In an exclusive interview with IGB, the pioneering studios behind the crash game genre discuss the trends shaping the segment in 2024, especially relevant on the eve of ICE. The event, set to commence in February in London, is a key occasion where major gambling businesses will set their priorities for the year.
Crash games, initially overlooked by the gambling industry, have rapidly gained prominence, now considered one of the most promising verticals in the business. Industry pioneer SPRIBE will share the origins and founders' vision of these games, while representatives from BetGames, Aviatrix, and 1X2 Network will comment on the transformation and growth trends in the field.
SPRIBE
Marking their debut in 2018, SPRIBE released the now flagship game Aviator. The company focused on simplicity in use, as noted by COO Georgiy Tsutskiridze. "We wanted to redefine the online casino experience by integrating elements from mobile gaming and the cryptocurrency sector," Tsutskiridze explains. The charm of crash games lies in their simplicity and ease of access. "During development, we adhered to principles of simplicity and accessibility. We combined various components to create a game where players could win big from small stakes, thus birthing Aviator. Our mission was to disrupt casino lobbies and offer a novel experience to players."
Creating the First Air Crash Game
"To develop Aviator, we needed to deeply understand player preferences. This required thorough target audience research and meticulous planning. Our goal was to think outside the box and push the boundaries of the online casino space," Tsutskiridze continues. This innovative approach was crucial, as the technologies and methods that seem elementary now were first developed by SPRIBE. "Looking back, Aviator's market entry was sensational, capturing gamers' hearts worldwide. We found that the 'rising curve' format was perfect for this type of game, and the aviation theme hit the mark," he says.
The company also focused on building a community around the game. "Making Aviator multiplayer, with leaderboards and tournament capabilities, was an important mission for us," Tsutskiridze adds.
Reflecting on the Past
Now, SPRIBE's leadership acknowledges the unexpected success of their creation. "We knew we were creating something unique, but never imagined Aviator would soar to such heights and popularity," a company spokesperson remarks. Indeed, Aviator boasts over 10 million monthly players, with user numbers continually growing. The game was designed to handle up to 10,000 bets simultaneously, with more than 165,000 bets placed every minute.
Why Crash Games Attract Users
"Aviator initially launched in a limited number of markets to gauge interest and refine the game. However, the user response was so positive that we quickly expanded to other markets," the spokesperson continues. "Aviator primarily attracts hard-to-reach, but profitable groups like millennials and zoomers. The game has seen immense popularity in Brazil, Africa (South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania), India, the CIS, Italy, Romania, Croatia, Spain, and the UK. Its simple gameplay, quick action, social interaction, and potential for big wins from small stakes make it particularly popular among sports bettors and those who enjoy fast-paced betting."
BetGames: A New High-Level Player
In November 2023, BetGames entered the vertical market by launching Skyward, initially rolled out on Betway and Betano's global markets. BetGames CEO Andreas Koeberl sees immense potential in crash games. "The online gaming market is fascinating, with three or four games generating about 80% of gross revenue. SPRIBE, with Aviator, is the clear market leader," Koeberl notes. He sees crash games as a gateway for sports fans and newcomers to the casino world. "Our focus is on the user – it's all very simple. BetGames is a gateway between sports and gambling. We observe that our users overlap significantly with fast-play genres like slots and crash games. The boom in crash games is mainly in emerging markets like Africa, Latin America, and the CIS. In the main, established markets, the growth is not as significant," Koeberl explains.
Challenges with Crash Games and BetGames' Experience
"Implementing a crash game project is deceptively simple. For example, an old Atari-style plane taking off, but the core elements like cashing out can be quite complex," Koeberl points out. "It's not like a slot operated by a front-end, where you essentially have your game. It's a common draw game, so all gamers play the same session and see the same result. These parameters create complexities in implementation. We have to consider players in rural areas of Brazil with 3G networks. We need to ensure that when they hit the cash-out button, they get their money, not a network error due to 3G." Koeberl notes that one of the industry's overlooked aspects is the stability and reliability vital to the success of such games. "There were many failures at the genre's dawn, but we've improved significantly, with more work ahead. We've invested heavily in bonuses and localization," he adds.
Crash Games: Player Profile
Understanding the player profile is crucial. "Our players' interests strongly align with fast-play genres like slots and crash games, rather than live casinos. This aligns with the category of slots, crash games, and instant games," says Koeberl. "Last year, we dedicated an entire vertical to user profiles and released several games along with Skyward, as players demand it. We're evolving to match player evolution and market changes," he adds.
