2023 saw the announcement of “Exoborne,” an upcoming action game in the extraction shooter genre, developed by Sharkmob. This intriguing title is set in a distinct alternate timeline where players delve into a perplexing conflict. The innovative twist on the extraction shooter genre, featuring a dynamic environment and a world that evolves over time, piqued our curiosity enough to ask the developers some questions. Narrative director and co-founder of the studio, Martin Hultberg, provided us with several intriguing responses.
Given the increasing number of extraction shooter games being released lately, what makes Exoborne unique among its competitors?
We’re big fans of shooting games, particularly those with high stakes, such as extraction shooters. Some of us were even involved in developing one of the earliest games featuring an extraction mode, Tom Clancy’s The Division. In my opinion, what sets Exoborne apart is a blend of factors – it’s not just one specific element that makes it special. The game offers a distinctive experience due to its integration of dynamically changing natural forces affecting gameplay, seamless movement, and the Exo-Rigs. As far as I’m aware, there isn’t anything quite like it in the high-risk/high-reward shooter genre.
In other multiplayer games, forces of nature such as storms and tornadoes are present to some extent. However, no game has integrated them to the same depth as we have. These natural disasters significantly influence and modify a gaming session, compelling players to adjust their strategies quickly due to unforeseen circumstances. The quote “No plan survives contact with the enemy” is particularly relevant when a firenado threatens your extraction point!
In Bloodhunt, Sharkmobs’ debut game, I got a taste of the traversal system they experimented with. Now, we’ve refined that initial experience, incorporating valuable lessons to create a seamless traversal system that excels in both vertical and horizontal dimensions. This empowers me to maneuver tactically, make use of wind currents, cover long distances using the glider, grapple onto cliff faces or rooftops, and so much more. With the exo-rigs protecting me from fall damage, I can unleash my creativity and pull off daring moves that would otherwise be impossible.
After that, the Exo-Rigs serve as the fundamental structure for any Exoborne combatant. Essentially, they function as a versatile base for movement, weaponry, and skills, enabling you to shape your own playstyle. By customizing it with unique abilities, combining them with special talents, and selecting the firearms of your preference, you can either optimize it for specific scenarios, become a generalist, or take on a specialized role within your three-person squad.
“It is a mobility, weapon and abilities platform allowing you to create the playstyle you want.”
How often can players expect to run into other players in a general outing in Exoborne?
In the game ‘Exoborne’, the player interactions are created to be varied and uncertain, influenced by the game’s distinctive elements. The timing of these interactions is significant, and we carefully assess it in every playtest we conduct, both past and future. It’s hard to specify an exact occurrence rate because this depends on numerous factors. For instance, players might opt to stay near the map edges for scavenging or deliberately steer clear of high-risk zones during a specific gameplay session. Even the natural environment can affect how often players cross paths. On a clear day, you may spot enemies from afar, but if fog sets in and your equipment doesn’t allow for detection, you might have to adjust your strategy and retreat.
The main point is that potential peril in player versus player (PvP) interactions is an ongoing concern. Furthermore, the unpredictable nature of the game world and the Forces of Nature make certain that each confrontation offers a fresh challenge, so no two encounters are ever identical.
What kinds of meaningful progression can we expect from Exoborne?
The advancement of Exoborne predominantly revolves around your Exo-Rig and the player community. Each serves distinct roles, with advancements achieved by completing tasks, discovering valuable items, successfully extracting them, and so forth. Various activities contribute to your progression, and even in the event of death, you can expect some form of reward. The long-term progression is essential as it maintains a high level of risk in each session. We’ve found that games like this necessitate the risk of losing everything during a raid, while ensuring players feel their time hasn’t been wasted and they’ve gained nothing if they have no rewards to show for it.
Will there be things aside from scavenged loot and weapons that players can find in the world?
Absolutely! Alongside salvaged loot and weapons, the game Exoborne offers a variety of other valuable items scattered throughout the game world. Each item enhances the thrilling, high-stakes gameplay experience. One of the most significant finds is Artifacts, which can hide exceptional loot such as mods that unlock novel abilities for your Exo-Rig. These artifacts are tiered, with the highest-tier artifacts making you visible on the map to all other players. This sets up an engaging risk-reward scenario: while these powerful artifacts could yield substantial rewards, they also make you a target, causing players to carefully consider the risks and potential benefits of carrying them.
A significant feature is Data Pieces, which can be found across various regions. Gathering these pieces is crucial for accessing vital locations such as Rebirth Sites or special containers, enhancing the gameplay with an extra dimension of strategy and development. Players will need to weigh the risks and benefits, deciding whether to pursue these data pieces potentially leading to conflict or prioritize other tasks.
Moreover, the map contains various details that enhance the storyline and world creation. These background stories enrich the player’s comprehension of the Exoborne universe, making exploration more engaging and providing additional context.
Besides scavenged treasures and weaponry, Exoborne also offers a variety of other beneficial items for players to discover across the game world.
Are there any plans for a potential PvE-only mode in Exoborne?
At present, our focus lies on an interactive mode that combines Player versus Player (PvP) and Player versus Environment (PvE). These aspects complement and necessitate each other to create a suspenseful, exhilarating atmosphere. As for the future, only time will tell!
What kinds of special abilities will players be able to use with the Exo-Rig?
In the game Exoborne, all actions are dependent on your loadout, essentially defining who you are based on what you have equipped. By incorporating mods into your Exo-Rig, you gain access to a diverse array of abilities. These include essential items like frag grenades, as well as thrilling and wide-ranging skills that engage with the Elemental Forces.
For instance, certain passive abilities can provide advantages in harsh weather situations, such as rendering you invulnerable to lightning strikes during storms and enabling you to move unhindered when others must seek shelter. Moreover, you might also develop the ability to utilize lightning actively, transforming it into an offensive tool to electrify your adversaries.
Even seemingly harmless conditions such as heavy fog can be advantageously utilized with the appropriate Exo-Rig modification. Under such circumstances, you can tag enemies for yourself and your team, enabling you to approach or take them out stealthily or from afar before they become aware of your presence, thereby securing an upper hand.
Transforming yourself to suit these evolving surroundings, and harnessing the power of nature’s forces to gain an edge, introduces an extraordinary dimension of tactical intrigue and thrill into conflict situations.
How has the response been for the Exoborne playtests?
Our team prioritizes a “community-focused” approach, which translates to frequent and early testing. Although our upcoming significant online tests mark the first for us, we’ve already conducted numerous smaller ones in preparation. The nature of feedback can vary based on the project stage, but we are particularly excited about the feedback from this playtest, as it features our most developed and extensive build so far.
“Even less dangerous elements, like heavy fog, can be leveraged with the right Exo-Rig mod.”
As a game developer, I’d be interested in hearing about the upcoming PS5 Pro. Can you explain how an upgrade in GPU power benefits your game development process when compared to the standard PS5?
Just as any enthusiast would do when discovering a fresh piece of tech, I’m eagerly considering how we might harness this new tool for our beloved game. At the moment, I can’t disclose the specifics, but rest assured that my teams are tirelessly delving into its possibilities. Keep your eyes peeled, as there are exciting updates on the horizon!
What are your thoughts on PSSR? What kind of opportunities will this open for the game?
At this point, we’re not able to disclose any specifics, but rest assured, we’re keeping an open mind about ways to make the game even better. We’ll keep you informed with further details as they become available.
Do you have plans to launch the game on Nintendo Switch 2?
Given how hot off the press this announcement is, we think it’s too early to say.
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2025-02-17 20:12