As a long-time fan of Battle Royale games, I have to admit that my heart skipped a beat when I heard about Project ARC, the new 5v5 shooter from PUBG Studios. With its top-down perspective and real-time elements, it feels like a fresh breath of air in a genre dominated by hero shooters.
Krafton and PUBG Studios are aiming to introduce a new contender in the 5v5 shooter genre, but with a unique twist as it differentiates from the hero shooters currently trending. Coming from PUBG Studios, Project ARC is an innovative top-down shooter that incorporates real-time features, positioning itself to possibly claim a share of the market.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) isn’t as dominant as it used to be, but it continues to wield significant influence. As per Steam Charts, roughly 500,000 players engage with the game daily, without considering console users. Moreover, PUBG Mobile has achieved remarkable success. Despite its current status, there’s an opportunity for something fresh—a chance for PUBG Studios to leverage their experience and introduce something completely new. In a recent online preview event, Game Rant had a glimpse of Project ARC, and it appears to deliver on that promise, even in its early stages. During the event, two teams—one comprised of developers and another consisting of journalists—competed across five matches, sampling various maps and game modes.
Project ARC, The Follow-Up To PUBG, Has A Lot Going For It
Project ARC Already Has Some Essential Beats Down
Initially, the style of play in Project ARC seems similar to other top-down shooters like Helldivers or Neon Chrome. However, unlike many games in this genre that limit movement, Project ARC incorporates a unique highlighted-trajectory feature and allows for crouching and jumping, making full use of the three-dimensional space. This results in a more dynamic gameplay experience, even with quick kill times, ensuring that each brief match remains strategic and engaging.
Regarding Project ARC, it’s not like typical games that consume your time unnecessarily. During the gameplay session, we were scheduled to play roughly three matches, with an extra one if there was spare time. Surprisingly, we completed it in just 30 minutes instead of the projected 45. This is a distinctive feature that sets it apart from other 5v5 shooters such as Overwatch 2. However, it’s important to note that Project ARC isn’t marketed as a rival but has elements that are reminiscent of Shadow Assault: Tenchu. Yet, Project ARC surpasses the simplicity of a minigame collection, offering much more depth and complexity.
It’s remarkable to see how well-developed the initial version of Project ARC turned out to be, considering it was created by a team of just under 15 developers. The team behind ARC has done an impressive job pulling everything together. Although some parts of the user interface had a provisional feel and a few features are still incomplete (one developer hinted that a character with a toxic gas special ability will, in future updates, gain immunity to their own attack), a significant portion of the gameplay felt ready for release. The map and character design are refined and unique, and the game offers a good range of features.
One area where the depth is especially evident is in the map design. Our press team was consistently undone by the developer team, with map knowledge being the big upper hand brought by their experience. Map design is also a major part of ARC‘s ‘Demolition’ mode, one of the game’s two major modes (the other being Team Deathmatch). This mode sees one team try to place and protect a decrypter to hack into a ‘Crypt’ device, all while the other team tries to protect said device. One developer compared the mode to Counter-Strike during the event, and the similarities are certainly evident.
How Project ARC Can Fit Into An Incredibly Competitive Shooter Landscape
In addition to Production Director Seungmyeong Yang and Development Lead Yeongho Kim, the objectives behind Project ARC were emphasized. When inquired about the game’s strategy for thriving in the highly competitive 5v5 shooter genre, these professionals underscored the unique attributes of Project ARC compared to other top-down shooters. As they stated, “The game integrates rapid-fire, lifelike shooting dynamics with the tactical dimensions afforded by the top-down perspective,” a blend that I certainly noticed while playing.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that when a fresh IP enters the competitive shooter scene, it’s crucial not only to have a solid game concept but also to manage its monetization effectively. Unfortunately, Concord faced challenges in this area as its combination of upfront cost and microtransactions made it less attractive compared to free-to-play games. When I questioned them about this, they mentioned that they are considering both free-to-play and paid models for the game.
All in all, Project ARC is brimming with possibilities. In its preliminary stage, the game already shows a high level of polish in its title, and it possesses essential elements that could not only attract major players but also establish itself as part of the esports scene. PUBG Studios aims to launch it in early access by 2025, and it seems well-equipped to meet that timeline.
Regarding Project ARC, the method it chooses for monetization will be crucial, as it has been decisive for numerous games this year. Adding more character classes, maps, and potentially new game modes would also enhance the overall experience and maximize its strong foundations. Predicting how closely ARC will resemble PUBG is challenging, but its innovative approach and unique concept are undeniably commendable.
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2024-11-08 18:33