BetGames believes this vertical is flourishing. Given the studio's experience in producing market-leading games, this explains their venture into this vertical. "We see the key areas our partners focus on and where they invest marketing funds: slots, instant games, crash games, etc. These are the main growth areas, but live casinos and live entertainment still exist," Koeberl explains.
"We can't ignore global market trends and the evolution of our individual BetGames players and their desires. Our mission is to organically integrate players knowledgeable in sports. This requires more than one game category. Twain Sport was one piece of the puzzle, and Skyward another," Koeberl adds.
The Unique Aspect of Aviatrix – NFTs
Aviatrix, another key player debuting in recent years, offers all the mechanics of crash games with a twist – integrating NFTs. Players can participate using their unique airplane, an NFT, which gives them ownership rights over a personal aircraft. "The more you play, the more experience you gain on one plane, and the more money you can win in daily tournaments," the developer explains. The plane belongs to the player, who can sell, exchange, or transfer it to another casino.
Currently, Aviatrix attracts over 40,000 daily active users worldwide. Anastasia Rimskaia, the chief client officer at Aviatrix, is pleased with the results since the launch. "Creating Aviatrix, we aimed to elevate the crash game genre and create something special. Crash games have been popular for years, but player experiences were somewhat limited, especially compared to multifunctional slot games," she says.
Engagement in NFT-Based Crash Games
The NFT interaction mechanics have given the studio a real edge, as digital assets can be customized, acquired, and traded on a specialized platform. "We're trying something truly innovative and simultaneously demonstrating that new concepts can quickly scale," Rimskaia explains. "The NFT-based interaction we've incorporated into Aviatrix really changes the game, and the speed at which players have embraced it shows there's still room for successful implementation of fresh ideas in our industry."
How do NFTs work? "They're fully customizable. Soon, they can be traded on a special trading platform. It's like a 'play-to-earn' mechanic. In most air crash games, players just see a standard plane image, but we've created something players can personalize and attach to themselves," Anastasia says. "One of the wonderful multiplayer aspects is seeing other players' planes flying in the background during the game. This idea is a truly social element. Plus, the game operates on its blockchain (SCR), opening up interesting opportunities in the web3 world. Stay tuned for updates on this in 2024!"
Uniqueness
Will studios offer something radically new in 2024 to stand out among other developers? Rimskaia certainly thinks so, appealing to the new generation of players. Analyzing the audience demographics, Aviatrix undoubtedly sees diversity. "The first thing to say is the crash game audience is growing rapidly, so 'typical player' portraits are now very diverse," Rimskaia says.
But looking at user profiles, players are typically a bit younger than those in slots or table games. Crash games originated with cryptocurrency, so typical gamers are often well-versed in innovative technologies. Additionally, there are more opportunities for control and choice than in most other games. "Gamers don't just press a button and wait for the outcome – they make a decision on each bet. This attracts an audience that may also enjoy PC games," she adds.
For Aviatrix, the focus remains on their first and only product. Rimskaia is passionately convinced of this. "Right now, we are fully focused on one product – Aviatrix. It's important to note that we don't treat Aviatrix as just another casino game. Most providers create a new game, release it, then move on to the next. Aviatrix is constantly being perfected and updated, with new features and functions. For example, a major redesign is coming soon, and in 2024 we'll launch a special trading platform where players can buy, sell, and exchange their NFT planes. We want to make Aviatrix a game in constant development and are continually working on its improvement."
The Future of Crash Games
As the crash game genre continues to evolve, studios like Aviatrix are committed to innovation and keeping pace with changing player preferences. Rimskaia emphasizes the importance of staying true to their core product while exploring new possibilities. "Aviatrix isn't just a game; it's an evolving platform that adapts and grows with its user base. The introduction of the trading platform is just one example of how we're pushing the boundaries and creating a dynamic, interactive experience for our players."
This dedication to a single, continuously improving product is a testament to Aviatrix's commitment to excellence and innovation in the crash game genre. With their focus on player engagement, customization, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like NFTs and blockchain, Aviatrix is set to remain a significant player in the evolving landscape of online gaming.
As crash games continue to attract a diverse and growing audience, the industry is poised for further growth and innovation. Studios like Aviatrix and BetGames are leading the way, redefining the gaming experience and proving that there is still plenty of room for new and exciting developments in the world of online gambling.
