Next Gaming CEO Mike Darley is excited about the future of his company as it evolves from its sole focus on skill-based games by announcing initiatives that will transform its presence in casinos and online.
“It’s the revitalization of Next Gaming,” Darley said. “What we’ve learned from the past about skill-based games and where we go now with our partners, especially an online presence, is where we’ve gone with our strategic direction. We still believe in skill-based and are reimagining those to be friendlier to the player.”
Skill-based games haven’t panned out as people expected, Darley said. Skill-based manufacturers are no longer around, unlike Next Gaming. He said Next Gaming’s portfolio of game titles from Atari and Taito position it for the future. While they still have skill-based games at Binion’s Gambling Hall and Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas, they’ve learned that they are too complicated for the majority of players, he added.
“Players are used to sitting down at a slot machine and pressing a button,” Darley said. “While I still believe a game that’s more interactive has some strong potential for being a real draw on the casino floor, the way we designed them like an arcade game may be too much of an effort for the player.”
Darley said they’ve had great discussions on reimagining the games for simpler play and making them more understandable for guests. He said he still believes in their arcade titles of Arkanoid, BUST-A-MOVE, Asteroids, and Zforce in casinos, but they just need to make them easier for players. Their reimagined games will be rolled out in 2026, he reported.
“We’re in it for the long haul,” Darley said. “We’re very excited about creating another experience for the customer. With the learning curve, we believe we have the ingredients to get it better. I don’t think the focus on the brands has diminished one bit. When people hear Atari and Taito, it still resonates with people. The brand names are still strong.”
Next Gaming has other brand names that it will also develop into reimagined games. Those brands include Space Invaders, Centipede, Missile Command, Bubble Bobble, Tempest and others.
“We will put the first four out and then the second four and build on their performance,” Darley explained.
Next Gaming has also created a mobile game, Taito’s BUST-A-MOVE, which will be released in October on the Skillz platform where players compete head-to-head in a real-money competition. This will be the first game in a BUST-A-MOVE that will offer games with mechanics and skill-based challenges. The game was designed for the platform by Coeus Solutions.
“We’re really excited about getting online,” said Darley. “While our skill-based games didn’t resonate as well with the casino customer, the Skillz platform provides real-money tournament experience where you play head-to-head against other players. Our games are perfect for that platform. We have a quality game and a well-known brand.”
Next Gaming is also partnering with traditional slot manufacturer Pervasive Gaming to bring their games to the Nevada casino market. The first game to be released will be FrankenCash2 in October 2025. Pervasive slots are currently in Nebraska, Georgia and Montana.
The next Pervasive games to be placed in Nevada are Storm Relic and Endless Summer Nights, with expected release dates in November or December, Darley shared.
“We have a big advantage with our Nevada gaming license, and our two casinos, Binion’s Gambling Hall and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, to place these games and obtain performance and player feedback,” said Darley. “With their traditional slot machines and our skill-based games, we think there’s a good marriage there in Nevada and other jurisdictions.”
Additionally, Next Gaming is working with Probability Gaming, a game design group, on a number of slots including Terracotta Warrior and Katana Warrior. The newest slot, SugarBox, will be released in October.
“It’s a different game than what we’ve had before with the style and graphics,” Darley noted.
Plus, Next Gaming continues to work with Jackpot Designs. Currently, they have traditional slots called Celtic Gold, Mayan Thunder, and Sunken Treasure at Binion’s and Four Queens. Their newest game, Eight Lucky Dragons, will be released this month.
“We have a very comprehensive strategy moving forward which encompasses multiple player experiences from skill-based games, online real-money tournaments, traditional slots and leveraging our brand portfolios from Atari and Taito,” Darley said.
Finally, to continue with its strategic initiatives, Next Gaming is also releasing SugarBox and FrankenCash2 on its new 43-inch and 49-inch vertical cabinets.
