Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate developer Digital Cybercherries’ announcement that Hypercharge: Unboxed, the high-octane shooter, has sold over 100,000 copies on Xbox consoles.
Released just one month ago, Hypercharge: Unboxed is a chaotic first-and-third-person shooter that places you in a world of sentient childhood toys, brought to life by the ancient power of the Hypercore. Your task is to defend the Hypercore from total destruction by taking down the waves of rogue toys sent to destroy it.
Speaking to Xbox Wire, Hypercharge: Unboxed Creative Gameplay & Marketing Director Joe Henson shares that they’re “overwhelmed with emotions” about the response to the game on Xbox. “It feels almost surreal – like living in a dream. Sometimes, I wake up and wonder if it’s all real!
“To have poured our hearts into this project and to see it embraced so warmly by our players is incredibly fulfilling.”
Henson shares that reaching this milestone on Xbox has been transformative for the studio’s small team of six. The success has not only changed their lives, but has also altered the dynamic of their indie studio and what it can focus on next.
“We now have the ability to allocate a decent budget towards marketing and invest in areas of the game that we previously couldn’t afford to enhance,” Henson says. “Additionally, the support from Xbox has been phenomenal, helping us get the game in front of as many players as possible. Their support has been invaluable, and we are truly grateful for it.”
Hypercharge: Unboxed itself harks back to the simple shooters of old, and Henson cites both Halo and Goldeneye as examples of similar games with easy to pick up but highly engaging mechanics. It’s these characteristics that make Hypercharge: Unboxed feel incredibly at home on Xbox, and for Digital Cybercherries, the choice to bring their exciting new shooter to the platform felt like a no brainer.
“This kind of nostalgic gameplay really resonates with Xbox players, plus the inclusion of split-screen play enhances that old-school feel,” Henson adds.
Thinking Outside the Box
The idea of Hypercharge: Unboxed stemmed from a simple but compelling curiosity – what would the world look like from a miniature perspective? Taking inspiration from the likes of seminal ’80s and ’90s movies such as “Toy Story”, “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids,” and – most importantly for the team – “Small Soldiers”, the studio found themselves enamoured with the concept of bringing these nostalgic, childhood memories to life.
“While brainstorming ideas for our first game, someone mentioned ‘Small Soldiers’ and a lightbulb went off,” Henson says. “We couldn’t believe we’d almost forgotten such a pivotal film from our childhoods! We watched it there and then, and were mesmerized by the animations, the whimsical story, and how it made action figures feel alive.”
Many of us are joined by those same nostalgic memories, and Henson believes that is what makes Hypercharge: Unboxed’s setting feel truly unique.
“Hypercharge isn’t just a game; it’s an experience that strengthens bonds and spans generations,” Henson says. “For parents who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, it’s a trip down memory lane – a chance to relive the excitement of their childhood. But more importantly, it allows them to share this joy with their children.”
With several multiplayer modes – including 1-4 player online and local co-op – and an offline PvE story campaign, there are tons of ways for friends and families to gather and relive the nostalgia coursing through Hypercharge: Unboxed together.
And the game is only just getting started on Xbox. While the small team is hard at working to ensure the smoothest possible experience on Xbox consoles, Henson shares that with us that the they’re also exploring an ‘Endless Game Mode’ – where you’ll test your mettle against endless waves of enemies. There’s no building, just pure, plastic chaos that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s early days for the idea, but the studio is extremely excited about the potential.
“The Xbox community has provided a wealth of positive feedback, which has been invaluable,” Henson adds. “We already have our next update planned, but with the excitement and support we’ve received, who knows, there might even be a Hypercharge 2 in the future!”
Hypercharge: Unboxed is out now for Xbox Series X|S.
HYPERCHARGE Unboxed
Digital Cybercherries Limited
$29.99
HELP SGT. MAX AMMO TO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE!
There was once an ancient line of action figures, who created a magical power source that would allow humans to keep their favourite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient power source is known as the Hypercore.
Inside the Hypercore are the beloved memories of our favorite toys. If Major Evil destroys it, these memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you’ve got, or see our cherished toys turn into lost treasures of the past!
Hypercharge is a first and third-person shooter action figure game you’ve always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign!
PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Work together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break out of your toy packaging, and get ready to fight waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets.
OFFLINE PLAY FOR SOLO PLAYERS
Not everybody likes to play online. Hypercharge supports Offline, Split-Screen and Local play. You can progress and unlock everything in-game while playing solo.
PLAYER BOTS
Don’t have a team to play with? Don’t worry, we’ve got you solo players covered. Player bots listen to your commands, collect resources, and even help to build defences.
UNLOCK ACTION FIGURES
In Hypercharge, hundreds of unlocks are available, all of which can be earned directly in-game without any microtransactions.
PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER MODES
Go head-to-head against other action figures as you fight to become top of the scoreboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection, and King of the Hill.