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Writing for European Gaming, Yann Bautista, Commercial Director and Founder at Peter & Sons discusses the challenges of creating something truly unique for the iGaming industry.

Developing something ‘different’ for bettors is much easier said than done. Do you go down the game design route? Add new mechanics? How about completely reinventing the overall gameplay experience with the incorporation of new technologies?

Within the iGaming space, we’ve seen game developers and platform providers scramble to find new ways to differentiate themselves from the crowd. And I can see why.

The space has become much more saturated over the last few years, not to mention players demanding much more from their gaming experiences – those points of differentiation can mean the difference between engaging players or fading into the background.

At Peter & Sons, doing things ‘different’ has been our mantra since our inception back in 2019. Our founding team knew that the iGaming sector presented a lucrative opportunity, so in order to be successful, you really had to make a splash.

But let’s be clear, we weren’t looking to reinvent the wheel. From our collective experiences, we knew what worked and, more importantly, what did not. So instead, we wanted to keep the wheel as it was – but add our own fresh spin.

To achieve this, we chose to focus on the development of innovative products and combining that with our distinctive branding. We wanted to make sure that any player who was enjoying our games knew that this was a Peter & Sons product.

Innovation: simply a buzzword?

Now, we know what you’re probably thinking. Doesn’t everyone set out on a mission to innovate? And you’re not wrong. Innovation has become somewhat of a buzzword in our industry over the last few years.

Reskinning an existing game with a slightly tweaked design does not an innovator make.

True innovation, in our view, lies in reimagining existing concepts in ways that feel fresh and exciting, while also introducing entirely new elements that redefine the player experience.

For me, I guess you could say that the iGaming industry can be considered to be an innovative industry. We are seeing new products and technologies emerge which are paving the way for our industry to grow and evolve. However, what we have also seen is a handful of gaming companies recycle more established concepts and mechanics – something that can ultimately have a detrimental effect on player engagement.

Peter & Sons isn’t, and never will be, one of those gaming companies that relies on rehashing existing concepts. As a company, we strive to push the boundaries of game design by incorporating new technologies, creative mechanics and unique artistry to ensure that every single game we develop stands out both visually and experientially.

Our focus on differentiation means that we are able to deliver much higher quality, more immersive gaming experiences that not only captivate players, but help our operator partners to drive long-term engagement too.

It’s all about branding

As a company, we didn’t want our mantra of differentiation to be limited to the development of mechanics. In fact, it is also a value that has shaped our overall branding strategy – both in terms of game design, and how we portray our organisation to new and existing partners. Looking at game design, we ultimately wanted our branding strategy to complement our product innovation team.

To do this, our team follows three core principles: creative, fun and relevant to our audience. There is very little use in designing a game around a theme that has already proven to be unsuccessful with players; instead, look at either developing an entirely new design concept, or adding a new twist to a player favourite.

The synergy of unique game themes, stunning graphics, and top-tier audio design, alongside a brand that highlights creativity and player-centric values, truly sets us apart. This comprehensive approach ensures our games are not only played but also remembered and recommended by players.

Those three core principles have also shaped our brand identity. In fact, we underwent a brand refresh last year, as we wanted to align our visual identity and messaging with the innovative spirit of our game portfolio. For us, it shouldn’t just be our games portfolio that’s fun, creative and relevant. Our overall brand should be too.

Our brand refresh became much more important as we continued to expand our global reach and introduce new titles.

We wanted to be able to roll out new games across new markets, and for players and operators to be instantly familiar with Peter & Sons, and what we stand for. So, we chose to update our logo, website and market materials to better reflect the essence of who we are as a brand.

What lies ahead?

As we enter the next phase of our growth as a company, we will continue to remain firmly focused on changing the game for slot development and bringing new, exciting titles to players right across the industry.

By staying true to our core values of innovation and player-centric design, we aim to set new industry benchmarks and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences. We already have big plans in place to broaden our portfolio, with a pipeline of exciting slots as well as a range of instant and scratch games.

We’ll continue entering new regulated markets and strengthening our presence in existing ones. And rest assured, we will continue to maintain the highest possible standards of quality and creativity.

While I can’t give away much about our plans for the next 12 months, what I can tell you is that we plan to keep building on some of our most successful games, like Barbarossa. Following its success, we are releasing Barbarossa Revenge on the 1 October, which we believe will be a hit, captivating our loyal players and attracting new ones. So, keep your eye out for some new exciting products!