Following previous releases such as Hacker's Haven and Raider Riches, DEGEN Studios released a new slot at the beginning of the year: Sunset Showdown. It is a relatively young studio, but one that has impressed us time and time again with its releases, applying interesting mechanics and gameplay to its games. We were therefore curious to hear more about this wild west adventure, so we contacted Danny Gordon, Head of Studio at DEGEN Studios, to find out more about this release.
Sunset Showdown has a very strong Wild West theme. What was the concept behind this theme, and why was it so appropriate for DEGEN?
DG: Sunset Showdown was designed to be interesting rather than pretty. From the outset, we wanted a game where the excitement would build up and then happen at any moment. We are interested in games where there is room for the game to breathe and bite at the same time. The Wild West theme gave us the space to do this without toning down the game and explaining it too much.
What type of gamer does Sunset Showdown appeal to?
DG: This game isn’t for casual gamers. Sunset Showdown is for gamers who want the volatility and understand the trade-offs. It is for gamers who want the excitement of the unknown and understand the stakes are high and the reward is substantial.
DEGEN players don’t want to be led through a game; they want experiences that are felt, unexpected, and even awkward at times. Sunset Showdown is decidedly on the side of this experience. If you enjoy games where the pace of a game can shift at any time, then this game is for you.
How does Sunset Showdown stand out from other Wild West slots games available in the market?
DG: Most Wild West slots games rely heavily on nostalgia and storytelling. However, we’ve deliberately chosen to move away from this approach. Instead, we’ve chosen to allow the world to influence gameplay.
The mechanisms are not simply tacked on in addition to the theme; they are instead motivated by it. Wild Showdown is constantly applying pressure in the background, and this is much more in line with the concept of a standoff than mechanisms that have an immediate hit could ever be. It is the relationship between the world and the mechanisms that is the key difference here, not simply the way it looks, but also the way it feels.
Wild Showdown is a very important part of the game, and what does it add from the player's point of view?
DG: Wild Showdown fundamentally changes the pace. Players are always aware that something is coming, but they are never quite sure when it is going to be released. That is, in fact, the point.
When everything is happening at once, it's a decisive moment. It's the moments DEGEN players are looking for: powerful swings, results happening fast, and the game turning on its head in a single spin. Wild Showdown isn't there to mitigate the experience; it's there to add pressure.
How does Sunset Showdown fit into DEGEN's overall creative direction?
DG: It's a great example of our approach to game development. We don't start from a list of features or a trends report. We start from a world and then build everything else from there.
Sunset Showdown is all about volatility, pressure, and disruption because the world demands it. It's where DEGEN is going creatively as a studio. We want to make games that feel cohesive and intentional and unapologetically bold.
We would like to thank Danny Gordon, Head of Studio, DEGEN Studios, for participating in this interview and wish the studio the best of luck with this game release.
