HomeIn-depthSvante Sahlström: “We remain steadfast in our dedication to producing genuinely exciting content”

Svante Sahlström: “We remain steadfast in our dedication to producing genuinely exciting content”

INTERVIEWS15 Jan 2025
8 min. read
Svante, Thunderkick

Svante Sahlström, Thunderkick’s CCO, sat down with Casino Guru News to reflect on what has been a tremendous year for the acclaimed and award-winning supplier in 2024. The company celebrated many significant milestones, including launches in key markets such as Latin America, Ontario, Canada, and beyond. Thunderkick’s production pace showed no signs of slowing throughout the year, and the company partnered with Livespins to tap into a larger audience and showcase its products. Looking ahead to 2025, Thunderkick is focused on further expansion into markets like Brazil and France and leveraging cutting-edge technology, including AI, to refine its business model

Q: Svante, as you complete your first full year with the Thunderkick team, how has the journey been so far? What key achievements or contributions have you been proud to make alongside the larger team over the past 12 months?

It has been a fantastic year at Thunderkick – both from a personal and company perspective – during which we have expanded the commercial department, launched fresh content, entered new markets, and solidified our reputation as a globally recognised game studio. The statistics from this year have far exceeded those from 2023 thanks to a monumental effort from the entire team.

Plenty has happened behind the scenes to make 2024 a successful year, and one of my key focuses has been to review internal processes to optimise operational efficiency. While singular tasks such as altering the way we organise and conduct meetings may seem inconsequential, streamlining several of these processes has had a huge positive impact, enabling us to spend more time doing what we love – building relationships with customers and driving the expansion of the business. I am proud to prioritise the cultivation of a work environment that values time, champions creativity, and empowers the team to thrive.

It has also been a great year of events, of which the final ICE exhibition in London was a highlight. The marketing team put on a real show in what was an incredibly valuable conference – just wait until you see what we have in store for ICE Barcelona in January 2025. SiGMA Malta was another standout moment, where we invited our customers to an intimate rooftop event, with attendees walking away with some Esqueleto Explosivo 3 branded glasses and a fitting beverage to match!

Q: Thunderkick joined the Livespins platform at the end of October. What are the implications of this move, and what larger market trends does your decision to become a part of the "Bet with Streamers" product mean for the industry heading into 2025?

Thunderkick strives to be ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation and industry trends. There has been rapid growth in the popularity of social gaming experiences over the past few years, and this collaboration with Livespins will ensure our most popular titles – such as Eager Beavers and the Esqueleto Explosivo trilogy – feature front and centre as interactive platforms gain greater traction in 2025.

We are consistently exploring opportunities to enhance player acquisition and engagement on behalf of our partners. There is potential with products, such as Livespins’ Bet with Streamers, to reach an entirely unique audience that prefers the shared social experience, and showcasing our content to these players can act as a key driver of game sessions for operators.

Q: In 2024, you took significant strides into the Latin American market. How has the journey been so far? Are you satisfied with the results, and what major milestones has Thunderkick achieved in the region this year?

Latin America has been a priority of ours throughout 2024, and we have enjoyed significant growth as a result of a localised commercial strategy, which included the appointment of a Spanish-speaking Account Manager. Following our LatAm entry with the prestigious brand Rush Street Interactive in Mexico, we have debuted our content in Colombia through a partnership with Luckia, another established operator in the region. Our portfolio has registered strong performance metrics across these markets, particularly in Colombia where the data is trending on an upward trajectory.

Similarly to the majority of the iGaming industry, Thunderkick has its eyes firmly set on Brazil, a market with tremendous potential. We are still awaiting clarity on regulation and the fine details of how the market will look but it is an opportunity that is being actively explored as we continue to expand our footprint in Latin America.

Q: Thunderkick similarly launched a series of exciting games in 2024. Was this year any different than the previous one in the type of games you developed and deployed?

Thunderkick is somewhat of an outlier with regard to content production in that we develop games entirely in-house. This approach has served us incredibly well and we plan to continue that recipe for success into 2025 and beyond.

This year saw us reaffirm our commitment to refining our familiar, tried and true concepts, while also experimenting with new ideas. Games such asBeat the Beast: Dragon's WrathandThe Gunman of Goldwoodrepresent our continued devotion to classic slot mechanics, while games like Xterminate andEager Beaversare examples of our never-ending ambition to experiment, both thematically and mechanically.

The biggest difference has been an increase in output with more games than ever released in 2024. We leveraged some of our most established brands, launching a sequel to Midas Golden Touch, expanding the Hot series with the festive Hot Turkey, adding new titles to the Beat the Beast and Sword of collections, as well as completing the fan-favourite Day of the Dead-themed Esqueleto Explosivo trilogy.Players can expect more of the same in 2025 – we remain steadfast in our dedication to producing genuinely exciting content that pushes boundaries with immersive visuals and compelling gameplay.

Q: Turning to some of the more challenging topics of the year, do you believe the regulatory changes specifically targeting slot games in 2024 will impact Thunderkick's ambitions and strategy for 2025?

Thunderkick has always placed emphasis on responsible gambling, which often goes hand in hand with regulatory updates. We welcome these changes, utilising the opportunity to review our practices to ensure we do everything in our power to provide entertainment within a safe environment. This was showcased recently with our successful application for a new Danish B2B licence, which allows us to continue supplying games to the nation’s players through 2029.

The end goal in Europe is to provide content to all regulated markets. Switzerland and Greece are both key targets, as is France, where iGaming is set to be legalised midway through 2025. It is pivotal that we stay abreast of regulatory developments and remain agile enough to tailor our offering accordingly.

Q: What do you consider to be your most important expansion in 2024 and why?

The expansion and evolution of the Thunderkick team is a major positive, with 2024 marking the introduction of another designer, game producer and account manager. This not only demonstrates our drive to curate a portfolio of class-leading products but also signifies the value we place in relationship building.Having reaped the rewards of a localised approach in Italy, the addition of a Spanish-speaking account manager was a natural progression as we look to diversify in Latin America.

Another hugely important milestone was our entry into Ontario, Canada’s only regulated iGaming province. We have partnered with some global entertainment brands across the Atlantic, including DraftKings, PokerStars, and LeoVegas, preparing Thunderkick for strategic growth in North America. This not only provides a foothold and fuels progressive expansion as and when more Canadian provinces regulate but also positions Thunderkick to capitalise on opportunities that arise in the United States.

Q: Could you make one prediction about 2025 and Thunderkick’s role in it?

AI has become increasingly influential in the past couple of years, especially within game development. We have analysed methods of AI integration for optimisation, but our production team will always remain at the forefront of the creative process as we prioritise true craftsmanship. On the subject of content, a key trend of 2024 was a shift toward sequels and series, with which Thunderkick was aligned. We expect this to continue into 2025, and as a result, players can look forward to brand-new iterations of some of our most popular slots.

A commercial target of ours is to establish a prominent position in any newly regulated markets. When Brazil and France go live, we aim to be there, rolling out our games to more and more players across the globe. We have a lot planned, so keep an eye on Thunderkick in 2025.


Image credit: Casino Guru News

TOPICS: Thunderkick
15 Jan 2025
8 min. read
Comments
Nobody has commented on this article yet. Be the first one to leave a comment.

Start discussion

You must be logged in to add a comment.

Sign up

Send us a tip

Would you like us to cover a specific story? Send it to us!

Latest gambling news right in your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a weekly dose of the most important events from the gambling industry.
Stay up to date
Would you like to be notified about latest gambling news and updates?
Allow