
It’s hard not to find an adventure slot with a dashing hero leading the journey – but did you know it all really started with Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde series. Back in 2012, Rich Wilde and the Aztec Idols released and catapulted the adventure theme into being relevant again.
Unsurprisingly, the Rich Wilde series continues to grow almost 10 years after the original with a new online slot, Rich Wilde and the Wandering City, slated for release in November 2021. It wasn’t just the Rich Wilde series that expanded, many developers were inspired and tried their hand at creating their own adventurer franchise.
Pragmatic Play generated their own hero in the form of John Hunter, whilst Stormcraft Studios produced Jungle Jim as their adventurer. Amazingly, the John Hunter series has developed its own identity with a new slot coming out every year.
Moon Princess was released at the end of 2018 with an anime-inspired slot that saw three school girl heroines save the world. Fast-forward to 2021, and you have a multitude of slots influenced by Moon Princess as it’s hard not to love the creativity in combining anime with online slots. Play’n GO slots definitely follow the beat of their own drum and it’s only inevitable that others would be inspired by their work.
Bigger and better sequels
There’s an unfortunate trend within the media that the sequel is often worse than the original or at least not on the same level. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Play’n GO as the company often goes above and beyond with their sequels – such as the case in the King Arthur and Gemix series.
Although the original slots for these franchises were positively received by players, the developers enhanced the sequels (and subsequent titles in the series) by amplifying the brilliant parts and minimising the criticised elements.
Each new title within the King Arthur and Gemix series improved the win potential through higher RTP and bigger payouts. Not only is the win potential drastically better than the originals, but the graphics are enhanced and the gameplay is upgraded with additional features.
Unafraid to shake up existing franchises
The original Charlie Chance in Hell to Pay features only 3-reels with 5 paylines but keeps the slot modern by adding a variety of features. With the quirky art style matching vintage cartoons such as Felix the Cat and Betty Boop, it’s little wonder that players adorned this slot.
Instead of repeating the same slot with a different background for a quick cash grab, Play’n GO decided to do something different with Charlie Chance XReelz. Foregoing the simplistic 3-reel, 5 payline formula, the slot opted for 5-reels with 243 paylines as well as the new XReelz mechanic.
Shifting the Charlie Chance series even further, Charlie Chance and the Curse of Cleopatra ignores reels completely and utilises the Cluster Pays mechanic instead. Whilst the original Charlie Chance in Hell to Pay set an expectation for the rest of the franchise, Play’n GO subverted everyone’s expectations by doing something completely different with each other game in the series.
Battling against tough competition
It’s no secret that Play’n GO is absolutely dominating with their online slot franchises – but that doesn’t mean that there is no competition for the developers. iSoftBet’s infamous Twisted Tales series is constantly growing and getting better with each addition, similarly Thunderkick hosts a huge number of franchises that could rival Play’n GO’s crown in the future.
The previously mentioned John Hunter series from Pragmatic Play may appear to have been inspired by Rich Wilde, but the latest John Hunter slots, such as John Hunter and the Quest for Bermuda Riches, have found their own unique style within the adventure slots genre.
Not only that but Pragmatic Play’s Great Rhino, Sweet Bonanza and The Dog House series are expanding in size meaning their collection of beloved franchises is constantly evolving. Similarly, Playtech’s Age of the God series is one of the biggest within the iGaming world and the developers also have a variety of other huge franchises as well.
The future of Play’n GO
Despite all of these developers having an impressive collection of online slot series, Play’n GO still has the edge with the diversity of all their titles. It’s clear that Play’n GO is a trendsetter with regards to online slot series as the company decides what to work on instead of following other developers. If Play’n GO decides to create an Egyptian slot series, you can bet that it’ll be original and unlike anything else.
What makes Play’n GO the King of online slot franchises is the fact that there’s a huge assortment of different themes within their slot series collection and it’s constantly evolving. Any of their latest titles such as Wild Class or Sparky and Shortz could easily develop into an iconic series and that’s the brilliance of Play’n GO.
The future of Play’n GO could lead anywhere but it’s obvious that the online slots and franchises created will be fan-favourites. Play’n GO’s CEO, Johan Törnqvist, is committed to the enjoyment of the players – even if that means losing revenue. At least for now, Play’n GO remains the King of the online slot franchise and other developers will have a lot of work to do if they want to take their crown.
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The App You Need to Download if You’re Tired of Throwing in League of Legends
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GIANTX launches iTero Standalone — the new and improved version of its AI-powered coaching tool already used by more than half a million players worldwide
If you’ve ever thrown a game because of a bad draft, missed rotations, or your jungler vanished before minute three, there’s now an app that might finally help you clean up your gameplay: iTero.
