EXCO Game Studio sees Fredrik Elmqvist stand against “clone games”
On the day EXCO Game Studio officially launched, industry outlet iGamingExpert (SBC Media) ran a feature highlighting Fredrik Elmqvist’s outspoken stance against “clone games” in the slot industry. The article announced that Elmqvist, the former Yggdrasil founder, had unveiled EXCO after developing it “in the shadows” with a mission to deliver high-impact, original gaming experiences. EXCO – short for “Excommunicado” – was presented as the antithesis of the stale studio model reliant on reskinned themes. Elmqvist emphasized that EXCO will “craft every game from scratch” and not chase volume, in direct contrast to competitors pumping out lookalike titles. The piece underscored EXCO’s philosophy: fewer releases, higher quality, and games driven by player interests and emerging trends beyond the usual tropes.
iGamingExpert’s coverage also detailed EXCO’s initial roadmap and bold plans to reinvigorate the market. The studio’s debut slot, VEGASCALINE, was set to be unveiled the following week at SBC Summit in Lisbon, showcasing EXCO’s proprietary GAMEX suite of mechanics (features like Wrapper Stacks, Power Field, Boss Fights, etc.). Elmqvist’s quotes in the article pulled no punches – he described the industry as “tired and lazy, stuck in a cycle of uninspiring rollouts, sequels and reskins,” affirming that EXCO was founded to break this cycle. He invited readers to visit EXCO’s booth in Lisbon to witness some “industry-first UX” in action. Overall, the piece cast EXCO as a rebel studio on a mission to disrupt an innovation-starved sector by rejecting copycats and prioritizing creativity.