Global presence has always translated into global impact for Aristocrat Gaming, a quality which will be displayed most emphatically at ICE Barcelona 2026, January 19-21.
Aristocrat Gaming’s Spooky Link debuting in EMEA on The Baron Portrait cabinet is in perfect harmony with the theme for ICE 2026, “Shaping the Future of Gaming”.
Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer, Gaming, at Aristocrat Gaming, possesses two decades of diverse executive experience in the global gaming industry. He said that the choice of Spooky Link as the launch title was made “because it combines familiarity with proven success”.
“Our business has evolved in such a way that gives us the privilege of bringing strong titles to a global presence,” Gissane continued. “In EMEA, we wanted to bring a game that could cut across diverse cultural markets. Spooky Link provided that broad appeal while also showcasing the cabinet’s visual strengths.”
The Baron Portrait introduces a sleek, modern design featuring a 43” curved ultra hi-def 4K monitor, complemented by an optimized 27” LCD high-definition topper, integrated candle, and floating virtual button deck.
With dynamic lighting and advanced technology, the cabinet delivers an exciting and visually striking player experience that sets a new standard for performance and entertainment.
Spooky Link unites a trio of eye-catching, entertaining “monster” themes, Go Ghost, Mo Mummy, and Yo Yeti, into an engaging new game family. Each character brings its own unique feature, giving players new twists and chances to win with five metamorphic features.
“We have been moving efficiently in delivering speed to market between releases in North America and EMEA,” Gissane explained. “This is part of that commitment, and we will continue to act to close that gap even further, bringing the best games in the world to our customers around the world.”
Go Ghost, Mo Mummy, and Yo Yeti received a rousing reception upon release in the North American market. The games were ranked 1-2-3 in November 2025 Core Video, Performance by Cupid Player Segment.
“We were thrilled by the reception from operators and players,” Gissane said. “These titles were built on strong math models, engaging visuals and memorable characters. We always have faith in our teams to produce quality content that the market will enjoy.
“We are humbled and grateful for the speed and scale of the adoption. It validates our belief that we have top talent making the best products for players that are hungry for fresh and diverse experiences that still deliver the excitement of proven mechanics.”
The Link franchise has been enormously successful for Aristocrat Gaming, a fact that has empowered the company’s teams to continue to create content that keeps it vibrant and something that keeps players entertained and engaged.
“The Link franchise is not a portfolio, not just a single mechanic,” Gissane shared. “At Aristocrat, we are always looking for opportunities to evolve our product offering. The franchise has a strong brand and players not only recognize it, but they look for it on casino floors. That gives us room to experiment while still delivering the familiarity that players know and love.”
Gissane acknowledges that “the soul of the game will always be the math,” which is the driving force behind the creation of new themes and game mechanics.
“Building on strong math by creating engaging themes is also important,” he said. “Our studio teams are constantly looking at ways to be creative in how they deliver product for players and operators. Going forward, we will continue to explore themes that balance universal appeal with regional flavor, ensuring that they enhance the core gameplay.
“Player preferences will evolve over time just like casino floors, but there is always room for new game mechanics to succeed in this industry. As a business, we are constantly looking at new ways to innovate, but it must always serve the player experience rather than complicate it.”