With Planetside Arena, Daybreak Games aims to revamp the Planetside franchise for the next generation of players. Therefore, there are Battle Royale and various multiplayer modes instead of the usual persistent battles. The long-term goal is to have battles with 1000 players.
The Planetside games are known for three factions engaging in a massive campaign with constantly shifting frontlines over the planet Auraxis. Classic multiplayer modes like Call of Duty or even Battle Royale fit less here.
Thus, the developers at Daybreak are working on the series spinoff Planetside Arena, a game that aims to cover these genres and clearly establish the franchise for the next generation of players.
We at MeinMMO have already had a preview of the game from the developers and were able to ask questions about the game.
All info about Planetside Arena
What is Planetside Arena? Planetside Arena is supposed to provide the framework for all kinds of match-based shooter modes. The intention is to create a clearly different game from the massive MMO shooter Planetside 2. The Battle Royale mode is expected to be particularly interesting.
Battle Royale – Planetside meets Fortnite
How does the Battle Royale mode work? In Planetside, you play Battle Royale solo or in teams of 3. Therefore, the player count is limited to 99. You start in a lobby, which is a walkable hangar of your mothership.
Once a game starts, you see the large spaceship circling above the map, and you can drop out using a Drop-Pod at any time and glide down. The ship replaces the familiar Battle Bus from Fortnite.
Once you land on the 8×8 kilometer map, it continues as usual, and you slay until only one is left. Meanwhile, the terrain gets smaller and smaller.
These are the features of the Planetside Battle Royale: Unique features in the Battle Royale mode include classes and a gameplay currency. You earn this through player achievements during the match.
At certain machines, you can use this to obtain better weapons and equipment. Weapons come in the five rarity levels familiar from Fortnite, ranging from common to legendary.
Additionally, you are very mobile in Planetside Arena. Right from the start, you have a jetpack and can drive a small quad. More vehicles are hidden in the game world. The developers want you to explore the area and not crawl through the bushes endlessly.
The first Battle Royale with functioning classes?
What classes are there? A special feature of Planetside Arena is the classes. So far, no game in the genre has managed to implement different classes permanently and maintain balance. Recently, Realm Royale failed at that.
The classes in Planetside Arena are:
- Assault: This class can rush forward with the jetpack, create a healing or death zone, and sprint faster.
- Medic: Medics can apply area healing, have a device for shield charging, and can interact with objects faster.
- Engineer: Engineers can erect barriers, set up towers, and regenerate shields faster.
According to the developers, the three classes are well balanced, as they already have experience with such classes from previous games in the series. By the way, all classes can use all weapons. They only differ in their skills.
Battle Pass and Seasons
What’s included in the Battle Pass: Like most Battle Royale games, Planetside Arena will have a Battle Pass. This will unlock levels through player achievements.
These include kills, daily and weekly challenges, and exploring the map. As a reward, you receive cosmetic items and blueprints. Additionally, the developers plan to introduce new features, including more classes, via the Battle Pass in the future.
This is how the blueprints function: Blueprints are plans that grant you access to special weapons at the vending machines during gameplay. Only you can obtain these weapons; however, if you die, everyone can loot them from your corpse.
The blueprint weapons will have slightly different stats but will not be overall stronger than regular weapons. They are primarily intended for prestige and special play styles.
This is how the seasons will proceed: New seasons in the Battle Pass are planned to begin at regular intervals. Each will introduce new items that will have a specific theme. In this way, the game also aims to tell a story.
The story takes place some time after the great war from Planetside 2, so the three known factions no longer exist.
Further game modes besides Battle Royale
What else is planned? Battle Royale is not intended to be the only mode in Planetside Arena. The developers still want to have massive battles. Therefore, there will be a mode called “Massive Clash” where a total of 250 players per side fight for dominance.
The long-term goal is even to offer battles with 1000 players one day.
Additionally, just like in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, you will also be able to play classic multiplayer modes like (Team) Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.
When will Planetside Arena be released? The game is set to launch on January 29, 2019, for PC. Console versions are planned for later.
What business model will Planetside Arena have? Daybreak Games did not want to provide any information about this yet. They are still working on the optimal system.
How will Planetside Arena compare to the competition? Daybreak’s ideas for Planetside Arena sound good. Especially the classes and weapon vending machines promise some cool unique features compared to Fortnite and others. With the jetpacks and constantly available vehicles, the game should run very fast and smoothly.
The regular Planetside 2 will continue to exist. There is even a kind of 4th faction:
