OCTOBER 2017 / #8
TAcTICS VIDEO GAME INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS
SPORTS AND THEIR PLACE IN VIDEO GAMES
NBA
F I FA
NHL
W WE
NFL
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It’s about more than just looking at what’s on the surface...
TACTICS EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Janes WRITER & ART EDITOR Katie Gibbs
CONTACT US tactics@fancensus.com +44 (0)1628 483 554 Fancensus 99 High Street Marlow Bucks SL7 1AB
And just like that we now find ourselves in the month of September. So long summer, it was “nice” knowing you. The road to Christmas officially kicks off here, and that is especially true when it comes to the gaming industry, with new releases never more than a stone’s throw away. It’s an exciting time for sure in a year that hasn’t exactly been short on surprises or highlights. So what does September bring us in the way of video game releases? Katie explores two of the biggest on page 7 along with their critical reception. The first is Destiny 2 (you may have heard of it), the much anticipated sequel from the team over at Bungie. Samus also makes her long awaited return with the remake Metroid: Samus Returns hitting 3DS. Does the orange suited bounty hunter still have what it takes to score with critics? If you’re looking for the latest stats and figures on the industry then fear not we have you covered. Starting on page 10 we take a look at the top games that have taken over press and YouTube for the past four weeks. Will it be Destiny 2? Or perhaps FIFA 18? Turn over to find out. While we’re on the subject of FIFA, on page 18 Ryan takes a look at the sports genre within the industry and how it’s managed to stay so popular. When so many franchises have fallen victim to fatigue it’s amazing to see the likes of NBA and WWE still scoring attention, and more importantly sales. Plus there’s even more you’ll find in this issue including a look at eSports and its place in the Olympics. You can already feel the excitement building as we walk on through the September doorway and into the busy final quarter. If the last 9 months are any indication the remaining 3 look set to be the biggest end of year yet. Ryan Janes
OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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3
This Month In Tactics...
4
6
On the Horizon
7
Review Rundown
9
2017 Review Standings So Far
10
Monthly Leaderboard
12
eSports in the Olympics
14
Sports Games
18
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Metroid: Samus Returns Destiny 2
PR Leaderboard YouTube Leaderboard
Do video games have a place in the world’s foremost sporting competition?
18
Their continued success within the Industry
Just how popular is the battle royale?
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OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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7
12 OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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5
On The Horizon...
October ‘17
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
10/10
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Super Mario Odyssey
27/10
27/10
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
17/10
Assassin’s Creed: Origins
27/10
Other releases...
6
03/10
Forza Motorsport 7
PC, XBO
17/10
NBA 2K18
NSW
03/10
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
PC, PS4, XBO, NSW
17/10
Rogue Trooper Redux
PS4, XBO
03/10
The Hunter: Call of the Wild
PS4, XBO
17/10
WWE 2K18
PS4, XBO, NSW
06/10
Layton’s Mystery Journey
N3DS
18/10
Gran Turismo Sport
PS4
06/10
The Lego Ninjago Movie Videogame
PS4, XBO, NSW
20/10
Fire Emblem Warriors
NSW, N3DS
06/10
Mario & Luigi’s Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
N3DS
20/10
Real Farm
PC, PS4, XBO
13/10
Dungeons 3
PC, PS4, XBO
24/10
Destiny 2
PC
13/10
Raid: World War II
PS4, XBO
24/10
Just Dance 2018
PC, PS4, XBO, NSW
13/10
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
N3DS
27/10
Batman: the Enemy Within
PC, PS4, XBO
13/10
The Evil Within 2
PC, PS4, XBO
27/10
Rugby 18
PS4, XBO
13/10
Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle
PS4, NSW
27/10
Yomawari: Midnight Shadows
PS4
17/10
ELEX
PC, PS4, XBO
31/10
Spintires: Mudrunners
PC, PS4, XBO
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OCTOBER 2017 / #8
Review Rundown Metroid: Samus Returns Publisher Nintendo
Developer Mercury Stream
Genre Action Adventure
Formats 3DS
87% 87%
84%
87%
94%
87%
85%
Divinity Original Sin 2
Total War: Warhammer 2
Destiny 2
85% 82%
Worldwide average review score and by territory
Top three reviewed September releases
72%
72%
70%
69%
76%
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 Yearly September average review scores
What the press love...
