NetEnt’s new MAX line just launched
If you haven’t heard of NetEnt yet you’re either new in the online gaming world, or you’ve been living under a rock. Whether you’re a fan of their games or not, it’s impossible to deny that the slot providers had built quite a name for themselves over the last few years. Any slot you can think of – they’ve made it. Classic slots, awe-inspiring graphics, an array of jackpot games, creative set-ups and even a selection of slots in collaboration with Universal Studios are all part of NetEnt’s impressive portfolio. On the 18th of July, the provider announced a brand new product line on their news page.
What to expect from NetEnt MAX
There’s been a rising demand from operators and players for slots with high win potential. When there is a demand, NetEnt will supply. MAX games will be special versions of regular slots with higher variance and thus higher win potential. RTP’s, graphics and game features will be more or less equal as their regular counterparts. Both game versions will be made available in a double-release, allow operators to hit two birds with one stone and providing players with different interests with a brand new game at the same time. The Chief Product Officer of NetEnt stated in their news article: “It is important for us to diversify the volatility in our games as we know that our partners are demanding more flexible games catering to different player needs, and we are a supplier that listens to our customers and deliver quality.”
If you don’t know what the difference is between a slot with a low variance and a slot with a high variance, the above explanation about MAX games might be somewhat confusing. The idea is actually really simple – a game with low variance will have more frequent wins, but the value of these wins will be on the lower end. A slot with high variance will have fewer wins of higher value. Casual online gamblers generally opt for low to medium variance slots, and it is deemed “less risky” in the industry. Players searching for sporadic wins with a higher win (coin amount) potential will opt for slots with a high variance. Most online slots have their own set variance, which rules out a lot of slots for certain players depending on what they are looking for. By introducing MAX slots and double releases, NetEnt will provide both casual as high-win seeking players with a slot that fits their playing style.
A look at the first MAX slot: Berryburst
The very first double launch with a MAX slot hit the online shelves on the 23rd of August this year. Berryburst MAX is a fun and colourful slot bursting with juicy fruit symbols that seem to be floating underwater. Players can create winning combinations by creating cluster combinations, a style that is becoming more and more popular and is featured in several other NetEnt slot. Players will receive wins when five or more symbols form a cluster on the reels. A symbol is part of a cluster when it’s vertically or horizontally attached to another identical symbol. Furthermore, the slot features a Wild symbol which can substitute all symbols, and an Expanding Wild feature in which Wilds will cover the entire reel.
Both the regular version of this upcoming game as the MAX slot have the same bet options, between €0.10 and €200 per spin, and have similar RTP values as well. The Berryburst MAX RTP is slightly lower than the regular version, 96.23% instead of 96.56%, but such a small difference is barely noticeable in our opinion. Something that is worth looking at though, is the different maximum coin win in the games. Whilst the regular Berryburst slot has a maximum coin win of 5.000, players can win DOUBLE that amount in Berryburst MAX. It’s clear to see that the MAX version is far more attractive for players who like to hit high wins. Hopefully it’s the first of many MAX slots to come.
