How The Outlast Trials Accidentally Became a Live Service Game

by

How The Outlast Trials Accidentally Became a Live Service Game

As a dedicated fan of The Outlast Trials, I’ve been thrilled to witness the game’s transformation into a live service title, all thanks to the unwavering support from its passionate community. In an unexpected turn of events, The Outlast Trials, initially planned as a modest co-op experience with a few Trials, has now become a full-fledged live service game.

In an exciting new update for The Outlast Trials, titled “Project Lupara,” players can now enjoy long-awaited features, a frightening new adversary and connected Trial, and an engaging roguelike gameplay mode. Additionally, fresh elements like a seasonal catalog without pressure to buy and daily tasks contribute to a unique live service model for cooperative PVE games, which has been positively received by the community.

In an interview with Game Rant, Alex Charbonneau, the director of The Outlast Trials at Red Barrels, shared that they hadn’t initially planned for the game to be a live service title. However, due to strong community enthusiasm, the team has adapted and now focuses on creating certain features specifically for this format.

The Outlast Trials Went Live Service By Popular Demand

I was thrilled when I first heard about the plans for The Outlast Trials, which aimed to offer a cooperative Outlast experience with only a few trials that could keep us engaged a few times a month. However, according to Charbonneau, players responded enthusiastically in surveys, revealing they played these nearly every day. This unexpected level of player engagement forced the team to reconsider their approach to delivering content for The Outlast Trials.

One point I’d like to make is that we never anticipated this would turn into a live-service title. The fact that we’re still here is solely due to the community’s requests. I enjoy being part of a game where developers continually update it, creating an ongoing dialogue. However, our initial plan was for a multiplayer game featuring around four or five Trials.

Two years ago during the closed beta testing, I realized with great clarity that we needed to enhance the game loop to keep players engaged and satisfied. The response was overwhelming as people were deeply connected to the game’s unique elements such as the absence of weapons and survival co-op mode. It’s an extraordinary concept on the market that truly resonates with players, so yes, we evolved into this game due to their unwavering demand for more of its distinctive features.

As a passionate gamer like you, I can understand how some of us are starting to feel overwhelmed by live service games that seem more focused on milking time and money from us rather than providing an enjoyable experience. Major studios are under immense financial pressure to create such games, which can leave gamers feeling drained. However, The Outlast Trials stands out as a refreshing exception in today’s industry. Instead of being driven by business interests, it is embracing this model solely for the sake of delivering an engaging and entertaining gameplay experience.

Project Lupara Is A Major Leap For The Outlast Trials

How The Outlast Trials Accidentally Became a Live Service Game

Charbonneau explains that the Project Lupara update brings us closer to having a functional live service gameplay experience, notably through its innovative task system. Players are encouraged to come back daily and weekly due to various tasks, which introduce new challenges. Additionally, this system could potentially be expanded with battle pass-style advancement if Red Barrels chooses that path.

Our players express strong desires to continue engaging with our game, sharing feedback such as “I feel uncomfortable when I’m not in the sleep room or my cell. I long to get back into the action.” Impressively, this niche game genre has captivated our audience, who seek daily and weekly returns. This isn’t driven by external business pressures, but rather from developers actively responding to community feedback. Players are eager for more content, ensuring a satisfying experience for all. I believe these new systems will be well-received.

An upgraded catalog system has been introduced, allowing players to effortlessly explore and obtain unlockable cosmetics. This new system is linked to the seasonal catalog that commences with Project Lupara. Rest assured, players will not experience any fear of missing out (FOMO) regarding the seasonal catalog, as items will not expire, much like in “Helldivers 2.” This development marks an exhilarating period for “Outlast” enthusiasts, making it a great moment for newcomers to dive into its chilling challenges.

Read More

2024-07-18 15:19