Fantasma Games are known for their ability to produce exciting games and slots that go beyond gambling! Their unique approach of narrative-driven slots takes inspiration from popular video and mobile games, ensuring their content is always on-trend and most importantly entertaining.
We recently spoke with their CEO, Fredrik Johansson to hear more about the business’s exciting future plans and how they see player preferences evolving going forward.
Can you tell us more about you taking on the role of CEO at Fantasma Games? Has this led to wider senior management restructure?
“I am actually returning to the role of CEO, which I previously held for a number of years since founding Fantasma Games back in 2016. Fantasma is currently in a rapid growth phase and our largest shareholders believe that I am the best person to lead the business as we continue to expand internationally and strike deals with some of the biggest operators in the industry. It really is an exciting time for Fantasma, and I am delighted to be back in the top job and leading from the front with the support and trust of our investors.”
What impact will it have on the direction the business is heading?
“We will continue with our approach of developing narrative-driven slots that take the player experience beyond just gambling. We take inspiration from many different entertainment sectors but especially video and mobile games and use this as the foundation for each of our titles. By combining this with themes, stories and characters, our slots draw players in and then keep them on the edge of their seats with thrilling gameplay. Of course, we also work closely with our operator partners to gain insights into what their players are looking for and factor this into our games. It is a formula that has worked well for Fantasma, and we will absolutely continue to move in this direction.”
How do you consider your management style? Are you hands-on or do you like to give your team the freedom to do their own thing?
“I have a clear and strong vision for what I would like Fantasma Games to become, but in order to get there, we need a team of the brightest minds and creative talents in the industry. We really do have some incredible talent within our ranks, but it is important that they are given the freedom to push boundaries, try new things and ultimately unlock their full potential. By doing this, the business remains at the cutting edge and this, in turn, ensures that we continue to elevate our games and bring new and exciting themes, features and mechanics to the market.”
What does the rest of the year have in store for Fantasma Games? Any exciting new releases, mechanics, bonuses, etc that you are working on?
“We are really focused on deploying our international expansion plans and especially establishing ourselves as a leading provider in the US market where we have just gone live in Michigan and West Virginia with tier-one operator, BetMGM. We have more state launches lined up for the coming months and will also be debuting our slots across additional operators and brands. Outside of the US, we continue to focus on the UK market and are also ramping up our presence in Italy and Canada – both of which we see as having great potential for our portfolio of slots.
“In terms of our games, the team is always working on innovative mechanics, features and bonuses and we have a great product roadmap that we are working to for the rest of the year.”
How do you think player preferences will continue to change? Is this why you develop slots that go beyond gambling?
“We are definitely seeing a shift towards slots that offer more than just the option to spin and win money. Players are increasingly drawn to games that are story-driven and take them on a journey with various twists and turns along the way. That is why a lot of our titles have levels for players to progress through, allowing them to unlock characters, bonuses and prizes. This makes for a much more entertaining experience and provides tremendous added value when compared to traditional slot games. So yes, that is why we develop slots beyond gambling.
“It goes without saying that players will continue to transition to mobile. Since day one we have taken a mobile-first approach to development and were early pioneers of one-handed mobile portrait play. I’d say this has proved to have been the right approach to take.
“Ultimately, slot studios need to keep players engaged and excited and they are having to do that among fierce competition not only within the industry but outside of it. And that is why developers need to push the boundaries and ensure their games are so good that players simply won’t be tempted to spend their entertainment time elsewhere.”
