4ThePlayer is returning to one of its most beloved formats with 10,000 X Gold 2, a sequel that amplifies everything players loved about the original. Building on a 1,024 ways setup and the bold X-symbol identity, this new instalment pushes the max win to 20,000x while offering the Boosting Fortunes mechanic and the engaging Stack Xpand feature. We spoke with Henry McLean, Co-Founder, Commercial and Marketing Director at 4ThePlayer, about turning up the energy without losing the original’s soul.
In our exclusive interview, we explore the decision to revisit this franchise, how Boosting Fortunes creates constant anticipation, and the layered chaos of the Free Spins bonus. Henry also gives us a glimpse at what’s next for the studio, including their first-ever 10-line Book game.
Gamingslots: 10,000 X Gold 2 brings back that bold X-symbol look in a 1,024 ways setup. What made you feel this was the right game to turn into a sequel, and how did you want it to play and feel compared with the original 10,000 X Gold?
Henry McLean: 10,000 X Gold very quickly showed us it had real staying power. The data was strong, but more importantly, the player feedback was loud and clear. Players loved the bold X-symbol identity, the TV-show style presentation, and that constant sense of anticipation in every spin.
Players who loved the original will immediately recognise the core rhythm of the game. We kept the overall structure very similar on purpose.
When a game hits that sweet spot of being instantly recognisable and genuinely fun to play, that is when we start asking ourselves whether we can push it further. With 10,000X Gold 2, the answer was a definite yes. We actually had more ideas during the development of the first game, but we deliberately held some back.
The goal here was not to reinvent it. It was to turn the energy up. We wanted it to feel familiar from spin one, but with more momentum, more background tension, and more of those moments where you lean forward and think, “This could be massive.”
GS: The game leans on a proven maths model from one of your top-performing titles. From a player point of view, what should fans of the first game recognise here, and what feels noticeably dialled up in the sequel?
HM: Players who loved the original will immediately recognise the core rhythm of the game. We kept the overall structure very similar on purpose. The base game still drives the experience, the hit frequency is almost identical, and it retains that high-volatility profile players expect from the original. But under the bonnet, we have definitely turned things up. The headline change is the max win, which has moved from 7,500x to 20,000x. That is a serious jump and instantly tells you the ceiling is much higher this time around.
We have also increased the average bonus payout and pushed the volatility slightly further. So while the flow feels familiar, the spikes can now be bigger and more dramatic. When it lands, the outcomes can be significant. Importantly, we kept the 1,024 ways setup and the recognisable pacing of the original. So it still feels like 10,000 X Gold from spin one, just with more intensity and more potential sitting in the background.
Max Boost is very much a standout moment that instant jump to the maximum prize value creates a real spike in engagement. But we were careful not to let it dominate the design.
GS: Boosting Fortunes sits at the centre of the base game, with Gold Coins dropping on any spin to charge up the Fortune Prizes, and any coin able to trigger the Fortune Bonus. How do you imagine players reacting to that “always building in the background” feeling as they spin?
HM: Boosting Fortunes is one of our most popular mechanics. Even on spins where you do not hit a big win, you feel like you’re making progress. Coins can land on any spin, they boost the Fortune Prizes, and any one of them could suddenly trigger the Fortune Bonus.
From a player’s point of view, it maintains the energy and keeps things exciting – even if the spin is not a winning one! Every spin has purpose. There is always anticipation, because something is charging up in the background. You might not consciously track every boost, but you feel it, and that feeling is incredibly important.
GS: With Max Boost, a Fortune Prize can instantly jump to its maximum value when it’s won, while coins can keep boosting prizes without changing the RTP. How did you think about balancing that one huge moment with the sense of a longer journey for the player?
HM: We always talk internally about moments versus journeys. Max Boost is very much a standout moment that instant jump to the maximum prize value creates a real spike in engagement. But we were careful not to let it dominate the design. The Boosting Fortunes can increase naturally during play, adding excitement when they do, but the core entertainment does not depend on that one event happening. Max Boost is there to create standout spikes, not to be the sole focus. It is that mix of regular gameplay excitement and occasional high-impact moments that keeps the experience dynamic rather than one-dimensional.
Free Spins is where it becomes what I would call organised chaos; there is a lot going on, but it is all pulling in the same direction.
GS: Stack Xpand takes full stacks of X symbols and turns them into a single symbol with stack multipliers up to 10x, and multiple stacks together can really push that further on a 1,024 ways grid. What kind of “this could go off now” moments were you aiming for when several stacks land at once?
HM: Those are the “lean forward in your chair” moments. When full stacks of X symbols land and then merge into a single symbol with a big stack multiplier, you instantly know something serious could happen. On a 1,024 ways grid, when you see multiple stacks landing at once, there’s this split second where your brain is already doing the maths before the game does. That anticipation is gold for us. We wanted players to feel that rush of “if this connects, this could be huge.”