What the press hate...
Feels like a Metroid game. Modernisation of game mechanics. Excellent new weapon/level design. High attention to detail.
Experience feels watered down. Some puzzles too easy. Repetitive boss fights.
Samus is back in a ground up remake of fan favourite Metroid 2, and it seems as though she has only gotten better with age. All round reviewers praised this game saying it was the Metroid experience they had been waiting for and the combination of original story with new game mechanics and designs was a perfect match. Reviewers praised the aesthetic design and commented on the high attention to detail from developers Mercury Stream. The modernisation of game mechanics and introduction of new weapons and levels has ensured players are given a fresh experience whilst still playing an old remade storyline. Despite much praise, some reviewers were split on the difficulty level of the game, some felt that it was challenging enough while other felt it too easy, with one of the main grievances the introduction of a new Melee attack; wherein Samus learns how to counter an enemy, and timed correctly you can defeat them with one attack. Those that disliked this change felt it took away the challenge and made it far too easy to defeat your foes, hence the complaint of battles being too repetitive and a watered down experience. Despite this clash on difficulty there was little else in terms of negativity for this game. Reviewers all commented on what a fun experience the game was to play and how there was numerous replayability to achieve 100% status. Mercury Stream have certainly delivered a Metroid game that has wet fan’s appetite, here’s hoping upcoming Metroid Prime 4 will finally deliver on the full Metroid experience we’ve all been waiting for.
OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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Review Rundown Destiny 2 Publisher Activision Blizzard
Developer Bungie
Genre FPS
Formats PS4, XBONE
87% 87%
85%
87%
94%
87%
85%
Divinity Original Sin 2
Total War: Warhammer 2
Destiny 2
86% 84%
Worldwide average review score and by territory
Top three reviewed September releases
72%
72%
70%
69%
76%
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 Yearly September average review scores
What the press love...
What the press hate...
Improves on the first game. Excellent graphics and visuals. Clearly structured storyline. Great new enemy designs.
Microtransactions! Rotation of play modes in Crucible. Shaders can only be used once. Gear is non-transferable from Destiny 1.
Destiny 2 has been a long time coming for Destiny fans, 3 years after the launch of the first game it seems only now are Bungie getting things right. Across the board the sequel has been praised for righting the wrongs of the first game and for delivering the game fans wanted, albeit a little late. Destiny 2 improves on the first, with its better constructed and easier to follow storyline, and its better depth of character design. All reviewers commented that despite any issues that may rise they were finding great enjoyment in the game, and were hopeful that it would continue to be added to and updated in the future. There was however, one complaint that all reviewers brought up and one that seems to be affecting a lot of upcoming games: microtransactions. While these are not a new addition to the Destiny universe they have been updated in such a way that they have become intrusive to a player’s enjoyment. No longer can players customise their character with well-earned gear, instead they must use real money to purchase these; but rather than invest in a particular chosen item players are instead given one randomly generated and must keep trying until they get the one they want. On top of this, each shader can only be used once, so once you’ve swapped it it’s gone. Understandably reviewers were not pleased, and their grievances match players across the Destiny universe. While it is possible to play the game and gain the same enjoyment without these microtransactions, reviewers felt it was a poor move on Bungie’s part and disrespectful to players who have invested previously. It seems that while the gameplay has improved from the first game, and the enjoyment for players is still there, Bungie have still provided something for people to moan at come launch. Will this be something they adapt based on consumer response or is this just the starting point for gaming of the future?
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2017 Review Standings So Far *Games require at least ten reviews to gather an average score.
