Battlefield "Battle Royale" RedSec has brought more life to Battlefield 6 than it's seen since launch. Not that the game was dead or anything; it regularly boasted well over 300,000 players, sometimes hitting 400,000 on weekends.

Thanks to REDSEC, though, it's now over 500,000 on a Tuesday afternoon! Yes, over half a million players have jumped onto play the Battle Royale mode that was shadow-dropped only hours ago.

Now, I get it, it wasn't really shadow-dropped since it was probably the world's worst-kept secret up until the day before, when DICE themselves announced more would be revealed on the upcoming mode. Let's not kid ourselves, though. This mode has barely any marketing, and it's already reached numbers that would make any developer weep with joy.

What's more, it's actually a ton of fun. I've played a few matches already, and I've had a blast dropping bombs, bullets, and vehicles on players from the neighborhood to the parking ramp.

The formula feels almost too similar to the likes of Warzone, but that's not a bad thing either. Given the mode's freshness, it's nice to play a battle royale that's just a ton of fun and not solely populated by the sweat-donation retirement community.

I do wish more people would talk, though. I haven't had a single duo partner who's been willing to chat yet. Either I'm just that unlucky, or people are in sheer shock in my presence.

Where will Battlefield 5 REDSEC go from here?

I know it might be early for some to talk about this, but the mode has been under the tutelage of the Battlefield Labs community for the last few weeks. Getting put through the ringer, dedicated Battlefield and Battle Royale fans have been putting REDSEC through its paces to get it to where it is today.

Like all Battlefield game modes, I'm sure we can expect to see some changes made to the game. For starters, one mechanic has split the community: loadouts.

A bit popularized by Call of Duty: Warzone, loadouts are kits players can call in by completing missions and other tasks. These loadouts will contain players' favored weapons when called in and collected.

I already managed to grab a few of these off players, managing a purple and legendary weapon off some scrubs who totally didn't have their backs turned to me. It was a super fair gunfight, with absolutely zero luck on my part.

The new meta build will be born from this, either some weird thermal scope, or other demonic-like SMG/AR/DMR combination that will give players a leg up on others who've been relying on the RNG gods to grant them favor. At least you only get your favorite weapon from the drop, for now.

When I talk about the future of REDSEC, I'm not only talking about the positive changes that can be made, but also potentially negative ones. What I'd hate to see is a complete copy of the Warzone loadout setup, where players will get their favorite gadgets, second weapon, and items on top of it all.

I want Battlefield REDSEC to move away from the Warzone recipe rather than closer to it. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it's 2025, not 2020. I want something new and unique rather than a slight twist on an already popularized formula.

As the dust settles, Battlefield 6 REDSEC will ultimately be judged more harshly by the dedicated crowd. Who and what that crowd is, or at least, the loudest portion of it, will ultimately be the direction REDSEC takes.

With that said, if you have something to say about the mode, now is the best and greatest time to speak out about it. Let your voice be heard in the form of constructive feedback, let us tell DICE what's what, and how we want our Battle Royale game to play.

The future of Battlefield REDSEC lies in its playerbase. Live or die, the game mode starts with gamers. As a free-to-play title, goodwill can only carry you so far.

What changes would you make?

Speaking of, "let your voices be heard," what changes would you make to the game? Like I said before, it's Battlefield's take on Warzone.

From crates to random items on the ground, it almost felt like a Warzone DLC rather than a full-fledged game. Nearly as if the entire development team over at DICE only played Call of Duty: Warzone, having never tried the likes of PUBG, Fortnite (I know), or something like Apex Legends.

I realize the grounded combat system lends itself to something closer to Warzone or PUBG, but I didn't expect an exact copy, did you?

For starters, I'd like to see loadouts entirely removed. This whole thing just reeks of repetitive meta gameplay. Every single person will gravitate toward the same loadouts over time, with no uniqueness beyond the classes chosen.

With something like ARC Raiders just around the corner, this launch was pivoted in time to come out before one of the most-hyped extraction shooter releases of 2025. I'd say the most-hyped, but I have to give credit to Escape From Tarkov, also launching later this year.

The window for Battlefield REDSEC to differentiate itself is limited, and time will tell whether DICE can pull it off. As I write this, and player counts continue to rise, so do reviews.

So far, I've read one review that said, "Did I download Warzone by mistake?" This game mode could be dead before it even gets a chance to run if DICE isn't careful.

What do you think of Battlefield REDSEC? Let us know below or on one of our social media channels. Are there changes you'd like to see made, or are you already out on the whole Battle Royale thing?

Hot off the tarmac is Battlefield REDSEC, the Battlefield Battle Royale take by the developers at DICE. Whether it's the enormously high player count or the reviews coming in, Everyone has something hot to say about the latest Battlefield flame.

Launched only hours ago, Battlefield 6 REDSEC has already reached over 500,000 players. Like all Steam launches, you either hit it good or hear all about everything you've ever done wrong. So far, players are saying both at the top of their lungs.

Hitting a total of 760 confirmed reviews in the past 6 hours, Battlefield REDSEC sits at exactly 50% at the time of writing. Hey, look, another free-to-play game with a rocky launch. Who'd have thunk it?

What's wrong with Battlefield REDSEC?

The first complaint I see from folks is that many of the Battle Pass challenges are tied to REDSEC, forcing players to participate or miss out on valuable Battle Pass tokens. As with the first one shown in the screenshot above, after completing seven weekly challenges, players must play Battlefield REDSEC or lose tokens.

Many challenges in the game aren't tied to a specific game mode; if they are, they're part of the Battlefield 6 experience that players paid for: Grounded warfare between two teams.

Forcing players into an entirely different genre like Battle Royale, which is different to the point that it's a free-to-play addon, hits on a whole new level.

Looking over the current weekly challenges, none of them are tied to any game modes other than the new REDSEC modes. To make it even weirder, some of the challenges that can be completed with the main game aren't even unlocked through REDSEC.

Take, for example, the challenge listed above, "Complete weekly games." After two rounds played, neither of them counted as a completed game. I stayed as long as I could for both rounds played.

Here are some of the player reviews on Steam:

• "Why is the battle pass I got for Battlefield 6 trying to push me towards playing this crud?" — 00_01_02
• "They force you to play Battle Royale by putting this trash mode in weekly challenges. P.S. If you don't play them, it's much slower to progress in the battle pass, and the five rerolls don't help when almost half of the challenges are battle royale...." — Trash Panda
• "I wouldn't hate it so much if I weren't forced to play it for challenges in the main game. But I am. So I do. This is not why I bought Battlefield 6." — Doombox

Forcing players to play Battle Royale, which couldn't be further from the overall vibe Battlefield 6 has, is entirely counter-productive to keeping your fanbase happy. A promised ground experience turning into forced Zoomer game modes isn't what the Battlefield players want, and that's clear.

Is Battlefield REDSEC a "Wholesale copy of Warzone"?

While weekly challenges tied to REDSEC are one thing, it's another for players to claim your game outright is a copy of any other game, especially when that game is Call of Duty: Warzone. I don't entirely disagree either.

From the moment I hit the ground, everything felt all too similar to something I had played before. That similarity wasn't Battlefield, but the last game of Warzone I played sometime back in late 2024. From the loadout drops to the crates on the ground. Everything had that "open and pick up" feeling that's synonymous with every round of Warzone.

I liked it, sure, which seems to be about half of us, but it's impossible to say REDSEC doesn't feel like a Warzone clone with a straight face. Bounty missions, weapons with incremental upgrades marked by purple and orange colors, second-chance mechanics, all of it felt like I was back in Warzone.

I'm not the only one, either, according to Steam reviews, where players are giving similar thoughts:

• "Absolutely soulless, near-sighted cash grab and a wholesale COPY of Warzone." — BILL HAVERCHUCK
• "I was hoping for something different and fresh from the BR world, perhaps for a lot slower version of Warzone for my old brain. I wasn't overly confident about it, though, since the last 3 or 4 years, BF has been getting closer and closer to COD in terms of running, gunning, and sliding everywhere. After playing this, yeah, it's basically Warzone 3.0" — jonnny!
• "Another garbage Warzone clone, we don't need more battle royales." — FuNk

When I first heard about Battlefield REDSEC, I thought DICE had a real chance to shake up the genre. Similar to my feelings when it comes to ARC Raiders, I wanted a Battle Royale that played and looked different from the competition.

Battlefield 6 had all the positive press in the world to change the mindset of players when it comes to Battle Royale, and rather than making something truly unique, we've been granted a Warzone variant with similarly forced progression.

