It’s right there from the beginning of the first Fallout game, that big cathode-ray-tube television that runs the opening cutscene. Interplay, and later Bethesda, cultivated an instantly recognizable aesthetic, where the schmaltzy, suburban ‘perfection’ of ‘50s America clashes with the brutality of the apocalypse. The debut game from Ruckus, a new studio composed of former Borderlands and Elder Scrolls developers, looks like it takes that visual style and runs with it. A co-op game with survival and RPG elements, we don’t have a name yet, but the pedigree is high and the early details are promising.
14 developers from Bethesda, Gearbox, Epic, Monolith, Riot Games, and elsewhere form the backbone of Ruckus. Leading the studio is Paul Sage, former creative director on Elder Scrolls Online and Borderlands 3. There’s also Scott Kesler, who perfected the visual style for Gearbox’s 2009 survival shooter, and now serves as Ruckus’ art director. So, what about this debut project? It doesn’t have a name yet, but it’s a co-op game with RPG elements, set in a small town in the American heartland.
Bowling alleys, arcades, drive-in cinemas – these are the backdrop for a four-player craft-’em-up. Some strange, possibly alien force has invaded your beloved hometown, and it’s up to you and your friends to gather supplies, build makeshift weapons, and rescue NPCs to bring them back to your base. Ruckus says that the game’s world will evolve over time. It also says that you can customize and upgrade your base. One of the best things about The Forest is collaborating with friends on building the ideal homestead – hopefully there’s some co-op designing and decorating in here, too.
Thanks to a 20-minute vertical slice demo, Ruckus has already secured $19 million in funding. The studio says that its motto is “the player is our hero,” and wants to develop and shape its debut work based on feedback from early testers. To that end, Ruckus invites prospective fans to sign up for the first ever playtest. We don’t know when it will start or how much of the game will be available, but if you’re interested, just head here.
Otherwise, take a look at some of the other best upcoming PC games, or maybe the best survival games available today.
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