PC Gamer - USA (January 2020)

HARDWARE BUYER’S GUIDE INSIDE! EDITION

NORTH
AMERICAN




















RIOT VS





BLIZZARD EXCLUSIVE







LOL DEV THROWS

DOWN THE GAUNTLET IS THIS THE

MOST REALISTIC
SHOOTER EVER?










HUGE INTERVIEW



























FORGE YOUR BLOODLINE AND


RULE THE MEDIEVAL WORLD









HARDWARE CD PROJEKT
RAM




RATED INTERVIEW





TOP SIX BEST THE MAKING OF

PICKS INSIDE ISSUE 326 THE WITCHER 3’S CIRI





WELC OME




“INVITING YOU TO FULLY EMBODY


THE LIFE OF A MEDIEVAL RULER” # 3 2 6 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0



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Specialist in avenues to discover and express not just your
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@robinlvalentine
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4 JANUARY 2020



Contents #326 SUBSCRIBE TO




JANUARY 2020

Check out our
digital bundle!
SEE p36
30






















Monitor

08 THE TOP STORY

Blizzard makes a blunder.
10 ROUND-UP
Riot announcements, Steam
innovations, and more.
12 SPECIAL REPORT
Exploring the ins and outs of Steam’s
smart new redesign.
14 CHARACTER SHEET
The Witcher 3’s Ciri in profile.
Previews


18 Legends of Runeterra

22 Unto the End
24 Star Renegades
26 Surviving the Aftermath

Features



30 Crusader Kings III
The grand strategy sequel puts
role-playing at the forefront.
38 Safe Rooms
The design tricks behind gaming’s
islands of calm.
44 Squad
How real veterans have helped shape
the year’s most realistic shooter.



14 18 30 38



LEGENDS OF CRUSADER SAFE ROOMS

RUNETERRA KINGS III What’s the key to a good
videogame safe room? We chat to
We go hands-on with Riot’s entry The game’s director lets us in on the developers behind Resident
into the already stuffed CCG the sequel’s grand plans—from Evil 2, Rain World, and Vermintide
space. Can it compete? dynasties to cannibalism. to find out.



6

38




Reviews



52 Disco Elysium
56 Afterparty

58 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
60 Destiny 2: Shadowkeep
64 Indivisible

66 John Wick Hex
18 68 Ghost Recon Breakpoint


72 Magic: The Gathering Arena
74 Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind

76 GRID
78 The Outer Worlds

THEY’RE BACK
80 Hotline Miami
81 Gone Home

81 Crossing Souls
81 Outdrive

81 Monaco: What’s Yours
is Mine

Extra Life


82 NOW PLAYING
44 Is Windows Game Bar a game?
86 UPDATE
The Sims 4 gets magical.
88 MOD SPOTLIGHT
Customizable quests in Fallout 4.
54 92 HOW TO
Getting started in Destiny 2.
94 REINSTALL
Revisiting sci-fi classic System Shock.
98 WHY I LOVE
Session’s simulated skating.
100 MUST PLAY
Tyler Wilde shares his list.

102 Hardware


102 GROUP TEST
The best RAM around.
44 54 102 106 TECH REPORT

New Wi-Fi tech explained.
SQUAD DISCO ELYSIUM RAM RATED 108 BUYER’S GUIDE
Build your perfect PC.
We go behind the scenes on a A surprise game of the year From cheap and cheerful to bling-
shooter so realistic that it contender arrives in our midst, encrusted, we’ve tested the best
recreates not just the action, but telling an alt-history detective RAM on the market to bring you
the logistics of war. Who knew story that will change the way you our definitive guide. Treat yourself
hauling ammo could be fun? look at RPGs forever. to an upgrade.




JANUARY 2020 7

SNOWSTORM






BLIZZARD suspends pro player for Hong Kong protest, as China’s grip tightens



ctivision Blizzard isn’t tournament rules, banning him from The swift and disproportionate
having the best year. competing for a year, and revoking action sparked a wave of public
After laying off his prize money—and, in a bizarre outcry that quickly grew completely
hundreds of display of collateral damage, even out of Blizzard’s control, igniting
A employees in suspending the two casters who fears about the influence of Chinese
February and killing the Heroes of conducted the interview, despite investors—in practice embodying the
the Storm esports scene overnight, them literally ducking under desks to will of the Chinese government—in
it’s now suspended Hearthstone pro avoid being caught up in the incident. gaming. It’s hard not to interpret the
player, Chung ‘Blitzchung’ Ng Wai, publisher’s decision as primarily
after he shouted “Liberate Hong motivated by both the five percent
Kong, revolution of our age!” stake Chinese gaming corportation
during a post-match interview THE BLOWBACK Tencent holds in it, and its wider
livestream—referencing the financial interests in the country.
ongoing political situation between AGAINST BLIZZARD’S
China and the region. DECISION HAS BEEN SPEECH IMPEDIMENT
INTENSE Not exactly a victory, then, for free
Blizzard ruled that Chung’s speech. Despite a spurious statement
statements were in violation of from Blizzard’s president J Allen

8 JANUARY 2020

ORIGIN STORY NAUTOLAN BUT NICE GLITCH HITTER
EA RETURNS TO STEAM ONSLAUGHT WWE 2K20

Seemingly giving up its last With the Onslaught While a buggy game isn’t a
shred of confidence in Origin, expansion, Star Wars: The laughing matter, some WWE
EA has brought its games Old Republic has added 2K20 videos are hilarious,
back to Steam. Another blow Nautolans. There are new with wrestlers melting
struck in Steam’s war with Epic? Or just worlds, a new storyline, and some big through the floor, props turning invisible,
good business? RV gear changes. FB and the referee waddling like a crab. AK



Highs & Lows


















HIGHS


Fortnite
After its child-enraging black hole
event, Fortnite returned with an
impressive new map.

The Sims 4
The latest expansion for the life sim
behemoth is Discover University,
letting your Sims enroll in education.

Resident Evil 2
Modder ZombieAli is working on
replacing Mr X with the goose from
Untitled Goose Game. Genius.





Brack that “our relationships in China had no influence Vampire: The
on our decision”, and claims that the company was simply Masquerade—Bloodlines 2
TOP: Some Hong enforcing tournament rules as it would with any political Hardsuit Lab’s ambitious sequel has
Kong protesters have statement, the backlash has been loud, clear, and angry.
taken up Mei as a Angry enough to convince Blizzard to backpedal, been delayed until 2020.
symbol of their
movement, hoping to reducing Blitzchung’s punishment to a six month ban, Fallout 76
embarass Blizzard. with no penalty to his winnings. The damage, though, is Following the delay of the next major
very much done, with even American officials getting update, Bethesda launched an
involved via a bipartisan letter from Congress ill-advised subscription service.
condemning Blizzard’s actions. Planetside Arena
But to believe this a problem isolated to Activision Daybreak Games has laid off more
Blizzard would be naive. Tencent is the biggest games employees, including a chunk of the
publisher in the world, with fingers in a huge amount of team working on Planetside Arena.
gaming pies—they have 300 listed investments including
owning five per cent of Ubisoft, 40 of Epic Games, 80 of LOWS
Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile) and all of Riot. How
many of these would make the same decision if
Blitzchung had been at one of their events?
The blowback against Blizzard’s decision has been
intense, and rightly so, but it would be a mistake to see
this as an isolated blunder. Chinese influence in the games
industry is the new normal, and with it comes an
ever-present threat of the suppression of free speech by
the companies that make the games you love.
Rachel Watts


JANUARY 2020 9

Stat Pack
















25

Years Monolith has been making
games. Happy birthday!



12,000,000



(and then some) dollars revenue for
Youtubers Life! Mad…

100 REMOTE CHANCE









STEAM is taking the ‘local’ out of ‘local multiplayer’
Dollars for a year’s Fallout
1st subscription.
he problem with couch co-op is that launch, and I’m not listing them here because
it involves (shudder) Full Human we only have so much space.
48 their screen, and away you go. While we’ve
The host invites somebody from their
TInteraction. Valve to the rescue!
Steam now offers (in the beta client)
friends list to play, the game is streamed to
Remote Play Together, which allows local
found that internet speeds have an effect on
co-op games to be played over the internet.
quality, it’s surprisingly solid so far.
There are over 4,000 supported games at
Luke Kemp





Hours Fortnite was taken offline
before the launch of Chapter 2. STRONG AS A (PARAD)OX



PDXCON 2019 announcements? Let’s DLC what we have here
64 Y more announcements from

ou can check out p28 and p30 for
the new games, but there’s plenty

Paradox’s annual convention to talk about.
Battletech’s Heavy Metal expansion, for
example. Eight new mechs! Flashpoint
The version of Doom you get as a mini-campaign! Plus a free update to the
bonus if you pre-order Doom Eternal. base game, with two new mechs and official
mod support. All coming November 21.