Developed by the global esports organization GIANTX, the new version of its artificial intelligence training tool —iTero Standalone— arrives with a clear mission: to help players level up their League of Legends performance once and for all.
The new version is fully independent and available for direct download, offering faster performance, better precision, and a smoother overall experience. Lighter, smarter, and more stable, iTero Standalone represents the next step in the evolution of GIANTX’s technology ecosystem, with full control over development and updates.
Founded by Jack Joseph Williams in 2022 and acquired by GIANTX in 2024, iTero Gaming has been developing and refining AI-driven coaching systems for both casual and professional players. Its first virtual coach was designed to enhance the League of Legends experience -developed by Riot Games- by analyzing millions of real matches every patch to deliver personalized recommendations, from strategic macro decisions to champion select choices.
With over 500,000 downloads worldwide, iTero has become one of the most popular performance tools among players of all skill levels. With the release of iTero Standalone, it now aims to become the leading AI coaching platform for gamers.
Five Ways iTero Actually Helps You Get Better at League of Legends
1. It tells you what to pick — and why.
The AI analyzes your team’s and the enemy’s composition to recommend the champion that has the highest chance of winning that game, based on your stats and the current meta. No more questionable picks.
2. And what Build to choose!
After helping you pick the best Champion for the game, the AI also analyzes the enemy composition to decide what the best items, runes, and summoners to take for that specific game. That even includes checking whether anti-heal or anti-shield items are efficient enough to buy!
3. It reviews your matches like a real coach.
After each session, the AI gives data-driven feedback on your macro performance throughout the game and identifies areas you performed well on, and what you struggled with. After ten games, you unlock the AI Macro Coach, which compares your stats with players of your same rank and shows where you’re consistently falling behind.
4. It provides actionable insights about the players in your lobby.
Using its unique data the Scouting Tool provides you with all the information you need to know whilst loading into a game, whether that’s learning that the enemy support loves to invade, your Jungler likes to spend their early game power-farming, or that your lane opponent plays aggressively.
5. All the overlays you expect, and more.
From tracking the gold difference, timing your inhibitor respawns, or quickly checking who has the Baron buff, iTero has every overlay you need to stay on top of your solo queue games.
A New Chapter in the GIANTX Ecosystem
The launch of iTero Standalone reinforces GIANTX’s commitment to technological innovation and expands its presence beyond competition, driving the creation of useful, data-powered products for the gaming and esports community. The organization also practices what it preaches: GIANTX’s performance department already uses AI-based tools to scout talent and support decision-making at the highest competitive level.
With this new version of iTero, GIANTX strengthens its leadership at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and performance, paving the way for a new generation of smarter training in League of Legends —a title that averaged nearly 30 million active players in September 2025 alone.
The post The App You Need to Download if You’re Tired of Throwing in League of Legends appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Winning Partnership: Apparat live on bwin in all-German content deal
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Developer of slots with a German accent integrates 43 games with German top operator
Apparat Gaming, the developer of slot games with a German accent, has added yet another big-name operator to its growing list of partners by entering into a partnership with bwin.
Under the agreement, 43 of Apparat Gaming’s unique slots are made available to players of the award-winning online casino brand bwin.
The operator, which belongs to the Entain Group, has now one of the largest Apparat portfolios on the German market online since November, with 43 of the currently 54 Apparat games eligible for approval under German regulations.
The timing for the partnership couldn’t be better, as bwin was one of the major brands sorely missing from Apparat’s customer list for the German market. The addition of Apparat slots to bwin’s gaming lobby will help position the operator in its fight for German market leadership.
Founded just five years ago, Apparat is one of the up-and-coming game developers in regulated markets due to its German approach to development, with a focus on quality, engineering and providing plenty of Augenweide (eye candy) with absolutely no sense of humour(!) to ensure a superior player experience across its games.
This includes titles such as Total Eclipse XXL, 5 Moon Wolf, Fishin’ the Biggest or Gates of Ishtar. The partnership will also include the missing as well as all of Apparat’s future slot releases like the next release, Piggy Balloons.
Martin Frindt, Chief Product Partnership at Apparat Gaming, said: “It’s great to see that bwin understands the language we speak, even though the casino team is made up of Austrians, and has opted to add our slots with a German accent to its game lobby.”
“We now just hope that the German regulator GGL will approve the remaining games as soon as possible.”
Wanja Richter, Director of Gaming North and Central Europe at Entain, added: “Providing players with access to the best content in the business is a major part of our success story to date, and to be able to offer German players slots that have been developed by Apparat Gaming and that truly capture the essence of Germany is a slam dunk for us.”