Title
Score
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
96%
Divinity: Original Sin 2
94%
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
92%
Persona 5
92%
Horizon: Zero Dawn
91%
Planescape: Torment Enhanced Edition
89%
NieR Automata
88%
Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood
88%
Total War: Warhammer 2
87%
Injustice 2
87%
What Remains of Edith Finch
87%
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
87%
Monument Valley 2
87%
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
86%
Sonic Mania
86%
Nioh
86%
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
86%
Nex Machina
86%
MLB The Show 17
86%
F1 2017
86%
Hollow Knight
86%
Destiny 2
85%
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
85%
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
85%
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
85%
Night In The Woods
85%
Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2
85%
Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun
85%
Everspace
85%
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
84%
OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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Monthly Leaderboard PR Activity
Week 35 - Week 39
September has been a busy month for video games and no surprises as to who has topped the PR chart; Destiny 2 has dominated with over double the number of activities as its closest competitor. FIFA 18 is back and ranking highly, as to be expected, with it’s release on the Switch helping keep it in the spotlight. Future releases Call of Duty WWII, Assassin’s Creed and Shadow of War are all receiving a large number of activities, as people anticipate next month’s top releases. Returning favourite Pokemon Go and Overwatch continue to generate PR with ongoing updates and special events. Likewise PlayUnknown’s Battlegrounds is continuing to excel in PR coverage, with its constant updates and its recent breaking of Steam’s record for most concurrent users, all before it’s even officially released.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10
DESTINY 2
8,300
FIFA 18
3,200
NINTENDO SWITCH
2,700
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
2,500
CALL OF DUTY WWII
2,300
ASSASSIN’S CREED: ORIGINS
1,700
OVERWATCH
1,700
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR
1,600
POKEMON GO
1,400
NBA 2K18
1,300
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OCTOBER 2017 / #8
Monthly Leaderboard YouTube Activity
Week 35 - Week 39
FIFA 18 has stormed this month’s YouTube chart thanks to a number of let’s plays from Key Influencers as well as numerous pack openings as players start to build their Ultimate Team. Destiny 2, our other big release, has also performed well but is yet to reach the status of FIFA. Other Key Influencer favourites like Mario + Rabbids, Hello Neighbour and Ark: Survival Evolved remain consistent in the chart as players continue to support these titles. A new trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 in the final week of September has propelled it to fourth place as excitement continues to build for its 2018 release. Showing that you only need one video (to be reposted a couple of hundred times) to generate interest, their teasing on Twitter will have also helped here. It will be interesting to see how well this game performs, particularly with Key Influencers, upon its release.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FIFA 18
333 M
DESTINY 2
187 M
NBA 2K18
126 M
RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2
78 M
ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED
56 M
MARIO + RABBIDS KINGDOM BATTLE
55 M
CALL OF DUTY WWII
54 M
MADDEN NFL 18
34 M
HELLO NEIGHBOUR
33 M
ROCK OF AGES 2: BIGGER AND BOULDER
33 M
OCTOBER 2017 / #8
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SHOULD WE INTRODUCE ESPORTS INTO THE OLYMPIC GAMES? KATIE SAYS... The typical response to this question is to turn your nose up and simply declare that eSports are not a sport and therefore we should not even be having this conversation. But what if I was to tell you that actually eSports is one of the fastest growing sports today with audiences well over 290 million and generating revenue streams of $463 million. Perhaps I could change your opinion? A sport is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” It seems to me that we can put eSports into that category; players compete solo or in teams against others demonstrating their skill in a chosen activity, in this case a video game, and the viewing figures clearly demonstrate its entertainment value. So allowing that eSports can be categorised as a “sport” what would it need to do to be considered an Olympic Sport? Well according to the guidelines for the 2020 games and beyond the International Olympic Committee is focused primarily on “appealing to younger audiences and maximising the games’ general popularity.” We only need to look at viewing figures to see why this may be the case, during the 2016 Rio games viewership in the 18-49 age group fell 25% from the previous games – suggesting that the youngsters just aren’t interested anymore. ESports’ audience is comprised of 51% millenials, so its inclusion in the Olympics would definitely boost viewing figures and help improve the games’ general popularity. And couldn’t we argue that the recent inclusion of beach volleyball has been for the same reason?
