Now that we know Embark Studios have delayed ARC Raiders into 2023, so that they can add a PvP mode, as well as not have to launch their first two games concurrently, what lies ahead of us for the FPS currently code-named Project Discovery, which will be their first game to launch? In this blog, I’m going to be talking about that, as well as some additional thoughts I have about what Project Discovery’s gameplay will be like.
With Embark Studios’ second game in development being brought forward to become the studio’s debut release, we can now expect a whole suite of different information from the Embark team over the next few weeks and months.
As well as confirming that the game will be "team-based" and "free-to-play," Owen Mahoney, the CEO of Nexon, Embark Studio’s majority shareholder, said during the recent company earnings call that “The team is planning a large scale beta test in early fall which will provide valuable feedback and help us decide on launch timing.” And that at this stage “our plan is to launch Discovery around the end of this year.”
So, when will we start to see more information about the game? Here’s a timeline that I think is pretty realistic:
The next major gaming event that would make sense for a showing from Embark, is Gamescom, which has its opening night on August 23rd. I’m expecting that this is when we’ll see the first full trailer for Project Discovery - which, if correct, is pretty damned exciting because that’s less than a week away.
When Embark premiered the ARC Raiders trailer at The Game Awards in December 2021, they dropped a twenty-second teaser on Twitter three days prior to the trailer premiere. That teaser also acted as the announcement of the ARC Raiders name, which prior to that had been code-name 'Project Pioneer.'
I’d expect Embark to do exactly the same for Project Discovery, which means we should find out the final name for the game on August 20, or thereabouts - so just a few days away.
As well as the game trailer being premiered at Gamescom, I think it’s quite likely they’ll announce a date for the public beta test as well - let’s call that date Late September, for the moment. I think they’ll also give us the game’s website and how we can pre-register for the beta test. I’m hoping we get a launch date at Gamescom too, but they might make that a loose date like “Late 2022” or even “Winter” if they want the flexibility to shift the launch into early 2023, if they need to, following the beta test.
Between the trailer premiere at Gamescom and the beta test in early Fall, I would hope that Embark drops a few more teasers on Twitter as well as release some extended gameplay footage to us so we can get a proper look at what the game is actually all about.
And then before the actual launch of the game, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a second trailer at The Game Awards in December, with the actual launch date being announced then, which could even be on the same day.
Ok, but what about the gameplay? Now that Project Discovery is the first game that we’re going to get to play from Embark Studios, we can start to talk about that a bit more.
I’ve previously created a detailed analysis of the only teaser we’ve had so far for Project Discovery. The seven-second low res teaser was tweeted out by Embark in early November last year. There are a couple of particular aspects of the game, that I didn’t really cover in that original breakdown video, that I think warrant a bit more discussion, now that we know it’s a team-based game.
From the teaser, we can see that even though there’s going to be lots of close-quarters combat set in an urban environment, that urban setting, itself, is set within some type of stadium or arena, which also provides lighting for nighttime rounds. I’m expecting from this that the gameplay will basically be team versus team, trying to complete some sort of objective before being eliminated one-by-one by your opponents.
The concept art below, and the seven-second teaser, both show that when players are eliminated, their bodies release gold coins. At a guess, these coins could be a prize that is essentially passed on to the player that came out on top in the one-v-one. Meaning, that as players are eliminated the remaining players become of higher and higher value to eliminate. That wouldn’t necessarily drive players together though - the driving force to move into combat in Project Discovery, as yet, remains a mystery. I do hope, however, that it’s not a closing circle - the FPS game genre certainly doesn’t need another battle royale.
More importantly though, whatever the pressure is within the game is that forces players into combat, team-based games like this all have a common problem that developers have to come up with a solution for, and that’s what do you do with team mates that are eliminated and are waiting for their buddies to finish the game. It’s easy for them to get bored while being forced to the sidelines waiting for the next round - especially if you happen to be the person that has the least skill when playing with your best mates. You’re going to end up feeling like you spend more time waiting than you do contributing to your team’s success.
As an example, Call of Duty Warzone deals with this issue in multiple ways. Firstly, by throwing you into the 'Gulag', which is essentially a side-game where you compete 1v1 with another eliminated player to earn the right to spawn back into the game by eliminating them. You can also have your teammates buy you back into the game, but that relies on them having the in-game cash, the opportunity or the will to do that - your chance to play again is left up to someone else and some luck. Lastly, if you can’t get back into the game for whatever reason, you can spectate others playing, which is kind of the lowest reward that can be offered for your precious game time in this situation.
Now, I think Embark Studios may have come up with a unique alternative to these options. And it’s this wrecking ball you see below here from the game's first teaser that I’ve been thinking about for this.
When eliminated players are sent to the sidelines, they might still be able to contribute to their team’s victory by taking the controls of a crane that smashes a wrecking ball through the map, destroying whatever it hits. This would keep you more engaged while you wait for the opportunity to compete in another round because you’re actually still playing the round. For some players, who might enjoy playing with their mates, but haven’t developed great gunplay skills, this might actually become their speciality. Knowing that they’re likely to get knocked out early on, but that they are an absolute animal with the wrecking ball, and eliminating their team’s opponents neatly from the sidelines, would make them feel valued. Play as a team and win as a team, no matter who gets eliminated first.
What do you think - is this wrecking ball going to be a clever answer to the recurring boredom of being eliminated early in team-based shooters? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your day. Kia kaha, stay strong!
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