I don't like it, and neither do thousands of other players. In a genre that's beginning to stagnate, copying the top dog doesn't push the mode forward. All it does is reiterate that battle royale games are really starting to deteriorate.

What can DICE do at this point to change up Battlefield REDSEC? I'm not sure, but for starters, they can drop meta loadouts and forced integration with the main game. That would be a fantastic starter pack.

How about you? How are you getting on with Battlefield REDSEC? Let us know below or on one of our social media channels. Do you think REDSEC will succeed, or get buried by the already established competition and the likes of the up-and-coming ARC Raiders?

It's no secret that Battlefield 6 has reached success beyond anything the franchise has ever seen. Crossing 7 million sales last week, DICE isn't done looking to dominate the battlefield of FPS shooters. Now, it's coming for the battle royale crown.

While it's no secret that DICE is working on a Battlefield Battle Royale experience, it's now rumored that the mode will be released on October 28, 2025. That's only a day away if the rumor is to be believed. Initially reported by ModernWarzone on X (which, by the way, I think is hilarious), they said the following:

"EXCLUSIVE: The F2P Battlefield 6 battle royale is officially named "Battlefield: RedSec". Releasing October 28th as previously reported, however, it looks like there won't be any trailers or official announcements until the 28th itself, instead of a day before. Full on shadowdrop"

During the last patch for Battlefield 6, DICE also announced that a few changes were coming to the Battle Royale mode:

• Close-range TTK: We've adjusted time-to-kill at close range for all weapons to reward clean positioning and tracking while giving players more time to counter attacks. We'll keep monitoring this once it's live.
• Armor Changes: Everyone will now have the capacity for 2 armor plates at the start of the game. All players will spawn with 1 plate, so you will have the chance to upgrade as soon as you start looting, giving everyone an equal chance at upgrading their armor fully.
• World Improvements: We've been fixing pesky world bugs and optimizing areas to improve the environment. With these improvements, we made adjustments to the lighting as well as enhancing the visibility across the map.
• Vehicle Balance: We've adjusted the balance for helicopters and combat vehicles to keep them as powerful tools showing off Battlefield's core DNA, without making them necessary to survive or win the late game. This includes significant adjustments to the heli countermeasures and ammo economy.
• We have also been working on providing smoother performance overall. We have identified and addressed a range of issues that affected performance that we simply couldn't have done without our players' involvement in the tests.

Outside official news, quite a few other details have leaked, even piquing my BR-retired gaming sense. I repeat, the following are all rumors. Squad sizes are supposedly locked to duos and quads for now. With no option for solo or trio play, at least so far.

As for loadouts, players will be able to call in custom loadouts, similar to Warzone, by completing missions during the match, such as bounties, demolitions, and more. Players will also earn a free drop mid-match, available to all at a certain point.

You'll also be able to call your teammates back into the action through the use of revive stations. So far, nothing has been leaked detailing anything similar to the Gulag from Warzone.

The firestorm will make a return in a similar form to the last Battlefield release, which was all but fun to play. Hopefully, it's nothing like the gas in Warzone or the storm in Fortnite. I want a zone that straight-up kills players.

Since this is a Battlefield Battle Royale, this rumor seems the safest of all, but vehicles will be available for players to obtain. These include regular autos, tanks, and other ammo-driven tools of destruction. These are supposedly limited in terms of ammo to prevent long-term abuse of tanks, etc.

If all this ends up being true, it looks like I might be pretty damn busy playing RedSec just two days before ARC Raiders drops. Which is usually much more my pace, but who knows, maybe Battlefield will be the one to bring me back into Battle Royale.

What do you think? Are you excited to get your hands on Battlefield RedSec? Let us know below or on social media!

Battlefield 6 ended its beta on a high note, drawing thousands of eager players who even queued in menus before matches went live. It went on to break 500,000 concurrent players on Steam alone — a clear sign that Battlefield is back in a big way.

But no competitive shooter launches these days, it seems, without a Battle Royale mode. Like it or not, Battlefield 6 has one, and it’s aiming to be different. I’ll personally be hoping it avoids the missteps of Splitgate 2, whose underwhelming Battle Royale pushed the game back into beta.

A brutal new take on the shrinking ring

Unlike most Battle Royale games where the zone slowly chips away at your health, Battlefield 6 takes a far harsher approach. Traditionally, players can heal through the damage or pull off clutch plays while stuck in the zone, leading to plenty of tense moments and highlight clips. None of that will be possible here; if you touch the zone, you’re instantly eliminated.

It’s a drastic change, and honestly, I’m here for it. This approach should push players into fights faster and keep matches from dragging, solving the slow starts that often plague the genre. Call of Duty: Warzone has long struggled with players abusing the zone to win, even after multiple balance tweaks. With no way to exploit it in Battlefield 6, it’ll be fun to see just how chaotic things get.

Squad-focused chaos on a massive scale

Like most Battle Royale games, Battlefield 6 will feature 100 players split into 25 squads of four, which is a familiar setup for the genre. What sets it apart is the return of Battlefield’s class system. Players can mix classes to build a balanced squad, or all choose the same class, but once you lock in your choice, it can’t be changed mid-match.

You won’t start empty-handed, either. Each class begins with two gadgets, and as the match progresses, you can earn XP by eliminating players or completing missions. This XP contributes to both your personal level, unlocking new traits that enhance your chosen class mid-match.

One example given is the Assault class gaining faster armor plate equip speed, giving them a slight edge in fights. There’s also Intel cases to look out for, which provide XP to whole of your squad.

The map, progression, loot and second changes…

In true Battlefield 6 fashion, there’s a brand-new map built entirely around destruction, allowing its layout to shift and change between matches. Vehicles also return, ranging from fast transport options to heavily armored powerhouses that can swing the momentum of a fight.

Players can choose from four classes — Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon — each with distinct roles and gadgets. A training path system lets squads earn XP during matches, unlocking new traits and one-time abilities as they level up their chosen classes.

The loot system includes five weapon tiers alongside attachments, throwables, gadgets, and strike packages, which are powerful tactical rewards like air strikes that can turn the tide of battle. There’s also a second chance system, with the Support class able to revive teammates and a redeploy feature that lets players return after being eliminated or caught in the zone.

Leaks, launch hopes, and lessons from the past

Battlefield Labs is currently testing the mode, though it’s all under NDA, and some early leaks have already surfaced — something EA is no doubt unhappy about.

There aren’t many official details yet, and I’ve tried to highlight the most important ones here, but you can find more information in EA's blog post.

The mode sounds like a genuine breath of fresh air for the genre, and I’m hoping it launches alongside Battlefield 6 in October 2025. It’s still unclear whether it will be bundled with the main game or released as a free-to-play standalone, but hopefully it avoids the fate of Battlefield V and Battlefield 2042, whose Battle Royale attempts were poorly received and quickly abandoned.

I have high hopes for Battlefield, and I want Call of Duty to finally have real competition again. My only concern is that the mode could become the main focus, pulling attention away from the traditional multiplayer experience that made the series great in the first place.

Midwinter Entertainment's Scavengers is unlike other battle royale games in that it has a unique PvEvP focus in which players have to worry about environmental threats as well as other squads. You don't have to be the last team standing to win, either — you just need to board the dropship that comes at the end of the match and be alive on it when it takes off. These factors make Scavengers play much differently than other battle royales, and as a result, longtime fans of the genre will likely struggle to adjust. Don't worry, though, because we're here to help with valuable tips and tricks that will help you make it out of the frozen wastelands alive.

Form a balanced team composition

Before the match even starts, it's important that you and your teammates pick a good mix of characters that cover each other's weaknesses. For example, Tarik is a powerful sniper character, so pairing him with the close-quarters brawler Valora and a medium range character like Halden or Kali is a good idea. This gives your team effective and optimal ways to fight at all ranges.

You can make specialized team compositions work, too — for example, Valora, Cruz, and Jae would be a deadly close-quarters combat trio — but the risk of going with a setup like this is that you may be stuck trying to fight enemies or players outside of your effective range due to factors such as the location of the dropship or the roaming storms on the map. Therefore, it's best to be prepared for anything.

Don't be too aggressive (or passive)

One of the most important things to remember in Scavengers is that being too aggressive or too passive will ultimately make things much harder for you. Being too aggressive and trying to frequently attack other teams or constantly trying to assault AI strongholds for salvage will put a target on your back and make it difficult for you to avoid being overwhelmed by other players. However, if you're too passive, you may not be able to make it to the dropship in time before it takes off, and even if you do manage to get onboard, you probably won't have that much salvage.

