Focus on: Peter & Sons
Time to shine a light on Peter & Sons today – a fast-growing up-and-comer with unrivalled levels of creativity and visual panache. Peter & Sons may still be in its formative years, but this developer has already made an impressive mark on the world of slots. In this article, we’ll be taking a look behind the curtain.
Introduction
Peter & Sons isn’t the sort of company that started as a little local operation and blossomed into a multinational success; it was multinational to begin with. Peter & Sons was founded in 2019 by a dedicated team of “enthusiasts and professionals” from around the world, to serve the global market.
Peter & Sons is associated with the YGS Masters program, created by Yggdrasil in 2018 to support and facilitate new developers. Peter & Sons’ central goal is “transforming online gambling with [...] uniquely styled, high-performing video slots and casino games.”
In recent years, Peter & Sons has gained a reputation for innovation, creativity and its signature visual style. Its work has even received recognition at various awards ceremonies.
One of the factors that appears to contribute to Peter & Sons’ success is the unique structure of the company. In their own words, “It’s not just about the games — it’s about how we do it.” The developers collaborate “in creatively-led squads, bringing together our unique talents to make each game the very best.”
Play Peter & Sons slots at these recommended slot sites:
Background
Originating in Armenia, Peter & Sons was founded by Yann Bautista. It initially consisted of a disparate group of six passionate individuals, each expert in their own field. Some of these creatives had worked together previously, so they were confident that they could form what Bautista described as “a studio with a difference”.
Curiously, the name Peter & Sons does not refer to any particular individuals. Bautista wanted “a label that conjured the image of a century-old family business”.
Peter & Sons has grown quickly and now has physical offices in Spain and Armenia. It continues to acquire licences and is now operating in more than 15 different jurisdictions.
The company has also managed to establish a distinct style which incorporates visuals, audio, and in-game mechanics. As a result of this, Peter & Sons’ catalogue of games has a coherent feel to it, and the company has accrued a loyal fanbase and a cult following.
A number of recent successes have seen Peter & Sons acknowledged at prestigious awards ceremonies. The 2021 game Johnan Legendarian, for instance, received a Best Slot Studio Debut nomination at the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards.
Developer highlights
Other than simply producing great slot games, which Peter & Sons absolutely does, each slot has certain features and qualities that make it special.
The five pillars
Before Peter & Sons had released a single game, it had a clear idea of what it was shooting for. The company’s central tenets are described as ‘pillars’ by Yann Bautista, founder and Commercial Director. Here are Peter & Sons’ five pillars:
- Creative to the Core: For Peter & Sons, it’s not just about the work they do, but how they do it. To these developers, this means trying new things, pushing boundaries, and striving to improve at every opportunity.
- Anti-Boring: In essence, this pillar means not being afraid to innovate. Bautista said, “we are here to walk our own path, stand out from the crowd and leave our mark.” One result of this is that Peter & Sons doesn’t do lazy imitations or cash-grabbing knock-offs.
- Sweat the Small Stuff: Peter & Sons emphasises the importance of attention to detail, focusing strongly on the elements that matter most to players and partners.
- Easy Does It: Peter & Sons works on the basis that its games should be easy to spot in a lobby, easy to play, and easy to enjoy. This minimal resistance approach applies to partnerships too, as Peter & Sons strives to be easy to work with.
- Player-Obsessed: The player is at the heart of what this developer does, and this is kept in mind throughout the development process. The end result is a satisfying and distinctively enjoyable slot game. Peter & Sons wants “to be their first choice each time they enter the casino game lobby”.
These are solid rules for any slots development company, but, in order to actually benefit, a developer needs to live by them. Whilst others may claim to share similar goals and priorities, Peter & Sons really allows its five pillars to inform every decision.
An international company
As we touched on above, Peter & Sons was conceived as an international company, drawing from talent around the world to serve many different territories.
