Abatron, Sci-Fi Hell Meets RTS/FPS Hybrid

Abatron is a hybrid of RTS and FPS. Set in something like an alien version of hell, or maybe just a Doom-esq future where mankind has been wiped out and the monsters just fight each other. The key feature to the game is the ability to ‘jump’ into any unit on the battlefield and take direct control. Abatron also features several hero units that can be upgraded RPG style, as well as traditional RTS ‘tech’ enhancements that benefit your entire army, while Blueprints allow you to create fast and flexible base designs. Abatron is also built on the Unreal 4 engine, which accounts for the mouth-watering visuals shown above.

All in all, the feature list for the game is taken from a list for my ideal RTS hybrid. This is very exciting stuff…however, Abatron is not the first game to venture down this path. The gaming industry is littered with similar hybrid games that ‘almost’ made it. CnC Renegade, Civ Rise and Fall, Nuclear Dawn, Savage, even NS2 (one of my all-time favourite games) didn’t get the recognition it really deserved. None of these games is a bad game, and they’ve each taken their own spin on the idea of a hybrid, but I believe that’s part of the problem. Gamers are fickle, they’re always on the lookout for something new, but they only want what they know (I’m including myself with ‘them’) something that they’re already familiar with.

Although I’m excited for Abatron, it’s hard to say with certainty if it will be any good. The trailer above shows off the models and effects nicely, but doesn’t show any gameplay. W3 Studios (the developers) are however releasing a free public alpha, so if you want to be one of the first players to try Abatron you can still sign up for it.

Official Press Release

July 25, 2016 – Kansas City, MO – W3Studios is now accepting signups for the Alpha release of their game “Abatron”, an RTS/FPS hybrid that is being developed with UE4 for the PC.

Abatron is all about controlling the battlefield, whether that’s conquering your foes with superior strategy in our RTS mode or taking the fight to the ground in first or third person combat. Throughout the game, as your armies grow so does the potential to unlock more upgrades and abilities for your army.

Want to show off your superior strategy to your friends? Then play in our coop and versus game modes up to 8 people. Abatron is a high action, competitive experience that pushes players to experiment with a variety of RTS tactics and FPS strategies to achieve total victory.

FEATURES:

Powered by Unreal Engine 4
Switch between RTS and FPS at anytime
Level up in Hero FPS mode and unlock abilities
Create stronger units in RTS mode by upgrading your buildings
Switch between any Hero units to use special skills
Multiplayer with up to 8 people
Swarm bases with critters, scavenge for resources, and much more…

UPCOMING FEATURES:

Coop vs AI
Campaign story mode
Command your troops while in FPS mode
Pair up with another unit for a combo attack
Transport vehicles
New races, More Abilities

Modding Support!

Once Abatron was greenlit, development switched from using the Source Engine to Unreal Engine 4. Using the awesome power of UE4, the game was ported and redesigned. Now over a year later, the Abatron team is ready for playtesting and anxiously awaits feedback from gamers who are interested in joining the alpha. Testers will be granted access to a developer Slack group where they can ask questions, voice concerns and share ideas.

To participate in the Alpha, simply subscribe to our newsletter on our website by July 31st: http://www.abatrongame.com

Subscribers will receive an email 8/1/16 to fill out a play time survey. Since only the Multiplayer is presently unlocked, we will create a schedule that will ensure the most players online at any given time. The Alpha will not have an NDA, so YouTubers/streamers are encouraged to create content if they so wish.

RELEASE SCHEDULE:

Alpha playtesting will begin early August
Kickstarter campaign accompanied by a Steam Early Access release (PC, MAC and Linux) is scheduled for late 2016

Full game launch (PC, MAC, Linux) is expected in 2017

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login