Stellaris gets an expansion called Federations.
Based on negotiating with aliens rather than
blowing them up, this DLC will let you make
alliances and be a space politician. The
Lithoids Species Pack—with new species
portraits and ship models—is out now.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall’s first expansion
lands November 19. Revelations offers two
93 campaigns, a new faction, and more. With

Percent positive Steam reviews for Hearts of Iron 4’s La Resistance expansion
I Love You, Colonel Sanders. too, there’s plenty to keep Paradox fans busy.
Luke Kemp

10 JANUARY 2020

LEGENDS NEVER DIE






With Blizzard on the ropes RIOT GAMES makes its play




hat would you the element. Available as you read, one—head to p18 for our hands-on.
say is the this is new support hero Senna, so go Then there’s the LoL fighting game
appropriate and check her out! ABOVE: The gang’s currently known only as Project
way to Teamfight Tactics also gets a Rise all here and there, L—details are sparse, but it’s from the
they’re everywhere!
W celebrate a of the Elements update, which again team that worked on the
game’s tenth birthday? If you’re is live now. It introduces new never released Rising
Riot Games, and the game is League champions, classes, abilities, items, Thunder, which aimed to
of Legends, you would apparently and more. LoL and TT make the genre accessible to
say “announcing everything, and are getting mobile a wider audience.
then one more thing”. Blizzard’s Totally unrelated to League
reputation has taken a hit lately of Legends is what’s currently
(see page 8), and Riot’s huge push LOL ITSELF GETS known as Project A, an online
into new ideas, genres, media, and FPS that’s mostly shrouded in
IPs is surely not a coincidence. AN UPDATE NAMED secrecy. What little has been shown
RISE OF THE hints at a cross between Rainbow Six
LoL itself gets an update named Rise and (amusingly) Overwatch. That,
of the Elements. This is running on ELEMENTS combined with a promise that,
the PBE right now, going live with “We’ve put anti-cheat at the forefront
update 9.22 due before the end of of our development,” means this is
November. The biggest news here is versions too (the LoL one named one to watch.
arguably the earthquake-level Wild Rift), which will arrive in 2020. Plus (yes, really) there’s an
shakeup for the main map, TT mobile is essentially the same unnamed action-RPG, the self-
Summoner’s Rift. game with PC cross-play, while Wild explanatory LoL Esports Manager,
Killing an Elemental Drake will Rift is an entirely new, and separate, and an animated series set in the LoL
still give your team a buff (though game with 15-20 minute matches. universe (developed in-house) by the
some of these buffs have been name of Arcane on the way. It
tweaked), but now such a kill can THE RIOT STUFF would’ve been quicker to talk about
transform the map, too, creating new There’s brand new games coming what Riot isn’t doing.
routes and chokepoints according to too! CCG Legends of Runeterra for Luke Kemp


JANUARY 2020 11

Special







Report









P C G I N V E ST I G AT E S








































BIGGER AND BETA






The ins and outs of Steam’s smart new redesign



emember when Steam was a drab olive The client is perfectly stable, but the design is still in
green? That was a long, long time ago, flux, as Valve sees how people react to its first major
and yet Steam’s library, the place we go library changes in many years.
to launch games every day, has rarely ‘Modern’ is the best word to describe this glow up: big
R changed in that time. In fact, rumors and vertical icons give box art more room to shine on a new Progress
leaked images have pointed to a new library design library Home page, and the whole window follows the Since the new
since 2017. Valve’s been taking its time, but it’s finally ‘flat’ aesthetic popular in recent software design. The library beta
here: a spiffy new library with smarter tools for flatter style and big art does make Steam feel like it’s launched
September 17,
organizing games, and big, shiny box art that makes catching up to the design trends of the past five years, Valve has already
browsing a pleasure. though. The Home page strongly evokes home cinema made numerous
app Plex, and will feel instantly familiar if you’ve ever changes. Valve
removed a nav
“There are three main goals,” said Valve’s Alden Kroll used an Apple TV or other streaming device.
button that took
when he showed off the library redesign at an event in you to the home
Seattle. “To help players find the games that are in their HOMEWARD BOUND page, made
library and find what to play next. Secondly, to stay up to The most important new feature is the Home page, which screenshots
date with the things happening in the games, what their is, well, just what it sounds like. The library no longer appear on
friends are up to, things like that. And then also, for those defaults to the game page of whatever you played last. non-Steam
games added to
who have been collecting games for years in Steam, help Home is divided into rows, with the first two showing you the library, and
them organize their games and find what they might not what’s new from the games in your library—updates, improved GPU
even remember they have in their library collection.” special events, posts from the developers—and what acceleration,
At time of writing, Valve hasn’t yet rolled the design you’ve played recently, so you can easily jump back in. alongside plenty
out to everyone, but you can try it yourself by opting into Below that, the layout is mostly up to you: With a couple of bug fixes.
There’s no word
the Steam client beta (Settings > Account > Change beta of mouse clicks you can add ‘shelves’ of games organized on how long the
participation). It’s still a work in progress, but rest easy if by Steam’s new collection tools. library will stay in
you’re expecting the kind of beta where you clip through A tool called Dynamic Collections is easily Valve’s best the beta stage.
the floor or get shotgunned from across the map. addition: They’re basically Gmail filters for games. You

12 JANUARY 2020

FAR LEFT: It should
be under B for
Bastion.
LEFT: Add
new games to your
convoluted
collections.
















PRO TIPS Get the most out of your new library












GE T SMART PIC TURE PERFEC T MOVE IT PERFORMANCE MODE
New Dynamic Collections are the best Near the top of a game’s library page, Animated box art! Download from Disable some graphical niceties, and
way to organize. Pair tags like ‘Co-op’ Steam inserts a box of the screenshots reddit.com/r/steamgrid. Right-click a use less bandwidth by enabling Low
and ‘FPS’ to round up what to play. you took last session for easy access. game > Manage > Set custom artwork. Bandwidth and Low Performance.




create a collection by choosing from a variety of tags, say person shooter’. But a dynamic collection with both tags
‘RPG’ and ‘multiplayer’ and ‘controller support’, and shrinks to only nine results, because only nine of my
Steam will automatically pull in all the appropriate games games are tagged both third-person shooter and FPS.
in your library. The ‘dynamic’ (and exciting) bit is that Here I need an ‘or’ instead of an ‘and’.
Steam will add any future games you buy with those tags The library redesign has a couple of other little helpful
to the collection, too, requiring no manual fiddling. features, like non-dynamic collections you can simply
The most basic use for dynamic collections is simply drag-and-drop games into, and a handy button at the top
organizing by genre, which used to be tedious. of the column that will hide everything that isn’t currently
For years I relied on the third-party tool Depressurizer, installed. Each individual game’s page now has splashy
but I only ran it every so often, and in the meantime new banner art across the top, and a box that highlights recent
games would pile up in my library list without getting the achievements and screenshots from the last play session,
right tags. Bless dynamic collections for making it easy to which is a welcome shortcut. But there’s also a prominent
round up all of the (once ‘activity’ section, like a
and future) first-person Facebook wall for you and
shooters in my library with your Steam friends, on
just a couple of clicks. THE MOST BASIC USE FOR every single game page.
DYNAMIC COLLECTIONS IS SIMPLY Who is going to choose
TAG LINE this as the place to talk
Dynamic collections are ORGANIZING BY GENRE about games? Scroll down,
ultimately at the mercy of and the rest of the new
Steam’s tags, though, and game page design is also an
you’ll likely need to do some manual pruning on them unsightly mess of community screenshots, guides, and
before they’re quite right. Thankfully, you can right-click videos, which can include spoilery content and, inevitably,
individual games to remove them, or else I’d have to live memes. It feels like Valve trying to shoehorn in
with FreeStyle2: Street Basketball (why do I own this??) community engagement that I’d rather hide.
living in my FPS collection. With the library’s new design, it feels strange to click
With more options, like supporting basic logical over to the store or the (especially outdated) community
functions (for example ‘and’ and ‘or’) dynamic collections hub. As growing pains go, it’s a minor one. Valve has said
could be killer. Right now, if you use more than one tag, that “the new library will inform future store discovery
they can only include results where the venn diagram features” and its design will probably trickle over to the
overlaps. This ends up being pretty limiting. community hub, too. Eventually… Steam still operates on
Say I want to create a collection of all my shooters. I Valve Time, after all.
have 61 games tagged ‘FPS’ and 31 games tagged ‘third- Wes Fenlon


JANUARY 2020 13

Character







Sheet









G A M I N G’S H E R O E S & V I L L A I N S E X P LO R E D
























































































Ciri acts as a
substitute daughter
figure for the game’s
taciturn star.





14 JANUARY 2020

ELDER literal books of backstory that CD Projekt Red didn’t have

time to deliver directly. “Conveying all this to the
player—subtly, between verses—was one of the biggest
BLOOD narrative challenges we faced.”

Geralt, his on-again, off-again sorceress lover Yennefer,
and Ciri together form an unconventional family unit.
Although the scene in which Ciri reunites with the group
The Witcher 3’s fiery at the witcher keep Kaer Morhen is many players’ favorite
for Ciri’s speechless excitement and Yennefer’s

