Jump on it while it’s early, folks. Official details below.
BALTIMORE – February 15, 2017 – Dropzone, a competitive multiplayer PC game developed by Sparkypants Studios and published by Gameforge, is now available for download via Steam Early Access. A hybrid of Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) action distilled down to accessible 15-minute skirmishes, Dropzone is the first new game IP from the seasoned RTS veterans at developer Sparkypants Studios (past games include Rise of Nations, Civilization II, Alpha Centauri). Players can download Dropzone today via Steam Early Access, with both the introductory Squad Edition and advanced Commander Edition available now.
“Players are the backbone of Sparkypants Studios, and their feedback and support has helped us turn Dropzone into a game that’s quick and modern while retaining the feel of classic RTS multiplayer,” said Jason Coleman, President, Sparkypants. “Internally, we’ve said that our goal is to ‘deconstruct’ the RTS genre, working to build an accessible game for a broad range of players that offers fierce competition and flexible play-styles in fast sessions.”
Dropzone players simultaneously command three weaponized battle Rigs that fill different class-based roles including offense, defense and support. Before each match begins, Rigs are paired with a variety of diverse and charismatic pilots to customize loadouts to suit individual tastes. With hundreds of pieces of unlockable gear, Rigs can be further kitted-out with pulverizers, shredders, proximity mines, lasers, drones, rockets, grappling hooks, teleporters and more for a huge armory of destructive fun. In each strategic match, players must race to key points on the map, capturing and holding Vision Towers, fighting off enemy Rigs, conquering alien Kavash bosses, and harvesting their power cores in a struggle to score as many points as possible. With a mix of overarching strategy and split decisions, players will utilize tactical positioning, powerful abilities and in-game leveling in each escalating match.
Published by Gameforge, Dropzone combines classic elements of Real-Time Strategy, such as controlling the map, commanding multiple units and juggling shifting objectives, while mixing in the intense online competitive play of MOBAs. The game features a wide variety of modes including competitive 1v1 and 2v2 battles, PvP and PvE, custom maps and the cooperative wave-based Infestation mode.
“Dropzone is a one-of-kind game that is going to surprise a lot of people that are seeing it for the first time; during our closed beta Sparkypants has continued to iterate, build upon and improve Dropzone in response to player feedback,” said Christopher Sturr, Director – North America Publishing & Marketing, Gameforge. “We are confident that Dropzone will not only capture the attention of PC gamers on Steam, but will raise the bar for an Early Access title.”
Set in the 22nd century on the alien-infested world of Europa, the game features a rich variety of maps with lush visuals presented in stunning 4K. Dropzone puts balance at the forefront, including skill-based matchmaking, and upcoming competitive features like custom tournaments and ranked play, as well as clan support and friendly scrimmages for casual players. Community features include a built-in Spectator mode, social sharing and replays alongside native livestreaming capabilities.
