Ihor Lozynskyi (Push Gaming): Creating Diverse Games for Every Player

In an exclusive interview with Push Gaming, we delve into the creative world of iGaming with Ihor Lozynskyi, Head of Studio.

Push Gaming has made waves in the industry with their innovative approach to slot game development, consistently delivering unique and thrilling experiences for players worldwide. From their hit titles like Jammin' Jars and Razor Shark to their latest releases, Push Gaming continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in online slots.

In this Q&A, Lozynskyi shares insights into their game development process, the strategy behind their diverse portfolio, and how they balance innovation with familiarity to create standout titles in a competitive market.

For those unfamiliar with Push Gaming, could you give us an introduction of who you are and what sets your company apart in the iGaming industry?

" Push Gaming prides itself on creating innovative entertainment experiences. We have been delivering truly unique and thrilling slots for years now, and feedback for our content has been fantastic.

The entire development team has strived to create a diverse library of games which ultimately offers something for everyone. We have never backed ourselves into a corner with regard to the content we produce, and players trust in us to deliver exceptional visuals, mechanics and themes every single time.

We’ve been fortunate to enjoy a string of successes over the last few years with hit titles such as Jammin’ Jars, Razor Shark, Fat Rabbit, Wild Swarm and Retro Sweets all taking the industry by storm. There are very few studios that have enjoyed the consistency of hits that we have."

Can you walk us through your game development process, from concept to launch?

"Our game development processes are a lot simpler than you’d think. We focus on the games that have performed exceptionally well, and we invest in the features and mechanics that we know have worked best.

Of course, it’s not as simple as using the same features and mechanics every single time we release something new, otherwise our content would become stale. Instead, we make subtle changes and new themes to ensure players can enjoy the elements of our game’s they like the most, but also experience something new each time.

When creating entirely new titles not born from the multitude of popular hits within our portfolio, we analyse player feedback and popularity to inform what the next title will be focused around mechanically. Stylistically and aesthetically, we give our talented artists and creatives free reign to develop the theming of the title. This freedom allows imagination and creativity to thrive ultimately leading to a stronger final product."

Push Gaming has a diverse portfolio of games. What's your strategy for maintaining this variety?

"Our strategy is focused on our audience's likes and dislikes; they inform our decisions and strategies and being aware of what works with them alongside what’s currently popular within the wider industry helps maintain our variety. We always keep a close eye on our roadmap to ensure that it remains fresh and relevant to players changing needs. If we think that something doesn’t feel quite right in the lead up to a launch, we’re not afraid to be bold and change things up."

How do you balance innovation and familiarity when designing new slot games?

"We’re fortunate that the two go hand-in-hand, we’ve managed to create a string of innovative games that retain elements of their predecessors. A lot of our successes this year have been sequels such as Wild Swarm 2, Razor Ways and Retro Tapes. Players loved these games for how innovative they are, and because they’re recognisable IPs.

Ensuring the balance is correct prevents stagnation from developing when producing sequels or developing a series of titles. We strike this by evolving core aspects of an original slot whilst maintaining the theme or colour palette, simultaneously creating something that is equally familiar and also new."

Many of your games feature unique themes like "Cats of Olympuss" and "DJ Cat". How do you choose these themes?

"There are only so many themes out there, so it’s about being creative and fusing themes to create a memorable title. Take Cats of Olympuss for example. We’ve seen hundreds of slots inspired by ancient Greece, but how many of them have cats as the main characters? We add unique elements to releases so that they stand out above a sea of often repetitive content. "

The Razor series (Razor Returns, Razor Ways, Razor Shark) appears to be popular. What makes this series stand out, and how does each game differ from the others?

"Fishing themed games have grown in popularity in recent years and whilst we cant claim its because of the original Razor Shark release, we do think of it as being a contributing factor. The slot blends mystery wins with increasing multipliers and has become a timeless classic among players with many slot enthusiasts playing the game consistently to this day.

Razor Returns was our first sequel to this genre defining title and increased the reel sizes along with adding many contemporary features to the mix. The ability to buy the bonus was added along with numerous push bet options which allow players to have more control over the title and reflect their individual playstyles, we also upgraded some of the aesthetics along with increasing the titles max win. Overall, the slot was bigger and better which has resonated well with new fans of the razor series along with existing enthusiasts.

Our most recent dive into the depths came with Razor Ways which as the name suggests transforms the paylines available within the slot for each successive win. This also received a stylistic makeover and added additional bonuses and more push bet options for players to enjoy along with upgrading the mystery reveal symbols popular in both the original title and its sequel."

Jaguar Drop seems to be one of your newest releases. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this jungle-themed game and any unique features it offers?

"Jaquar Drop’s aesthetic is something we enjoyed creating as it is a theme that we have yet to venture into. Its jungle aesthetic and focus on animal inhabitants provided the perfect springboard for a tumbling focused title where each win can create subsequent wins by dropping new symbols onto the gameboard. The addition of instant win coins creates additional suspense, which is further built upon in the bonus round, with 10,000x on offer we are sure it'll be a hit for those seeking medium volatility excitement. "

Big Bam-Book is described as a game where players can "discover secrets." Can you elaborate on the storyline and any special mechanics that make this game unique?

"Classic-book themed titles have always been hugely popular with players, and we wanted to showcase our take on the theme with Big Bam-Book. This game transports players to a picturesque village lit by sunset, which is a drastic departure from most book titles.

Ultimately, Big Bam-Book pays homage to all of the classic mechanics that have resonated so well in our previous animal-themed titles over the years. Our secret to success here is of course the ever-popular mystery symbol that expands to cover the reels and really boost the game’s winning potential. Free spins and a Multiplier meter have also proven to be a huge hit. "

Samurai's Katana has a Japanese warrior theme. Can you discuss any cultural elements you've incorporated and how they influence the game mechanics?

"We always try to incorporate cultural elements into our games when we can. We firmly believe that if you’re going to develop a game that takes inspiration from a certain culture then it’s important to do the research first. We want to ensure that we get everything right. I wouldn’t say culture necessarily impacts our features and mechanics though, it’s more about the theming whilst everything else is determined on player preferences."

Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming game releases?

"Keep a close eye on 10 Flaming Bisons coming in early December. This game follows in the footsteps of 2023 release 10 Swords, utilising the same ladder mechanics and instant prizes that made it such a popular title with players."