Outriders (video game)

Outriders is an upcoming cooperative role-playing third-person developed by People Can Fly and published by Square Enix's European subisidary. It is set to be released on April 1, 2021 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. It will also release on Stadia later in 2021.[1]

Outriders
Developer(s)People Can Fly
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Director(s)Bartosz Kmita
Writer(s)Joshua Rubin
Composer(s)Inon Zur
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
ReleasePC, PS4, PS5, XONE, XSX/S
  • WW: April 1, 2021
Stadia
  • WW: 2021
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Outriders is a third-person shooter mixed with elements from role-playing games. In the beginning of the game, players create their custom characters and choose from four classes, each of them has unique abilities that the players can utilize.[2] The four classes include Trickster, which has the ability to manipulate time, the Pyromancer, which can manipulate fire, the Devastator, which can unleash seismic attacks, and the Technomancer.[3] These special skills have a short cooldown time and can be combined with other skills for maximum effects. The game features a skill tree that allows players to unlock and upgrade their skills.[4]

Players can use different weapons such as shotguns and assault rifles to defeat enemies, and firearms can be customized with weapon mods.[5] Players can hide behind cover to shield themselves from enemy attacks, though health will only regenerate if the player manages to hurt or kill enemies.[4] Players combat both monsters and human enemies. As the player progresses, the world level (the game's equivalent to gameplay difficulty) will increase. If the world level is high, it is more likely for the player to get high-end loot from dropped by defeated enemies.[3]

The game incorporates various role-playing elements. As the players explore, they can explore different hub areas, talk to non-playable characters and complete side missions. In cutscenes a dialogue tree allows to decide the outcome of some conversations, though it does not affect the story's progression. The game can be played solo, but players can also complete the game together with two other players.[6]

Premise

Humanity's efforts to colonize the alien planet, Enoch, went astray as the expedition team encountered a massive energy storm, known as "The Anomaly", during their search for a mysterious signal—which may indicate hope for humanity's future. The storm grants both Enoch's inhabitants and the colonists superpowers.[3]

Development

Polish developer People Can Fly started Outriders's development in 2015.[7] Square Enix agreed to publish it and encouraged the team to expand on their vision. To develop the game, People Can Fly expanded the studio from having 40 members to more than 200 members.[3] Outriders's gameplay reveal caused critics to compare the game to other live service games such as Destiny and Tom Clancy's The Division, though People Can Fly affirmed that Outriders is not a live service title and that it was a game that players can "start and finish". The game was designed with cooperative gameplay in mind, though the team put a lot of emphasis in writing the game's story, with the lead writer Joshua Rubin comparing it to Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness.[8] The game's narrative features a much more serious tone than Bulletstorm as the studio wanted to prove that it can also write a mature story.[3][9]

On May 16, 2018, Square Enix announced that they would publish the next title from People Can Fly.[10] Announced at E3 2019,[11] the game is set to be released for Stadia, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X on April 1, 2021, after being delayed from its late 2020 timeline due to impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]

References
  1. "In case you missed it, #Outriders will release February 2, 2021 with Full Cross Play Support on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC (Steam & Epic). Coming to Stadia later in 2021". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  2. LeBouef, Sarah (February 13, 2020). "Bulletstorm devs are making a Mass Effect-style shooter, and it's pretty good". Polygon. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  3. "Blazing a New Trail". Game Informer. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. Kelly, Rosh (February 20, 2020). "Outriders: Everything we know about People Can Fly's newest shooter". Red Bull. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  5. Hornshaw, Phil (February 18, 2020). "Outriders Is An Aggressive Blend Of Gears Of War Shooting And Mass Effect-Like Powers". GameSpot. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  6. Wales, Matt (February 14, 2020). "Bulletstorm dev shares first gameplay details of co-op sci-fi Outriders". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  7. Mercante, Alyssa (February 11, 2020). "Wild new Outriders trailer confirms the RPG shooter is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X". GamesRadar. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. Bailey, Kat (February 13, 2020). ""Outriders Isn't Games as Service:" People Can Fly on What Makes Their Next-Gen Shooter "Old-School"". USgamer. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  9. Billcliffe, James (February 13, 2020). ""Brutal approach" to Outriders' sci-fi universe in People Can Fly's DNA". VG 247. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  10. Fogel, Stephanie (May 16, 2018). "Video Game Developer People Can Fly Working on New 'AAA Shooter' With Square Enix". Variety. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  11. Brown, Fraser (June 11, 2019). "Outriders is a co-op sci-fi shooter from the creators of Bulletstorm". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  12. Bankhurst, Adam (February 12, 2020). "Square Enix's Outriders Coming Holiday 2020, PS5 and Xbox Series X Versions Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  13. Frech, Ricky (October 8, 2020). "Outriders Gets a February 2, 2021 Release Date". DualShockers. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
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