In addition to being licenced to operate in more than 15 jurisdictions, Peter & Sons offers support for over 40 languages and currencies. Its games can be played in 50 countries and are hosted by more than 200 operators.
Everything about the company is informed by this stance. This modern outlook enables Peter & Sons to reach huge numbers of players and to develop its fanbase on a global scale.
Unique style
There are a few specific hallmarks of a Peter & Sons slot game that make it unmistakable. In addition to the goat logo that helps their games to stand out in the library, Peter & Sons games feature a distinctive visual style.
This style is characterised by bright, bold designs, which are cartoon-inspired but highly polished. This aesthetic is present across most of Peter & Sons’ games, giving them a cohesive, connected feel.
By uniting its games in this way, Peter & Sons has cleverly created a brand identity that makes fans of one of their games more likely to play another.
Yggdrasil partnership
The Yggdrasil YGG Masters Program is essentially a distribution network that supports companies like Peter & Sons whilst giving them access to Yggdrasil’s experience, expertise, and some of its most successful in-game mechanics.
It’s through this program that Peter & Sons has access to features like Gigablox, which enhances players’ chances of winning big by using larger symbols that can reach up to 6x6 in size. Monster Blox is an example of a great Peter & Sons title that uses this mechanic.
Yann Bautista gave credit to the YGG Masters Program, saying that “by handling global compliance and technical aspects, [YGG] allows us to concentrate on game design”.
Landmark games
Peter & Sons has only been around for a few years, but it has produced some outstanding slots in this time. Its library now numbers more than 40 games. Here are a few of the most notable:
Robin: Nottingham Raiders
It was around 2021 that Peter & Sons really hit its stride. The company was still relatively new on the scene, and it seemed to know that it needed to make a big statement. It did this with the momentous release of Robin: Nottingham Raiders. This game draws inspiration from the beloved folkloric tales of Robin Hood, setting the story in Medieval Nottingham. As familiar as the source is, and as fun as the gameplay is, it’s the max win that is really attention-grabbing. Robin: Nottingham Raiders has a massive maximum payout of 121,500x the stake.
And the win potential isn’t the only thing Robin: Nottingham Raiders has going for it! In fact, it’s virtually perfect across the board. This game satisfies on every level, with its masterful design, exciting gameplay and multiple bonus features. Robin: Nottingham Raiders put Peter & Sons on the map, and it’s not hard to see why.
- Name:
- Robin: Nottingham Raiders
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 96.07%
- Max payout:
- 121,500x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 20
- Theme:
- Adventure, Mythical
- Release date:
- 5th Jul 2021
Play Robin: Nottingham Raiders here:
Barbarossa DoubleMax
Peter & Sons scored a big hit with Barbarossa DoubleMax in 2023. This pirate-themed slot offers loot galore thanks to its use of Yggdrasil’s DoubleMax mechanic. Barbarossa DoubleMax is a chaotic game with wild cascades that produce a chain reaction and rising multipliers that double with each win. This has the potential to return many thousands of times the stake.
Up to 13 free spins can be unlocked by hitting scatter symbols, and the DoubleMax feature continues to stack up multipliers through these, which is a nice touch. The design is packed with pirate symbolism, which is also incorporated into the animations. Barbarossa DoubleMax has been so popular with players that it’s even spawned a sequel, which isn’t something Peter & Sons routinely do.
- Name:
- Barbarossa DoubleMax
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 96.20%
- Max payout:
- 20,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 243
- Theme:
- Pirate
- Release date:
- 16th May 2023
Play Barbarossa DoubleMax here:
Xibalba
Xibalba draws from the rich world of Mayan lore, specifically from the dark side of it. ‘Xibalba’ roughly translates to “place of fright”. Although far from being genuinely frightening, Peter & Sons have found real inspiration in the Mayan underworld, populating the game with plenty of skulls, masks and tiki-style creatures.