Still not convinced? Well, what if we delved into the history of the Olympics and looked at some of the “sports” that have previously awarded gold medals – architecture anyone? That’s right, back in the 1920s there was a whole portion of the Olympics dedicated to the Arts, awarding gold medals in things from drawing and town planning, to sculpture and music. Perhaps the one still raising eyebrows is that Dressage is still an Olympic sport today. Does what is essentially horse ballet count as a sport; is their skill any different to a gamer who has spent hundreds of hours learning how to use his chosen virtual steed, be it weapon, character or both? It’s particularly telling when you consider some sports like Cricket and Squash aren’t even in the Olympics at all and I’m sure everyone would agree they were “real sports.” So clearly the argument that it is not a “sport” doesn’t really affect its ability to be in the Olympics. In fact games in the Olympics are a reflection of our changing culture and eSports has certainly become an integral part of the gaming community. Already transcending nationalities and territories, eSports tournaments are a global phenomenon, so why not allow these players the pride of being able to represent their country in the most widely recognised sporting event in the world? ESports is going to become the next big thing, and whether it has its own event or not that’s where audiences are heading. It seems to me that the Olympics should get in there now and nurture this sport and invest in the future or fear becoming an antiquated event.
RYAN SAYS... I’m what some would categorise as a “hardcore gamer.” I make sure to try out all the latest releases, be they AAA or indie. I try to squeeze in as many gaming hours as I can every week, I go to conventions and when I’m not playing I write about them every chance I get. They’ve been a large part of my life ever since childhood. Which is why it may seem odd that I am very much in the camp for not featuring eSports in the Olympic Games. Now that isn’t to say I’m totally against the idea of video games having some sort of presence, just that perhaps there is a better way to do so than by simply crowbarring a few games into the existing event. Let’s address the obvious debate first off that many have of whether eSports is technically a sport. It’s tough to deny the stigma already surrounding this topic with many likely rolling their eyes at the idea of a gold medal winning athlete sharing that same honour with someone who managed the same feat from the comfort of their chair. And I can see their point to a degree. I’m not arguing the dedication and skill pro eSports players have at what they do, but for the general public they will likely never see it as in the same league. Also if this does eventually happen it sounds like it may not be in the way gamers who care actually want. During an interview with Morning Post IOC President Thomas Bach
stated “we want to promote non-discrimination, non-violence, and peace among people. This doesn’t match with video games, which are about violence, explosions and killing. And there we have to draw a clear line.” If past events have taught us anything it’s that the most viewed games just so happen to be violent ones like Overwatch or DOTA 2. If we eliminate non-violent games then what does that leave us with? Sports titles? I don’t know about you but I can’t imagine many will choose to watch a video game version of basketball when the real thing might be played that very same day regardless of whether you’re a gamer or sports fan. I understand that for things to stay relevant changes need to be made (just look at E3), but perhaps the answer here is hosting a separate event dedicated to eSports alone. Rather than trying to argue how the two are the same, why not celebrate sports and its electronic counterpart for what they are - their own thing. Throw in fighters, racers and even puzzlers to add variety and help distance itself from the other Olympic event. Thomas Bach may claim violence is out but what about boxing? It might just be me but that appears pretty violent whenever I watch. So while I don’t feel eSports has a place at the Olympic Games by simply adding it to the roster of events, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways in which it can’t be celebrated for achievements some other way.
