Exclusive First Look at Fragmentary Order: A Deep Dive into Rant Gaming's Ambitious Sci-Fi Shooter
Two months have passed since Rant Gaming, led by Nikita Buyanov, unveiled Fragmentary Order, an ambitious hardcore sci-fi shooter that promises to revolutionize the gaming landscape. With a team boasting a staggering legacy in the film and video game industries, paired with the Unreal Engine base, the game is shaping up to be a masterpiece in the making.
In this exclusive first look, I had the privilege of exploring in-engine screenshots from Fragmentary Order, guided by Nikita Buyanov himself. What I discovered was a game that pushes the boundaries of what's possible in the genre, offering a unique blend of survival, exploration, and sci-fi storytelling.
Fragmentary Order: More Than Just Tarkov in Space
One of the most intriguing aspects of Fragmentary Order is its departure from the extraction shooter genre, particularly Escape from Tarkov. While it shares a similar operating model, Fragmentary Order is a step beyond, offering a multiple-map format with environments several times larger than those in Tarkov.
The first location, Blue Mars, is set on a partially terraformed Mars, but the game's scope extends far beyond. Future locations include a space station, Earth, Venus, and more, each with its own unique lore and challenges. The game's post-apocalyptic setting is grounded in reality, offering a glimpse into a potential future.
Nikita Buyanov explained, "It’s like five times more (bigger) than a typical Tarkov location, basically. The first location, called Blue Mars, it’s on a partially terraformed Mars, but other locations will be on different areas… a space station, on Earth, on Venus, and more to come. It’s almost post-apocalyptic in nature."
Session-Based Gameplay and Survival Mechanics
Fragmentary Order embraces a session-based gameplay model, moving away from the extraction element of Escape from Tarkov. Players can engage in a single raid for 'one or two hours', with multiple objectives and various ways to approach the game. The survival aspect is a key focus, allowing players to 'clear out the whole area' or 'survive without needing to extract'.
The team is also introducing multiple game modes, including controllable entities that players can command, and encouraging a more open environment with sandbox mechanics. This shift in design offers a fresh experience, moving away from the traditional extraction shooter formula.
A PvPvE Experience with a Focus on Community
Fragmentary Order is designed to be a PvPvE (player versus player versus environment) game, accommodating up to 40-50 players on a single map at any given time. The game's size and scope allow for a rich, immersive experience, with 'locals and drones' and other PvE elements adding depth to the gameplay.
Rant Gaming's alternate reality game (ARG) campaign, which served as a precursor to Fragmentary Order, played a crucial role in building a dedicated player base. Through this ARG, players could manipulate a 'terminal' system, solving puzzles and uncovering lore, which later revealed a deeper layer to the game's narrative.
Nikita Buyanov emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, 'We need to build the fanbase. Not only the fanbase, but the actual helpers; the founders that will help us to shape the game, together.' This approach ensures that the game is tested, played, and inhabited by the right people, fostering a dedicated and passionate community.
A Polished Experience with a Focus on Technical Quality
Rant Gaming has invested an immense amount of time and money into creating a detailed, intricate world with original items, equipment, and weapons. Nikita Buyanov revealed that the development process for Fragmentary Order's weapons is more time-consuming than for Escape from Tarkov, but it's a necessary step to ensure a polished and immersive experience.
The studio's current milestone is to finish a playable build with 'good FPS, good networking, good interactions'. Nikita Buyanov is determined to avoid the technical issues that plagued Escape from Tarkov, prioritizing a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience.
'It needs to be perfectly playable. I decided to do that just because I had this huge experience with Tarkov. Tarkov releases, and all the technical issues, and I’d hate to feel all that again. I really want to publish this game, to make it live, with the best technical quality possible,' he said.
While the exact release date for the first playable build is uncertain, Nikita Buyanov assures that it won't be too long. The game's development is progressing smoothly, and the studio's faith in its vision is evident.
Conclusion: A Game for the Ages
Fragmentary Order is a game that promises to push the boundaries of the sci-fi shooter genre, offering a rich, immersive experience with a focus on survival, exploration, and community engagement. With its ambitious scope, detailed world-building, and dedication to technical quality, it's a game that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the gaming industry.
As a player, I'm excited to see how Rant Gaming continues to refine and develop this game, and I look forward to exploring the vast, post-apocalyptic world of Fragmentary Order.
