Under the title Z1 Battle Royale, NantG launched a new version of the online shooter H1Z1: King of the Kill. The new developer is also relying on features that had actually been removed from the game to bring fans back.
H1Z1 is back!
What is Z1 Battle Royale? Essentially, it is the online shooter H1Z1: King of the Kill, which aims to revive the old gaming experience under a new name.
What is different? Besides the name, a new developer, NantG, is now in charge. This developer wants to return to the game’s glory days to lead it into the future. The title is also supposed to visually remind players of the past.
That’s why it’s a “nostalgic” gaming experience: Z1 Battle Royale aims to bring the game back to the point when it had many players. In 2017, with the rise of PUBG, H1Z1 started to decline.
There are some changes:
- When players log in, they see the old loading screen.
- The UI has been modified to look more like it did in the past.
- The team brought back “old” animations, textures, and lighting effects and relies on game mechanics, such as with vehicles, that had actually long been changed.
- Old weapon stats, bullet speed, and even the old map are also making a comeback.
- There are no more “Points of Interest.”
Nostalgia adorned with innovations
What’s new? The team not only returned to some elements from the past but also introduced new features:
- You now complete quests in the game world.
- You now search the field for fragments that grant you credits.
- You face daily challenges.
- Season 3 and the Ranked Pro mode are live.
- You can earn plenty of interesting rewards.
How is the new version received? Discussions about the new version are taking place on Reddit. Many express their enthusiasm as it nearly brings back the gameplay feel from about two years ago. However, the new version is struggling with some technical issues, resulting in occasional crashes.
Some fans feel that the changes are not far enough and wish for Z1 Battle Royale to play just like H1Z1: King of the Kill did in 2016.
According to Steamcharts, a lot of players are checking out the new version. At its peak, over 12,700 players were online simultaneously. Whether this can be maintained will be shown in the coming weeks. However, interest seems to be present.
