DeGen Rivals Ushers in User-Generated Content with ‘The Lab’

SAN FRANCISCO — March 10, 2026 — DeGen Rivals, a multiplayer vehicle battle royale, is expanding its creative possibilities with the introduction of “The Lab,” a latest feature allowing players to generate unique in-game avatars. This update follows a successful debut at Steam Next Fest.

What is DeGen Rivals?

DeGen Rivals is a kart-based action-arcade game developed by Look Mister, available on PC and mobile platforms. The game blends elements of Mario Kart and Fortnite, offering fast-paced party game modes like Battle Royale, Cops n’ Robbers, and Order Up for up to eight players [1]. A public demo launched at Steam Next Fest in February garnered significant interest, and the full free-to-play version is scheduled for release in April.

Introducing ‘The Lab’

The Lab introduces a user-generated content (UGC) mechanic that allows players to create customized avatars, known as “DeGens.” Instead of being limited to pre-made options, players can combine “DNA Traits” – including items like hamburgers, cats, pizza, and zombies – in countless combinations [2]. The resulting avatars are intentionally quirky, and unpredictable.

The Lab was initially previewed at Twitchcon 2025, receiving positive feedback from gamers.

AI’s Role in Creation

According to Josh Hassin, creator of DeGen Rivals, the game does not rely on generative AI for core art assets. “We have a team of 3D artists that produce our levels, vehicles, and other game assets by hand,” Hassin explained. “This UGC component is the only part of our game that uses Generative AI. It gives players a fun and unique way to experiment and create custom assets that are unique to them and their personalities and tastes.”

Hassin acknowledges that the AI-generated results aren’t intended to be “human quality.” The goal of The Lab is to encourage experimentation and create amusing, unique avatars. “It is an on-demand, custom-made, kind of ugly-looking little dude that you can generate uniquely for yourself on-demand. If you get a laugh out of your DeGen, we’ve done our job.”

Looking Ahead

DeGen Rivals will be showcased at the GDC Festival of Games alongside partner Tripo AI at Booth #1141. The game is set to launch on Steam in April.

DeGen Rivals is dropping in 2026 for PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android [3].

For inquiries, contact Philip Harker at phil@degenrivals.com or visit degenrivals.com for more information.

Wishlist DeGen Rivals on Steam.