Pushing Boundaries with Shady Lady & Marla Singer at NEXT.io Malta 🎙️

Tequity’s Head of Marketing and Partnerships, Przemek Tymczyszyn, sat down with Marla Singer to discuss how the supplier’s lightweight RGS architecture gives the Shady Lady team the freedom to bypass DevOps and focus purely on crafting high-energy, experimental slots. 

Read the full interview below for her insights on the network effect of the platform, the rise of crypto gaming, and what players can expect from their highly anticipated release, Mortal Bromance.

Przemek: What sets our RGS apart from other platforms you’ve worked with?

Marla Singer: A few things stand out to me: the very modern and lightweight architecture using Docker and Kubernetes, fully managed database servers, and 100% Terraform for fast setup and deployments. Everything is configurable, making it easy to support operator needs, and there’s great use of cloud functionality which reduces the need for DevOps personnel.

What does a great platform partner mean to you, and how do we fit into that?

The support we get as a studio is fantastic, Tequity staff are always available and feature requests and bugs are handled swiftly.

How would you describe our collaboration in one sentence?

Trust and openness.

How has our RGS supported your studio’s growth so far?

Besides the skill and dedication of the Tequity team, what we really appreciate is the network effect of Tequity’s RGS. We can leverage integrations that have been achieved for other studios, and vice versa. Aggregators and operators are also more willing to integrate new features since they work across all studios using the Tequity RGS.

How has working with us influenced your roadmap or strategy?

We can sign operators and aggregators without worrying about integration. Either the integration already exists, or we know it can be done without red tape.

What impact has the partnership had on your ability to scale?

The RGS itself is highly scalable, so high traffic volumes are not an issue. We’re also confident that Tequity can support us in the future if we decide to enter regulated markets.

Did our RGS help you speed up game development or distribution and if so, how?

Absolutely. We use the frameworks developed by Tequity, which made a huge difference early on. Going forward, having less code to maintain is a real advantage.

From a technical perspective, what do you value most about our RGS?

Ease of operation, which is a combination of the RGS itself and the way cloud services are utilised.

How does our platform support your creativity when building new slots?

By handling the core functionality so we can focus on what matters most to us: crafting amazing slots.

What would you say to studios considering integrating with our RGS?

Go for it! Building your own RGS offers very little in terms of competitive edge.

The future roadmap and growth

What’s the long-term vision for your studio over the next 2-3 years?

To be a top three studio in slots for real gamblers.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities in the industry today?

The rise of crypto gaming is hard to ignore: global reach, no friction around payments, and a player base that genuinely connects with the kind of high-intensity, high-quality slots we build. Beyond that, I’m excited about the continued push toward more sophisticated game mechanics. Players are getting more discerning, and that pushes us to be better.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities in the industry today?

The crypto space, without a doubt. It offers global reach and a customer base that aligns well with our type of games.

What can players expect from your upcoming releases?

They can expect us to keep pushing boundaries. We’re not interested in safe, formulaic releases. Every game needs to bring something fresh, whether that’s a mechanic, a theme, or a feeling. Think high energy, high craft, and games that reward players who really know what they’re doing.

Which upcoming games are you personally most excited about?

Mortal Bromance, which is currently in early access. It’s a fantastic game, I can’t wait for more players to get their hands on it.

Are you leaning more toward experimentation or refining proven concepts?

Experimentation, for sure.

What are your key priorities for the next year?

Strengthening the team so we can produce more slots than we do today.

What does success look like for your studio in the near future?

A growing library of games that people in the industry talk about, a team that’s firing on all cylinders and a foothold in at least one regulated market. If we can hit those three things, we’re on the right track.

Are there any big milestones you’re aiming to hit soon?

Getting Mortal Bromance out of early access and into full release is front of mind right now.

Industry perspective

How do you see player expectations changing over the next few years?

Players are becoming more sophisticated. They’ve been exposed to so many games that they have a sharp eye for what’s genuine and what’s copy-paste. I think they’ll increasingly gravitate toward studios with a clear identity and games that feel intentional. Quality and authenticity will matter more than volume.

What do you think will define the next generation of slot games?

Deeper mechanics and stronger game identity. The visual and audio bar is already high, what will separate the next generation is how a game feels to play at a deeper level. Studios that invest in game design craft, not just surface-level production, will stand out.

What challenges do you anticipate for studios in the near future?

Regulation is the obvious one. Navigating different regulatory frameworks across markets is complex and resource-intensive. Beyond that, the market is getting more crowded, so standing out requires genuine investment in quality. Studios that try to compete on volume alone will find it harder and harder.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

I’d love to see more openness to experimentation, from operators, from aggregators, all the way through the chain. There’s sometimes a tendency to play it safe and stick with what’s proven. That’s understandable commercially, but it does slow down innovation. The games that players remember are the ones that dared to do something different.