SPORTS GAMES AND THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY The summer months are once again drawing to a close and that signals the return of all our favourite professional sports. The NFL and football seasons are already well underway and with the NHL and NBA just around the corner, that means we’re also being treated to our usual accompanying package of sporting video games as well. Whether you’re a fan of soccer, a wrestling enthusiast or even just enjoy the relaxing feel of a good golf game the industry often delivers with a reliable schedule of yearly options. And why wouldn’t it when the games prove increasingly popular year on year? Where does this popularity for sports games come from though, and why is it publishers can continue to release new editions as quickly as one year later to huge success, something other genres have a harder time maintaining? The sports genre sees more annually released franchises than any other out there (this figure increases even higher if you include racing too). Whereas your Call of Dutys or Assassin’s Creeds
are certainly no strangers to yearly launches, data is showing that this consistant release schedule can, and does, lead to franchise fatigue. 2016 was the first Assassin’s Creed-less year since 2007, a move you have to imagine was tied to the series’ decline in sales. Sports games meanwhile continue to see steady sales year on year even with series as old as twenty years plus. Simply looking at sales figures reveals just how relevant these sports franchises still are. FIFA remains near the top of most European charts from launch right through till Christmas while Madden and NBA 2K unsurpisingly lead the charge in the US. Whether we’re talking sports or sports entertainment in WWE 2K’s case, these yearly releases are seeing figures in the millions worldwide. It’s not just sales though as social media paints a similar picture with sports titles ranking highly each week over Twitter and Facebook through a clever use of competitions and Key Influencer output. Sports games also perform well over YouTube and Twitch, a trend often seen with a
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lot of competitive multiplayer titles especially ones from bigger more established series. Of course the genre does feature its share of new IPs and less frequently updated series - The Golf Club 2 and NBA Playgrounds just a couple of 2017 examples. You have to see the success of games like these and wonder how long before they too turn into yearly updates? With EA’s PGA Tour series MIA that leaves the market wide open for a new yearly series like The Golf Club. Microtransactions, a term often frowned upon in the gaming industry these days have started finding their way into the genre too. NBA 2K18, for example, has seen waves of criticism following the use of real money purchases - so much so that the publisher has gone out of their way to make it clear WWE 2K18 will not include any microtransactions at all. Whether the original plan was to include this in WWE is unknown but you have to imagine following such backlash, strategies will need to be rethought going forwards. FIFA, Madden and NHL meanwhile continues to push their Ultimate Team features, another way for players to use real world currency to buy blind packs of sports stars. EA claim it to be their most popular feature in FIFA and a quick glance on YouTube will show you just how popular Ultimate Team is. Key Influencers are constantly uploading new videos of their latest pack openings with views in the millions. Even talking to five friends who have purhcased the latest FIFA revealed all of them had already spent extra money on Ultimate Team. The headlines we see from the press on microtransactions in any genre are rarely positive but it’s a strategy that doesn’t appear to repel players be it sport or other.
As someone who enjoys sports in a more casual sense I might treat myself to the newest Madden every now and again. Why am I not one of those players that jumps on every year though? Personally the difference in content between each release isn’t big enough to justify me spending another £50 or the fact I’m simply not “into” the sport enough to truly appreciate the changes that have been made. I’m a gamer first and a sports fan second so I’ll always value unique experiences over roster updates. Then again you might argue I’m not the target audience. It’s clear the person whose going to benefit most from a game mimicking a sport are fans who follow said sport. This results in a case of two audiences publishers can pull from - gamers and sports fans. Some of these may cross over sure, but while a series like Assassin’s Creed will only ever really appeal to a gamer, the beauty of sports titles is their audience reaches farther thanks to this new group of potential buyers. I know plenty of people for example who have a console but only really play the latest FIFA, NBA or WWE release. They have little desire to branch out and for them it’s just another way to experience and appreciate the sport they love. Fact of the matter is sports games have a wider appeal as we are subjected to them on a constant basis be it through media or simply just walking in the park. Bottom line is that sports have a huge presence in today’s world and unsurprisingly this has bled over into the gaming industry. While we see IPs come and go all the time, sports franchises have arguably stood the test of time better than any other, evolving with their audience and keeping in the spotlight amidst a very competitive environment. Ryan Janes
Missing In Action While we’ve focused a lot on the victories within the genre, not every sports series has seen the same level of contiunued success that the likes of FIFA or Madden do. Whether it be down to expired licenses, poor sales performance or simply the industry itself changing. Here are a few examples of franchises that have been absent for an extended amount of time: Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater NCAA Football SKATE Fight Night Track & Field MLB 2K Virtua Tennis Top Spin SSX EA’s Street Spin Offs
SPORTS GAMES REVIEW RUNDOWN FIFA 18 FIFA 17
(85%)
(84%)
MIRRO R 100% GAME REACT OR.EU MATCH 100% OF THE DAY 98 %
NBA 2K18 (81%) NBA 2K17 (88%)
MONDOXBOX 97% XGN.NL 95% TECHTUDO 95%
NHL 18 (75%) NHL 17 (79%)
GAMESKINNY 90%
PRO EVO 17 (84%)
THE SUN 100% PLANETE NEXTGEN 100% DAILY RECORD 100%
NBA LIVE 18 (74%) NBA LIVE 16 (61%)
GAMINGNATION.NL 83% PLAYSTATIONLIFESTYLE 80% PLANETE NEXTGEN 80%
EVERYBODY’S
GOLF (80%)
NHL 17 (78% )
OFFICIAL PLA
YSTATION ES
PSU 85%
EUROGAMER
PLAYFRONT 85%
MARCA PLA
MADDEN NFL 18 (82%) MADDEN NFL 17 (83%)
STAR 100% TECHTUDO 93% USE A POTION 91%
OCTOBER 2017 / #8
PRO EVO 18 (83%)
90%
.DE 90%
YER 89%
MLB THE SHOW MLB THE SHOW
17 (86%)
16 (85%)
BLEEDING COO
L 95%
IGN.SE 95% IGN.COM 95%
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PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS JUST HOW POPULAR IS THE RECORD BREAKING BATTLE ROYALE?
