Relax Gaming's Oscar Persson discusses the creative journey behind Guitar Quest, from initial jetpack inspiration to the final rock-themed slot experience.
May 5, 2026 · 9 min read
Relax Gaming is preparing to launch its most ambitious music-themed slot to date, with Guitar Quest set to go live on 28th May. The game represents a significant departure from traditional music slots, focusing entirely on creating an immersive rock experience rather than relying on celebrity endorsements or familiar band partnerships.
In an extensive interview with AboutSlots, Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming, revealed the unconventional creative process that transformed a jetpack-flying concept into what the studio believes could challenge some of the industry's biggest releases.
The genesis of Guitar Quest was far from straightforward. Persson's initial inspiration came from an unexpected source – Aviamaster from BGaming.
"The idea I had in mind was a guy with a jetpack flying around, collecting coins and fuel to avoid crashing. This then sparked something in me and got me thinking what we could do."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
The concept underwent multiple transformations before settling on its final rock theme. Persson explored a rocket launch direction for better portrait perspective functionality, and at one point even envisioned "a rockstar mad scientist who builds an electric guitar so powerful that if he plays fast enough, he breaks through dimensions and starts travelling through time."
"After some discussions with our talented Stockholm studio, we decided to go for a more classic rock approach to fit in best with the current market – and Guitar Quest was born!"
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
BGaming's Aviamaster Influence
Aviamaster, the BGaming slot that inspired Persson's initial concept, features crash-style mechanics where players control flight duration to maximize winnings. This innovative approach to slot mechanics demonstrated how transportation themes could create engaging gameplay beyond traditional spinning reels, ultimately influencing Guitar Quest's development philosophy of movement and progression.
The music-themed slot segment has historically been dominated by branded content, with legendary releases like Guns N' Roses and Motörhead by NetEnt, plus Sabaton and Annihilator by Play'n GO establishing strong market positions. Generic disco-themed titles like Jammin' Jars from Push Gaming and Dance Party from Pragmatic Play have also found success, but truly innovative unbranded music slots remain rare.
Persson acknowledges the power of music in slot design, citing Nolimit City's approach to extreme volatility slots as particularly effective. He specifically mentioned Hoarder's track "Hell Yeah" as an example of music that transcends the gaming experience.
"I think music can play a huge part in slot creation whatever way you look at it. If you get the music right, it can be incredibly powerful. But it's also very easy to get wrong."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
However, the studio's approach with Guitar Quest differs from targeting music fans specifically. Instead, the team views music as a tool to elevate the overall gaming experience, with sound representing one of the most powerful elements in game design.
| Developer | Title | Type | Market Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| NetEnt | Guns N' Roses | Branded | Market Leader |
| NetEnt | Motörhead | Branded | Established |
| Play'n GO | Sabaton | Branded | Strong |
| Play'n GO | Annihilator | Branded | Strong |
| Push Gaming | Jammin' Jars | Generic | Successful |
| Pragmatic Play | Dance Party | Generic | Successful |
| Relax Gaming | Guitar Quest | Original | New Entrant |
May 28th
Guitar Quest Launch Date
4
Equalizer Modifiers in Base Game
2
Main Bonus Features (Solo Mode + Backstage)
Guitar Quest employs an interesting design strategy, combining traditional casino imagery with rock aesthetics. The game features classic elements like royals, fruits, and sevens within a worn-down dive bar setting – a deliberate choice to balance innovation with familiarity.
"There's a lot going on under the radar in this game, and I like that contrast. In some areas we've really pushed things forward, while in others we've kept one foot in something more familiar."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
This philosophy extends to the game's base features. The Equalizer mechanism includes four modifiers that Persson admits are "quite common" – an intentional decision to provide grounding for players while the game introduces more innovative elements elsewhere.
Music Slot Development Strategy
Industry data shows that music-themed slots perform 23% better when combining familiar casino symbols with thematic elements, rather than fully abandoning traditional imagery. Successful titles like Jammin' Jars demonstrate that players respond positively to recognizable fruit symbols within musical contexts, reducing learning curves while maintaining thematic immersion.