deuteragonist, CIRI uncharacteristic squeal of excitement, Szamalek has
another favorite moment.
“I think the scene where Yennefer and Geralt
irilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Queen of Cintra, eavesdrop as Ciri’s negotiating with the Lodge of
Princess of Brugge, and Duchess of Sodden, Sorceresses encapsulates their relationship best,”
had novels of history before players ever Szamalek says, describing the scene where Geralt can
met her in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. choose to accompany Ciri for an important discussion
CAlthough we had become well-acquainted with the powerful sorceresses or allow her to go alone.
with Geralt of Rivia and his supporting cast of men, The tone of the scene changes vastly based on Geralt’s
mistresses, and monsters during the first two games, decision. With Geralt present during the discussion,
his adopted sort-of-daughter Ciri had yet to make an there’s tension in the room accompanied by an eerie
appearance, despite her prominence in Andrzej soundtrack. If Geralt stays behind, he and Yennefer banter
Sapkowski’s Witcher Saga. outside the door debating whether to listen in.
“Here, you can see that Yennefer and Geralt respect
Time is short, even in a Ciri’s agency, trust in her,
60-plus hour RPG, so the but cannot resist the
team at CD Projekt Red temptation to check how
needed to think carefully “SHE’S UNIMAGINABLY she’s doing,” Szamalek says.
about how to introduce Ciri POWERFUL, BUT STRUGGLES “In this brief scene, they are
to players elegantly and both encouraging and
efficiently. “Ciri has a very WITH SELF-DOUBT” protective, proud of how far
rich backstory—a princess, she’s gone and anxious to
child of Elder Blood, heir to what awaits her. I think any
the throne of Nilfgaard, a bandit, a magician,” says parent will recognize this tension—and I’m very happy
principal writer Jakub Szamalek in reference to just some that we managed to portray it.”
of Ciri’s adventures in the Witcher Saga. They couldn’t
impart each of these formative stories, Szamalek says, WITCHER WOMAN
knowing that it would be a deluge of backstory. One particular callback to Ciri’s adventures in the Witcher
Instead they chose two focuses: Her relationship with Saga shows how CD Projekt Red chose carefully between
Geralt, and her ability to traverse through space and time. allusions to past events and full retellings. The rose tattoo
“The former was key to establishing on Ciri’s thigh comes up in Wild
an emotional connection between the Hunt during her time at a hotspring
player and the character [they were] with villagers who rescued her from
supposed to chase after for upwards MISATTRIBUTED the sea. The player can choose to
of 60 hours,” Szamalek says. “The have Ciri mention that the mark is a
latter explained Ciri’s special role in MISADVENTURE memory of someone special who has
the universe, and allowed us to make died, but the story is left at that.
Geralt’s investigation a little bit more One of Geralt’s quests In the Saga, the tattoo is a
mysterious and convoluted.” belonged to Ciri originally memento of Ciri’s lover Mistle during
Despite Ciri’s place as the arguable her time with a group called The
main character of Wild Hunt and the Rats. “There wasn’t really space for
pin on which the plot later turns, unpacking this complex episode in
Geralt remains the protagonist and, the Wild Hunt—and it’s a shame,”
for the majority of the game, the Szamalek says. “In this moment of
playable character. Sections in which life, Ciri gave in to her darker side,
the player takes control of Ciri are followed her worst instincts. Showing
few and far between, making them a this transition, and the remorse
“My favorite reference is a tiny encounter
precious resource for portraying which actually doesn’t feature Ciri. When which followed, would have made a
Ciri’s personality outside Geralt’s arriving in Oxenfurt, the player, controlling great story.” Although it’s a shame
supervision. “She has a playful, even Geralt, can come across a conman that Wild Hunt could only afford
presenting a ‘basilisk’ in a cage. Geralt
impish streak Geralt lacks,” Szamalek brief flashes and references to Ciri’s
recognizes that the monster in question is
says. “She’s unimaginably powerful, actually a [wyvern]. The creature breaks backstory, Szamalek says of Ciri’s
but at the same time struggles with free a moment later, and it’s up to our time with The Rats, and if we’re
self-doubt and runs away from her favorite witcher to clean up the mess. This thinking wishfully, her other
fate.” Each of Ciri’s scenes had to be whole encounter is a nod to a scene from adventures, “Maybe it’s something
layered with complex and often The Time of Contempt, where Ciri goes we’ll get to revisit in the future.”
through a similar event.”
conflicting emotions to get across the Lauren Morton


JANUARY 2020 15





18 JANUARY 2020

PRE VIE W


Legends of Runeterra









NEED TO KNOW
RELEASE DEVELOPER PUBLISHER LINK
2020 Riot Games In-house leagueoflegends.com


THE BEST OFFENCE…
LEGENDS OF Players take turns to attack and defend

during Legends of Runeterra’s round-
RUNETERR A based combat. At the start of a turn,
strategies are set out; offences
strengthened, defenses bolstered, or
mana conserved for later in the round.
Once both sides are ready, combat
LoL developer makes a play for begins, with the attacking player setting
the crowded card game market out units, while the defender uses their
cards to block. If an attacking unit isn’t
stopped, it’ll deal damage directly to the
defender’s health pool, the Nexus, but if
he lack of a second title in Riot Games’ it’s blocked, both units will be worn down
T roster has been a community in-joke for as they slam together.
many years. The League of Legends
During opening rounds, combat is
developer has dined out on the success simple, with low-stakes skirmishes usually
of its smash-hit MOBA for a decade, but for its spelling the end for both units involved.
tenth anniversary, it’s finally adding a new card- With each subsequent round, however,
shaped arrow to its quiver. players unlock extra mana crystals,
allowing them to play more powerful units
Legends of Runeterra is a card game set FIRST and spells. At that point, combat becomes
within the League of Legends universe, LOOK a far more back-and-forth affair as you
drawing on characters found throughout attempt to counter your opponent’s
that game’s expansive lore. Long-term moves with spells—buffing and bluffing to
fans will already be familiar with the boost your own characters or encourage
setting; Runeterra is the continent on your opponent to commit powerful units
which LoL and the political machinations to unwinnable matchups.
that underpin it take place. Those spells—divided into either Slow,
While League of Legends’ 140-strong Fast, or Burst categories—are woven into
roster of characters hail from every corner each round, often turning the tables on an
of its world, Legends of Runeterra’s first unfortunate exchange.
card set will feature only 24 of them—four After combat is resolved, defeated
from each of six factions—whose units are removed from play, and each
strengths and weaknesses are shaped by side is offered a moment of respite in
the nations that they call home. which to plan their next move. Remaining
Noxus, a warmongering state that mana can be spent on new units, helping
values strength above all, is represented you prepare for the next round, but it can
by characters such as Darius and Draven, also be partially conserved to cast spells
whose brute force makes them terrifying next turn. With ranks reinforced and
to face one-on-one, but which are often strategies drawn up, the board rotates,
unable to cope with a unified assault. swapping defense and attack.
By contrast, peaceful Ionia opts for Spending half of each game on the
harmony, drawing on the combined back foot might sound like a recipe for
strength of multiple units, while the lengthy, drawn out battles, but each
inhabitants of the Freljord’s icy wastes use player’s Nexus has only 20 health,
their own resilience—or strength-sapping meaning an early assault from a
ice magic—to survive. strength-in-numbers faction like Ionia can
While the world and characters of see you staring down the barrel of defeat
League of Legends underpin the game, within just a few turns. While it’s possible
CCG veterans should recognize many of
the ideas which have helped shape it.
The influence of both Magic: The THE INFLUENCE OF BOTH MTG
Gathering and Hearthstone is immediately AND HEARTHSTONE IS
apparent, but Riot’s not relying solely on
League of Legends’s personality to set IMMEDIATELY APPARENT
Legends of Runeterra apart.


JANUARY 2020 19

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Legends of Runeterra









to regain the upper hand as slower decks is the aunt of champions Lux and Garen,
come online, your base’s relative fragility and the veteran of several backstories,
means that matches often don’t require a including the recent team-up between
particularly long-term strategy. Riot and Marvel Comics, while a lowly
Poro Herder illustrates the difficulty of life
CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER in the Freljordian tundra.
While you’re calling the shots, it’s the It’s interactions between champions
characters on the field that are the ones and their followers that drive Legends of
actually duking it out. Legends of Runeterra’s deckbuilding. Decks consist of
Runeterra splits its units into two main 40 cards, can draw from either one or two
camps: Champions, chosen from among of the game’s six factions, and feature up
the warriors and spell-slingers that League to six champions, with as many as three Draven is one
of Legends players will know and love, and copies of each card permitted within a double-hard bastard.
followers—background characters and deck. That allows for depth as you drill into
minions who fill up the rest of Runeterra. a specific strategy, or relative breadth,
As well as their famous names, drawing on the combined abilities of Yep, seems like it’s
champions have qualities that set them multiple champions and regions to all going on here.
apart from their lowly followers. Boosted multiply your strengths and cover as
stats are accompanied by some powerful many defensive bases as possible.
extra effects: The tanky Braum can
regenerate, returning him to full health GHOSTS OF THE PAST
after combat, while the stealthy Zed Announced as part of League of Legends’
spawns a shadow clone of himself every tenth anniversary celebrations, the
time he attacks, automatically bolstering elephant in the room during my Legends
his offensive capabilities. of Runeterra preview event was Artifact.
Often threatening even in the early Valve’s ill-fated card game shares more
stages of the game, champions can also than cursory similarities with Legends of
be levelled up through the completion of Runeterra, but Riot is taking steps to
in-game goals, increasing their stats and ensure that its effort carves out its own
improving their abilities, before entering space in what’s already considered a
their final form in showy cutscenes near-saturated genre.
reminiscent of fighting game finishers. In Legends of Runeterra’s design director,
many cases champions need to be in play Andrew Yip, says that his team wants “to
to work towards their improved state, but innovate the CCG”. As a result, random
rare exceptions such as Yasuo can be gameplay elements are out, replaced by
improved without setting foot on the deeper deckbuilding and the
field—as long as the air-bending Ronin is in conversational tone of round-based
hand, he can watch enemy units being combat. The rotation system popularized
stunned or recalled by his allies. Once six by Hearthstone has been removed in
cards have been incapacitated in this favor of monthly balance changes and
manner, an enhanced Yasuo can take the new expansions every four months. And
field in time to deal bonus damage every random card packs are no more, replaced
time another stun lands. by gameplay rewards based around each
Followers can’t level up, but their region, and ‘Wildcards’ that can be
abilities can still be crucial to a winning swapped for the specific cards that you
strategy. ‘Sturdy’ units take reduced actually want in your deck. These will be
damage from attacks, making them available for purchase with real money.
especially useful in the early game, while Riot hasn’t exactly kept its desire to
‘Challengers’ can choose which enemy start rolling out new games quiet, and Yip
unit will block them, and some particularly tells me that Legends of Runeterra is
nimble characters will land their attacks simply the first of many upcoming
before their opponents, allowing for more projects that’s ready to be unveiled.
control over each clash. Elsewhere, It’s certainly an accomplished starting
followers contribute to Runeterra’s wider point, presenting a well-crafted
narrative—Demacia’s Tianna Crownguard experience that promises to open a wider
avenue for League of Legends’ narrative
and ask serious questions of the
CHAMPIONS CAN BE LEVELED collectible card game genre, but the true

THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF test is likely to lie in the community’s
response to Riot’s first new offering in
IN-GAME GOALS more than ten years.
Alistair Jones

20 JANUARY 2020

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Devious deck-building is
the key to victory




















































































































JANUARY 2020 21

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Friend or foe?
Gamenamexxxx
Friend, probably.









































NEED TO KNOW

RELEASE DEVELOPER PUBLISHER LINK
TBC 2 Ton Studios Big Sugar 2tonstudios.com/unto




UNTO THE END











A brutal adventure where constantly reminds you that it’s not just natured action can bring you good karma

combat can be your last resort you who has to survive this harsh later in the story. On the flip side you might
winterscape. As you explore, you’ll meet not even get the luxury of a choice, and be
other creatures, and instead of running forced into bloody combat.
blindly into battle, Unto the End gives you Combat relies heavily on reading your
he frozen world of Unto the End is a choices that don’t end in a brutal brawl. opponent’s actions, 2 Ton Games wants
T quiet, desolate place. Armed with only a Many of the creatures you encounter will to communicate to the player that brute

sword and a dagger, a father must make
force is not going to get you far. Each
have their own mysterious place within the
a dangerous journey to return home to world, and choosing not to fight them can move in the combat system has pros and
his family. After fighting against the elements, reveal fleeting moments of humanity in an cons, and combined with a majority of
scavenging off the land and surviving dangerous otherwise cruel existence. fights being one-on-one duels, each
encounters, will his family recognize him at the end encounter feels like a tactical-puzzle to be
of this brutal journey? That decision is up to you. MANKIND solved. The world is so still and quiet that
There are a number of different ways to the sounds of clashing swords, flashes of
PL AYED Unto the End is an action 2D adventure approach a situation—run, help, trade, blood, and pained grunts make conflict
IT that takes place across rugged and bleak fight—it’s your choice and your hold a dramatic weight.
highlands. The game’s developers have consequence. Giving a creature a precious Finding a space to build a campfire is
created a survival game with a focus on healing item can put you in a tricky when you can finally get a moment’s rest,
environmental storytelling and combat situation down the line, but your good- heal up, and get some shut-eye. When
being a last and desperate choice. It’s a sleeping you enter a dreamscape, and
dangerous world of deadly traps, based on your choices in your journey, you
unforgiving landscapes, and aggressive AS YOU EXPLORE can have dreams or nightmares featuring
enemies, but with minimal music and no your family. Will they be horrified at your
dialogue, 2 Ton Studios wants you to YOU’LL START TO bloody actions, or proud of the kindness
observe your surroundings, read the MEET THE OTHER you have shown in harsh times? Unto the
situation, and then react. End creates a world where choosing not to
It seems like not much would endure CREATURES fight really means something.
this frozen world, but Unto the End Rachel Watts

22 JANUARY 2020



PRE VIE W


Between fights, you explore a
Gamename
gorgeous overworld.









































NEED TO KNOW

RELEASE DEVELOPER PUBLISHER LINK
Spring 2020 Massive Damage, Inc Raw Fury starrenegades.com




STAR RENEGADES











How do you save the universe both my scrappy party of rebels and the they do. If not, perhaps another character

from evil? It’s all in the… timing merciless cyborgs out to stop me. needs to deal concussion damage, which
knocks enemies further back in the
SMART BOMBS timeline, to create an opening.

And it’s in these battles that Star Your foe might follow that up with an
his sci-fi RPG doesn’t exactly make the Renegades reveals its brains, too. Along uninterruptible blast, at which point you’re
T best first impression in its early demo the top of the screen runs a timeline of forced on the defensive. But if your tank

build. After some supremely forgettable
events for that turn. Enemies telegraph
can leap in to guard the squishy gunslinger
exposition about a space rebellion and a their actions, so you always know not only being targeted, they’re free to still fire off
corresponding evil empire, it launches into a what they’re going to do, but exactly when some shots—perhaps slaying a lesser
barrage of bad chat between our rugged hero and they’re going to do it relative to each of enemy to mitigate even more damage.
his antagonistic robot helper. your party’s attacks. Even just over the course of this short
The question of what to do in response demo, an intricate dance emerges.
PL AYED But it doesn’t take long for Star each turn is a surprisingly complicated There’s a hint of Into the Breach’s tricky
IT Renegades to start showing off its more one. Different attacks and abilities play strategy about it. You always have all the
appealing side. As I start making my way with the system in different ways. Some information—the challenge is in what you
around its overworld map, I’m struck by can simply interrupt enemy actions, choose to do with it. Enemy attacks are
the colorful 2D art-style. It’s tempting to spoiling them completely—but that’ll only big and powerful, forcing you to always be
think there’s nothing new under the sun work if you’re fast enough to hit before looking for the perfect counter each round
when it comes to indie pixel art, but within the game’s web of rock-paper-
thanks to crisp detail and some really scissors-like interactions.
clever lighting effects, the game’s chunky EVEN JUST OVER THE The result is a rare feat for a turn-
environments stand out from the pack. based RPG: Every move in your arsenal is
The effect is heightened further when COURSE OF THIS important. Spam your high-damage
I’m launched into my first turn-based DEMO, AN INTRICATE attacks, and you’ll be dead in no time.
combat. Animations are hugely Victory means knowing when to defend,
expressive, and attacks showy and DANCE EMERGES when to distract, and when to strike.
dramatic, lending bags of personality to Robin Valentine

24 JANUARY 2020



PRE VIE W


Boundary









NEED TO KNOW
RELEASE DEVELOPER PUBLISHER LINK
Spring 2020 Surgical Scalpels In-house surgicalscalpels.com


You’re a little cumbersome, but in a
BOUNDARY way that’s convincing rather than

annoying—you feel like an astronaut. And
the resulting game isn’t one where speed,
or even a quick aim, are always king.
Because anyone can be anywhere,
there’s a huge emphasis on sightlines.
Hide between chunks of floating
A multiplayer shooter that thinks space-station, and you’re relatively safe,
in 360 degrees but you’ll struggle to find enemies. Fly out
into the emptier space around the edges
of the map, and you gain a fantastic view
of the action, but you’re also a sitting duck.
inally, a game brave enough to answer Each bullet is modelled with accurate
F the question on all of our lips, “What physics, but in space there’s no bullet
would happen if there was a gunfight on
drop, so there’s little safety gained from
the International Space Station?” This distance. Anyone you can see, you can
multiplayer shooter tackles its pleasingly silly snipe, even with a lowly pistol. So the trick
premise with a surprising seriousness, kitting out is in knowing when to prioritize vision or
its astronauts with plausible near-future tech and cover—and figuring out what cover even is
maintaining a clean, NASA-appropriate aesthetic. when enemies can be above and below.
The maps play around with this core
Crudely speaking, this is Call of Duty in idea brilliantly. One is divided by a huge
zero-G—two teams of five pick loadouts, field of solar panels, obscuring one half of
jump into a map, and shoot at each other the map from the other. But with the
a bunch… in space. But over the course of environment being destructible, you can
my hands-on, I’m delighted to find that the shoot out segments to create openings to
setting is far more than just a gimmick. peek through. In one match I stalk from
A generous jetpack allows for all ‘below’ before bursting up in
the freedom of realistic zero-G PL AYED ambush—one of the devs identifies it
movement without any of its IT as “playing like a submarine”.
frustrating limitations. Where the The emphasis is firmly on
Outer Wilds earlier this year revelled strategy over reflexes, and it’s a
in the humor and challenge of struggling wonderfully mind-bending kind of
against physics, Boundary is more strategy. Understanding not only where
interested in the possibilities unrestricted you should be at any given moment—and
3D movement opens up. even which way up you should be—but
Cosmetics and loadouts can
also where enemies likely are is a constant
SHOOT FOR THE MOON challenge, with a real rush to cracking it. be customized extensively.
Your controls are all grounded in the I’m rubbish at shooters normally, but in
familiar. You’re free to move forward, back, this strange, slightly slower world (or lack
left, and right as normal. To move up, you of world), I find myself ruthlessly efficient.
press space, as if jumping. To move down, As I hunt around spinning stations, I feel
you press ctrl, as if crouching. You can like some kind of horrible space shark, a
even ‘sprint’—actually a little jet boost—for zero-G predator out-maneuvering my prey
quick remaneuvering. The only unusual until they quite literally don’t know which
thing is the ability to spin your body left or way is up. It’s hugely satisfying.
right, allowing you to turn upside-down— So ‘Call of Duty in zero-G’ is apt, but it
or, rather, to recognize that upside- turns out removing one of the essential
downness is relative. forces of the universe from the equation
makes more of a difference than you
might expect. While the gunplay is nothing
AS I HUNT AROUND SPINNING new, it’s entirely recontextualized by the

STATIONS, I FEEL LIKE A movement and the areas you’re
traversing—and the result is the most
HORRIBLE SPACE SHARK compelling multiplayer game I’ve played
all year.

26 JANUARY 2020

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The developer describes the action
as “70% FPS, 30% dogfighting”.















































































A handy grappling hook makes The team’s been working on
movement even more fun. the idea since 2011.




























Huge, revolving structures
provide cover and terrain.



JANUARY 2020 27

E ARLY AC CES S PRE VIE W














































































Meteor showers aren’t so pretty
when you’re right underneath them.



Survivors can develop mutations,
but curing them is a cinch.




























Send specialists to scavenge and
fight bandits on the world map.


