We’re thrilled to bring you another iGaming Talks session, this time featuring Henry McLean, Co-founder of 4ThePlayer.
In this engaging conversation with TheGamblest, Henry walks us through 4ThePlayer’s journey, the major challenges the team has tackled, and the innovative tools they provide to operators across the iGaming landscape. He also offers his thoughts on the iGaming 2026 predictions, and shares much more behind the scenes of 4ThePlayer.
TheGamblest: What’s the biggest challenge game providers are facing right now?
Henry: Honestly, it’s the sheer volume of content. Every week, there’s a new flood of games hitting the market or a new provider, and they’re all shouting for attention. The barrier to entry has dropped dramatically, especially with AI now part of the mix. It’s easier than ever to spin up a game or reskin an existing one, so we’re seeing a tidal wave of titles.
That’s great in some ways, as more competition keeps everyone on their toes and can spark creativity, to an extent. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of AI. It’s brilliant for certain efficiencies. But the flip side is that it’s created a lot of noise as well as low-quality content. Operators only have so much space on their roadmaps, and players only have so much time.
The real challenge now is standing out, cutting through the noise and giving players something that genuinely excites and entertains.
At 4ThePlayer, we’ve always focused on quality over quantity. We’re not a content factory, we’re a boutique. Every title we release is carefully crafted and fine-tuned with purpose. AI can help you move faster, but it can’t feel what makes a moment exciting or why a player smiles when playing. I think that emotional connection still comes from people, people who genuinely love slots and understand players. That’s where we come in.
TheGamblest: Can you expand on that? How exactly are your games different, and what makes them cut through this ‘tidal wave’ of content?
Henry: Everything starts with the player. Our founding and product teams are all players ourselves, so we know those highs, frustrations, and “one more spin” moments. We play what’s out there, we listen to operators, we chat to players and streamers, and we constantly look for ways to make the experience more enjoyable and a bit different.
A lot of studios start with a mechanic and then try to bolt a theme on top. We do the opposite. We start with a feeling and what do we want the player to experience? Is it the volatile big win, the suspense of a feature about to land, or just keeping every spin exciting with high activity levels? Everything.. maths, pacing, visuals, sound builds from that feeling.
That’s why our games have such strong balance and flow. When you mix that with our top-tier visuals and production polish, it feels crafted, not mass-produced. And I believe both operators and players can sense that and, more importantly, appreciate it.
TheGamblest: What trends do you see in the content space?
Henry: I think there’s a clear split forming: studios that chase volume and studios that chase crafted creations. As I mentioned, AI has really amplified that divide. It’s easy to use it to churn out ideas quickly, but true success still comes down to creativity and understanding players.
We’re also seeing a big appetite for familiarity. Players love returning to worlds and mechanics they already enjoy. It’s comforting but still exciting when there’s a twist. Our 4 Fantastic Fish series is the perfect example. It’s become a true franchise because players connect with it. Every new chapter adds something fresh while keeping that fun, familiar heartbeat.
Another strong trend is an active base game. Players don’t want to sit around waiting for the bonus anymore; they want entertainment from spin one. That’s something we’ve believed in since day one. Every spin should have that spark and be your first step on a journey.
TheGamblest: You say you’re all players yourselves. What makes a slot stand out to you and why?
Henry: For me, it’s all about cohesion. A great slot feels like everything (maths, features, art, sound) is pulling in the same direction to create a proper immersive experience. When a game feels balanced, alive, and polished, that’s when I’m really engaged.
I think Print Studios do this particularly well; you can feel the love in their games.
I’ve also got a real soft spot for simpler games too, the kind that are stripped-back, clean, and just satisfying to play. It really depends on my mood and why I am playing. If I’m playing for research or if I’m just killing 20 minutes or unwinding at the end of the day. Different slots for different types of entertainment.
TheGamblest: Anything exciting or coming soon from 4ThePlayer you can share?
Henry: Absolutely – plenty! One of the ones I’m most excited about is 4 Fantastic Vikings Go Ice Fishing, our huge collaboration with Yggdrasil. It’s been one of our most requested follow-ups, and with good reason, the first game’s been sitting firmly in the top three across Yggdrasil’s entire network for nearly a year. This time, the Vikings are heading into icy new waters, with some brilliant fresh features, a brand-new character, and an awesome maths model that I can’t wait for players to experience.
We’ve also got the return of one of my personal favourite characters in 9k Yeti Gold Dream Drop. The Yeti was our very first game back in 2019, and he’s still one of our top performers. I’ve got a real soft spot for him, and bringing him back with Relax Gaming’s Dream Drop jackpot feels like a proper full-circle moment.
I love Dream Drop because it’s so player-focused and lets us offer life-changing jackpots that we couldn’t have done on our own. And now the Dream Drop has Daily Jackpots too, an exciting addition has got even more exciting!
And of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve got a lot more games in the works and another exciting collaboration coming later this year. I can’t share details yet, but it’s a big one.
It’s a busy, buzzing time for us, but we’ll always stay true to our boutique roots and our focus on delivering fun, quality content.
TheGamblest: What are your predictions for 2026?
Henry: I think 2026 will be the year of curation. With so much content out there, operators will start focusing on partnerships with trusted studios that consistently deliver quality and performance. It’s going to be less about “what’s new?” and more about “what actually entertains and retains players?”.
I’m also fascinated by how tech might shift things again. The long-rumoured Apple Flip phone could completely change mobile gameplay and design. I’m genuinely excited to see how that unfolds.
And from a market point of view, the US will continue to grow. We’re seeing brilliant results there, our recent release 5 Flaming Dollars, was our best-ever launch, with record spins per user and engagement across the board. It’s a market that really gets our games, and just like everyone, we’re hoping more states open up soon.
Final thoughts
It’s such an exciting time for our industry. There’s more competition than ever, but I genuinely think that’s a good thing, it makes boutique content stand out even more. The studios that will thrive are the ones that stay focused on players, purpose, and passion.