It’s funny, back in the early part of the 2000s I came across a strange and dark Japanese movie called Battle Royale. It featured a class of high school students chosen by the government to participate in a fight to the death on a remote island until one was left standing. After my initial viewing I then went on to buy the book it was based on, reading it cover to cover in a week. I was hooked by this concept, telling my friends at the time (who I also made watch) “this would make a great video game.” While my prediction wouldn’t come to fuition right away, nearly 20 years later we would finally see the idea translated to video game in a major way. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ rise in popularity has been nothing short of miraculous - the game already sold over 10 million copies whilst also passing 1.5 million concurrent users on Steam (the highest any title has seen) and showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Bare in mind this is before any console versions have been released as well. It’s the game that Key Influencers are consistantly publishing content on, this in itself proof of what their audience wants to see. Even the press are talking about the next big news story surrounding the game or simply making excuses to create content of their own. Put simply this game is THE big success story of 2017 and while you might argue we saw a similar buzz around Pokemon Go last summer, the difference here is PUBG is going from strength to strength while Go would continue to lose steam following its launch, drawing a fair share of criticism along the way. Despite the odd hiccup here and there, PUBG is grabbing headlines, attention and praise left right and centre. The proof of PUBG’s popularity is in the pudding, with the game consistantly charting well week on week across PR and social media. Over the last ten weeks, the game has charted in the top five products three times, top 10 four times and top 20 three times across PR alone with YouTube, Twitter and Facebook painting a very similar picture. In fact if we delve beyond the last couple of months the stats remain strong still, PUBG refusing to drop below 20th position.
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What is it about this game that attracts so many players then? While its tough to ever pinpoint a game’s success to any one thing over another that isn’t to say there aren’t catalysts we can’t highlight. For starters when you look at the games with the highest audience be it on YouTube or Twitch they are for the most part competitive online experiences. In fact nine of Twitch’s top ten most popular games at this time are online games, PUBG being second. The same could be said for sandbox-style affairs where the player is free to go about things in their own way no matter how bizzare or showy. Games like Just Cause 3 or Grand Theft Auto V are key examples. Why is it these types of games perform far better for longer then? While a single player driven experience may see a spike in audience around launch, that’s because it’s new, whereas one month later gamers grow tired of the same content being published. Online games and sandbox experiences however are always being updated with patches, tournaments and of course offer more variation in content. PUBG falls under both these catergories and as you can imagine channels want to publish what will draw in most viewers. The concept itself is also highly appealing taking a tried and true third person shooting background and injecting plenty of fresh and addictive features that keep players playing. Be it the open world, the fact you are competing with 99 other gamers or simply watching the counter slowly decrease as more players are picked off. I’ve seen and heard so many personal accounts from others, each one more different than the last and this is perhaps the game’s strongest case. Every experience is unpredictable. Every video or article created unique. Every conversation had different. As you’d expect the story of this game is far from over. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has a strong future ahead of it and with console versions on the way, new maps coming and the game at some point exiting early access it’s safe to assume things will only get better for the Battle Royale inspired experience.
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OCTOBER 2017 / #8