Microgaming has announced a new partnership with Big Time Gaming to develop new MegaWays video slots.
The leading game developer announced the news earlier this week, revealing it had signed a deal with Big Time Gaming, the owner of the MegaWays game engine, to develop and release games built on the hugely successful slot mechanic.
Under the deal, Microgaming will work with its slew of partnered game developers to create new MegaWays games, all of which are set to release within the coming months.
The first MegaWays game to be developed will be Shamrock Holmes, although no other details about the game were unveiled. The game, which sounds like it will focus on Sherlock Holmes with an Irish spin, will reportedly launch sometime in January 2021.
Speaking about the partnership, Microgaming CEO John Coleman said: “MegaWays has had huge success, and we’re excited to be integrating the mechanic into some of our future games. Big Time Gaming are proven innovators, and we are delighted to extend our relationship with them and grow their presence on our platform.”
Nik Robinson, the CEO at Big Time Gaming, added: “We’re on a mission to bring the MegaWays revolution to a bigger audience, and they don’t come much bigger than Microgaming. These guys were industry pioneers, and today they remain one of the biggest forces in the gaming space. As ardent slots fans, we’re delighted to be contributing in a small way to the Microgaming story.”
Meanwhile, Microgaming has confirmed its calendar of video slot releases for October 2020. Over the month, the developer and its partnered game studios will release a slew of games including the Safari-themed jackpot slot African Legends by Slingshot Studios. The title will include several notable special features to help make more wins and is part of Microgaming’s WowPot progressive jackpot.
Other games to drop later on throughout the month include Gameburger Studios’ Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1918 novel, Wild West slot 777 Royal Wheel by Pulse 8 Studios, Aquatic Treasures by Gold Coin Studios, and Fluffy Favourites by Eyecon.
Developer Big Time Gaming will be releasing two of its existing slots through Microgaming – Royal Mint and The Final Countdown – and it will release brand new MegaWays video slot Chocolate which is jam-packed with special features and mechanics.
All games will become available at all Microgaming-partnered casino operators, helping to expand each of these online casino sites’ game selection.
The news comes after Microgaming became one of the first game developers to announce support for Germany’s new online gambling regulations. In a post shared on the Microgaming website, the developer pledged its commitment to offering customers a solution designed specifically to prepare them for the new regulations.
The new rules introduce a licensing regime for gambling operators, and they introduce new measures which have been designed to promote responsible gambling and clamp-down on the number of people suffering from gambling-related harm.
Some of the new rules to be introduced include a five-second interval between spins on video games, maximum stake limits on games, and the rules require gambling operators to impose a monthly deposit cap too. Finally, the new rules require all gaming products to be presented in German.
As explained by Microgaming, the new rules will come into effect July 2021 and only after then will relevant licenses be issued to operators and game developers. Until then, Germany has implemented a policy of transitional tolerance in which developers and operators must work with the German market to adopt the new measures. Those that do not risk being excluded from future licensing.
As a result of this, Microgaming has planned on launching a solution tomorrow (October 15th) that adheres to the German Toleration Regime and provides operators with the support needed to be ready to enter the German market next year. The solution will include more than 100 Microgaming titles including Bonanza MegaWays, 9 Masks Of Fire, and Book Of Oz among many others.
Leon Thomas, the Commercial Director at Microgaming, said in a statement: “As a socially responsible business, Microgaming broadly supports the regulatory changes in Germany, where we will be providing our customers with a solution that includes some of our most popular and successful titles – long before the new gambling laws come into force next year.”
The MegaWays game engine launched back in 2016 by Australian-based developer Big Time Gaming with the aim of increasing player engagement by creating games that offer dynamic and fast-paced gameplay.
The MegaWays engine has proven popular due to its unpredictability; the number of paylines and symbols on the reels change with each spin. Games based on the engine are also packed with traditional slot features such as Wild Symbols, Scatter Symbols, Free Spins, and so much more.
Big Time Gaming experienced huge success with MegaWays titles such as Bonanza MegaWays, Dragon Born, Queen Of Riches, StarQuest, White Rabbit, Extra Chilli MegaWays, and more.
Today, the developer licenses the game engine out to other developers like Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, and many more, leading to the launch of popular MegaWays titles like Rick And Morty MegaWays, Fishin’ Frenzy MegaWays, Curse Of The Werewolf MegaWays, Piggy Riches MegaWays, and more.
Big Time Gaming has also been working on new game engines such as the Megaclusters and Megaquads engines, both of which provide new ways of playing slots.
Recent releases from Big Time Gaming include Slot Vegas Megaquads, Star Clusters MegaClusters, Survivor MegaWays, Royal Mint MegaWays, Monopoly MegaWays, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Mystery Box, Lil’ Devil, Kingmaker MegaWays, and a slew of others too.
