Square Enix has put out a YouTube trailer announcing the release date for People Can Fly’s Outriders, which is currently slated to be released on February 2, 2021.
Set on the planet Enoch, far into the future, Outriders puts players in a world ravaged by “The Anomaly” which has not only damaged the environment, but also radically changed the lifeforms currently inhabiting the planet including humans. Those who survive the changes wrought by the Anomaly are referred to as “Altered,” grouped into one of four classes: Tricksters, Devastators, Pyromancers, and Technomancers. As an Altered, players will explore Enoch, fighting through mutated wildlife and devolved humans as they search for a mysterious signal which might be the key to saving the planet, or spell its destruction.
Outriders will be releasing on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Stadia, though the Stadia release will be sometime after February 2. The game was originally slated for a Holiday 2020 release window. People Can Fly has promised that PS4 owners will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free, and Xbox One owners will get the Series X upgrade through Smart Delivery. Additionally, the developer has promised full cross-play across all platforms. Lee Singleton, Co-Head of Studio at Square Enix External Studios, addressed the delay when he stated, “We’re taking a little bit longer to ensure players have the best possible experience with Outriders, we’re also including new features like Cross-Play which will make our game much more accessible on all platforms.”
Food For Thought
For every player who has gotten burned out on “games as a service,” particularly Destiny 2, it could be Outriders is the game they’re looking for to scratch their itch for sci-fi loot shooting fun. People Can Fly seems to have learned the lessons their competitors have illustrated and taken to heart what gamers are looking for in this particular niche.