Therefore, it's important to strike a delicate balance. If you spend several minutes fighting enemies or players, spend a few minutes lying low and scouting out the map to stay hidden. If you have thermal boosters or access to a good shelter, you can even enter a nearby roaming snowstorm to avoid visual and radar detection. On the other hand, don't be afraid to try to take down a boss or set up an ambush for other players if you haven't seen any action for a long time.

Make warming up a priority

While the threat of the cold weather may not seem too dangerous in Scavengers' early game, it can often result in your team's death in the later stages of the match as roaming storms become deadlier and approaching points of interest that have fires in them becomes riskier. Therefore, you should make a point to top off your warmth meter every chance you get. If your warmth runs out, the cold will begin to drain your health, so get toasty at every opportunity you can. Warming up doesn't take very long, so it shouldn't interfere with your team's battleplan much.

Additionally, you should always grab any thermal boosters you find while exploring the map. These items give you a temporary immunity to the freezing weather, which can mean the difference between life and death in some situations. Just make sure to save them for instances where you know that you won't be near a fire for a long time.

Use your abilities together

The special abilities that each character has are powerful on their own, but they truly shine when you use them in combination with one another. For example, one of the best ways to heal up in a firefight is to have Valora use her Aegis Shield ability to create protection for your team and then have Halden drop his Curative Aura inside of the shield to heal everyone. Another example of a good ability combination is to pair Cruz' Tailwind speed boost with Jae's Overshield, turning Jae into a speedy and tanky melee brawler.

It's important that you time your abilities well, however, as if everyone in the team uses them at a bad time, you may be stuck waiting on a cooldown right when you need your abilities most. Therefore, make sure you communicate to your allies when you want to perform an ability combo and see if they agree.

Don't rush to the dropship

While you may want to rush to the dropship as soon as it touches down, this is generally a bad idea. Not only will several other teams likely be able to see and shoot you as you head towards it, but being the first team into the dropship means that you need to worry about other players coming in after you from all directions. Even the best players will likely be overwhelmed by so many other people arriving at once.

Instead, I recommend making your way to the dropship slowly and carefully, taking great care to avoid detection as much as you can. Use cover to hide periodically and don't engage other players unless they spot you. This approach will usually let you reach the dropship undetected, which not only ensures that you'll be able to get in it, but also gives you an opportunity to catch some of the players inside of the dropship already off-guard. If you manage to take these players down, you'll likely get a ton of their salvage, which ill in turn boost your placement on the scoreboard. Just make sure that you don't take too long to reach the dropship, lest you get left behind.

Your thoughts

What do you think of these tips? Do you have any others that you can offer to new Explorers looking to win big? Let me know in the comments. Scavengers just might end up being one of the best multiplayer PC games as well as one of the best Xbox multiplayer games when it eventually releases on the console, so don't overlook it. It's out in Steam Early Access now, and is expected to come to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, PS5, and PS4 later in 2021. If Scavengers doesn't sound like a good fit for you, however, make sure you check out our roundup of the best battle royale games for Windows PCs for other awesome alternatives.

Midwinter Entertainment's debut title Scavengers is a free-to-play battle royale with some twists: not only do you need to worry about other players, but you'll also need to be wary of the dangers of the game's frigid winter environment. Deadly groups of scavenger cannibals, hordes of zombie-like monsters, various forms of wildlife, and the freezing weather all stand between you and the dropship that you need to be on before it skyrockets into orbit.

Here's everything you need to know about Scavengers, including in-depth gameplay details, what you can expect from the game's progression systems, release date information, and more.

Scavengers: Development and reveal

Scavengers was first announced during The Game Awards in 2018 with a short announcement trailer that gave players a first look at the setting, including an emphasis on the game's frozen environments. Since then, the developers have been conducting alpha playtests with the community, adding more features and just generally polishing the game. This has culminated in the game's arrival on Steam Early Access in 2021.

During the reveal, fans also learned that the studio behind Scavengers, Midwinter Entertainment, was founded by and consists of several ex-343 Industries developers that worked on the Halo series. Some notable names include former studio head and creative director Josh Holmes and executive producer Mary Olson.

Scavengers: Story and setting

There's not a ton that we know about the story of Scavengers, but what we do know that it's set on a post-apocalyptic Earth that was subject to an ice age after the Moon was destroyed. An infection called the Scourge also broke out, turning humans and animals alike into zombified monsters that sought to infect and kill others. As a result of these new dangers, survivors were forced to enter the planet's orbit to survive as remaining people on Earth either succumbed to the cold, became infected by the Scourge, or became a member of a cannibalistic tribe of humans called the Outlanders that adapted to the conditions of the new world.

Survivors often take drop pods down to the surface of Earth and brave its dangers to collect salvage and other valuables from the remains of society. However, other survivors often try and take them down so that they can claim the loot for themselves. This forms the narrative context behind Scavengers' gameplay.

Scavengers: Gameplay and presentation

Scavengers is best defined as a three-sided war between your team, AI enemies, environmental threats, and other players. As players roam the map and search for sources of datapoints (this is the salvage you need to collect and extract), they'll run into three different kinds of hostiles.

The first are the Outlanders, which are well-coordinated human scavengers that use cover and flanking to pressure you. Then, there's the Scourge, which are animalistic in nature and rush you directly in large numbers. In the later stages of each match, minibosses and bosses from these factions will spawn as well. Killing these enemies is a serious challenge, but doing so rewards you with lots of good resources and datapoints.

There's also wildlife, which includes deer, rabbits, wolves, and bears. There is Scourge-infected wildlife, and these animals are harder to kill and do more damage compared to their normal counterparts. Notably, killing wildlife is a good way to get food to keep your stamina up (you can also occasionally find food while looting abandoned structures).

Beyond killable threats, there's the weather, which slowly freezes you over the course of the match and will eventually kill you if you don't periodically warm up by seeking out fires. Roaming storms, in particular, are very deadly since they immediately extinguish all fires in their area of effect and hasten how quickly you start to freeze. Being in the storm does make it difficult to be spotted, however, so players in good shelter or equipped with thermal boosters may find it worthwhile to intentionally stay inside the storm to hide from opposing squads. Perimeter storms that shrink the playable areas of the map are even deadlier, though, and players will die very quickly if they get caught in them.

Of course, there are also other players to worry about. Eliminating other squads rewards you with their datapoints and salvage, so if you have good opportunities to kill them, you should. However, it's important to note that unlike other battle royale games, your objective is not to be the last one standing. Rather, you need to ensure you're on the large dropship that touches down on the map at the end of the match. If you aren't in the ship, you'll be abandoned on Earth and will lose everything. Therefore, players need to strike a balance between playing aggressive enough to get lots of datapoints, but conservative enough to ensure that they'll be able to get on the ship.

Scavengers puts you in control of one of seven characters in a third-person view, and each team is made up of three players. Everyone in the match has shields that can be upgraded with collected scrap, and every character can make use of the standard weapons and useful consumables that are scattered throughout the environment. You can also run, clamber, and slide, ensuring that everyone has the same movement options available.

Each character is unique thanks to class weapons and abilities. For example, Valora is a close-range brawler that can craft a powerful assault shotgun and can drop a special shield that blocks damage but allows teammates to shoot out of it, while Tarik is a marksman that can craft a high-powered sniper rifle and can use a stun trap to disorient players and enemies that walk into its area of effect. These weapons and abilities can be game-changers, especially when used in combination with one another.

In terms of presentation, Scavengers features a semi-stylized art direction with lots of color and use of cel-shading. The animations are fluid and exaggerated, which makes the player almost feel as if they're in an action movie. It's worth noting that the game currently supports NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, which preserves the visual fidelity of a game while also making it run much better. According to the developers, there will be support for ray tracing in the future as well.

Scavengers: Progression systems

Outside of the gameplay experience itself, Scavengers also has some progression systems. The first of these is the "Research" mechanic, which allows players to take the salvage they extract from matches and use it to research new pieces of equipment they will then be able to find during gameplay. These include different types of weapons, grenades, and consumables that each have unique strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, this system can also be used to unlock new talents for your characters that alter your stats and capabilities slightly, and can more adhere to your preferred playstyle.

Secondly, there's also a shop that you can buy skins from, as well as characters that you haven't unlocked yet. This can be done with the "chip" currency that you accrue over time by playing the game. According to Midwinter Entertainment CEO Josh Holmes in our Scavengers interview, the developers are making sure that all of the cosmetics in the game will be obtainable through playing the game normally, even if some of the items will also be obtainable via microtransactions.

Scavengers" Release date, pricing, and platforms

Scavengers is available now on PC through Steam Early Access. The game isn't playable on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, PS5, PS4, or PS5 just yet, although the developers have stated on the game's Steam page that they're aiming to fully launch Scavengers globally before the end of 2021. The game is currently free-to-play, and according to the developers, Scavengers will stay that way when it fully releases.

