ELK Studios — Developer Behind the Pirots Series
ELK Studios invented a slot mechanic that no other provider has copied in three years. CollectR™ — where four birds walk across a grid eating gems — launched with the original Pirots in March 2023 and hasn't appeared outside ELK's own catalog since. That's unusual. In iGaming, successful mechanics get cloned within months. CollectR hasn't.
ELK Studios is a Stockholm-based slot developer founded in 2013. They've released six Pirots titles to date: the original Pirots (March 2023), Pirots 2 (November 2023), Pirots 3 (May 2024), Pirots X (October 2024), Pirots 4 with three worlds (July–September 2025), and Pirots 5 (June 2026). Every release is built on ELK's Mobile First architecture and includes the X-iter™ bonus-buy framework.
Updated: June 2026.
Play ELK Studios Pirots Slots →ELK Studios Quick Facts
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Licensed by | Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and others |
| Signature mechanics | CollectR™, X-iter™ Bonus Buy, Avalanche |
| Standard RTP | 94.0% (Pirots 5 introduced 96% configurations) |
| Mobile design | Mobile First — portrait-mode optimized |
| Notable series | Pirots, Nitropolis, Wild Toro, Sam Houston |
ELK Studios and the Pirots Series
ELK Studios released the original Pirots on 7 March 2023, introducing CollectR for the first time. Caribbean pirate theme, 5×5 grid, medium-high volatility. That initial release proved the mechanic worked.
The series expanded with Pirots 2 (dinosaur jungle, November 2023), Pirots 3 (Wild West, May 2024), and Pirots X (cluster pays spin-off, October 2024). Each game kept the same RTP and max win but changed the theme and added unique features.
In 2025, Pirots 4 introduced ELK's time-based evolution model. It shipped as Lost in Space in July, then added Frozen Fury in August and Inferno in September. Three games in one slot — that was new for the series.
Pirots 5 launched on 28 June 2026 with the Cursed Temple variant. It's the first Pirots with RTP above 94% (up to 96%), and the first to add traps — arrows, boulders, and secret doors — on top of the CollectR base.
The CollectR™ Mechanic (ELK's Signature Engine)
CollectR™ is ELK Studios' proprietary alternative to paylines and cluster pays. Four colored collector symbols (the parrots) move across an expanding grid, eating adjacent gems and feature symbols of their own color. Every collected gem fills a feature meter. When the meter's full, special symbols drop in.
The grid expands during play — typically from 6×6 to 8×8. The mechanic appears in Pirots, Pirots 2, Pirots 3, Pirots 4, and Pirots 5. Only Pirots X drops CollectR entirely in favor of cluster pays.
X-iter™ Bonus Buy Framework
ELK's X-iter™ lets you buy direct entry into bonus modes at fixed multiples of the bet. Each Pirots game has a custom X-iter menu — typically 3× / 10× / 25× / 100× / 500× — covering Bonus Hunt, themed mini-features, guaranteed Bonus Game entry, and guaranteed Super Bonus entry.
RTP remains identical (94%) whether you buy the bonus or trigger it naturally. The math doesn't change. What changes is the time you save. Availability depends on jurisdiction — the UK doesn't permit bonus buys at all.
ELK Studios Pirots Series at a Glance
| Game | Release Date | Mechanic | Theme | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirots | 7 Mar 2023 | CollectR™ | 🏴☠️ Caribbean pirates | 94.0% |
| Pirots 2 | 7 Nov 2023 | CollectR™ | 🦕 Prehistoric jungle | 94.0% |
| Pirots 3 | May 2024 | CollectR™ | 🤠 Wild West | 94.0% |
| Pirots X | 24 Oct 2024 | Cluster Pays | 🏝️ Pirate island | 94.0% |
| Pirots 4 | 24 Jul 2025 | CollectR™ | 🚀 Space / Inferno | 94.0% |
| Pirots 5 | 28 Jun 2026 | CollectR™ + Traps | 🏛️ Ancient Egypt | up to 96.0% |
ELK Studios FAQ
ELK Studios, a Swedish slot developer based in Stockholm. They've built every Pirots title since the original launched in March 2023.
Among Pirots titles, Pirots 5 (June 2026) is the first to offer RTP up to 96.0%. Every previous Pirots game runs at a fixed 94.0%.
Yes. ELK holds licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), among others.
ELK's other notable series include Nitropolis, Wild Toro, and Sam Houston. Pirots remains their flagship series and the only one running on CollectR™.
Yes. Most ELK titles — including all Pirots games — include the X-iter™ bonus buy menu. Availability depends on jurisdiction. The UK blocks bonus buys.