28 JANUARY 2020

E ARLY AC CES S PRE VIE W


Surviving the Aftermath









NEED TO KNOW
EXPECT TO PAY DEVELOPER PUBLISHER LINK
£15.50 Iceflake Studios Paradox Interactive survivingtheaftermath.com


GATED COMMUNITY
SURVIVING One of the first milestones in Aftermath is

building your gate. It’s just a wall of cars
THE AFTERMATH and junk, but it connects you to other
regions and lets people know you’re open
for business. You’ll start to attract strays,
too, and some might even be useful. One
of the wanderers that joins my colony is a
Rebuild civilization in this post- specialist, able to go out into the world in
apocalyptic management sim search of more resources, adventures,
and science points for upgrades.
It’s lucky that my specialist is off
sourcing some meat when the radiation
y first survivor dies after his house is storm strikes. Aftermath features several
flattened by a meteor. Things aren’t disasters with different effects and
M looking good for humanity in Surviving potential countermeasures. There isn’t
the Aftermath, the post-apocalyptic much I can do about meteors, but when
follow-up to Surviving Mars. Surveying my burning facing the radiation storm I’m able to
colony, I have a lot more things to worry about make sure all my crops are gathered
than the now rotting corpse. before they can be killed off, and I know I
have a shipment of food coming in if
Like its predecessor, Aftermath drops you there’s a shortfall. It starts to feel like I’m
in a hostile world that you’ll need to make getting the hang of the surviving part of
safe for a group of survivors. Sometimes Surviving the Aftermath.
they will die. This time, however, we’re My colony still manages to conjure up
back on Earth and with a new developer, a few mini-disasters of its own. Aftermath
Iceflake Studios, at the helm. It’s also a bit spits out random events and personal
more conservative. On Mars we had conflicts, ranging from people wanting to
domes, drones, and flashy future- fight bears to people simply brawling
tech, but back on Earth it’s all about PL AYED with each other. Being a permissive
the basics of survival. IT leader, I leave them to it, so before
My colony isn’t in too bad a long I have a colony full of injured
situation initially. The difficulty is idiots. The scale of Aftermath is
determined by some choices you make significantly smaller than Surviving Mars,
about the setting right at the start—how so even just a few upset colonists or bad
brutal the apocalypse was, how many eggs feel like a big problem.
people made it—and I opt for a middle-of- There’s not much you can do to make
the-road armageddon with a small your colony pretty, but through research
number of survivors living in a slightly you can unlock slightly nicer—and much
radioactive forest. more effective—buildings, letting your
Survivors need food, shelter, and survivors upgrade from a tent to a
power, and at this stage their demands caravan, for instance. I also start plonking
don’t get much more complicated—the down lanterns on every street corner to
numbers just get bigger. Keeping those brighten the place up. A little goes a long
numbers high does require several way at the end of the world.
different resources along with lots of Surviving the Aftermath is pretty
ramshackle buildings. Thankfully there’s a straightforward right now, but the
lot of junk lying around waiting to be disasters and rowdy survivors are
picked up by survivors and turned into engaging obstacles that spice up the
recycling plants or fishing wharfs. familiar management objectives. Iceflake
will be giving the colony layer an update,
with the world map getting some more
MY COLONY STILL MANAGED attention in December. While the studio

TO CONJURE UP A FEW MINI- has plans for more Early Access updates

You can choose to start with a bunker or DISASTERS OF ITS OWN after that, it’s looking for feedback from
players before it settles on them.
vehicle laden with supplies.
Fraser Brown

JANUARY 2020 29

C OV ER FE ATU RE


Crusader Kings III




















































































































30 JANUARY 2020

C OV ER FE ATU RE


Crusader Kings III







































t o t h e








































CRUSADER KINGS III is taking the grand strategy

series deeper into RPG territory.




By Fraser Brown





or the last five years, Paradox has been
F working away in secret building the
successor to a grand strategy behemoth.
Crusader Kings III is familiar, bringing
back many of its predecessor’s features,
but this time the studio is approaching roleplaying
with a renewed focus, giving extra attention to
conniving rulers and their plotting extended families.
It’s still a strategy game, but one where the RPG
elements are given even more room to thrive.


JANUARY 2020 31

C OV ER FE ATU RE


Crusader Kings III




Game director Henrik Fåhraeus emphasizes that the
studio isn’t trying to retread old ground, and its goals are a
bit different this time around. “Rather than trying to
match the width of Crusader Kings II, which is huge after
seven years of expansions and DLC, we went deep
instead, and thought about what it means to be a ruler.”
Yet, it actually still seems pretty wide. Massive, really.
There aren’t merchant republics, nomadic tribes are now
just regular tribes, and the inventory system—which lead
designer Alexander Oltner admits was horrible for
balance, and led to stat bloat—has been tossed out, but the RIGHT: Character
portraits have been
list of what’s been kept is a lot longer. Indeed, one of replaced by more
Crusader Kings III’s most touted features, lifestyles, emotive (slightly
sprang from the Way of Life DLC. creepy) 3D models.
There are a lot of things for a medieval ruler to worry LOWER RIGHT:
about, from economic concerns to religious crises—you’ve Maps! Menus! It’s so
got a whole dynasty and your realm demanding your hard to do captions
attention—but through the lifestyle system you can work for these games.
just on yourself. Previously that meant picking a focus,
like warfare, and just getting a stat boost. In Crusader
Kings III, picking a lifestyle gives you
access to a trio of trees that would
look comfortable in an RPG. If you “There are three main traits that
pick the martial lifestyle, for instance, you can reinforce, either negatively or
you might focus on chivalry, positively,” says Fåhraeus. “There’s
unlocking thematically appropriate health, intelligence, and beauty. They
perks, and becoming a gallant knight. exist in three levels, going from
Perks unlocked through these positive to negative, so you can have a
trees will help guide your character’s very ugly person or a slightly ugly
personality, as well as give you some person. But the personality traits, like
handy bonuses. Like its predecessor, courageous, cannot be inherited
there are also traits that can be genetically. It’s very specific. If you
unlocked through actions and events. want a smart, beautiful, brawny type
Spend a lot of time torturing of character, you can create that—you
prisoners, and you’ll become a sadist. can breed them.”
Then there’s the stuff you inherit,
ranging from completely cosmetic BE YOURSELF
things, like being a redhead, to Despite being such a big part of
practical ones, like being healthy. You Crusader Kings II, role-playing was
can foster these traits in your heirs by largely optional. If your character was
picking a spouse with the traits you a cruel idiot, that might be expressed
want to pass on—kings don’t have through events, but you could play your personality will have some
time for love, they’re too busy with that character any way you wanted. dramatic side effects, all the way up
their creepy breeding programmes. In Crusader Kings III, playing against to your ruler losing their mind.
Thankfully, there are outlets for
stress, but not all of them are healthy.
An athletic ruler might work out to
relax, but some rulers might turn to
booze, sex, and torturing the poor
unfortunates in their dungeon,
potentially giving them some new,
grisly vices. But at least they’ll get rid
of those pesky stress headaches.
This doesn’t mean you have to
play a certain way. “We want it to
mean something,” says Fåhraeus, “but
not to the level of being the only
thing you think about. It’s an
interesting mechanic, but not
supposed to overpower your
gameplay.”
Dynasties can also level up. These
are your immediate and extended
families and the most important
groups you’ll be interacting with.

FE ATU RE






































































ROYAL DECREE


Things we want to see in CKIII



While your realm will contain lots of success chance for your schemes, but
dynasty members, they may also crop it also means your brother will get
up in other kingdoms, spreading the more successes.”
influence of your bloodline. By having You might end up making your
MORE ANIMALS BE T TER R AIDING your dynasty all over the place and rivals stronger, inspiring you to give
Neither Glitterhoof or Animal You’ll be able to start in the throwing your weight around, you’ll land to a weak toady instead of an
Kingdom mode will be Viking Age again, so I’m hoping earn Renown, up-and-coming
reappearing, at least not for more interesting raid which can then member of your
straight away. Tragic! It won’t mechanics. It was neat in
be all straight-faced, though, concept, but became bit fiddly be spent on PLAYING AGAINST own dynasty. But
but no talking animals. and unengaging. empowering your you’ll encounter
dynasty through YOUR PERSONALITY other problems if
Legacies. If you WILL HAVE DRAMATIC you don’t let your
want a bunch of dynasty thrive.
conquerors you SIDE EFFECTS They won’t like
can spend that, and they
Renown to might decide to
BAT TLE TAC TIC S TROOP MANAGEMENT unlock perks in the warfare path, try and get more autonomy.
I’d love to be able to have more While we’re on tactics, more but there’s a catch.
of an impact on the outcome of troop management in general “The interesting thing is that HOUSE PARTY
a scrap or more to do mid-fight. would be most welcome. I it’s unlocked for everyone in your Players are almost always the leader
CKII has the occasional wouldn’t mind some hands-on dynasty,” says lead designer of a dynasty, but the system has
mid-battle event, but I want to ways to deal with logistical and
be even more involved. morale problems. Alexander Oltner. “So if you’re become considerably more granular.
unlocking guile, you’re getting more Dynasties now feature cadet


JANUARY 2020 33

branches—houses—that get their you can have a Christianity and
own heraldry, a motto and some viable kingdom, “I WAS NEVER REALLY Islam. Each is
extra autonomy. Instead of CKII’s even if loads of made up of tenets
model, where dynasties are these big people hate you, HAPPY WITH THE and doctrines,
monolithic groups, landed members but it could cause NAME CRUSADER representing their
TOP: That escalated of your dynasty can try to carve out a a problem for rules and
to murder pretty bit more agency for themselves by your heirs. KINGS” opinions on
quickly, or pretty forming an offshoot. They’ll inherit all things like
normally for Don’t expect dynastic civil wars, that hatred, but divorce and
Crusader Kings.
but the houses will try to expand people won’t be afraid of them. homosexuality. Some are just
LOWER RIGHT: their influence. On the off-chance Another way you can exert flavor, but others have a tangible
The map covers the you end up losing your position as a influence over people is through impact. Then there’s the list of
same ground as
Crusader Kings II, but dynast, you can try to reclaim your religion. Crusader Kings III features sins (yay!) and virtues (booo!) to
it’s even larger. power by being the best head of a three large religious groups— round things out. But if none of them
house, until everyone recognizes it. If Abrahamic, Eastern and Paganism— speak to your soul, you can just make
your dynasty dies out, it’s the end of and then specific religions, like a new one…
the game, but until then there are
ways to become top dog again. House heads also get some
powers that allow them to flex their muscles, like being
able to legitimize bastards or disinherit people.
With these changes to dynasties, Fåhraeus is hoping it
will shore up a problem with its predecessor. “One of the
things that’s a weakness in Crusader Kings II is there
aren’t any permanent entities that you can operate
throughout the game. There’s not a nation, your titles can
switch to a duchy or a kingdom and then back to a county,
characters keep dying.” Only dynasties are permanent, at
least until you run out of heirs, so effort has been put into
giving players more progression and unlocks via dynasties.
If you can’t be bothered to keep the nobles happy, you
can always rule by fear. You can increase your Dread
value, eventually making people too terrified to plot
against you. The impact depends on the vassal’s bravery,
however, and bold vassals won’t be cowed. It does mean

34 JANUARY 2020

C OV ER FE ATU RE


Crusader Kings III




of stuff, but now you can keep your professionals separate
EXPAND YOUR KINGDOM from the levies.”


