Degen Studios, the self-proclaimed maverick of slot development, has launched its latest high-stakes title, Covert Chaos. Throwing players into a relentless battle between the Anarchy Army and Chaos Control, the game is built on visible, explosive volatility from the first spin. We sat down with Danny Gordon, Head of Studio at Degen Studios, to dissect the philosophy behind this aggressive title.
In our exclusive interview, we explore the rival-factions theme, the head-to-head Expanding Multiplier Wilds that can stack up to 200x, and the three distinct Free Spins missions. Danny also reveals how this game embodies Degen’s core promise and what the disruptive studio has planned next.
We design volatility to be visible and active, not hidden behind long setups.
Gamingslots: Covert Chaos drops players into this unstable world of Anarchy Army vs Chaos Control on a 5×5 grid with 20 paylines. What drew your team to this rival-factions theme, and how does it pull players into the action from spin one?
Danny Gordon: We were interested in conflict as a mechanic, not just a backdrop. The idea of two factions fighting for control allowed us to build tension directly into the reels, where every spin feels contested rather than resolved. From the first spin, players can see that nothing is fixed – outcomes shift, control changes hands, and momentum can turn quickly. That instability sets the tone immediately and makes even base-game spins feel active rather than passive.
GS: As Head of Studio at the new DEGEN Studios, which promises loud, distinct high-volatility slots, what overarching approach guides your game development to deliver that bold style players can feel right away? How does Covert Chaos deliver on that promise?
DG: We design volatility to be visible and active, not hidden behind long setups. In Covert Chaos, Expanding Multiplier Wilds can land on any reel in the base game, expand instantly, and trigger battles with multipliers reaching up to 200x. Multiple Expanding Wilds can land in the same spin, with winning multipliers added together before being applied. That structure means players don’t need to wait for bonuses to feel risk – it’s present from spin one and escalates naturally as the grid fills with pressure points.
When multiple Expanding Wilds land, their winning multipliers stack, turning a single spin into a high-risk resolution rather than a predictable outcome.
GS: The base game revolves around Expanding Multiplier Wilds that trigger team battles with multipliers up to 200x. How does this head-to-head system change the feel of regular spins compared to standard Wild action?
DG: Standard Wilds tend to smooth out results. In Covert Chaos, Expanding Multiplier Wilds do the opposite. Every time one lands as part of a win, it expands to cover the reel and forces a head-to-head multiplier reveal. Because only the winning team’s multiplier applies, players aren’t just watching wins form – they’re watching control shift. When multiple Expanding Wilds land, their winning multipliers stack, turning a single spin into a high-risk resolution rather than a predictable outcome.
GS: When multiple Expanding Wilds land in one spin and their winning multipliers stack together, what’s that moment like for players chasing those bigger line payouts?
DG: Those spins are compressed moments of risk. Players can see the multipliers stacking, but they don’t know which side will win each battle until it resolves. When the results finally land, the payout isn’t incremental – it’s decisive. That stacking system creates sharp swings where one spin can completely change the session, which is exactly the kind of volatility this game is built to support.
GS: Three different Scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 each unlock a unique 10 Free Spins mission with distinct volatility styles. How do these give players real variety when bonuses finally hit?
DG: Each Scatter doesn’t just unlock Free Spins – it changes how pressure is applied. Advance Alpha focuses on movement and repositioning through the Wild Shift feature, Sniper’s Nest locks in Sticky Multiplier Wilds that grow or hold value over time, and Operation: New Dawn introduces a gamble before play even begins, where players can lose the feature entirely or extend it up to 20 spins. Because each mission has different rules around Wild behaviour and risk, players aren’t entering interchangeable bonuses – they’re entering distinct volatility models.
Players are constantly watching how each spin affects what comes next, which keeps tension high across all ten spins rather than peaking early.
GS: Snipers Nest locks in team Sticky Multiplier Wilds – one building +1x per extra Anarchy Wild, the other fixed at 5x for Chaos Control. How does watching those multipliers climb over the 10 spins keep players locked in?
DG: Sniper’s Nest is built around delayed payoff. The Anarchy Army Wild starts low and grows incrementally, while Chaos Control offers immediate value that doesn’t change. Because both Wilds remain locked for the entire feature, every additional Wild landing has future impact, not just instant effect. Players are constantly watching how each spin affects what comes next, which keeps tension high across all ten spins rather than peaking early.
Expect more player choice, more visible volatility, and fewer safety nets overall.
GS: With Covert Chaos now live, what can players look forward to from DEGEN Studios through 2026 and beyond?
DG: More games where mechanics define identity. We’ll continue building systems where outcomes aren’t guaranteed, where base games carry real risk, and where features behave differently depending on how they’re entered. Expect more player choice, more visible volatility, and fewer safety nets overall. The goal is consistency in how our games behave, not repetition in how they look or trigger.
Covert Chaos is now live at select online casinos.
