Switch Studios
The online gaming industry is renowned for its dynamic and fast moving nature. New companies, new ideas and constant innovation are at the core of how the entire market operates. Big names may dominate the field of play, but there is always room for new talent, and Switch Studios are a prime example of this phenomenon.
Founded as recently as 2017, this talented band of games designers are based in the Suffolk town of Ipswich. Now this large county town may not be renowned as a centre of software excellence – no-one ever refers to the silicon valley of Suffolk, but you do not have to be based in the most fashionable location to get ahead in this business. Indeed, in just a few months, a dedicated team of just a couple of dozen employees has developed a strong portfolio of games.
Switch Studios focus on traditional casino games, rather than the lucrative slots sector which dominates the market. This segmentation has served them well, as the company has developed a strong reputation. It is already responsible for the development of a variety of formats of the major table games, plus some of the more niche games too. Alternative versions of Baccarat, Blackjack, Poker and Roulette are already within the company’s portfolio, plus they have designed some Craps and Sic Bo too.
Their Roulette design is particularly impressive. Its wheel is exceedingly realistic with a three dimensional feel to it. The ball behaviour as the wheel revolves is also genuinely life like in its behaviour. With its excellent sound too, you can almost believe you are watching the real thing.
The advanced game design makes placing your bets extraordinarily easy, even when playing on your mobile. The game can be switched easily between portrait and landscape view, with the screen layout optimised for both as you seamlessly move between the two. Meanwhile, the amazing game engine and lifelike audio makes playing on your laptop, desktop or Mac as realistic an experience as possible, short of being in an actual real life casino.
But Switch Studios are also perfect example of how the gaming industry operates in another way. Just months after their bright new talent exploded on to the scene, they have been swallowed up by one of the industry’s leviathans, Microgaming. The story of success hungry talent being snapped up by the big boys of the industry is another frequently told tale. Switch Studios is yet another example of how the industry giants buy in their innovation from outside their organisations.
Of course, being signed up to a major gaming conglomerate carries massive advantage to a successful start-up too. All that industry muscle and potential financial investment is great for future growth.
Anyway, as a result of all these corporate machinations, Switch Studios’ clever casino games are now being developed exclusively for Microgaming. To experience them for yourself, look for casinos which offer Microgaming as a licenced game provider.
