The Norwegian studio Funcom is planning a major reveal for a new game. On a teaser page, there is a countdown and a mysterious scene. Is a shooter MMO in the works?
Funcom is a developer and publisher from Norway, known primarily for brutal and risqué barbarian games featuring Conan (Age of Conan & Conan Exiles) as well as the mystery MMORPG Secret World Legends.
Apparently, Funcom has another game currently in development.
A Mysterious Bar
There is not much to see about Funcom’s new project so far. On a teaser page named “Countdown2zero”, there is a shabby, haphazardly put together bar scene. A knife is stuck in the bar, cables hang from the ceiling, a sign advertises “Kebap and Falafel”, and the fictional beer brand “Gunness” is likely being served.
Behind the bar stands a worn-out leather chair with a carpenter’s hammer. Behind it, a corpse with a squashed and covered skull hangs upside down from the ceiling. Connections between the hammer and the cadaver are not out of the question.
In the image, you can click on terms, which will then display info or silhouettes:
- The Bar: “Booze helps when coming back from the zone, but it does not last.”
- Pripp: The outline of a burly bartender appears
- Selma: A casually lounging silhouette appears
- Dux: The outline of a figure with a top hat and beer bottle appears
- A grotesque outline of a being with small legs and a huge upper body and hood appears.
Above the scene, a countdown hangs from chains, counting down to February 28, 2018.
Funcom’s New Project – Hero Shooter, RPG Shooter or Battle Royale?
More than the bar scene and the text with silhouettes can be seen. But there is enough to speculate:
- The setting should be modern, possibly post-apocalyptic
- There are likely various characters. A hint towards a hero shooter or even a MOBA?
- The setting seems dark and brutal, the brutally mutilated corpse in the background seems to disturb no one.
- There seems to be a “zone” where one spends their days. And what one does there seems so terrible that they can only temporarily distract themselves with alcohol. A “zone” also existed in the shooter Stalker, where one had to brave horrific dangers in the post-apocalypse to retrieve valuable items. So is it really a post-apocalyptic setting?
- Perhaps the “zone” is also a type of battle royale combat zone, where people slaughter each other to survive. That would explain why all the characters in the scene seem to be desensitized to violence.
- There seems to be more than just humans in the game world. The silhouette of Bormin seems to hint at some sort of mutant being.
- Dux’s top hat could indicate mystical powers like magic or psi. Does the game have a fantasy aspect?
- Could we expect an MMO shooter like Destiny 2 or Warframe?
- Or will it be a new MMORPG?
Whatever lies behind Funcom’s new project, it is certainly creative. Because the Norwegians have often proven that they can create highly original and curious games.
We will learn more about the exact nature of the project at the latest on February 28.
Until then, you are warmly invited to speculate in the comments!