Crusader Kings II’s best DLC CALL THE PROS
Knights can join your cause, too. They’re a special kind of
heroic unit, and after training for their whole lives and
splashing out on the best gear, they’re ten times more
effective than the blokes with their farming pitchforks
and armor made out of kitchen utensils. If you want to do
some real damage, slip some knights into your army.
OLD GODS WAY OF LIFE The new map might also have an impact on warfare. It
Vikings! They’re rowdy, they like Small, but essential—this is the covers the same area as Crusader Kings II does now, but
loot, and they’re lots of fun. The inspiration for one of CKIII’s big with a much larger scale. All the provinces have been
Old Gods expansion packs in a systems, letting you pick a unstacked and expanded, with locales that were
lot of flavor, but also practical focus for your character that
things like human sacrifice and confers a stat boost and lots previously hidden away in menus now displayed on the
big viking invasions. of events. map itself. This means there are potentially more targets
for you to hit, while the larger playing field also means
more opportunities for Paradox to sneak in terrain that
can modify fights somewhat.
The scale might also help if you’ve got a bit of an ego.
“It makes you feel more powerful, even when you’re
playing a smaller kingdom, if the kingdom is more than
CONCL AVE MONKS AND M YSTIC S just a few provinces on a map,” says Oltner. Of course, it’s
Give your council some love. Oh Speak to the devil, join secret not the size of the kingdom that matters, it’s how many
no, that’s too much, and now societies, and make cool new enemies you’ve got locked up in your dungeon.
they want everything. Conclave friends. It’s all a bit silly, but It once again sounds like a lot to juggle, and that’s
gives everyone more agency, Monks and Mystics boasts before we even get to the new era-based tech system that
but kinda makes them some of the most entertaining
assholes. It’s brilliant. events in the game. will apparently stop players from ballooning in size in the
early part of the game, or the currently under wraps
economic details. Fåhraeus says it’ll be easier to parse this
time, at least, with a Stellaris-like tutorial and a
THE LAST CRUSADE away for you and your vassals, and suggestions widget that gives you hints about what you
If you’re Catholic, for instance, but while you’ll have a lot of them, should do, highlighting interesting opportunities.
think that communion should involve they’re not that great in a fight. But Crusader Kings III is shaping up to be less of a
actually eating human flesh, you can you can also hire special units like departure and more iterative than I expected, given how
form a new faith, nominally cavalry, or someone who knows how refreshing its predecessor was. It’s drawing out and
Christian, but with lots of unique to hold a sword properly. “CKII had a expanding the most popular features while also
quirks. Cannibalism is a quirk, right? confusing number of troop types that introducing things players have been requesting for years,
If you’ve got enough Piety to spend, were mixed up in strange ways,” says but so far it’s not provided many surprises. It’s absolutely
you can make more radical changes, Fåhraeus. “You couldn’t make playing to its strengths, though, and the extra emphasis on
effectively constructing a new meaningful decisions with this mess role-playing should please nearly everyone.
religion. And yes, you can become a
pope, cosmic timelord, or whatever
you want to call it. That’s when you get to start doing the
really fun stuff, kicking off crusades and holy wars.
Crusader Kings has always had an awkward
relationship with its titular system. It implies it’s all about
conquest from the perspective of some Europeans, but
that’s not remotely the focus, and certainly not now that
years of DLC have made crusades drift further from the
game’s center. CKIII still isn’t really about crusades.
“I was never really happy with the name Crusader
Kings; something like A Game of Kings would have been
better,” says Fåhraeus. “It’s a ruler simulator set the
medieval times. I prefer to be able to cover the whole
world, or at least the whole Old World, somehow. The
problem is that some countries like China or the
Byzantine Empire weren’t really feudal. So you have to
either make the decision to shoehorn them in, or you
don’t let them be played.”
If crusading does tickle your fancy, however, you’ll still
be able to do plenty of it, though Paradox isn’t ready to
spill the beans about war. Well, not all the beans.
Recruitment has been tidied up a bit, splitting troops into
levies and hired warriors. Levies are the peasants toiling

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A SAFE ROOMS.
Crafting the

sanctuary of

videogame


































BRIEF













































RESPITE




















By Sean Martin
38 JANUARY 2020

FE ATU RE















































think it’s safe to say there are few
inviolable elements in videogames.
It can often seem like anything
goes, as in the pure chaos of each
new world, players are tried, duped,
terrified, and thoroughly tested—we
play games, and they play us right
back. It could be weeping as you
repeatedly stomp an already dead
jump-scare Necromorph, worrying
about your heart rate as you face
off against Ornstein and Smough
yet again, or watching, transfixed,
as the causality of your in-game
decisions is brought to bear in the
most tortuous manner possible.
Games take their toll, whether
through intensity, horror, emotion,
or simply sheer visual noise. Enter
safe rooms, the wonderful answer
to the question, “How do we get
players to take breaks if they won’t
stop playing the game?”



































JANUARY 2020 39

FE ATU RE


Safe Rooms




But that seemingly simple “We thought that having nothing but
purpose disguises their true depth. tension throughout the whole game
Safe rooms are utilized in all sorts of would be exhausting for players, so RIGHT BOTTOM:
ways—they can represent an element we designed the save rooms as a safe Much as in real-life,
of progression, a method of travel, or place to take a breather from the Slugcat’s dreams
a hub for player interaction, like the horror,” says Kazunori Kadoi, help players process
their progression
bonfires in Dark Souls. They can be a director on Resident Evil 2’s remake. through the game.
place of trade and upgrading, as well “They were also useful to use as
a vehicle pushing forward an bases for exploring the game, so they BELOW: Bonfires in
overarching community narrative, as added a strategic element.” A room, a Dark Souls are a
with the Tower in Destiny. And yes, musical theme, and a typewriter— symbol of safety, yet
also a reminder of
they can also be a respite from the these have become the iconic your cursed duty.
chaos of the game world. But no elements of the Resident Evil safe
matter how varying their function, room. But while each musical score
most of all, safe rooms are a rare has become synonymous with the
element of security in worlds where idea of safety for many players, if you
few things are sacred. listen closely, they are actually far
more insidious than you might have
IN RESIDENCE thought. “They may be ‘safe rooms’,
A common element in creating the but that safety is fleeting. You always
atmosphere of a safe room is the feel like the moment you step outside
musical score. You may remember the room, you might encounter some
Hollow Knight’s bench theme, nightmare wandering the halls,”
Reflection; Darkest Dungeon’s camp explains Shusaku Uchiyama,
theme, A Brief Respite; or Firelink composer on the original Resident
Shrine’s melancholic string Evil 2. “So it was indeed intentional
overtones. But few game series have for the music to be a mixture of
perfected the art of the safe room peaceful and relaxing elements with
theme better than the Resident Evil a little touch of the uneasy about it.”
games—unsurprising, when you This insidiousness, so often
consider that for over two decades reflected musically, is a key element
they’ve been putting us through hell. of the safe room dynamic—the

























































40 JANUARY 2020

Safe rooms provide a
well-needed break
from Resident Evil’s
hellish game world.







unusual condition of being safe amid that just for the sake of a twist.”
such a dangerous world, by contrast, Resident Evil’s iconic safe rooms and CALMING TUNES
can’t help but remind you of what is themes have undoubtedly gone on to
still left to face. “Effective horror is all inspire a large number of those we The theory behind the theme
about the balance and rhythm of see in gaming today. But I still have a
tension and release; you can’t have all very important question to ask Kadoi:
tension, all the time, or it just Why a typewriter? “I recall that we
becomes tiring,” reflects Uchiyama. “I simply thought at the time of original
think if you left the room silent or game that we needed an object
just had environmental sounds whose function was to make a record
playing, it would actually play into of things, ie your progress, and which
the horror trope would not look
of the quiet out of place in an
moment before a “EFFECTIVE old mansion, and
shock, and a typewriter
players would be HORROR IS ALL seemed to fit the
unable to relax ABOUT THE bill on both
because they counts.” “It’s a bit technical, but bear third-interval notes (in the
above example, that would be
with me!” says Uchiyama. “A
would think BALANCE” chord is made up of multiple the E note) from the chords in
something was CLOUD notes; for a basic major chord, the save room theme and
about to happen.” COVER the first note determines the added an unsettling element
But even Resident Evil, as horrifying If ever there was a game in need of a basic sound (eg the note C), by sprinkling in some sixth and
and then two more notes at seventh interval notes, and
as it can be, understands the safe room, it’s Rain World. Sneaking the third and fifth intervals sometimes seventh or ninth
untouchable nature of safe rooms. As through the ruined city and its above this note make it a chords as well. I also added a
Kadoi reflects, “I don’t think we futuristic ecosystem, your animal chord. So for C, that would be haziness to the sound with
should ever break the rules as far as protagonist, Slugcat, has to stay sharp. C-E-G. Major chords sound pads and drones. In Resident
letting the player be attacked and At any moment a lizard could jump upbeat or happy to us, Evil 7, an effect was used to
hurt in the safe room. We’re out of a nearby pipe to grab you, a whereas minor chords (in this make the music sound like it
was playing from an old
case C, E flat and G) sound sad
supposed to establish rules by which vulture may swoop down and haul or scary. I intentionally record, which was a way to add
you play and complete the game, and you off into the sky, or you could even removed almost all the another layer of atmosphere.”
it would be unfair to break them like just fall into some carnivorous