Firmly belonging to the ‘WTF slot’ genre, Xibalba is a crazy slot game with cascades and a format that expands from 243 ways to win to 7,776 for the bonus rounds. There are also free spin bonuses, which are triggered by three scatters, and ‘gigantor’ symbols, which are triggered by two scatters. The latter can extend symbols to 2x2 or 3x3. By expanding the number of ways to win, and by racking up multipliers, players can walk away with up to 20,000x their stake.
- Name:
- Xibalba
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 96.20%
- Max payout:
- 20,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 243
- Theme:
- Tiki, WTF
- Release date:
- 20th Jan 2022
Play Xibalba here:
Alternative games
Those who like to explore beyond the mainstream are likely to find what they’re looking for in the Peter & Sons library. If you want to dig a little deeper, take a look at these alternative games:
Barbarossa Revenge DoubleMax
Peter & Sons doesn’t do a lot of sequels, but Barbarossa Revenge DoubleMax is a worthy addition to its game library. Like the first game, Barbarossa Revenge DoubleMax presents a haunted version of a swashbuckling, pirate-themed adventure. Again, the DoubleMax feature provides multipliers that double with each win, meaning that there’s the potential for huge wins.
There are a few things that set this title apart from the original too. First of all (and most importantly), the max win has been increased to 30,000x! The design of the game has also been given a thorough makeover. It’s easily one of the best-looking games out there, both in Peter & Sons’ selection and, frankly, anywhere else! The first Barbarossa game is a classic, but this might just be one of those rare cases where the sequel surpasses the original.
- Name:
- Barbarossa Revenge DoubleMax
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 96.30%
- Max payout:
- 30,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 5
- Win lines:
- 243
- Theme:
- Pirate
- Release date:
- 1st Oct 2024
Play Barbarossa Revenge DoubleMax here:
Dragon Blox Gigablox
In Dragon Blox Gigablox, Peter & Sons uses the Gigablox mechanic, which is borrowed from Yggdrasil. This fun feature tends to lead to unpredictable and erratic gameplay, thanks to the giant symbols that can reach up to 6x6 on the grid. The design is typical of the Peter & Sons style, with a look that’s reminiscent of a high-end digital animation, featuring rich details, intriguing characters and immersive settings.
Gigablox isn’t the only interesting bonus feature boasted by Dragon Blox Gigablox. When you add this mechanic to the base game, which already uses 50 paylines, then throw in a free spins bonus and the Monster Jackpot respins game, the result is riotous fun!
- Name:
- Dragon Blox Gigablox
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 95.90%
- Max payout:
- 10,000x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 6
- Win lines:
- 50
- Theme:
- Adventure, Mythical
- Release date:
- 12th Jan 2023
Play Dragon Blox Gigablox here:
Hammer of Gods
With a generous max win of 51,500x and a high volatility level, Peter & Sons’ Hammer of Gods offers a genuinely thrilling experience. It takes a more lighthearted approach to the popular Viking theme, and the end result, when combined with the unique Peter & Sons look, is definitely eye-catching.
There are no fixed paylines and the multiple bonus features do a great job of keeping things exciting. These include a way multiplier, which applies a multiplication bonus to selected positions on the reels. Landing three of the special wild symbols (a hammer and a blue star) produces respins. The free spins feature is also great, granting 15 spins with multipliers, and even the chance to unlock further spins within the bonus round.
- Name:
- Hammer of Gods
- Developer:
- Peter & Sons
- RTP:
- 96.03%
- Max payout:
- 51,500x stake
- Volatility:
- High
- Reels:
- 6
- Win lines:
- 729
- Theme:
- Action, Viking
- Release date:
- 20th Sep 2021
Play Hammer of Gods here:
Summary
Although younger than its name would suggest, Peter & Sons has all the makings of a massively successful developer. Hopefully, as it expands its slot library, it will continue to keep in mind the five pillars which have served it so well thus far.
The Peter & Sons website declares that they’re “on a mission to set a new standard in the games industry and push the boundaries in how games look and feel.” These are sky-high aspirations, but Peter & Sons is on the right track!