Loadout is set to officially launch on Friday, January 31, 2014, giving shooter fans an opportunity to build their own outlandish gun, piece by deadly piece, and then use it in some third-person arena action. We checked out this sweet free-to-play shooter from Edge of Reality all the way back during GDC 2013, and it left enough of an impression to have us excited about the newly announced launch.
The game’s been in development for roughly three years, and while the final release is still a couple of weeks away, you can actually play it right now as a Steam Early Access offering. Take note that you’ll have to pay to get into the nearly completed beta – $9.99 for a basic pack, or more if you want additional in-game resources – but any content you own will carry into the eventual release. January 31 isn’t too far off though; if you’re not convinced after reading our preview, it’s not like you’ll have to wait much longer before you can try the game yourself at no charge.
Edge of Reality boasts that the game’s robust weapon customization interface allows for more than 44 billion possible weapon configurations. If you’re familiar with the weapon crafting mechanic in Dead Space 3, it works similarly in Loadout. Different parts influence different aspects of the gun you’re cobbling together. One component might mean the difference between full-auto and semi-auto, or close-range and long-range, or bullets and white-hot jets of flesh-searing fire.
It’s neat stuff. You can find out more on the game’s official website.
