Key developers behind Tom Clancy's The Division take the extraction shooting mechanics of that game's Dark Zone and build a brand new post-apocalyptic shooter around that idea. Their new game is called Exoborneand it was unveiled on Thursday during The Game Awards.
Developed by Sharkmob, Exoborne is described by its creators as an open-world tactical extraction shooter set in a world “torn apart by apocalyptic forces of nature.” Mother Nature makes herself known in various forms: tornadoes and lightning storms, and in the landslides and earthquakes that have devastated the southeastern US, where Exoborne is set.
Players will take on the role of Reborn: human survivors equipped with special implants that allow them to control powerful suits of armor called Exo-Rigs. “You are what you wear,” says Petter Mannerfelt, creative director Exoborne and former game director of The division during his tenure at Ubisoft.
In a press preview of Sharkmob's new game, Mannerfelt said players will visit locations in the fictional Colton County area in search of resources and technology; fighting wandering bandits and other players; and try to survive with their loot until they reach an extraction point. But it's not a looter shooter, Mannerfelt emphasizes Exoborne has no RPG-style progression or mechanics. It's all about the equipment in your kit.
That gear includes weapons and upgrades for a player's Exo-Rig. Each Exo-Rig has its own strengths and weaknesses, with synergies between allied groups in multiplayer. Exo-Rigs are not only the key to surviving combat and the deadly elements, but also to traversing. Verticality and fast movements are made possible by these suits, thanks to the built-in grappling hooks and gliders. Players can also move around Colton County using zip lines and vehicles scattered throughout the game's maps.
While Exoborne features multiplayer elements including PvP and public events, the developers emphasized that it can also be played solo. Sharkmob also promises an “exciting, evolving story” that will be told through game updates.
Exoborne will be a premium paid game with live service and content updates; it's not free-to-play, which reflects a growing trend of game publishers moving away from that model for live-service games. Exoborne will also face increasing competition in the extraction shooter space in the coming years, with Embark Studios' ARC raidersBungies Marathonand PUBG maker Krafton's Project BlackBudget promises similar sensations. Where Exoborne hopes to distinguish itself in its environment; developers promised that you can throw your opponent into a tornado if your firefight isn't going so well.
Exoborne coming to PC and consoles sometime in 2024.