Outbreak lurches towards release with all new media and updates!
October Development Update
The focus over the last month has been adding game content like new scenarios, new features such as voice chat and polish. The four main game scenarios are now built and playable from start to finish. Each features a unique graphical theme to differentiate themselves, as well as different challenges and mechanics.
Features like online gameplay have received significant polish to ensure players are kept in sync well at all times. Voice chat is also natively implemented into the game and should "just work" when you join a game. You'll have all of the standard options like muting as well. New monsters and variants are also now included and there has been significant tuning to difficulty across all of the scenarios. The UI across the entire game has also been greatly polished and expanded to be more helpful and intuitive.
This month has also brought significant development of a new game mode in addition to the campaign, Onslaught. Rooted between the standard modern horde-mode and "extra" modes from classic survival horror, it provides more of an action-based shooter experience.
Miasma - The Third Scenario
Miasma takes place directly after the Chasmal scenario. After successfully dealing with an out of control furnace, the survivors attempt to reach safety within the hospital's medical college. Unfortunately, their meddling with the furnace has caused dangerous gases to leak into the area, which will poison them if they don't keep moving!
The medical college runs in stark contrast to the dark underground tunnels of Chasmal. It's more bright and festive as a major party was underway when the epidemic hit. You'll need to navigate the college and find a way out before the creatures or poison gas eliminates your group.
Enkindle - The Final Scenario
Enkindle is the final chapter of the main Outbreak campaign. After the events in the medical college, our survivors find themselves trapped deep underground in a high-tech lab. There they will discover the source of the outbreak and attempt to make their final escape.
The major theme of Enkindle is a sterile, high-tech environment that has been ravaged by the undead threat. The player will need to navigate a dangerous maze as they desperately search for any way to escape. If you've played other classic survival horror experiences, you may be able to intuit how their adventure may end...
Past The Campaign...
In addition to the co-op story campaign, Outbreak presents a fun extra single-player & co-op mode as a callback to classic survival horror games called Onslaught. Whereas the campaign is meant to be a linear horror-based experience with some action, Onslaught is the exact inverse. It's an open-ended horde-based survival mode where the survivors will battle wave after wave of monsters.
As they defeat additional monsters, they will gather resources that can be used to purchase equipment and unlock new areas of the level. Between each wave, they will receive a short amount of time to gather their supplies and organize their team before a new wave approaches.
Onslaught is designed to be an experience that forces both turtling and exploration gameplay. During the waves, you'll want to find a defensible room and use the combined firepower of your team to overwhelm the creatures. But your limited inventory means that supplies will run short quick. You'll have to strategically determine when it is the best time to run out and buy more ammo or weapons.
As the waves bleed on, new enemies will begin to appear offering higher payouts. Their health and speed will also continue to evolve as you continue to survive. The mode is endless and it's designed to be a frustrating but fun replayable experience. Only the best equipment will be hidden deep in the level behind the costliest barriers to clear.
We're So Close!
Outbreak is quickly approaching its early access launch in Winter 2016. We will be continuing to add content, polish and balance to the experience in the coming weeks. Expect to see some initial content from streamers in the coming month or two, as well as more of a concerted press push.
Keep telling your friends about Outbreak. We appreciate your support! Outbreak is the first step in realizing the return of multiplayer co-op survival horror. If we can find success in this game, we intend to continue to new experiences in different mediums including 3D. Supporting Outbreak will support a long-stream of survival horror experiences in the years to come!
Thank you for reading. We look forward to surviving with you in Winter 2016!