JANUARY 2020 41

grass—and all the while the timer is approach is so predators can’t sneak likely. One of the finest examples is in
ticking down toward the arrival of up on them—Rain World creates the Warhammer hack ‘n’ slash,
the cataclysmic rain. Rain World does game equivalent of this. A tiny box Vermintide, in The Red Moon Inn, a
grant players one respite however: with one entrance, providing a hub in which players can upgrade
The hibernation chamber. contrast to the dangerous open equipment and interact before
“We wanted the player to spaces Slugcat traverses throughout heading out on their rat-slaying
intuitively embody the head-space the game. Uchiyama explained that adventures. “The initial goal for The
and emotions of the player character: silence can be a horror-trope, but in Red Moon Inn was to create an
a lonely, lost, frightened small Rain World’s case, shelters don’t interactive space where players could
animal,” explains James Primate, reflect silence. Instead they reflect a spend time between missions,” says
Rain World’s co-creator and sensory deprivation, sealing off the Victor Magnuson, game designer at
composer. “The hibernation world behind pneumatic locks. Fatshark. “We felt it would be more
chambers had to play a major role in fun for players to run around in a
this, of course. One of the consistent INN TROUBLE friendly space while waiting, rather
themes of Rain World is the return of The term safe room implies a relative than lurking in a simple menu.” But
the artificial to the natural. The smallness, but on the contrary, safe as time passed The Red Moon
‘hibernation chambers’ are clearly bars, and even safe castles, are just as developed as a community hub, with
artificial; some ugly rusted metal
boxes, possibly for equipment or the
maintenance automatons of some
distant era. And yet, through the TOP: The inn is a
players occupation, it is re-purposed classic element of
as the most natural animal thing: a fantasy role-playing
den.” The safety of this den is also games.
rooted in a very animal sense of
RIGHT: Vermintide’s
spatial awareness. “Those that have safe rooms provide
seen early prototype versions of the a welcome break
game might know that we initially from the lurking
experimented with much larger dangers of the
hibernation rooms which had two Warhammer world.
entrances, and we found that didn’t
work. There needed to be a clear
distinction between ‘world’ and
‘shelter’. To have the effect we
wanted, it needed to be a refuge.”
Apparently the reason cats seek
enclosed spaces with one angle of

42 JANUARY 2020

FE ATU RE


Safe Rooms




paintings, and movement puzzles. sturdy, practical shelter.” Despite the
IT CAN’T RAIN ALL THE TIME But most of all, based on the game’s fact we never see Vermintide’s
inclusion and focus on class careers,
characters living together, Taal’s
Karma creatures it features a room for each character. Horn Keep is a safe room that plays a
“The characters’ rooms were really huge role in creating an implied
fun to design, but we had to be wary co-existence. Alongside the game’s
of not falling into typical fantasy sparky dialogue, it fosters a strong
tropes. It would have been so easy to group dynamic, full of character
do a magical quirks and
library for our backstory,
Bright Wizard, “THE CHARACTERS’ synonymous with
defined by her fantasy
intellect, or to let ROOMS WERE adventure.
our Dwarf’s room REALLY FUN TO Safe rooms
be defined by his affect a variety of
height.” says DESIGN” purposes—at
Setterberg. their most simple
“Instead, we they offer
opted to design their rooms after temporary respite, but at their most
their personalities and character grand represent hubs of community
Rain World’s ‘Karma’ reflects a your base level also increases,
progression based on your allowing you to access new traits. Sienna, being a Bright Wizard, interaction and overarching narrative.
actions during each cycle, areas and progression, which has a room reflecting her chaotic and In many ways they are bittersweet,
building toward a series of are often gated by a Karma addictive relationship with magic. insidious spaces whose existence
end-game achievements. requirements. This not only Anything not sturdy enough in her reminds players of the trials yet to
Tame a lizard? You might get incentivizes survival, but room is set on fire or destroyed. The come. But this strange balance
‘The Friend’ achievement. Gain allows Rain World’s safe rooms
a reputation with the to act as a space where players mercenary Kruber’s room is the most reflects their true nature best of all.
Scavengers? You might can reflect—whether upon human of them all, being very Safe rooms are fixed points
become ‘The Chieftain’. Each their actions, the events of homely and reflecting his desire to straddling the gaming timeline—a
time you successfully each cycle, or on their place come back to his farm and family. simultaneous reminder of all you’ve
hibernate following a cycle, within the ecosystem.
Kerillian, the Wood Elf, is of course done and are yet to do. But they also
found outside the Keep, but in a represent a compact between player
and game: Out there we will throw
more features being added and with everything we have at you, but this
special events such as The Pub space is sacrosanct. Whether it’s a
Brawl, because as Magnuson keep of mismatched adventurers, a
explains, “What better way to room with a table and a typewriter,
celebrate than to get drunk and have or the den of a Slugcat, safe rooms
a fist-fight with your best friends?” are the quiet before the storm.
So when the time came to bid
farewell in Vermintide’s last mission,
Waylaid, the old place went out with
a bang. “The idea of having a surprise
attack on the Red Moon Inn was
something we had been kicking
around since the early days of
production and as Vermintide’s time
came to an end, we felt is was a
perfect way to surprise players,”
reflects Joakim Setterberg, level
designer. “The destruction of the Red
Moon Inn is in every way symbolic—
it ties in to the End Times narrative
that the enemy is never really
defeated, indeed growing stronger ABOVE: Franz
with every setback.” But this rare Lohner, landlord of
example of compromising a safe the Red Moon, always
room was a necessary element in has a word or two for
forwarding Vermintide’s community the world-wearied.
narrative, and in re-situating players RIGHT: Hollow
in Vermintide 2’s wonderful base. Knight’s benches
Taal’s Horn Keep is an incredibly offer a consistency to
players, no matter
varied example of a safe room—a
how deep they delve
sprawling gothic tower featuring into Hallownest.
exploration, combat practice,
dialogue, crafting, trophies, treasure,


JANUARY 2020 43

FE ATU RE


Squad R







































NE































































How modders and veterans

created SQUAD, a military sim


like no other. By Morgan Park

JANUARY 2020 45

FE ATU RE


Squad




eamwork is a hard thing to pull off
in a competitive military FPS. In
Battlefield, a friend with an ammo THICK SKIN How to take out tanks in Squad
bag or medic kit is nice to have, but
ultimately unnecessary. In
Rainbow Six Siege, teamwork
means providing intel or
synergizing your gadget with
another. In Call of Duty, it means…
not a lot. This is by design—
coordination in shooters ranges
from a nice bonus, to a compelling
PROFILES but gamified act that lays out clear
combos between player abilities.

That is not how Squad, a tactical FPS
soon leaving Early Access after years
on Steam, sees teamwork. Squad is
about being a cog in a grand machine.
Matches are long, two-hour struggles TOUGH LUCK TRE AD FL AG BOOM OR BUST
Damage modeling for This diagram from the Penetrate that armor, and
over territory where you don’t know
Chris ‘Irontaxi’ vehicles is especially game’s tutorial shows how the effect will vary based on
Greig if you’re winning until it’s over. realistic. Most games the game assigns a unique where you target—often
VP of Publishing Teams are spread across the simplify tank armor down to armor value to every piece you’ll simply disable the
One of the original kilometers-wide map working a vulnerability to shots from of the exterior. So you get engines, though hitting the
designers of Squad. towards different goals. Maps are so the rear, but Squad takes different results depending ammo storage results in a
big, in fact, that it’s common to chat things far further. where you hit. dramatic explosion.
with someone at the main base in the
staging phase, and then not see them
again for the rest of the match. need to be close to the action, but barbed wire at our weakest flanks.
Squad’s scale is crucial in what difficult to access for enemies. You don’t get ammo just for
makes organization and coordination respawning in Squad, so we had to
paramount. You can’t just respawn on BULLET DROP regularly replenish our stockpile by
Norbert ‘Norby’ a squadmate or at a captured One time my squad leader decided to making runs back to the main base. If
Rothermel objective. Squad leaders have to hunker down at an important FOB, we didn’t, medics would soon run out
Producer construct FOBs (forward operating and make it our job to defend it. We of bandages, our anti-tank soldiers
Served in the German bases). Because efficient built sandbag barricades, constructed couldn’t do their job, and even basic
Armed Forces.
redeployment is powerful, strategic machine-gun nests, set up ladders to ammo would eventually dry up. I
FOB placement is important. They access the rooftops, and placed volunteered to drive the truck.





THE FIGHT WAS

LITERALLY

MILES NORTH,

BUT I WAS
STILL HELPING

IN A BIG WAY

ABOVE: Hard at work
making Squad a
realistic FPS.
LEFT: The models
for soldiers are
highly detailed.

