“We are happy to finally be working with Apparat and hope to get their upcoming games content approved as quickly as possible!”
The post Winning Partnership: Apparat live on bwin in all-German content deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Not Just Games. Experiences: Interview with Gabor, CPO at DreamPlay
The iGaming industry has evolved far beyond spinning reels and flashy win screens. Today, it’s a rapidly shifting space where player expectations define innovation. Creativity, data, and emotional design have become central to building not just games — but experiences.
We sat down with Gabor, Chief Product Officer at DreamPlay, to discuss what modern slot development really means, how ideas transform into products, and why the future belongs not to games that are simply entertaining — but to those that resonate.
What makes a slot competitive today — math, visuals, gameplay, or a combination of factors? And which matters most?
Gabor: A great game is like an orchestra: you need every instrument playing in harmony or the whole thing falls apart.
The math and design are the heart and soul of every game — without them, even the best art is just a pretty face. Today’s players also expect to be entertained: strong pacing, polished audiovisuals, and features that feel meaningful, not gimmicky.
I always say that one of the challenges of creating great slots is that you have to be able to tell a whole story just through a push of the button — making them feel exciting while being simple and smooth for the player, but this means a lot of complexity for the creator.
So the real magic happens when everything clicks together. The best slots feel effortless, but behind that effortlessness is a very deliberate balance of math, flow, visuals, and just the right level of innovation.”
When working on a new release, what helps you shape the product vision before development even begins?
Gabor: Ideas can come from anywhere – a family vacation, a conversation, a movie, a meme, pretty much anything you can think of.
Creativity thrives when everyone on the team can chip in with their own ideas – we actively encourage that.
But inspiration alone isn’t enough. Every game needs a clear purpose. Is it pushing boundaries? Refreshing a classic theme? Continuing a successful series? We always start by defining the ‘why.’
Then we let data and experience meet in the middle. When the numbers support the idea and our collective instincts say ‘yes, this will work,’ that’s when a concept becomes a vision worth building.”
Do you see potential for an even closer integration of video games and slots, or are they still two different markets?
Gabor:There’s definitely potential — and honestly, the two worlds have been borrowing from each other for years. iGaming has embraced progression systems, more complex storytelling, achievements… while video games picked up loot boxes and other elements from gambling.
They will never fully merge, because the motivations and regulations are different, but there is clearly much more overlap than 10–15 years ago when these two industries were completely different. Today’s players grew up with games that blend entertainment, challenge, psychology, and reward, and they
expect a different form of entertainment than previous generations.
So we’re moving from ‘old-school gambling’ toward ‘interactive entertainment with a gambling core.’ And that trend will only continue.
Is the industry truly ready for bold experimentation, or does it still prefer playing safe?
Gabor: This is where it gets interesting. The industry loves talking about innovation and bold ideas – but in reality, the audience is still quite conservative. Most players enjoy evolution, not revolution.
We’ve seen a few big hits like Megaways and crash games, but they didn’t throw the core DNA of gambling out the window. These mechanics are mainly focused on enhanced entertainment value and presentation.
So yes, there’s room to experiment, but true format-breaking innovations tend to become niche and usually struggle to gain wider traction. The sweet spot is pushing boundaries without losing the essence of why players show up in the first place.”
What was your first step in iGaming, and when did you realize this was your industry?
Gabor: My start was completely unplanned. I moved to Israel from Hungary at 26, didn’t speak Hebrew yet, and was looking for any English-speaking job. A friend worked at an online casino, said they were hiring, and I thought, ‘Perfect, something temporary to help me get settled, I will find a proper job once my Hebrew improves.”
I have never even tried finding a ‘proper job’ afterward. That ‘temporary’ role turned into a 15+ year career across multiple countries, teams, and roles across casino management and game production — and I’ve loved every minute of it.
This industry is fast, sometimes (often) chaotic, but full of brilliant people and challenges that keep you sharp. Even after all these years, I still wake up excited about what we’re building. It’s hard to imagine doing anything else at this point.”
Final Takeaway
The iGaming industry continues its transformation — not just technologically, but emotionally. As Gabor pointed out throughout our conversation, the future belongs not to those who release the most games, but to those who understand what players truly feel.
We’re seeing a shift toward more immersive, meaningful experiences — where design, psychology, and data work together to create lasting engagement.
And it’s leaders like Gabor — and companies like DreamPlay — who are moving the industry forward, proving that innovation isn’t just about features or mechanics… it’s about connection.
Dream Play’s most recent releases and upcoming products here:
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