EXCO Game Studio, a new independent slot developer founded by former Yggdrasil chief Fredrik Elmqvist, has officially entered the iGaming industry with a roadmap of more than 30 titles and a stated mission to move away from recycled themes and cloned mechanics.
The studio’s first release, VEGASCALINE, will debut at SBC Summit in Lisbon next week, supported by a further five launches in quick succession. Ahead of the event, EXCO will run a limited live Beta with selected brands on 11 September to gather final player behaviour data.
EXCO, short for Excommunicado, has positioned itself around a “fewer but higher-quality” release model, prioritising originality and player-first design over volume. Its upcoming portfolio will be powered by GAMEX, a proprietary suite of mechanics that includes Wrapper Stacks, Power Field, Boss Fights, Power Bar and the Doubling Dial, developed to create more distinct gameplay and moments designed for watchability and engagement.
The launch underlines Elmqvist’s return to the iGaming supplier space and introduces a new competitor focused on original, high-impact slot content in an increasingly crowded market.
Fredrik Elmqvist, CEO at EXCO Game Studio, said: “I’m going to be honest, the industry has become a bit tired and lazy, stuck in a cycle of uninspiring product rollouts, sequels and reskins, which is why we’ve launched EXCO.”
“Our approach to development is that we won’t ship what we won’t play. We’re looking to stand out with our artistic flair and superb mechanics, and we’ve been working for some time to create an exciting roadmap of games that will genuinely shake things up. Come and see us on our stand in Lisbon next week to see what all the fuss is about.”