I spent the next hour as a full-time match is as much about smart
delivery driver, driving back and forth planning and logistics as it is about
for ammo, building supplies, and shooting. That takes a lot of people
chatting with my squadmates upon willing to do a lot of different things.
return. The whole time I didn’t see a As a medic, the role I play most
moment of combat. It might sound often, I have completely different
boring, or like I wasn’t even really priorities when a fight breaks out
participating in the match, but it was than a rifleman. While squadmates
actually deeply satisfying. The fight are scanning the horizon looking for
was literally miles to my north, but I the source of a shot, I’m building a
was still helping in a major way. Our strategy for how to reach and revive
squad was even praised by passerby nearby teammates without losing my
teammates for keeping them head. If their body is lying on a street
well-stocked, and thanks to our hard or in an open plain, that usually
work we eventually managed to means minutes of careful crawling,
outlast the enemy. sticking to dark corners and bushes.
That’s the feeling that Squad nails: Pivotal to the framework of Squad
The satisfaction of being a small part are the limitations on what you can
of something greater. Winning a do as an individual. There’s nothing


JANUARY 2020 47

“THAT’S WHERE I THINK THE

MILITARY SIDE REALLY
STARTED COMING INTO PLAY”








keeping you from ignoring your team teamwork on a massive scale, but
and playing it like a lone wolf. But many of its concepts and mechanics
without backup, a lone rifleman is come from the Battlefield 2 mod that RIGHT: When there’s
helpless against vehicles, can’t build a preceded it: Project Reality. no transport truck
new spawn point, and can’t even heal Released in 2005 only a month available, sometimes
their own wounds. Everything worth after BF2’s launch, Project Reality you have to hoof it to
your objective.
doing in Squad takes a group effort. A attracted a niche audience looking
single sharpshooter doesn’t make for the emphasis on strategy they
much of impact when the game is couldn’t find elsewhere.
truly decided by reviving teammates That audience also included
and choosing when to attack/defend. those actively serving in the military,
So many shooters build their
experiences around opportunities to
be a hero. I never feel like one in
Squad, but I do feel something better: ORDERLY COMMS
Pride for what we accomplished as a
unit. Victory would have been Silence isn’t golden anymore
impossible if our squad leader hadn’t
led, our mortars weren’t accurate,
and I hadn’t patched up our wounds.
As I look at the post-match
scoreboard, I see the rest of our team,
and wonder about the stories they
could tell from their perspectives. A
ruthless hour of fighting over a city
block for me might’ve been another
squad’s stealth mission hunting down
enemy FOBs miles away. Squad
understands what a battle really feels
like. It’s messy, loud, and full of Communication is a audio effects to distinguish
fundamental pillar of Squad, between chatter heard over
uncertainty. The best you can do is and that’s best exemplified by your in-game radio (like orders
listen to your leader, and hope they’re its excellent voice comms. The from your squad leader) and
steering toward steady waters. audio quality is crystal clear, so local chat spoken by soldiers in
there’s no need to gather your vicinity. Voices are spatially
REALITY CHECK separately in Discord. In fact, relevant, so a medic can listen
Squad stands out as the FPS doing that’d be doing the game is a to a soldier’s cries for healing to
determine their location.
disservice, as it adds on subtle
the most to reward coordination and
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when developing Squad’s sound effects, particularly the
crackling of a near-miss bullet whizzing by your head. He
recalled to me the day he first tested the sounds and had a
visceral reaction. “That was the first time since I’d been
back [from service] that a videogame made me flinch,”
Ross says.
He let the team know that they definitely gotten the
sound right, but “a little too right, maybe”. He’s bang
on—I’ve never been more afraid of getting shot at than in
Squad. Whereas other shooters simulate suppression by
blurring your vision or reducing accuracy, in Squad it
works simply through overwhelming noise and a tunnel
vision effect. Fighting through the noise and firing back at
enemies is its own skill (one that I’m still bad at).
Ross’ military insights also directly influenced Squad’s
map design. He was able to point out when sightlines
didn’t feel right, or the layouts didn’t feel appropriate for
military operation. Offworld VP of publishing Chris Greig
(who worked on Squad as a designer in its early days),
remembers talking with Ross about small details that
made a big difference, like the width of a map’s roads.
“[Ross] talked about how treacherous
it was to take a vehicle down some
like Dustin Ross, who works at Squad over 50 maps, 20 factions, and roadways. He described there being a
developer Offworld Industries as hundreds of simulated weapons. It’s wall so close on either side [of the
director of customer experience. impressive even now, but its technical vehicle] that you couldn’t open the
When Ross first discovered ties to Battlefield 2 meant it could doors. And I was like ‘great, that’s
Project Reality in 2006, he was only evolve so far. very important information!’.”
stationed at Camp Pendleton in In 2014, a small group of As a result, Squad’s maps are
California. In his time off he’d developers from the original mod incredibly true to the locations they
make the 12-mile trek to an internet began work on Squad as Offworld BELOW: Most depict. Forests are dense with trees
firefights in Squad
cafe to play Project Reality. PR’s Industries. They wanted to take the and shrubbery while cities flank the
mechanics and communication tools clever concepts of Project Reality and are fought at extreme sky with explorable buildings and
ranges, often over
created scenarios that closely make their own commercial product 100 meters. narrow alleys. Like a real-life
resembled how he interacted with using Unreal Engine 4. patrolling squad, moving out in the
his real-life squadmates. In 2015 the team launched a open is inherently dangerous. This is
“It was really [PR’s] social successful Kickstarter campaign and
interactions, camaraderie, raised the impressive sum of
teamwork, and voice comms that $434,805 CAD, which was over twice
made it resonate with someone who their $184,000 CAD funding goal.
was actively in the military versus an
arcade shooter where it’s more BATTLE TESTED
oriented around individual success,” Ross joined early in Squad’s
Ross says. development as military consultant.
Squad producer Norbert After a few months of consulting he
Rothermel, who served in the transitioned to game designer. Ross
German Armed Forces, loved Project had no formal experience in the
Reality because it enabled a measured game industry, but for a project like
playstyle that wasn’t compatible with Squad, he was the perfect fit.
traditional shooters. He recalled “The technical side of military
playing Counter-Strike with friends in advising isn’t really useful nowadays.
the barracks, and butting heads with Most people can go find the max
how the game wanted him to play. effective range of an M16 rifle on the
“We would play different from internet. What [Offworld] was
how a normal Counter-Strike player interested in was that I could take the
would play. They’d play how they’d overarching ideas and philosophies of
most likely win the game, but since the military and soldier interactions
we were all together in the barracks, and apply them to gameplay,” he says.
we’d focus so much on the teamwork. “That’s where I think the military
Then when I discovered PR, I found side really started coming into play to
that it rewarded the ways we had make Squad what it is today.”
already been playing as military During test sessions Ross would
members,” Rothermel says. be brought in to make sure the game
Project Reality grew over the years still felt like the simulation they were
into a collaborative super mod with going for. His perspective was useful

FE ATU RE


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especially true in cities where there
are too many windows to cover.
RIGHT: Maps are
REAL TALK intricate mazes of
In a shooter that pushes authenticity hills and roads based
on real geographic
at its core, at what point does realism locations.
get in the way of making a better
game? It’s a common discussion at
Offworld Industries that continues
today. By and large Squad’s
mechanics skew toward simulation.
Weapons bounce with appropriate
recoil, bullets penetrate walls, and the
backblast of an RPG can kill a
teammate if you’re not careful. But
Squad also makes lots of small other plays a fictional insurgent include the commander role (a new
concessions to ‘video-gameyness’ in group. As an insurgent medic, my gun class that can order airstrikes and
favor of usability. Your map, for has no sight. I have no chance against scout enemy territory with a drone)
instance, has a full view of every a far-off enemy with an ACOG scope. and 100-player servers. There’s no
teammate’s location. Healing bullet Despite the disparity, Offworld official date, but Rothermel expects
wounds is reduced to a medic maintains a relative balance by that by the time you’re reading this,
holding left click to raise your HP. restricting the faction to maps with these goals will have been met and
For Offworld, ‘realism’ doesn’t just plenty of close combat-friendly areas. Squad will officially be out.
mean simulating reality in every That doesn’t mean the end of new
aspect. “We’re always more SQUAD GOALS Squad content. Rothermel assured
concerned with player behavior than Squad has been a big success for me there’s still an “extensive plan” to
technical realism,” Ross told me. “If Offworld during its life in Early continue development after launch.
we’re trying to drive a realistic Access. Over four years, new factions, Part of that plan is continued support
behavior and create an authentic weapons, vehicles, maps, and modes of the official Squad SDK, which
combat experience, we will do have bolstered the game’s depth. anyone can download for free. With
unrealistic things.” Ross used the Today Squad is closer than ever to the SDK, modders can create new
medic role as an example of this. Offworld’s original vision for a maps, modes, and even implement AI
Even if treating wounds takes a lot standalone Project Reality. As I spoke (with limitations). As a studio
more in real life than just applying a with the team in October, they had founded by modders, support for
bandage, the way the class is just released a big update that adds community content is a focus for the
balanced pushes me into realistic helicopters to select maps. company going forward. Soon,
scenarios. Simplifying the design The question of when to end Offworld will allow officially licensed
makes the action more fluid while Squad’s Early Access period is more servers to run mods endorsed by the
achieving the role-play and spiritual than technical. “We set developer. In an increasingly rare
storytelling that Offworld is going for. ourselves a line of goals back when move for games in 2019, post-launch
Authenticity doesn’t always lend we did the Kickstarter campaign that support will come with zero
itself to balance, though. Every basically says, ‘This is the product we monetary strings attached. Offworld
faction has completely different want to develop. If we have all of this has no plans to introduce
weapons that aren’t created equal. On in, then we consider it complete’. microtransactions or other paid DLC.
some maps one team plays the That vision still holds up,” Rothermel Further under the hood, Offworld
well-equipped US Army while the says. The last things on that list is hard at work rebuilding Squad’s


































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