Den of Wolves GDC 2025 Preview: Hands-On Experience with the Heist Gameplay

Introduction to Den of Wolves: A New Era in Heist Gaming

Unveiled at The Game Awards 2023, Ulf Andersson steps into the limelight as a director with his newly established studio, which evolved from his work on the acclaimed PAYDAY and PAYDAY 2.

A Neo-Futuristic Corporate Landscape

Set in a meticulously crafted world, Den of Wolves embraces a neo-futuristic theme where megacorporations hold significant power, eclipsing individual identities and ruling society. While you won’t encounter overtly recognizable brands like Weyland-Yutani or Arasaka Corp, the corporate overlords in Den of Wolves echo that same sentiment. The narrative unfolds in Midway City, a corporate utopia nestled in the mid-Pacific, strategically outside the reach of both legal jurisdictions and advanced AI networks. Within this setting arises a groundbreaking concept: human brains functioning as cold storage for data, reminiscent of the science fiction classic Johnny Mnemonic.

Gameplay Experience: The Heist Mechanism

During a two-mission preview, the challenge of conveying the intricacies of brain-jacking—where players extract secrets directly from a target’s mind—was palpable. Yet, the team at 10 Chambers provided a comprehensive onboarding experience that eased players into the core mechanics of the heists. The initial mission served as a preparatory task, requiring team members to penetrate a series of interconnected rooms secured by vault doors. Each space necessitated regrouping before advancing, a design reminiscent of their previous title GTFO, serving as both an homage and a core gameplay loop.

This initial phase consisted of navigating through a series of half-destructed rooms, each populated by guards and armed adversaries, as we scavenged loot bags for extraction. The perpetual threat of enemy reinforcements added a layer of tension and urgency. I quickly learned that these preparatory missions mandate teamwork; if even one team member falls, the entire operation’s success is jeopardized. My miscalculated attempt to grab an additional loot bag led to my unfortunate downfall, as a wave of guards descended upon my teammates, thwarting our escape.

Mission Two: The Vault Heist

By contrast, our second mission unfolded with relative ease. We launched into a structured vault-busting adventure, where we could customize our loadouts and equip new tools like turrets or shields. However, I noted a lack of character customization options—unlike the abundant mask selection in earlier PAYDAY entries, our choices felt limited in this preview.

Our team split into pairs to tackle different sections of the bank vaults, methodically drilling into safes to gather loot before making our way to the extraction point through a stunning glass window. A few guards posed minimal barriers, only to increase in number as we transitioned into the game’s unique brain-dive mechanic.

Diving into the Mind: Unexpected Challenges

What followed was a startling transformation of gameplay; in the midst of the chaos, our team was thrust into the mind of our target, where we faced a 3D parkour challenge. This unexpected twist required players to traverse a rapidly shifting environment, presenting a dynamic blend of agility and teamwork—only one player needed to successfully navigate this gauntlet. However, relying on a single individual can be precarious, and I quickly realized the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure mission success.

After successful brain dives, we were propelled back into the ongoing shootouts, continuing our heist before repeating the brain-jacking process multiple times to extract crucial data.

Final Thoughts: A Promising Future for Heist Enthusiasts

In contrast to GTFO, Den of Wolves appears to align more closely with what fans anticipate from heist-based gameplay, though the title does face challenges, such as refining enemy AI responsiveness and enhancing the feel of gunplay. Nevertheless, for those eagerly seeking their next cooperative heist adventure, Andersson and his team exhibit a strong understanding of the genre’s demands. This exciting title is currently expected to launch as a PC exclusive, although a specific release date has yet to be announced.

Hotel and travel accommodations were provided by the publisher.

Source & Images