Your thoughts

Will you be playing Scavengers now that it's out in Early Access? Let me know. The game just might end up being one of the best multiplayer PC games as well as one of the best Xbox multiplayer games, so you should definitely keep an eye on it. If it doesn't sound like a good fit for you, however, make sure you check out our roundup of the best battle royale games for Windows PCs for other great options.

Battle royales and other types of multiplayer survival games have skyrocketed in popularity over the course of the last few years. Still, one thing that has always bothered me about them is that if you manage to survive the initial scramble for weapons and armor, you usually won't see much action again until the final stages of the game when players are driven into each other by the shrinking boundaries of the playable space. This makes most matches feel pretty boring overall as a result, and because of this, these types of games generally don't hold my attention very much.

Scavengers, an upcoming free-to-play title from ex-Halo developers at Midwinter Entertainment, solves this problem by introducing hostile AI, wildlife to hunt, and dangerous weather to the mix. Hearing about these elements got me excited to try the game out when I was offered a chance to play a preview build, and by the end of my time with the game, I knew that I had finally found a multiplayer survival game that I would enjoy.

Environmental dangers galore

Scavengers is wholly unique compared to other multiplayer survival games thanks to its hostile and dangerous environment. As your three-person squad travels the map looking for loot and resources, you'll come across organized groups of hostile scavengers, hordes of zombie-like Scourge creatures, and various forms of wildlife like deer, wolves, and bears. Each of these AI groups will be hostile to you, but taking them out will often reward you with some sweet new gear or resources that you can use to survive or upgrade your character's shield or ability (more on these later). There are also minibosses and bosses to find throughout the world that drop even better loot as well as salvage that nets you a higher score at the end of the match — much like Halo 5: Guardians' Warzone mode.

These PvE elements help keep the gameplay fun and full of action between PvP engagements, and the way that the AI can influence PvP engagements is also incredibly interesting. It opens the door to the possibility of emergent gameplay opportunities such as baiting other players into the middle of a boss' arena and then killing both the boss and the enemy players once both parties are weakened from fighting each other.

AI aren't the only dangerous part of the environment, though; temperature and weather are things that you need to keep an eye on, too. The map is a bitter, frozen wasteland that can kill you with hypothermia if you don't warm up by a fire every once in a while. Additionally, there are also huge snowstorms that randomly move around the map, increasing the rate at which you get cold and making navigation difficult. Being in the storm isn't all bad. However, smart players can use storms to hide themselves from other teams that may be looking to take them out for their loot and salvage.

Your abilities can make all the difference

Another feature of Scavengers that I love is the ability system that each of its seven characters have. Depending on who players choose, they'll be able to drop down a protective shield that can be shot out of, create a healing zone for rapid recovery, go completely invisible, and more. These abilities have long cooldowns to balance out their power, but players who use them wisely will gain an advantage in battle or save the lives of themselves and their teammates. For example, when my team and I were in the storm, and we were being shot at, one of my allies put down a protective barrier that we used for cover as we figured out where the enemy team was and what we should do next. Later, we used the shield to force assailants to attack us up close (I had a shotgun waiting for them).

The impact that these abilities have alone is huge, but when used in tandem with your teammates, they can be the difference between living and dying. For example, pairing the drop shield with the healing zone is an excellent way to quickly heal in a fight, and invisibility can be used in tandem with another player's EMP blast to strike enemies from behind while they're disoriented. These types of synergies are a blast to execute, and they also reward good teamwork, which I appreciate.

Get to the dropship at all costs

Finally, Scavengers ends its matches in a unique way that I enjoy greatly. Instead of trying to be the last team standing, you instead need to focus on making sure you're inside of the dropship that extracts you from the map before it takes off. It doesn't matter how many other players are in the dropship with you; as long as you're in before the doors shut for good, you'll be considered one of the winning teams.

This leads to an interesting dynamic where the last few teams need to try and kill other players and take their salvage while also making sure that they step foot in the ship before the clock runs out. Will you choose to play passively and try to sneak onboard without being detected, resulting in less salvage collected? Or will you go in guns-blazing to try and get as much salvage as you can before the ship takes off? Both strategies have their pros and cons, and ultimately, they're only a few of the ways that teams can choose to approach this situation.

Overall, I really enjoy Scavengers' dropship extractions, and It will be interesting to see what strategies evolve when players get their hands on the game in Early Access.

Final thoughts

Scavengers' PvE elements, character abilities, and unique dropship extraction endings all make the game stand out compared to other games in its genre. I love that the developers at Midwinter Entertainment managed to come up with a solution to the pacing issues traditional multiplayer survival games have. I'm looking forward to jumping back into the game when it hits Early Access.

Will you be playing Scavengers? Let me know. The game enters Early Access on PC on April 28, 2021, and will eventually be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, PS5, and PS4. The game has the potential to be one of the best multiplayer games for Xbox, so make sure you keep an eye on it.

What you need to know

• Cuisine Royale is a battle royale game that's quite popular on PC.
• It features realistic weapons and supernatural abilities.
• The overall focus appears to be on food, but that's changed in recent months.
• You can get it for free on Xbox One through the Microsoft Store.

October 18, 2019: Cuisine Royale is now showing up as Xbox One X Enhanced. The Microsoft Store description says that it runs at 4K resolution on the system.

Cuisine Royale is an absolutely bonkers battle royale shooter that focuses on realistic weaponry, but also features mystical traps and demonic rituals. Yes, you read that right. You can play it as a normal shooter, but you'll be missing out. From the trailer, it seems like you not only have the ability to imbue your soul with the spirit of a feral animal, but you can also teleport and utilize other tricks.

The game has "Very Positive" recent reviews on Steam and gamers on Xbox One have been clamoring to play the game ever since it launched back in 2018. Well, if you were one of those people, you're in luck. Out of nowhere, Cuisine Royale is now available through Xbox Game Preview. Since it's a free-to-play game, you don't have to worry about purchasing a broken product with your hard-earned cash.

It seems like Cuisine Royale was supposed to land on Xbox One a few months back, but we weren't able to see it or access it on our consoles. It's unclear how widespread this problem was. Luckily, that's not the case anyone so if you were one of the gamers affected, you can download and play it right now.

While Cuisine Royale is a free-to-play game, it features a lot of expensive cosmetic packs and microtransactions. However, they don't appear to give any in-game advantage that we know of. Additionally, the title doesn't appear to be Xbox One X Enhanced at the moment so it may look quite blurry on modern 4K displays.

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It seems like everyone is adding a battle royale mode to their games, whether it's Black Desert Online or Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Yes, you read that right! Counter Strike: Global Offensive is getting a battle royale experience called "Danger Zone." Danger Zone requires tactical gameplay where players use their wits, skill, and resources to fight to the finish.

Danger Zone features eighteen players. You can play the mode on your own or as a team. The game is many years old and it features quite dated visuals. Luckily, it has a strong player base who are loyal to the title. The tight gameplay mechanics make it a classic in many regards.

This information comes alongside the announcement that the full game is going free-to-play. New players will receive access to all game modes, matchmaking, and a limited set of item drops and weapon cases. However, keep in mind that there is a tier called "Prime Status." According to Valve, Prime Status is an upgrade available to all Counter Strike: Global Offensive players. When you have Prime Status, you are matched with other players who also have Prime Status, and these users are eligible for exclusive souvenir items, item drops, and weapon cases.

Are you interested in Counter Strike: Global Offensive now that it's free-to-play on Steam? Let us know.

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Black Desert is a third-person action game by Korean developer Pearl Abyss. The title can be classified as a sandbox-oriented massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which offers players unprecedented freedom. You need to love exploration and be able to engage challenging enemies in a heartbeat if you want to succeed.

A few days ago, Black Desert Online's Executive Producer Jae-Hee Kim reveals upcoming plans for the popular MMORPG. One of the most spectacular announcements made was the "Shadow Arena," a new battle royale mode. In Shadow Arena, every player starts as a "Black Spirit" and needs to find a fallen adventurer and possess her. By destroying supply crates and defeating computer-controlled enemies, players can accumulate equipment and skills. When everyone is killed except for one, the match ends. According to Pearl Abyss, up to fifty players are supported and the mode should launch soon. It's unclear when it'll make its way to the Xbox One version.

At E3 2017, Microsoft announced that the game would be launching on Xbox One in 2018. While we still don't have a concrete release date, the developer did provide some details about the console version.

