We all thought Palworld would be a success, but I don’t think anyone – not even its creators – expected the seismic shock it caused on Steam in January. At its peak, Pocketpair’s monster-driven survival game attracted more than two million players at a time. Now, some six months later, it’s averaging just over 100,000. That’s a big drop, but Palworld is one of the lucky ones – big games, especially mid-budget survival and horror projects, arrive, thrive and die at an alarming rate, and the competition is greater than ever. The world out there is tough. Once a man, already one of the most popular games on Steam, has every chance of success, but in such a crowded genre, how does it stand out from rivals like Stalker 2, Soulmask, and the venerable Palworld itself? Speaking exclusively to PCGamesN, developer Starry Studio explains.
In the polished, sci-fi future of Once Human, an alien spore has infected the surface of our planet, transforming plant, wildlife and human life into dangerous and mutated versions of their former selves. You, the player, are somehow immune to the effects of this infectious “Stardust” – in fact, it makes you stronger, unlocking new powers and abilities that effectively turn you into a superhero.
Set loose in the ruined but surprisingly beautiful landscape of our former home, you’re free to do anything and everything you’d expect from survival games and MMOs. Complete quests, hunt wild animals, farm animals and crops, build your own home, customize everything – Once Human is just a canvas for your every agent whim.
Before launch, it became the fifth most requested game on all of Steam. 15 million players pre-registered to play Once Human and it attracted more than 300,000 users during the Steam Next Fest. Despite the freedom it offers and its extremely diverse mechanics, however, Starry Studio says that Once Human isn’t trying to be a “everything” game.
“The combination of MMO and survival game elements sets Once Human apart, offering a unique blend of cooperative and competitive interactions in a survival-focused environment,” explains Derek Cooey, Head of Overseas Operations. “Furthermore, Once Human also stands out for its prioritization of player feedback and commitment to creating an engaging and engaging gameplay experience.” Our focus is to compete by our own standards, ensuring that we consistently deliver a game that resonates with our audience.
“But we would like to make it clear that our intention is not to create a ‘be all’ or ‘end-all’ video game that combines popular components from other games. While we are inspired by the innovative elements present in various successful titles, our goal is to create a unique and immersive gaming experience that stands out on its own merits. Once Human is a carefully crafted game with its own distinct narrative, gameplay mechanics and world-building.”
However, from what we’ve seen so far, Once Human feels like a pretty expansive sandbox. There’s PvP and PvE, co-op and solo play, and a giant open world made up of a variety of contrasting biomes. Some people want short, or at least limited, video games where the mechanics are limited and there’s a strong sense of direction, almost dictation, from the creator – you play as long as it lasts and then move on to something else.
Others want a long-term commitment, a game where they can expand, explore, upgrade, and scale over weeks, months, or even years; instead of playing “games” that they want to devote their time to entirely game. If the tastes of video game players can be broadly divided into these two categories, Once Human is certainly for those who prefer the latter. The problem for Starry Studio is that there are more of these types of games now than ever before. So how does Once Human succeed?
“Once Human distinguishes itself through its distinct and compelling world-building, offering players an immersive and visually stunning environment that sets it apart from other survival games,” says Qui. “The game features a richly detailed and meticulously crafted world, creating a unique atmosphere that captures the imagination of players.
“Furthermore, the game’s monster design is innovative and immersive, featuring a diverse array of creatures that are intricately designed to enhance the overall gaming experience.” Each monster presents its own set of challenges, adding depth and excitement to the game.
“Our post-launch roadmap also includes regular updates focused on player feedback, optimizing game mechanics and ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all players. We also have plans to introduce new content such as expansions, in-game events and additional features that will enrich the world of Once Human and provide fresh and exciting experiences for our player community.”
But if size and sheer volume are Once Human’s strongest points, that doesn’t mean everything Starry Studio envisions will make it into the finished game. On the contrary, many ideas have already been left on the cutting room floor.
“During the development process, there were some notable ideas that we had to abandon in order to maintain the integrity and coherence of the game,” explains Qui. “Some ideas, as intriguing as they are, don’t fit the overall vision of Once Human or integrate seamlessly with the core game mechanics.
“One example. In the beginning, we wanted the game to be more realistic. There was a territorial system with a set of mechanisms that were more in line with the concept of survival. Players must regularly provide resources to the territory, such as “paying the rent”. However, after looking at player feedback, we ended up narrowing down the survivability design in this area. We agreed with the players that survival should be a joy in the game, not a burden.”
After a series of playtests and betas, Once Human’s full release date arrives on Tuesday, July 9. One of the most sought after games on Steam, expectations are naturally high.
But given the amount of survival game rivals that have already landed in 2024 and others yet to come, Starry Studios’ ambitious MMO, FPS, co-op, crafting and farming hybrid potentially has some uphill battles ahead. It may not be trying to be everything to everyone at the same time – but it’s definitely close. Whether that’s what players really want nowadays, we’ll have to wait and see.
You might be asking “when is Once Human coming out?” Luckily, we have the full list of release times. You may also want to check out some of the other best sandbox games available on PC.
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