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“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
By Danny Gordon, Head of Studio, DEGEN Studios
There’s a moment every creator hits where the safe option stops being an option at all. For me, that moment came after nearly a decade in iGaming, building games across Microgaming, Entain, Vertical Games and Four Leaf Gaming. I’ve seen the best of what this industry can do, but I’ve also seen how often we fall back on what’s familiar. And players feel that. They’re the first to call out when something looks the same, spins the same, and plays the same.
That’s why DEGEN caught my attention long before I ever stepped through the door.
DEGEN isn’t just another studio trying to grab a slice of the market. It’s a brand with a pulse: unfiltered, player-first, and built around the belief that slot games can push further creatively than they currently do. The energy here is different. It’s raw, it’s intentional, and it refuses to play by the usual rules.
Joining DEGEN as Head of Studio wasn’t a career move. It was a creative challenge. The studio already had momentum, with games that refused to sit quietly in a lobby. But what really stood out was the mission: disruption, not for shock value, but because the industry needs it. Players are more self-aware than ever. They know what’s recycled and what’s real. They want adrenaline, unpredictability, worlds with personality, and they want to feel like the people building these games actually get them.
At DEGEN, that’s the starting point. We’re a team of gamers first, developers second. We’ve lived inside games our whole lives, which means we understand what players look for before a mechanic is even built. Our process isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about designing from the inside out. How does it hit? How does it feel? What makes it worth coming back to?
That’s the question that sits at the centre of every conversation we have.
My philosophy revolves around collaboration and freedom. I’ve never believed that creativity thrives in a hierarchy. The best ideas in my career have come from unexpected places: from artists, analysts, testers, anyone willing to throw something risky on the table and defend it. DEGEN works the same way. Everyone here has a voice, and the result is a creative environment where concepts evolve fast, get stress-tested hard, and emerge sharper every time.
It’s the ideal birthplace for innovation, especially at a time when the industry is at a crossroads.
Right now, we’re seeing a lot of polished content, but not nearly enough bravery. Studios understand what performs, so they iterate on the familiar. It makes commercial sense, but it also creates a vacuum, a sameness that players feel instantly. And that’s where the opportunity is. High-stakes, high-energy content is underserved. There’s a gap for experiences that take risks, break rhythm, and pull players into brand-new worlds that feel alive.
And if you look at player behaviours today, it’s clear they’re not just searching for entertainment, they’re looking for something to identify with. That’s where the idea of building not just games, but a movement, becomes powerful. Give players something with purpose, with edge, with identity, and they’ll choose to be part of it.
That’s the space DEGEN is stepping into with intent.
We’re going all-in on volatility and on identity-driven themes that bring genuine edge into the slot experience. Whether we’re building digital anarchy, turf wars, underground rave scenes or cosmic chaos, the throughline is always the same: make it bold, make it memorable and make sure it has something to say.
When I look ahead, what excites me most isn’t just the games themselves, it’s the mindset behind them. We’re exploring how DEGEN’s point of view can shape not only what we create, but how we create it. That means refining processes, encouraging braver ideas, and building an environment where identity fuels innovation. The industry is moving fast, and the studios that truly understand who they are, and design from that place, will be the ones that stand out.
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