Black Desert is supposedly targeting native 4K resolution on Xbox One X. Since Black Desert appears to be a graphically-intensive experience, hopefully Pearl Abyss will utilize a dynamic rendering solution which automatically lowers the resolution when it senses a dip in performance. However, maybe the team will come up with another way to get better results in populated areas.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

While Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Blackout and Fortnite are both strong battle royale experiences, each caters to differing audiences. While Blackout features a deeper combat experience with a touch of realism, Fortnite's building mechanic completely shakes up gameplay.

Battle of the royales

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has made its highly-anticipated debut, bringing an all-new last-man-standing mode for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PCs. Capitalizing on the battle royale trend, Blackout brings a fresh new take on the series' refined shooter gameplay. However, its success isn't guaranteed, facing strong competition from Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

While Blackout is already among the top battle royale titles, Fortnite still dominates with millions of followers. As common for the genre, the third-person shooter drops players into its loot-filled world to fend off rivals and survive its ever-shrinking arena. It wasn't initially built with competitive play in mind, but doubling down on battle royale has since kickstarted otherworldly success. Pairing addictive, well-balanced mechanics with wide accessibility, it secured a huge following among all ages.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 conveys a grittier take on the genre, building on the franchise's legacy among the leading first-person shooters (FPS). Its military-inspired aesthetic adopts a more realistic tone, packing near-future armaments and visceral encounter. While leveraging the core mechanics synonymous with battle royale, it's a mature take with a deeper sense of complexity.

Fortnite vs. Blackout: Pros and cons

Blackout inherits the refined gunplay of the Call of Duty series, centered around fast-paced combat and smooth locomotion. Its assortment of firearms each requires designated ammunition calibers, with sights and attachments altering the performance and in-hand feel. With the flexibility to build advanced loadouts around playstyles and situations, this leaves every encounter feeling fresh. It also requires deeper inventory management, keeping the right items nearby, while factoring carry capacity.

Combat is an equally a core aspect of Fortnite but features refined simplicity over Call of Duty Black Ops 4. Color-coded loot is used to indicate desirability, paired with just a few ammunition types to keep your weapon firing. Traps and equipment provide minor variations, but gameplay generally centers around simple over-the-shoulder firefights.

Fortnite and Blackout embrace common battle royale qualities but still feature distinct traits to separate them. For Fortnite, it's all about building; from collecting resources to scaling fortifications in the midst of battle. It's a tricky skill to master but essential to survival higher-level play.

While Blackout doesn't inject a ground-breaking mechanic into battle royale, there are still changes that help it stand independently. For tighter ties to the franchise, it pays homage to prior Call of Duty games, with a world comprised of famous multiplayer locales. Even zombies make a feature with small-scale player-versus-environment (PvE) encounters, rewarding bonuses outside Blackout's player-versus-player (PvP) roots. In short, it's Call of Duty's smash hits wrapped in a single package, sure to please returning veterans.

Should I buy Blackout or Fortnite?

Since Fortnite Battle Royale debuted, its continued success has led to expansions on PC, console, and mobile. Its free-to-play model draws millions with ease, while regular free updates also keep players returning daily.

Comparatively, Blackout is just one of three Call of Duty Black Ops 4 modes contained in a $60 package. It's easy to rack up hefty bills through Fortnite's economy, but Blackout's full retail price tag may be hard for many to swallow. And while still a great starting point, it's unclear how Activision plans to keep evolving Blackout to keep it fresh into 2019.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 brings a strong battle royale experience to the market, easily among today's best. Combining the trend with a strong FPS legacy, the result is a responsive high-stakes mode doubling down on raw competitive gunplay. Even at full retail pricing, it's a great battle royale to buy, especially for mature shooter fans.

Fornite remains equally strong approaching its third year, with continual expansions only drawing more players. Its free-to-play model drives success and purified combat makes it accessible to most ages.

The next entry in Activision's renowned shooter franchise, Call of Duty, has been officially unveiled ahead of its scheduled release this fall. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will revive the fan-favorite series, fully embracing its multiplayer success, while exploring new online modes such as "Zombies". A battle royale mode called "Blackout" is also part of the package.

The Blackout beta has been available to PlayStation 4 players for roughly a week, but it's finally accessible to Xbox One and PC owners. The download is quite large so be sure to get that started as soon as possible.

The Blackout beta will end on September 17, at roughly 1 PM EDT. This mode takes place on the largest Call of Duty map ever created so it's unlike anything you've played before.

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Last year's record-breaking Steam hit PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) ended up making its way to the Xbox Preview Program in December, but the title has been frustrating for Xbox gamers. While PUBG is known for its heart-stopping intensity and strong mechanics, it has also built up a reputation as one of the buggiest titles in recent history, and this issue is worse on Xbox One than on PC. Despite numerous patches, the game still has a long way to go.

Surprisingly, Microsoft announced at Gamescom that PUBG is leaving the Preview Program on September 4 — less than two weeks from now. Here's why I think officially launching the game this early is a big risk.

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Optimization takes time

If games like the Master Chief Collection and The Division are any indication, restoring a broken game to intended stability levels is a large task that requires plenty of resources, time, and patience. These two games have been making a comeback, but the only reason why is because they've been given adequate amounts of all three of these things.

Because of this, it would be best for the PUBG developers to hold off on an official release for now, or at least until they finish their Fix PUBG campaign at the end of October. Rushing things is risky, and could even lead to the problems worsening. It's still not perfect on PC, which is another issue altogether.

An opportunity too good to miss

One major area that the Xbox One is currently lacking in compared to the PlayStation 4 is the exclusives department. The fact that PUBG will only on Xbox is significant. PUBG has the potential to be a competent system seller for Microsoft, especially since there has been zero news about a PlayStation 4 version for almost a year, but the game needs to work well when it officially comes out.

It would be in Microsoft's best interest to push PUBG's release back a while in order to ensure quality. While they'll make less money in the short term, they will most likely make a much heftier profit in the long run.

Competition is fierce

With upcoming titles like Battlefield V and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, as well as the ever-popular Fortnite to contend with in the battle royale war, PUBG is going to need to strive for perfection.

This matters even more for the Xbox version, where the performance is significantly worse than it is on PC. If the team behind PUBG don't take a careful and thorough approach to fixing the game, they could fail to get it into the state that it needs to be in so that it can compete with the other heavy-hitters.

Your thoughts

Do you think that Microsoft and PUBG Corp. are taking PUBG out of the Xbox Preview Program too early, or do you disagree with me and think that they're making the right call? Let me know your thoughts.

PUBG is available now for $29.99.

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Updated December 11, 2018: Realm Royale is now available to everyone.

Battle royale games are becoming increasingly common ever since PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds popularized the genre. While Fortnite has the greatest success story so far, there are many other developers adding their own twists. Realm Royale is a fantasy-themed battle royale experience. You can choose a class, then loot deadly weapons and powerful abilities to create your own champion. Exploration also plays an important role because you can traverse the world from horseback and craft legendary gear at forges.

Previously, Realm Royale was only available on Steam Early Access, but now it's making its way to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. You can sign up for the beta now through the game's website.

Realm Royale isn't a traditional fantasy game or shooter. You can use shotguns and sniper rifles, but there are also staffs and other mythical weapons. Despite the fact that these weapons are on the opposite end of the spectrum, the title is surprisingly balanced with the exception of a few loadouts.

If you're in the market for a new battle royale experience, but are somewhat tired of modern weapons, be sure to give Realm Royale a go. It's free-to-play so it won't cost you anything! We don't know when the beta will start, or when the actual game will launch, but it must be pretty soon given how previous Hi-Rez Studios' games have launched. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more.

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The battle royale craze has been going on for years, and it has only moved into higher gear with the release of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and a game mode in Epic Games' Fortnite, both seeing 100 players drop into a battlefield to fight for survival. When entering the market for a battle royale game for the first time, it may appear somewhat confusing as to which game will be best suited to your playstyle. There are notable differences between PUBG and Fortnite, which allows both titles to attract millions of active players.

• See PUBG at Steam
• See Fortnite at Epic Games
• See H1Z1 at Steam

A brief history of the battle royale genre

The battle royale genre of games isn't new, nor is Brendan Greene (PlayerUnknown) the creator of the format. Originating in a book of the same name, Battle Royale was eventually turned into a movie. This is what would be used as a base for Greene's Arma mod and would be the first implementation of the format in video game form that took off with countless populated servers. Greene subsequently worked with the development team behind H1Z1 on a similar game mode, only to leave thereafter and launch his very own game: PUBG.

