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A new episodic poker cash game show called Deepstack is set to debut later in 2026, featuring an unusual technological twist: real-time heart-rate tracking of players during hands. The project is backed by high-stakes player Elton Tsang and Deepstack Managing Director Jelle Moene, and will also incorporate a Squid Game-inspired variant called BLUVV.
The heart-rate feature relies on remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), a camera-based technology developed by Deepstack’s sister company Deepvision. By analyzing subtle changes in a player’s facial skin, the system can estimate pulse without any physical sensors, displaying the data on screen beside the player.
In an exclusive preview shared with PokerNews, the technology was demonstrated using a hand between Tsang and Wiktor Malinowski. As Malinowski deliberated over a river call against Tsang’s bluff, viewers could see his heart rate climb in real time before he ultimately folded.
Moene said the goal is to give audiences insight into the psychological tension of poker that typical broadcasts fail to capture. He compared the new system to the facial-recognition overlays used during past WSOP broadcasts, calling this an evolution built on that earlier concept. Additional features such as timing tells and blink detection are also reportedly in development.
Both Tsang and Moene expressed hope that the added “technology layer” will make poker more engaging for modern viewers accustomed to fast-forwarding through traditional streams.
Production for the first season is already underway, with three camera crews filming and editing in parallel. The team says the pre-edited format will allow for cinematic elements and dual-screen content not possible in live-streamed poker.
