Pioner started its Early Access on Steam in December 2025, but has only managed to receive mixed reviews so far. The developers now announce an optional subscription.
What has been announced for Pioner? In the latest update from the developers on Steam, it is stated that a new patch is set to fix many of the current bugs and issues. Additionally, fresh event content will be added to the MMO shooter in light of the Chinese New Year.
Furthermore, the developers are introducing a new optional subscription model that is expected to cost around 7 US dollars per month and offer the following benefits:
- Premium currency bonus: Every subscription period includes a reward in in-game currency, allowing you to receive immediate value.
- Mobile storage: Place a portable storage unit anywhere on the map. Other players on your server can use it as well. The feature has a cooldown period and you will receive a HUD notification once it is ready again.
- Mobile repair station: Set up a workbench in the field to repair your gear on the go. The same cooldown system applies, along with shared access for nearby players and the same notification upon recharge.
- Unlimited storage space: No more worries about space shortage. As long as your subscription is active, your storage has infinite slots.
- Exclusive cosmetic item: Subscribers receive a unique role-playing item to stand out in the world.
Moreover, the developers explain that they plan to introduce a higher subscription tier in the future with additional benefits. Those currently playing Pioner have already paid nearly 30 euros for Early Access. The duration of the testing phase is planned for about a year (so about 10 months left).
The potential is there, but there’s still a lot to do
What is Pioner to you? The mix of role-playing, MMO shooter, and survival is somewhat reminiscent of The Division, but features supernatural zombies. The Day Before was supposed to fill this gap two years ago and generated a huge hype beforehand. At one point, the game was even the most wished-for game on Steam, but then disappointed the high expectations.
Since The Division 2 is barely being developed further and The Division 3 is still early in development, there is a certain demand for a multiplayer shooter of this kind. Enter: Pioner, which according to the developers has already amassed over 500,000 wishlist entries on Steam.
The MMO shooter takes place in a post-apocalyptic world filled with numerous monsters, including creatures that look like zombies. Aside from the story campaign, you can expect various activities such as PvE missions, PvP arenas, events, or mini-games like fishing and gambling. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
However, the Early Access launch has been mixed. The title currently has only 67 percent positive reviews. Many players complain especially about technical issues such as frame rate drops or the large number of bugs. Additionally, players recently lost many hours of progress due to a server rollback. Learn more about the launch problems here: New MMO shooter on Steam sounds like The Division with zombies, but players warn against buying: “Cannot recommend this game”