We do not add mechanics just because they look impressive on a feature list. Every decision has to improve the entertainment, pacing, or clarity of the experience.
GS: In Free Spins, Double X stacks can reach stack multipliers up to 20x, every Wild expands to fill a reel, picks up a stack multiplier up to 12x, and boosts one of the Fortune Prizes at the same time. How do you see the ways wins and the Fortune system bouncing off each other once players get into the bonus?
HM: Free Spins is where it becomes what I would call organised chaos; there is a lot going on, but it is all pulling in the same direction. You have Double X stacks pushing multipliers up to 20x, expanding Wilds filling reels and collecting their own multipliers, and at the same time, the Fortune Prizes are being boosted in the background.
So you are not focused on one single outcome. You are building ways wins, stacking multipliers, and charging up Fortune Prizes all at once. When it connects, everything can collide in a single spin. That layered interaction is exactly how we like our bonuses to feel busy, high energy, slightly chaotic, but always clear enough that the player understands why it paid and can feel the potential in every spin.
GS: 4ThePlayer has built a reputation for proprietary mechanics and formats, like Big Reel Portrait Mode or 4 Deals 4 You in other titles, with that “by players, for players” mindset. Where do you feel 10,000 X Gold 2 fits into that philosophy of trying new ideas while still keeping things clear and fun to follow?
HM: For us, it comes down to intent. We do not add mechanics just because they look impressive on a feature list. Every decision has to improve the entertainment, pacing, or clarity of the experience. If it does not make the game more fun, it does not make it in.
For players who enjoy higher volatility and bigger upside, the ceiling has been pushed significantly. The max win is now 20,000x
Without giving away too much of the magic or any trade secrets, Boosting Fortunes is a good example. It was built from the ground up with the player in mind. Players get all the fun, anticipation, and excitement of seeing a large prize grow… but without the usual sting behind the scenes. Increasing the value of a Fortune prize does not change the game RTP, which creates a smoother, fairer-feeling experience.
10,000 X Gold 2 reflects that mindset. Yes, there are powerful mechanics under the hood and serious potential, but it is still easy to read from spin one. You can enjoy it casually and feel the energy straight away, or dig into how everything connects if you like understanding the details.
GS: Looking at the numbers, you have a 20,000x max win, a 94% RTP variant in the sheet, and a mix of steady coin boosts plus those high-pressure stack multipliers. In your view, how does 10,000 X Gold 2 speak to both casual players and more seasoned, bonus-focused players?
HM: It starts with activity. Anyone who has played any of our games will know we believe the base game should be just as exciting as the bonus. We work very hard to avoid those long dry spells or that feeling of grinding purely for a feature. In 10,000 X Gold 2, even in the base game, there is always something happening, from coins landing, Fortunes building, and stacks dropping in. So, for more casual players, there is constant movement and anticipation from spin one.
In terms of content, yes, we will always do sequels where it genuinely makes sense. But we are absolutely not just a sequel studio now. We have some awesome brand-new concepts coming.
For players who enjoy higher volatility and bigger upside, the ceiling has been pushed significantly. The max win is now 20,000x, and mechanics like stacked multipliers and Max Boost can create very sharp spikes when everything aligns. So it caters to two mindsets. One player might enjoy the steady build and energy of the session, another might be there for the big potential moments. The important thing is that the game supports both without feeling like it is trying to be two different products.
GS: Finally, now that 10,000 X Gold 2 is all set to join your lineup, would you like to share what players can look forward to from 4ThePlayer through the rest of 2026 and beyond, whether that ends up being more sequels, brand-new mechanics, or something completely different?
HM: Firstly, more places to actually play our games. That is something I am genuinely excited about. If you are in the UK and have not checked out your local bookies recently, you might well find your favourite Fantastic game in there. The same goes for pubs and clubs — and another totally new destination will be getting our games this year too… but I cannot say too much more on that just yet. Watch this space.
In terms of content, yes, we will always do sequels where it genuinely makes sense. But we are absolutely not just a sequel studio now. We have some awesome brand-new concepts coming. One I am particularly excited about is our first-ever 10-line slot, which is also our first Book game. I personally love the artwork on this one. It is such a fun mash-up, but at the same time genuinely stunning, if that makes sense. It feels classic, but still very 4ThePlayer.
There is also another animal joining the 4ThePlayer world, and as everyone knows, we do love animals, haha. On top of that, there are more Dream Drop titles coming. I love a jackpot game myself, and they give players the chance to win very substantial prizes. So it is a mix of expansion, evolution, and completely new ideas. But the core stays the same; everything we release has to be fun, polished, and something we would genuinely want to play ourselves.
10,000 X Gold 2 will be available on select online casinos on February 26, 2026.
