ARC Raiders has achieved a strong launch with 2.5 million copies sold and over $100 million in revenue within its first week, demonstrating the genre's potential for paid games through its focus on co-op, community, and accessible design. The game’s positive tone, emphasis on cooperation, and strategic onboarding have contributed to its early success, despite the genre's niche appeal and challenges with hardcore meta and live-service sustainability. Embark’s approach of combining a premium price with ongoing content updates positions it well for continued growth in a competitive market.
Nintendo announced that Pauline will appear as a playable co-op character in Donkey Kong Bananza on Switch 2, using her voice for combat and puzzle-solving, with the game set to release on July 17. The game features a musical, third-person shouter mechanic and explores a younger version of Pauline, hinting at a pre-1982 storyline.
Saber Interactive has announced Turok: Origins for the PS5, marking a new chapter in the Turok franchise with a shift to third-person gameplay. The game will feature a blend of dinosaurs, aliens, and robots, staying true to the eclectic nature of the series. Turok: Origins will include both single-player and co-op modes, allowing players to explore the lore of the Turok Warriors without needing prior experience with the franchise. The game aims to appeal to both new and returning fans by offering a fresh take on the classic elements of the series.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, releasing on July 17, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, is a roguelike game where players control the Turtles in a quest to rescue Splinter from the Foot Clan. Featuring randomized power-ups, room layouts, and boss modifiers, the game offers unique runs and co-op gameplay.
In Helldivers 2, players are close to wiping out the Automaton faction as part of Operation Swift Disassembly, with only three planets left under their control. This major order aims to dismantle the Automatons, potentially leading to their elimination from the game for a period. The game's history suggests that this could happen before the conflict resets, and the arrival of a new faction, the Illuminate, is also hinted at. The outcome of this development remains to be seen, adding anticipation for the game's future.
In Helldivers 2, the shift to a closer camera perspective heightens the vulnerability of players facing extraterrestrial threats, emphasizing the fragility of humans and the need for teamwork. The inclusion of friendly fire adds complexity and humor to the gameplay, fostering a sense of community and making every step in the galactic war more meaningful in this co-op experience.
Helldivers 2's latest balance patch introduces new planetary hazards like fire tornadoes and meteor showers, challenging players with nature's wrath alongside bugs and robots. The patch also nerfs popular loadouts while buffing certain weapons and stratagems, and raises completion requirements for the Eradication mission type to deter farming. Despite the changes, Arrowhead Game Studios' quick response to dismantle player shortcuts reflects the game's challenging and enjoyable nature.
The Outlast Trials successfully adapts the series' horror formula for online co-op play, allowing up to four players to navigate trials together while hiding from enemies and utilizing night vision. Despite some drawbacks such as lackluster enemy AI and repetitive visual assets, the game retains the appeal of its predecessors and offers a satisfying multiplayer experience.
The creators of Temtem are developing a new game called Temtem: Swarm, which combines the strategic elements of Temtem combat with the fast-paced "bullet heaven" gameplay popularized by Vampire Survivors. The game will feature monster evolution, catching mechanics, and online 3-player co-op, with a focus on coordinated attacks and resource sharing. It is set to release on Windows PC via Steam with support for Steam Deck, and console versions are also in development.
Aaryn Flynn, CEO of Inflexion Games and former BioWare general manager, showcased the upcoming survival sim "Nightingale" in a co-op gameplay session with RPS editors. The game features a British-influenced "gaslamp fantasy" setting, procedurally generated fairy realms, and unique gameplay mechanics. The group journeyed through different realms, battled creatures, and interacted with the game's world-building features. Flynn discussed the game's distinct biomes, world-building mechanics, and the team's approach to procedural generation. The session provided insights into the game's unique features and showcased its potential for engaging co-op gameplay experiences.
South Park: Snow Day!, the new PvE game from South Park Digital Studios and THQ Nordic, will be released on March 26, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game allows players to team up with friends or bots in co-op mode to take on rivals after a snowstorm cancels school. Snow Day! features winter-themed combat, including melee and ranged weapons, special abilities, and cosmetic unlocks for characters. The standard version is priced at $29.99, with a Digital Deluxe Edition available for $49.99 and a Collector's Edition for $219.99.
Moon Studios, the creators of Ori and the Blind Forest, have announced their next project, No Rest for the Wicked, a visually stunning action RPG. The game will launch in early access on PC in 2024, with a full release planned for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. No Rest for the Wicked focuses on combat, offering animation-driven, direct, and tactile fights, and features co-op gameplay for up to four players. The game is set in a fantasy world plagued by political turmoil and a deadly plague. It is being published by Private Division and more details will be revealed during a livestream event on March 1st.
Xbox and Wu-Tang Clan are collaborating on a new action RPG called Project Shaolin, developed by Brass Lion Entertainment. The game is a third-person melee-oriented RPG with four-player co-op, featuring the Wu-Tang Clan's music and members as playable characters. It includes loot, weapons, and gear from defeated enemies, and has a central social hub called the 'Neighborhood'. The game's visuals are bright, colorful, and anime-like, with gameplay footage suggesting a release date of one to two years away.
Wizard with a Gun is a survival sandbox shooter that offers unique combat scenarios in a magical world where players are wizards armed with guns. While the game has potential, it suffers from balance issues, particularly in co-op mode, and an unsatisfying ending. The variety of spells and bullet types is uneven, with lightning abilities overshadowing other options. The game's story and lore are underwhelming, and the final boss battle lacks strategy. With updates and improvements, Wizard with a Gun could fulfill its initial promise, but currently feels incomplete.
Endless Dungeon is a daring and successful hybrid of twin-stick shooting, tower defense, and roguelite genres. Set aboard a multi-leveled space station, players control a cast of colorful heroes who must reach the station's Core to reactivate it and escape. The game features solid gameplay mechanics, a well-paced mix of tension and action, procedurally generated levels that feel purpose-built, and a variety of enemies and weapons. The tower defense elements add depth and strategy, while the roguelite nature of the game keeps each run meaningful. Co-op gameplay with friends enhances the experience.
