Imagine Payday meets Cyberpunk 2077 – that’s exactly what Den of Wolves promises! The creative minds behind the first two Payday games are back with a new project and they’ve upped the ante: high-tech heists, dystopian megacities and risky dives into neural networks. But is that enough to trump the competition?
What makes the game special, why it has been a long time coming, and whether it could become the next big co-op highlight – find out all this and more here!
Story & Setting: Welcome to Midway City
Den of Wolves takes you to the megacity of Midway City in the year 2035 – a city of corporate intrigue, cyber surveillance and deadly heists. After devastating AI cyberattacks, Midway City was established as a high-security zone, but behind the shiny facade, a dark underworld is brewing. Here you take on the role of an elite criminal who fights his way through high-tech heists, industrial espionage and daring dives into neural networks with his team.
The highlight? The classic heists you know from Payday are combined with futuristic gameplay elements. Instead of just cracking safes, you have to penetrate networks, extract valuable data and proceed strategically while on the run from security forces. A new dimension of co-op gameplay awaits you!
Gameplay & Features: More than just another heist shooter
In terms of gameplay, Den of Wolves relies on a mixture of tactical team play, intense firefights and innovative hacking mechanics. Before you start a heist, you have to plan it meticulously: What equipment do you need? Do you go in directly or do you sneak your way into the target? What information do you still need? The game expands on the well-known heist formula with preparation missions in which you can obtain equipment or sabotage security precautions.
Another highlight: the so-called “dives”. You dive into a neural network and have to overcome obstacles under time pressure – a mixture of jump’n’run and puzzle mechanics. But be careful: one wrong move and your team is trapped. The action already feels powerful, especially the weapon handling is convincing with a full sound and realistic recoil.
Development & expectations: will it be the new co-op hit?
The game is the work of 10 Chambers, the studio that already caused a stir with GTFO Founded by the creative minds behind Payday 1 & 2, they are returning to their roots with Den of Wolves. Fans are excited – but their patience is being put to the test. That’s because a release date has not yet been announced. According to the developers, the game will only be released when it is truly finished. Can it dethrone Payday 2? That remains to be seen.
So far, it has been confirmed that Den of Wolves will be released for PC. However, there are indications that console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S could follow. Official confirmations are still pending, but given the success of Payday on consoles, it would come as no surprise.
Den of Wolves promises to be a fresh take on the heist genre. But is it enough to stand up to the twelve-year-old co-op king Payday 2? For more info on the game, check out the official website
