At the E3 2021, a new gameplay trailer for the survival MMORPG Pioner was shown. However, it aired at a time when most of you were probably sleeping. Accordingly, it has very few views. A pity, because the trailer is absolutely charming.
What kind of trailer is this? The creators of Pioner showcased new gameplay at E3. The trailer features some of the game’s features and details about the story. In Pioner, you play as ‘Reaper’, a former Spetsnaz agent trapped on an island in a post-apocalyptic Soviet Union.
The island is surrounded by a time anomaly, which causes trouble even in the area itself. Mutants roam everywhere, and some humans have apparently also been altered, like a girl who calls you ‘Uncle’ in the trailer.
Some features can partly be categorized into the survival genre and partly into MMORPGs, such as:
- customizable weapons with attachments
- artifacts that grant special abilities to your weapons
- coop gameplay with at least two other players
- factions with their own story
- dialogues with choices
Why did we miss it? The trailer aired on the night of Sunday, June 13 to Monday, June 14 shortly after midnight and without much notice. Pioner showcased its new gameplay amidst a plethora of other announcements – and completely in Russian. The English version came only later.
Accordingly, the trailer hardly made a significant impact anywhere. Today, on June 14 at 11:00 AM, the English trailer has only 4,155 views, while the Russian version has another 3,646. Rainbow Six: Extraction garnered more likes within minutes than Pioner had views.
Pioner Coming Later, Aiming to Be Survival, MMORPG, and FPS
What’s in Pioner? According to the description Pioner aims to be both an MMORPG and a survival game and a shooter. The indie project from Russia is quite ambitious, but has also been in development since 2017.
Pioner focuses fully on PvE and exploration, offering large areas and raids, at least four factions, and a day-night cycle that affects enemy behavior. You progress in the game by increasing your influence. Merchants then offer you better gear over time.
Additionally, the combat system appears to be getting a greater focus. The developers explained in another video just before how exactly fights in Pioner will look. Especially shooter players should feel comfortable here, as Pioner does not play as slowly as other survival games.
When will the game be released? So far, there is no concrete release date for Pioner, but it is expected to be released for PC by the end of 2021 to early 2022. There is no information yet about a console version. However, as it is an indie title, variations for PlayStation and Xbox will probably take a backseat for now.
How well Pioner performs once it is released remains to be seen. Perhaps the indie project from Russia will even make it to our list of the 25 best survival games of 2021 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
