As everyone knows, Kiwis and Aussies live in the future. So far in the future are they that delivery fans filled with PS5s will soon be leaving the depots to deliver next-gen gaming to eager fans. Since it’s launch day over there, the PlayStation site in New Zealand and Australia has been updated with some fresh details about upcoming games for the next-gen machine.
In particular, the website states that Arkane Studios’ time-looping shooter Deathloop will release on 20th May 2021.
The game will be coming to PlayStation 5 and PC, but is a timed PlayStation console exclusive from Arkane Studios, the company behind Dishonored and Prey, and publisher Bethesda. The game was originally intended for release at the end of 2020, but the usual complications led to it being pushed back to 2021.
May 2021 is also right around the time that Microsoft expect to be closing their deal to acquire Bethesda via parent company ZeniMax. I’m sure Bethesda are pushing to get the game out just before that acquisition is completed, though Microsoft have hardly been shy about buying game companies and letting them complete their cross-platform projects with other developers.
Deathloop is set on the island of Blackreef, with protagonist Colt trapped here in a mysterious Groundhog Day-style timeloop. Instead of trying to find love, he’s trying to take out eight targets across Blackreef before midnight. It seems simple enough except Blackreef has its own guard, Julianna and she enjoys killing Colt over and over again.
Colt appears to have various abilities including the Blink ability from the Dishonored games allowing him to teleport around Blackreef. Another ability allows him to flick enemies away, including out of windows. Players will have to learn the patterns of Blackreef and discover different paths to work out how to best move forward. There will be a lot of dying but each death will bring knowledge.
Deathloop does mix the singleplayer and multiplayer. While players experience the story of Colt others can take control of Julianna to hunt Colt through Blackreef and stop his progress. It is an optional choice as players can keep it so Julianna remains AI controlled instead of player controlled.
Source: PS Store NZ, Nibel
