Why Wildgate Ditches the Hero Shooter Label to Redefine Gameplay for Explorers

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For the past year or so, the hero shooter genre has seen an influx of new games such as Marvel Rivals and FragPunk, with established favorites like Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 still going strong. The upcoming releases from Valve’s Deadlock and 2K and 31st Union’s Project ETHOS only add to this trend. The genre’s popularity is evident and growing, making it no surprise that more heroes would join the fray. However, it was unexpected to find out that Moonshot Games and Dreamhaven’s Wildgate isn’t a hero shooter.

As a diehard fan, I’ve often found myself likening Wildgate to Sea of Thieves in outer space, but its character design aligns beautifully with the hero shooter genre. In every match, we embody a Prospector, each unique in their skills. Yet, these skills deviate from the usual passive/tactical/ultimate structure common in hero shooters, and they’re not as powerful or game-defining as typical hero shooters. Instead, these skills enhance the way I strategize and play the Prospector. Recently, I had a fascinating conversation with Jason Chayes, head of Moonshot Games, and Dustin Browder, co-founder, about Wildgate’s Prospectors, shedding light on why the game didn’t ultimately become a hero shooter.

New Miners are cordially invited to take part in our Wildgate Community Sneak Peek Game Test between April 10-14. For further information, please visit our official site.

To start with, it’s crucial to note that the game Wildgate has been in production for five years, during which time the gaming landscape has significantly evolved. Hero shooter games were prevalent and well-received at the time of development, yet the team was not primarily focused on market trends. As Browder stated, “We weren’t concerned about the market. We didn’t know what the market desired or required. Our aim was simply to create interesting content and hope for the best.”

Moreover, a key aspect of Wildgate‘s characters is that they are not heroes. Unlike superheroes, who embody their weapons and powers and are usually prepared for combat, these explorers are more about discovery rather than readiness for battle. Browder further explained this by saying,

In our design, we aimed to make “The Reach” seem both intimidatingly powerful and unsettling, while making our characters, the “Prospectors,” feel somewhat insignificant and ill-prepared for this hazardous environment. We didn’t want them to embody superhero qualities…Superheroes usually possess a single set of tools, which defines their identity. Instead, our explorers would adapt to various roles, switching between them frequently based on their requirements.

In essence, the characters known as Prospectors in the game aren’t like superheroes; they are explorers instead. This means that the gameplay should reflect this explorer aspect, not having overpowered Ultimates or locking them into a single kit. The game Wildgate offers a bit of a change here because players have more control over customizing their characters compared to most hero shooters. For instance, in traditional hero shooters, only one hero is allowed per team outside of Limited Time Modes (LTMs). In Wildgate, however, all players can pick the same Prospector if they wish. They can also equip Sammo with any weapons, gear, and so on that they prefer, while also enhancing their ship and acquiring additional weapons/gear during a Wildgate match.

In the game Wildgate, debates and questions about role-playing, common in hero shooters, are eliminated. Unlike other games like Marvel Rivals, where team-up abilities can favor certain heroes with specific tanks, supports, or DPS characters based on the current meta, there are no roles in Wildgate. Instead, players can customize their characters to fit their preferred playstyle as each Prospector specializes in areas like ship defense, loot manipulation, boarding, repairing, or a combination. Chayes explains this approach succinctly: there is synergy, but it’s not overpowering or controversial.

Our aim has been to offer a variety of playstyles within Wildgate. Instead of calling it a ‘hero shooter’, we’ve referred to it as a ‘hero builder’. Essentially, this means that the choices you make for your equipment significantly impact the way matches will unfold.

Instead of fretting over class assignments, team compositions, or character skills, players can choose their preferred weapons, gear, and characters for a journey into the treacherous Typhon Reach. Here, they won’t be superheroes with all-purpose powers but rather adventurers who must swiftly adapt to any unforeseen circumstances they encounter.

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2025-04-08 18:14