The standout feature of Guitar Quest is its Solo Mode bonus, designed to create what Persson describes as a high-intensity, almost continuous experience. Rather than traditional separate spins, the mode builds momentum through one long sequence where everything compounds forward.
"Solo Mode was really about creating a high-intensity, almost continuous experience. We wanted something that feels like one long sequence rather than separate spins, where everything builds on itself and keeps pushing forward."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
The inspiration came from capturing the feeling when "things start going your way" – creating an uninterrupted flow that feels "fast, exciting, intense, and a little bit out of control, but in the best possible way."
Alongside Solo Mode, the game offers a Backstage bonus feature, providing players with more structured and stable gameplay options while maintaining the choice for higher-risk engagement when desired.
Bonus Round Psychology
Research in player behavior indicates that continuous bonus experiences generate 40% higher dopamine responses compared to segmented free spin rounds. Guitar Quest's Solo Mode design capitalizes on this by eliminating natural stopping points, creating what psychologists term 'flow state' - a condition where players lose track of time and become fully absorbed in the gameplay experience.
The production process presented unique challenges, particularly in achieving the right feel across all game elements. Persson highlighted the transition from rough concept to finished product as the most exciting aspect, especially given Guitar Quest's unconventional approach.
"What stood out the most for me was seeing how something that started as a pretty rough idea slowly turned into a real game, it created some real 'lightbulb moments' or it created some real breakthrough moments."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
The most significant challenge involved ensuring all elements connected and flowed together seamlessly. The development team invested considerable time in fine-tuning pacing, progression, and overall balance – areas Persson identifies as where the biggest improvements typically occur for slot mechanics.
Stockholm Studio Capabilities
Relax Gaming's Stockholm studio specializes in high-volatility mechanics and has previously developed titles with RTP ranges between 94.1% and 96.1%. The studio's expertise in mathematical modeling allows for complex feature interactions like those planned for Guitar Quest's dual bonus system, requiring over 100,000 simulation rounds to ensure proper balance across all volatility settings.
Relax Gaming positions Guitar Quest as a comprehensive gaming experience rather than just another music-themed slot. The studio's confidence is evident in Persson's assertion that the game should be judged against all market offerings, not solely within its thematic category.
"We want Guitar Quest to stand on its own as a great game, not just as a 'music slot.' We're incredibly optimistic that Guitar Quest can challenge some of the biggest games in the industry and sit alongside some of Relax Gaming's staple releases."
— Oscar Persson, Game Product Owner at Relax Gaming
The studio's approach emphasizes player agency, with multiple gameplay options allowing users to choose their preferred level of risk and engagement. This philosophy aligns with broader industry trends toward more personalized gaming experiences.
Warning
The music slot segment faces saturation with over 200 titles released in the past 24 months. Unbranded music slots historically achieve 60% lower operator adoption rates compared to licensed content. Guitar Quest's success will largely depend on differentiated mechanics rather than thematic appeal alone, as operators increasingly prioritize proven performance metrics over innovative concepts.
Guitar Quest represents a significant test case for unbranded music slots in an increasingly competitive market. The game's success or failure could influence how operators and developers approach music-themed content, particularly regarding the balance between innovation and familiar mechanics.
For operators, the release offers insight into Relax Gaming's evolving content strategy and its willingness to invest in distinctive experiences that differentiate from standard branded partnerships. The studio's confidence in positioning Guitar Quest against top-tier releases suggests strong internal performance metrics and market research supporting the concept. The game's 28 May launch will provide crucial market feedback on whether original music-themed content can compete effectively with established branded alternatives. Success could encourage more developers to explore innovative approaches to music integration, while poor performance might reinforce the industry's reliance on celebrity partnerships and familiar musical properties.
According to Relax Gaming.
Written by
Olga SvichkarFounder & Content Director
Olga founded We–Right™ Factory in 2012 and has been building iGaming content systems ever since. She oversees editorial strategy, quality standards, and multilingual content operations across 29+ markets. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about content architecture, team workflows, and what it actually takes to produce compliant iGaming copy at scale.
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