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Officially launched in July 2025, DEGEN Studios is here to redefine what it means to play. Available at numerous online slot sites, there are not a run-of-the-mill content studio: they are bold, unfiltered and unapologetically disruptive.
Made for mavericks (in their own words), my exclusive Q&A-style interview is with Danny Gordon (Head of Studio). Having worked for Microgaming, Entain and Four Leaf Gaming, the interview covers why DEGEN was founded, what he’s learned from the first releases, a closer look at those games, player feedback on design and upcoming releases.
Q: What was the biggest reason for founding DEGEN?
DG: “We started DEGEN because we felt something was missing. The industry leans heavily on safe formulas and familiar loops, and after years of playing and building games, we knew there was room for a different approach. DEGEN was born from that frustration and from the belief that slot gaming can push further creatively than it currently does.
We wanted to bring a new point of view to the reels. Something with personality, edge, and a bit more ambition. That’s still the core of what drives us today.”
Q: What lessons have you learned from your first few releases?
DG: “There is a real appetite for change. Each of the first four titles has pushed the limits in one way or another, whether that’s through their volatile gameplay or unique themes. Players have joined our movement because they want something different. They have become invested in our vision.
The biggest lesson we have learned is to trust our gut. Our games have taken some big risks thematically, and they have paid off. We are not here to play it safe.”
Q: Raiders Riches, Hacker’s Haven, Wild Gangs and Rave Riot are all distinctly different games: what ties them together?
DG: "Each title captures a different aspect of our bold creative process. Raider Riches blasts the player into the cosmos and is packed with highly volatile action. Hacker’s Haven is pure digital anarchy. Wild Gangs drops them in the middle of a violent turf war, and Rave Riot cranks the volume and fries the senses.
What links these games isn’t their individual themes; it’s their attitude. There is no compromise, just disruption.”
Q: How important is player feedback in your design process?
DG: “We are a studio that builds games by gamers, for gamers. We track what players love, where they drop off, and what features hit hardest. Players are tired of the current gaming landscape, and their experiences can help us shape our products.
Every DEGEN release should feel like an event. By democratising the creative process, we become a voice for the voiceless and a vessel for change. Players are the most important aspect of the gaming industry, and their needs have been ignored for too long. We are here to change that.”
Q: Can you give us any teasers about the upcoming themes DEGEN is going to explore?
DG: “We are keeping our cards close to our chest. What’s coming next is louder, bigger, and bolder than anything that has come before. We’re continuing to dial up the risk, lean into daring themes, and challenge players in new and explosive ways. If you thought our first four titles were exciting, you’ve seen nothing yet.”