A number of alternatives have attempted to tap into the immense pool of wealth and popularity PUBG has created, including Fortnite, Maelstrom, Darwin Project, Surviv.io, SOS Battle Royale, Dying Light: Bad Blood, Islands of Nyne, and upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. While a number of games are competing against one another for a slice of the battle royale pie, only H1Z1, Fortnite, and PUBG are worth talking about right now.

Best battle royale games on PC

Enter the battlegrounds

PUBG has been in active development for a number of years, launching as a beta in March 2017 and releasing as version 1.0 in December of that year. The game has continuously received criticism from media and players alike for poor performance and lack of polish, which remain to this very day, but even those who dislike the game as a whole cannot ignore the impact it has had on the gaming community.

Aside from its issues, PUBG is the best battle royale experience. Sporting action-packed shooting mechanics and an unforgiving RNG system for both loot and the circle of pain, it's a title that will have you constantly coming back for more. When shooting and movement systems work as intended, the result is incredibly fluid gameplay. Teaming up with a teammate or group of experienced players is the best way to enjoy PUBG and scoring "a chicken dinner" (or winning the whole thing) leaves you with a strong sense of achievement.

That's battle royale in a nutshell. It's incredibly difficult to win a match, but the basic mechanics are fairly straightforward for newcomers. With further development, working out kinks in the armor and ensuring cheating is at an absolute minimum, PUBG will become the battle royale game we all desire. Until a better offering from a AAA studio comes along, it will remain the most beautiful of ugly ducklings.

What PUBG gets right is most important to those who enjoy striving to be the last man standing. Quick matches with the ability to hop right back in if you somehow don't make the top 10 allows you to concentrate on honing your skills and adapting to balance alterations to score that chicken dinner.

Our ultimate PUBG guide

Fortnite between wins

Epic Games rolled out a battle royale game mode for Fortnite, which originally launched as a co-op survival sandbox. The game was already well received but Fortnite battle royale transformed the game into a $300 million-per-month money tree for the game engine developer and publisher. Interestingly, Epic Games develops the Unreal Engine, which is also used by PUBG. But both games feel vastly different.

While PUBG focuses on more realistic gunplay and mechanics, Fortnite is all about fantasy as you drop from a flying bus and land to smash up buildings, vehicles and all sorts of objects for materials. One interesting mechanic Fortnite has that PUBG doesn't is the ability to create structures. As well as shooting other players with a whole manner of weapons, it's possible to construct your very own castle in the final zone.

Building ramps, stairs, and buildings isn't required, but you may find yourself at a slight disadvantage if you're unable to take advantage of both shoot and build. Being unable to fire off a few rockets and taking cover to heal behind a wall or two could be the difference in coming in first or fourth place. It's what keeps some players away from Fortnite, due to it requiring a different approach. It's also less hectic when many players are in the same location as you jump and shoot, as opposed to taking cover and picking your shot carefully.

How landing hits with a weapon is also different with Fortnite making it far easier to deal and take damage. What Epic Games does spectacularly is optimization. Fortnite (both the sandbox and battle royale modes) is incredibly stable without only a few minor bugs here that are usually worked out in patches. Fortnite may not be for everyone who enjoys battle royale, but because of the free price tag, it makes perfect sense to at least give it a go.

8 Beginner tips for Fortnite players

Catching the H1Z1 virus

H1Z1 has been around longer than PUBG and Fortnite, having been the result of Brendan Greene working with Daybreak Games to create a battle royale game mode. It has gone through numerous updates since launch, with a new vehicle-focused mode that pits teams against one another in an arena with power-ups and other means to gain the upper hand, called Auto Royale.

The game itself is easier for newcomers to pick up as there are fewer weapons to choose from and no attachments. You spend less time looting, which is favorable since there are times when you spend upwards of 10 minutes looting without seeing anyone, only to be killed by a passing tribe of experienced players. It also shows its age by looking a little dated, albeit polished. H1Z1 is more arcade-like, which is reflected in the driving and shooting mechanics.

Like Fortnite, this less realistic and more restricted approach to combat isn't to everyone's tastes and is why PUBG has gained such a massive following. Daybreak Games has made H1Z1 free to play, which makes it possible to try out the game to see if you're a fan of the arcade-like mechanics and more basic shooting.

And the winner is ...

All battle royale games continue to compete against one another, not only for paying gamers but also in the esports scene. If you seek the absolute best battle royale experience, PUBG is the one for you. However, if you'd rather enjoy a more polished title, Fortnite and possibly even H1Z1 may be worth checking out.

PUBG currently costs $29.99 with in-game microtransactions. Fortnite is free to play the battle royale mode, but full price for the co-op sandbox. Finally, H1Z1 is also free to play with micro-transactions.

• See PUBG at Steam
• See Fortnite at Epic Games
• See H1Z1 at Steam

Radical Heights is the latest project from Boss Key Productions. After the launch and subsequential flop of Lawbreakers, which was actually a rather decent game, Cliff Bleszinski is back with a battle royale game to take on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite and tap into the lucrative market. Is there room for yet another one of these survival games? Not unless a new title brings something fresh to the market, and Radical Heights does that.

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Set in what could only be described as a video game recreation of The Running Man (or 80s American gameshow equivalent), Radical Heights refers to each survivor as a contestant. You're part of the game show and your goal is to be the winner for all the prize money. This game sports comedy, a monetary system and a premium currency to unlock cosmetics but it's all done in a way that doesn't negatively impact on the experience.

First off is the money system. You'll be earning bucks by smashing tills and collecting cash from dead contestants, which can be stored away and used outside of matches or on new weapons and other items that can be picked up from vendor machines located throughout the map. It's an interesting mechanic that breaks up the routine of collecting the same weapons over and over again. Cash stored in your account can be withdrawn in-game at an ATM, but this is restricted to $100 a time so you'll need to ensure you have ample cover.

The map is an interesting switch too. It's big but the way the play area is reduced is a new approach. Instead of a circle that closes in at a familiar rate, the map is split into grids and random squares will be cut from the play area each round. This makes the player focus on the map a little more and plan ahead, so you're not caught up in the zone and this system does create some excellent late-game situations where everyone is attempting to funnel through an area.

And should you reach the shootout, this is where a circle makes an appearance but closes in at a steady rate, forcing the remaining contestants to show from cover and attempt to take everyone else down. I's a clever way of switching up the similar system used in other games and keeps it feeling somewhat fresh. There are package drops you can call yourself, and even BMX challenges to break up each session, which makes the game feel less like a chore.

It's still early days. The game breaks at times, placeholder content remain, and everything needs a lot of polish but what Boss Key Productions has as a foundation is looking pretty good. Sure, it's always better to see a complete game than a half-baked rush-to-market release to capitalize on the battle royale craze, but what this game could become is something unique. We'll be keeping a close eye on it and future updates and if you're a little tired of the same old gameplay in other games, give Radical Heights a try. It's free.

See at Steam

H1Z1 is a game that has been around for what feels like an eternity. The title was originally developed by Sony Online Entertainment, released into early access in 2015. Since then, the game has been split into two separate titles (H1Z1: King of the Kill, H1Z1: Just Survive), received further updates, went free-to-play, and was recently re-launched as simply H1Z1. In this competitive sub-genre, is the game still any good?

See at Steam

Dropping in

Whether you hated or loved the H1Z1 of old, it's an important game since it paved way for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Brendan Greene actually worked with Daybreak Games on the battle royale game mode. Even after Greene left for PUBG Corp and Bluehole to release PUBG, the gameplay in H1Z1 was still favored by those who wanted fast-paced action. H1Z1 was the big game that attracted hundreds of thousands of players to this new experience.

After three years, the gameplay still holds up today. It's not quite to everyone's tastes, which is reflected in the substantial player drop H1Z1 experienced when PUBG and Fortnite came along, but it's still addictive and rather well refined. It's commendable that the game continues to stand out with its own style, mechanics, and approach to detail. It's a different ball game here with up to 150 players landing on a single map together to battle it out and see who's the best. If you feel like obtaining even harder bragging rights, why not take the 100 players on PUBG and try adding a further 50 for good measure?

The map is also a fantastic place to get some killing done. It's absolutely huge, which allows for that expanded 150 player limit, and has everything a survivor needs to hide in the shadows (and bushes) or go all out in a police vehicle and cause havoc on unsuspecting looters. And Daybreak makes it easier to get stuck in by not focusing too heavily on weapons and looting. You'll not find many mods, nor will you need to invest upwards of 20 minutes in a single location to find that level 3 backpack.

