Mundfish's CEO and Atomic Heart's Game Director Robert Bagratuni answered questions from the largest Japanese magazine Famitsu. Check out the interview below to find out some details about the upcoming DLC#3 and more!
1) Hi! Looking back at the two DLCs that have already been released, what do you think of them now?
We always strive to develop the world of Atomic Heart, adding more depth and variety to it with new mechanics, locations or storylines. And we really love both released DLCs - each of them was an opportunity for us to experiment and find new ways to entertain players. Of course, not all of them worked perfectly, but this is an integral part of experiments that allow you to find something really cool and unusual. We are grateful to the players for their support and listen carefully to absolutely all their opinions - they motivate us to move forward and help us understand what needs to be improved and what is already working great. We created DLC#3 with the same approach, which will pleasantly surprise players, because we will not exaggerate if we say that we tried to make it the most exciting one so far.
2) Tell us what the theme of DLC#3 will be?
We can say that the main theme of DLC#3 is "return". And this word here has several meanings at once: the return of players to their favorite gameplay, as well as the return of the characters to what was lost. This motive will be key both in the plot and in the general atmosphere of the DLC.
3) Can you share any details about the setting and story of DLC#3? The previously released teaser showed a giant robot dancing on the streets of the airborne city of Chelomey, engulfed in flames. Are there any hidden hints?
The story will continue after the DLC#2, at the end of which P-3 returns from Limbo, so now all the action will take place solely in the game’s real world again. New adventures will take players to new amazing locations, as well as to familiar territories that have changed beyond recognition. The Chelomey Complex is one such place, and as you can see, it's not possible anymore to calmly walk there, enjoying the surroundings. Talking about hints, there is the obvious one on the surface: to achieve the goal, you will have to sweat. For example, even though this huge dancing robot was previously friendly, now it poses a great danger to P-3.
4) Tell us, will there be any new mechanics in DLC#3, as there were in DLC#1 and #2?
We always try to give players fresh emotions, and with DLC#3 our main focus was to make sure that players constantly receive new experiences. So, in addition to new weapons and abilities, players can expect other new gameplay elements, including new ways to interact with the environment and more. And we are very excited to finally implement them, since we started thinking about some of them a long time ago and are incredibly happy that we finally have the opportunity to bring them to players in DLC#3.
5) Do you plan to release any new features along with the release of DLC#3?
We're not ready to reveal all the details yet, but yes, we have something interesting in store for players. We hear various wishes from players about how they would like to enrich their gameplay, so we are currently working on a solution that could provide some flexibility in this regard.
6) Are there any specific points you'd like players to focus on while playing DLC#3?
Our goal has always been to evoke emotions in players. In the main game, there were many contrasting moments that made players feel joy or sad, and in DLC#3, we want to give them the opportunity to experience such emotions again. Therefore, we want players to focus on the characters and their relationships this time, as DLC#3 will have many interesting and emotional interactions between them.
7) Any news on DLC#3 release date?
At this stage, we confirm that the DLC will be released soon. The team is working hard to complete it, and we are confident that the additional time spent on development will allow us to create the experience that all our players and fans deserve. We’ve already started sharing information about DLC#3 more actively, so we advise everyone to stay tuned not to miss new details!