Evolution on Wednesday unveiled the launch of Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, an online live game show.
The company said it will be the first live casino game to bring together live and slots-style gameplay, and the first with the option to play in VR (virtual reality) mode.
The Gonzo character and intellectual property come from NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest online slots title.
Evolution said Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt is the latest addition to its live game shows portfolio. The company said it is the first Evolution game to use NetEnt IP following Evolution’s acquisition of NetEnt at the end of last year.
The central feature of Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt is the search for hidden treasures in a wall of 70 stones. Evolution said the explorer will “come alive” as an augmented reality virtual character and join the live show hosts and players in the search.
The company said a first for the live casino market will be the option to play and bet on Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt in VR mode using a virtual reality headset and controller, which Evolution said will enrich the immersive gaming experience.
“This is our first product that combines the best of NetEnt with Evolution,” Todd Haushalter, chief product officer at Evolution, said in a statement. “I have been excited to work with NetEnt intellectual property since the acquisition was announced, and we are starting by taking the most famous character in slots and bringing him to live casino.”
According to Haushalter, the new show will be the first live game in which players have such a high degree of control over their game strategy and the potential outcome.
“Unlike other games where the result is the result and there is nothing you can do about it, in Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, players take control as they go hunting for their prizes,” he said. “This is a whole new direction for our game shows as we want to widen the definition of what a game show is. Giving the player this level of control will attract a new audience to Evolution. We are continuing to evolve what the gambling experience can be, and this is an incredibly exciting landmark launch.”
Evolution is a Malta-based company with live casino studios in Pennsylvania and Lithuania.