Looting up and spending a lot of time alone with your squad mates isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's one of the good points I like about PUBG — it's just different and that's a testament to Daybreak for keeping its game feeling familiar but unique when compared against rival games. There are a few handy features implemented into H1Z1, including grid selection at the beginning, which allows you to drop down at a specific spot on the map instead of spawning in randomly or having to hop out of a flying vehicle. (Be it a bus-come-balloon or an actual airplane.)

Responsive combat

The controls are responsive and everything feels fluid. There were a few hiccups at points, but overall performance wasn't too bad. It's similar to the latest release of PUBG — you're bound to hit an issue every-so-often but nothing that will stop you coming back for another round. Combat is also really good too, thanks to work on the already rather decent mechanics. It's more similar to PUBG than Fornite but I find the former to offer much better feedback with the blood splats when you actually hit someone. And you will miss many shots in H1Z1, especially at range.

But what happens when you've had enough of H1Z1 and wish to have a little downtime? Why you'll hop into a vehicle with a few other players in the new Auto Royale mode, of course! Think Rocket League, Mario Kart, Destruction Derby, and H1Z1 all placed into a blender. As expected, it's a lot of fun. There are 30 teams of four who are restricted to a single vehicle. There are weapons, ammo and power-ups to collect on the map, and some insane jumps to make. The goal is to take every other vehicle out and be the last crew standing.

When you're not surviving against others, H1Z1 is like a half-baked version of The Sims. There are so many customization options it's ridiculous (in a good way, if you're into this sort of thing). There are different skins for every piece of clothing, weapons, and more. PUBG is slowly adding more content to its optional system that requires you to part with cash but for the time being, there's no matching H1Z1 and it's a pleasant system to use. You can really get your character looking unique on the battlefield, which is easier said than done in PUBG.

You can unlock a lot of stuff in H1Z1 without spending a penny, but it'll require considerable amounts of time.

Still a good battle of the royales

If you left the community long ago for PUBG, you might want to fire H1Z1 up for a few rounds to see what's changed — it may surprise you. Newcomers to the sub-genre should definitely give it a shot as it's a different beast to Fortnite and PUBG. If you weren't a fan of the old mechanics in general and don't like the shooting system, it's going to be difficult to recommend H1Z1 again. Daybreak is working on some pretty neat changes, especially with the new Auto Royale mode, but it's still good ol' H1Z1 and that's a bit like marmite — you'll either love it or hate it.

It's not perfect and there are microtransactions that are interwoven with the experience, but if you can overlook the few issues it does have (like you would in a competitor title) you can have many hours of enjoyment here.

See at Steam

The launch of H1Z1 today may have gone unnoticed by some of those who used to play the game before PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds came along, but it's now out of early access development with a few new additions to the tried and tested formula. There's a new Auto Royale game mode that looks similar to what Grand Theft Auto Online offers and makes racing around in vehicles with a few buddies a whole lot of fun.

H1Z1 already sports rather arcade-like vehicle mechanics and Daybreak has managed to take this and create an entire game mode around it. Featuring up to 30 teams of four (for a total of 120 players), the aim of the game is to be the last vehicle standing. The massive map contains power-ups, weapons, ammo, fuel, and health to more efficiently take down enemy teams. There are also two new sets of wheels to ride around on — the sedan and an armored recon vehicle.

It's clear this new mode is an attempt to draw players back to the game, which lost a substantial portion of the player base to competitor launches, namely PUBG and Fortnite. The new game mode is currently in beta, following a number of patches to further refine the mechanics and balance gameplay. Speaking of which, the move out of early access also brings with it a number of improvements to the game.

Players who are dropping into play can now choose which area to spawn in and the game will show a heat map as to where others are electing to start from. The airdrop system has been reworked, and a new minimap can be enabled to aid navigating across the landscape. And if you want to do a little competitive play, the first competitive season is underway with a new scoring algorithm that will reward everyone for consistent play and "aggression."

That's but a taste of what's going on at Daybreak Games, so if you haven't checked H1Z1 in a while it may be worth downloading the game to see what has changed.

See at GMG (Steam)

Ever since it's launch back in September, Fortnite's free Battle Royale mode has quickly risen in popularity and has now become one of the hottest titles in the gaming industry. It has even managed to surpass games such as PUBG, Rainbow Six: Siege, and in some rare cases, Counter Strike: Global Offensive on Twitch.

Unfortunately, in the wake of Fortnite's success, what the game was originally has been overshadowed — a cooperative player-versus-enemy (PvE) hybrid between a shooter and a tower defense game, dubbed Save The World. While admittedly rough around the edges, it still has massive potential. Here's why I think Epic Games should make sure it gets love moving forward.

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What makes the cooperative mode special?

The shooter and tower defense genres are two types of games that couldn't be more different. One of them emphasizes battling enemies with firearms, while the other is centered around the strategic placement of bunkers, towers, turrets, and other structures to stop hordes of foes. Yet, Fortnite manages to blend them together with the Save The World mode.

In Save The World, teams of up to four players scavenge for wood, stone, and metal. Then, they build a base around an objective they need to protect, complete with traps, turrets, and layers of walls and other structures. Soon after the base is done, armies of zombies assault the base, and the team then has to defend their headquarters with rifles, rocket launchers, and everything between.

Unlike Fortnite Battle Royale, which bases its concept on the formula seen in games like PUBG or H1Z1: King of the Kill, Save The World is a unique idea that no other game has explored before. It was so cool to see these two genres merged into something that works as well as it does, and that's why it's sad that Battle Royale has stolen its spotlight.

Can Epic Games revive Save The World?

Though the Battle Royale mode has completely knocked the cooperative experience out of relevancy, I do believe there are some ways that Epic Games can turn it around and ultimately make it popular. One way they could do this is by making Save The World free-to-play, like Battle Royale is. This would allow more people access to the co-op experience, and they could even still make money by implementing cosmetic items for purchase.

Another thing they could attempt to do is add more content to Save The World and make it have more variety. The Battle Royale mode tried out ideas like sniper rifles only matches and epic 50 versus 50 battles; why not apply some of that creativity to the cooperative mode? Different ways to play a game usually keep the experience feeling fresh, and I don't believe that this is an exception.

Lastly, if the developers chose to market Save The World some more, it would likely see more players. For the most part, Fortnite didn't gain popularity until the Battle Royale mode came out as an alternative to PUBG, and so it's likely that the vast majority of Fortnite's audience doesn't even know much about Save The World. If Epic Games gave it some love in current ads or commercials, people would see what they're missing.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that to invest so much into the cooperative mode would be a risky move. If it works, then Fortnite's success will rise even higher, but if it fails, then that would be a lot of money and effort wasted. Epic Games may want to simply stick with what's working.

Your thoughts

Do you think Fortnite Save The World is itself worth saving? Let me know what you think.

Fortnite Save The World is available for $39.99 on Xbox One and PC. Fortnite Battle Royale is free.

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Ever since the launch of Epic Games' Fortnite Battle Royale mode, it has fiercely competed with another entry in the genre that is undoubtedly 2017's biggest gaming phenomenon: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, or PUBG for short.

Some may say that Fortnite tries to copy PUBG, but that isn't wholly true. In reality, both titles are only similar in some areas, not all. Once you look past the basics of the games, you'll find that PUBG and Fortnite target very different types of consumers. In this article, we're going to examine both games to determine the similarities and differences between them and to find out which one might be best for you.

Similarities between both games

In both PUBG and Fortnite, 100 players have to parachute and land on a large island from an aerial vehicle. From there, players must search the game world for weapons, armor, healing items, and more in order to properly equip themselves for combat.

As everyone starts to fight and kill each other, the area on the map that is considered "safe" begins to shrink. Areas no longer in this safe zone damage players if they remain in them. This mechanic ensures that all players will eventually run into each other. After the final combatants duke it out, the last man standing is considered the winner because he or she lived the longest.

Finally, both titles have randomized loot spread out throughout the play space to ensure that nowhere on the map becomes a "dominant" location for looting. Where you find an assault rifle, one game may be the location of a pack of bandages in the next.

PUBG: Tactical, intense, and grounded

PUBG is, like the Arma mods that spawned the Battle Royale genre years ago, represents a very skill-based and tactical experience. Realism is something that Bluehole Studios aimed to achieve as much as possible with the game, and it shows. Your character can't do crazy movements, rounds that you fire have authentic bullet physics, and weapons found throughout the world can be modded with a wealth of different attachments that alter how they perform in combat.

It doesn't stop there, either. Cover in PUBG is more important than it is in the majority of shooters; this is because being shot will cause a large amount of damage, even if wearing body armor. Vehicles are also a major aspect of PUBG's gameplay sandbox. Using a car will allow you to reach locations much faster than sprinting, but both the windows of the car and the loudness of its engine will leave you a massive target to the players in your vicinity.

