Titanfall 2 rolled out a tech test on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One over the weekend and judging by the number of players online when I had a go it seems to have been a huge hit. Don’t tell anyone but it might be my new favourite shooter now that the Killzone series seems to be dead, it’s rather good.
Anyway, if like me you hammered the tech test last weekend you will have noticed that that you cannot progress beyond level 10. Respawn have tweeted that the level cap will rise for the second tech test weekend, and there will be a new map for players to bounce around, and new weapons.
we are adding another map, higher level cap and a couple of weapons!
— Respawn (@Respawn) August 20, 2016
And now a pop quiz: What does does the “2” in Titanfall 2 signify? BURRRP! Nope, incorrect, it does not indicate it is a sequel to Titanfall!
“It has a ‘2’ next to its name, but that signifies the dual elements of Titan and Pilot, and the single player and multiplayer,” COO Dusty Welch told MCV.  It appears Respawn want pretend original Titanfall doesn’t exist, saying TF2 is “a new IP at launch.”
We’re really excited to welcome back that original Xbox One, 360 and PC audience. But Titanfall 2 is really a new IP at launch if you think about it. The Xbox One install base is two or three times what it was when Titanfall launched, the PC audience continues to grow. Then there’s the PS4 install base, which is enormous.
PC gamers may be feeling a bit miffed for not getting a Tech Test but, well, it’s you own fault really. The techy types who data mine demos and betas for secrets have stopped you getting in on the action.
We’ve spent enough time crafting a game that we want to have surprises that we didn’t want to spoil. All it takes is literally finding a couple words in some files that we missed and that would ruin the large portion of the game.
We don’t want single-player spoiled. It’s genuinely unique, and players would get robbed of some really special moments.
Avenger
I haven’t been enjoying the tech test as much as I expected tbh. I’m hoping the lack of spectacle and pace is because of the pre-alpha factor, but generaly speaking everything feels a little off.
It’s a little naive to call it a new IP anyhow. It’s Titanfall. The number ‘2’ is going to do nothing to persuade people it’s a fresh game, and you only have to look at the gameplay to see it’s themed in exactly the same way as the first game (you know, where the original had the dual element of Titan and Pilot). Absolutely ludicrous statement for them to make.
Tuffcub
How dare you suggest Respawn are making ludicrous statements!
rick_x
I think Respawn are trying to distance themselves from the Far superior TF1. I don’t normally go in for online multiplayer but I bought an Xbox One just for this and loved it. Sadly nearly everything that made this game great has been nerfed in the ‘sequel’. I even went back to the original this morning for a pre-work session and the difference is as clear as night and day.
leeroye
I failed to get in to most games during the tech test. I tried at least 30 times to get into a game, but everytime i get to the dropship animation, everything would freeze (except i could still look around) and then i get a message saying i have been disconnected from the server.
I managed to get into 2 games in about 30, so gave up.
colmshan1990
Seemed fun enough, but not a must buy game for me by any means.
I tend to get bored of any shooter within a week.
If they don’t want to treat it as a sequel, why stick a 2 on the end? Why not subtitle it instead?
beeje13
Played 2 games, got mvp in both, by quite a gap. It seems most PS4 players haven’t played the original, which is great in that they’ve grabbed the attention of a new group of players.
The game itself I thought was very well made. Matchmaking was fast, as was loading the map. The grappling hook is interesting, maybe overpowered, against pilots anyway, but not so good against titans to rodeo as it seems so slow in pulling you to them – easy to get shot out of the air.
Doubt i’d buy on release as i’m done with twitch shooters. I played just a 1 game in a session and I feel like I need to do something else, it’s mentally exhaustive.
Ferrick
Really? That’s their justification for the 2?
Is it me is that just a tad pretentious?
If that’s a ‘new IP’ does that mean any ‘sequels’ to that are gonna have the 2 in the title regardless? Is the sequel going to be called Titanfall 2 2?!?!
Bah, Humbug!
The Lone Steven
So it’s nothing then? A lot of things have numbers in yet are not direct sequels. Pretty sure no-one would have kicked up a fuss if they didn’t reveal the real reason for the name.