Lost Light is an upcoming Mobile shooter for smartphones and tablets. The game offers a lot of depth, hard-hitting action, and harsh consequences for defeats. If this reminds you of the hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov, then you’re in the right place. We at MeinMMO spoke with the developers about the specifics of the game.

What is Lost Light? Lost Light is an upcoming shooter for Android and iOS devices. The publisher is the Chinese publishing giant NetEase. In Lost Light, you fight as part of the “Firefly Squad” in a secured area that is filled with dangers.

But there is also valuable loot to be found there, and therefore you fight both for survival and against other players and AI bots for the best loot. Once you have collected enough, you must escape with the loot because if you lose, you lose everything! This resembles the gameplay of Escape from Tarkov.

According to the developers, you can also recruit defeated opponents into your team, thereby increasing your chances of getting good loot. We asked the developers in an interview how all of this is supposed to work and what features Lost Light will still have.

We then spoke with Haowen Huang, Lead Producer of Lost Light.

The Gameplay in Lost Light

MeinMMO: Is the game more competitive or cooperative?

Haowen Huang: I don’t think these two words could concretely describe what Lost Light is. Since it is based on a war setting, there is naturally competitive gameplay as players will fight against others and the environment to survive.

To survive, they must also cooperate and work with others. That’s why we’ve built in some cooperative settings. For example, two players can team up in combat. If one player defeats an opponent in battle, they can choose to spare the opponent and form a temporary team to survive together until the final extraction.

The game is full of such decisions. Different choices made by the player lead to different outcomes and player experiences.

MeinMMO: Do these temporary allies still have to kill each other in the end, or can both win?

Haowen Huang: Yes. As I mentioned before, you can temporarily form a team with a competitor by performing a revival or accepting one.

Both you and the former competitor can “win” if you survive together. That’s the core difference from other battle royale games. Instead of eliminating all your competitors to be the last man standing, the goal of this game is to get the best loot and keep it until the end.

MeinMMO: Are there PvE elements? Like AI opponents or bots?

Haowen Huang: Yes, there are. Some of the opponents of the Firefly Squad will be bots. We will be adding more PvE elements in the future, stay tuned.

MeinMMO: What weapons can we expect in the game and how will modifications and upgrades work?

Haowen Huang: There are already several weapon types, such as assault rifles, shotguns, SMGs, and sniper rifles. These weapons are just part of our large arsenal.

Except for the standard pistol, the game allows players to modify their firearms. There are 12 modification parts that players can choose from, like barrels, grips, scopes, and stocks. There are also several different parts for each modification slot. Players can utilize hundreds of different weapon mods. This level of weapon modification is still relatively rare in mobile games.

We also have a “Blueprint System” for those who are not familiar with the modification options. Players can select the recommended modification plans from the developers based on the combat environment and weapon preferences and quickly equip them.

MeinMMO: How long does a round in Lost Light typically last?

Haowen Huang: The gameplay duration varies between 10 and 20 minutes. A match ends when the player successfully extracts or is killed. If a player chooses to avoid combat and focuses on finding loot on the map, it is possible to finish a match in five minutes on a smaller map like the BAF factory. If players want more, the game could of course take longer, as it involves more conflicts and complex battles with NPCs and competitors.

MeinMMO: How does it work with survival elements, like hunger and injuries? Are they just buffs or can you die from hunger or untreated wounds?

Haowen Huang: For example, if you jump from a hill, you will break your leg, and the status “Broken Leg” will be displayed, reducing your walking speed. You can only return to a healthy state with the right medicine. As in real life, anyone suffering from too much hunger or losing too much blood will die.

MeinMMO: Do you only lose the equipment found in the round when you die, or is everything you had from the beginning lost?

Haowen Huang: The latter. However, each player can carry a “Secure Case” (in various sizes) with them; supplies in the case do not get lost when you die. So if you have a high-value item, it’s advisable to place it in the Secure Case.

MeinMMO: Is the hideout just a menu for inventory and shop, or an interactive base with housing?

Haowen Huang: It is a scene where you can walk around or interact. In the future, we will expand it with more customizable and collectible features.

MeinMMO: What types of players are your target audience?

Haowen Huang: All players interested in shooters are welcome, especially those who prefer strategy, survival, and progression gameplay. Lost Light aims to immerse players in a “realistic war experience.”

MeinMMO: What kinds of microtransactions will there be?

Haowen Huang: We have considered a paid outfit system, battle passes, etc. However, they are still in the planning stage. Stay tuned!

End of interview.

The release of Lost Light is still pending. Meanwhile, if you are interested in other competitive mobile games, take a look at our list of the best free PvP games for iOS and Android.