As you can probably guess, PUBG requires you to outwit and outmaneuver opponents using tactics and skill. Some major aspects of the PUBG learning curve are found in understanding how to utilize shadows to stay hidden, how to quickly and accurately fire over long distances, and knowing when to move and when to hunker down in cover, and these are only the tip of the iceberg.

This kind of environment breeds competitive play, and that is exactly the kind of gamer that PUBG is aimed towards. If you're looking for a competitive and skill-focused type of Battle Royale game, then this is right up your alley. It's worth noting, though, that unlike Fortnite, PUBG is $29.99, and is currently only on PC, though it is coming to Xbox in the near future. If you're willing to invest some money in, though, what you'll get is a competent and engaging competitive experience.

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Fortnite: A laid-back, casual experience

Fortnite essentially takes the Battle Royale formula and takes it in the opposite direction of PUBG, Where PUBG is competitive, skill-oriented and intense, Fortnite overall contains much more casual, relaxed gameplay.

Featuring a cartoony art style, simple gun mechanics, and a unique, creative base-building twist, Fortnite is aimed towards the types of players who care more about getting into some action than they do about reaching the end goal of victory. In Fortnite, bullets have no drop off with the exception of the sniper rifle, meaning that gunfights across distances are generally much easier and forgiving to the players.

Where Fortnite really sets itself apart from PUBG, though, is with its base-building mechanics. By harvesting things around you in the map, you can gain wood, stone, and metal resources which can then be used in construction. Players often will engage each other from the safety of their large stone fortresses or wooden sniper towers, but these structures aren't invincible. Anything created by a player can be destroyed with gunfire or explosives, though stone and metal are much more resilient than wood.

This high level of destructibility is also seen in the world itself. Rocks, trees, and even buildings are all able to be destroyed, meaning that all cover is only temporary. As a result of this, games in Fortnite feel a lot more "chaotic" (in a fun way) due to the fact most players feel obligated to always keep moving, which causes them to run into each other.

Fortnite is a relaxed and forgiving Battle Royale experience that will offer you hours of fun gameplay. It is currently free-to-play on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

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Conclusion

While PUBG and Fortnite are similar in some regards, they are ultimately quite different. PUBG is a refined tactical and competitive experience whereas Fortnite is a casual and relaxing game that puts Epic Games' unique base-building idea on center stage.

Which title interests you more? Let us know what you think down below.

The Battle Royale game that has taken the PC gaming world by storm has already amassed more than $100 million prior to being fully complete, but unlike other developers trying to make it big in the same genre, it appears as though Bluehole is actually listening to players. And this is a great thing for not only the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) community, but the entire Battle Royale one too. I'm talking about the latest patch to be loaded on servers.

The company is working hard to improve performance both on the server and client ends, which has plagued numerous games, especially in the early game. Performance has improved over the past weeks, but issues still remain, notably with the servers that still have high latency and desynchronization — not ideal for a fast-paced shooting game that requires pinpointing accurate shots. That said, Bluehole is making progress and some serious progress it is.

Not only is the team working on flattening bugs and sorting out performance issues, but more than 25,000 accounts have been banned in the last three months alone. That's a huge number to take off servers and ensure skill and luck of RNG are the only variables that affect matches, not whether or not you've remembered to activate the aimbot. Bluehole is also working with BattlEye to add new protection measures in place and more effectively detect cheating, but it'll always be a constant fight.

Updates are one area of similar title, H1Z1, that always confused me. It always appeared to me that the developer would rather focus on cosmetic items and some small improvements over fundamentally fixing and improving the game. I also had Intel and AMD in mind when transferring my play time from Daybreak's title to PUBG. H1Z1 akin to Intel was the top dog in Battle Royale with a massive player base. Now that a (new) underdog has come along with what is arguably a better experience, the competition is heating up.

This is great news for all communities that are part of the Battle Royale genre. With more fierce competition from numerous titles, it gives the developers incentives to push on with major improvements to entice players to land on their barren land, loot up and take down foes. Take loot for example, Bluehole has a data science team at hand who have analyzed PUBG's current system and made an initial comprehensive pass on addressing loot balance.

Fixes are the best type of updates for these early access games. It was said in a recent announcement that regular tweaks and changes will be made based on community feedback to get certain features and balances just right.

The big one

The above was shared by "davidpatonred". Here's what has just gone live on PUBG servers:

Server Performance

• Improved network performance by reducing the amount of data being sent from the server to the client.
• Reduced network lag by preventing a large amount of data being sent from the server to the client simultaneously.

Client Performance

• Fixed an issue of frame drop when other characters were around by optimizing nearby characters.
• Fixed an issue of frame drop when vehicles were around by optimizing vehicles.
• Optimized the starting airplane and Care Package airplanes.
• Improved rendering performance of weapons from far-off.
• Made improvements to the weapon animations.
• Optimized many in-game effects, including the red zone bombing effect.
• Improved many UI features.
• Improved features regarding rainy weather.

New Items

• Added Groza. Groza is an AR chambered for 7.62mm ammo, and can only be acquired in Care Packages.
• Added P18C. P18C is a pistol chambered for 9mm ammo with a full auto fire-mode.

Gameplay

• Vector and UMP now support burst mode.
• You can now pick up items while moving. The interaction animation will not force you to stop anymore, but make you walk slowly.
• You may interact with doors, items, or vehicles while reloading. Reloads will be canceled with such interactions.
• The screen will be gradually desaturated based on remaining health during the REVIVE state.
• Blood effect does not appear during the REVIVE state anymore.
• Adjusted kill count system in Duo and Squad modes. A person knocking an opponent out will receive a kill count regardless of the actual killer.
• Adjusted F key (interaction) to prioritize the REVIVE action in certain cases
• You can now pull out pistols faster.
• Fire mode can no longer be switched during reload.
• Adjusted the play area to spawn more evenly within a circle, so that the play area does not appear in the center so frequently.
• Adjusted default quantity to be selected at 1 when pressing CTRL key at inventory to partially drop or pick up items.
• Adjusted motorcycle and motorcycle with sidecar to move more smoothly.
• You can no longer switch to/from prone while picking up items.
• Red Dot Sight is now attachable to pistols, except for the revolver.
• Increased the recoil on UMP.

World

• Added two new weather settings: Sunset and Clear Skies.
• Added destructible cabins.
• Added new animation for when a character is at the speed of taking fall damage.
• Items & Vehicles
• Adjusted vehicles to face random directions at spawn.
• Adjusted loot balance for certain items.
• VSS will no longer be found in Care Packages. It will remain to be spawned in the map.
• At a low probability, you will be able to acquire AR Silencers, SR Silencers, and 4x Scopes in Care Packages.
• Spawn rate of UMP was slightly decreased.
• Spawn rate of UZI was slightly increased.
• Level 1 Helmet was being spawned at a much higher rate than the Level 1 Vest, and the spawn rate was adjusted so that both items will be spawned at a similar rate.
• Increased spawn rate of items in regions and buildings with relatively low spawn rate.
• Changed the names of certain weapon attachments.
• Adjusted the spawn time of vehicles and speedboats, so that they can be seen from farther away.
• Improved the starting airplanes.
• Cargo door opens when participants get ejected from the airplane.
• Optimized lighting inside and outside of the airplane.

UI

• Adjusted the direction of teammate icons to the direction the teammate faces.
• Added teammate list on World Map.
• Improved character's recoil animation.
• Removed death marks of teammates after a certain period of time or distance away from the place of death.
• Added three new languages: Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue when the voice chat volume blasted momentarily after getting on an airplane.
• Fixed an issue where the character was not at the center of the screen while on a parachute.
• If you reload into game while in a parachute, you will still be in the parachute.
• Prevented users from removing outer walls of buildings by deleting certain files.
• Partially fixed a bug that caused a character to be stuck in terrain.
• Fixed a bug that caused a character to be misplaced after getting in a vehicle.
• Fixed a bug that caused effects to look identical underwater and outside of water.
• Fixed a bug that caused a character to make an interaction motion trying to pick up an item when there is no inventory space.
• Fixed a client crash that occurred when fences were destroyed.
• Fixed an issue of invisible fences even after destruction.

That's pretty major and covers many of the issues I've personally found throughout my gametime, as well as feedback provided by players on Reddit, community forums, and more. I stand by what I wrote about PUBG, H1Z1 and other Battle Royale games not being ready for the eSports stage, but if this is the sort of updates we could be holding out for in the future, I doubt it'll be long before we're at a stage where professionals could take these titles to the next level.

See at GMG (PC)