People Can Fly just put out their fourth “Outriders Broadcast” episode for their upcoming sci-fi shooter Outriders, covering what happens after players finish the story as well as a glimpse of a content pack.
The “Hell’s Rangers” content pack is a collection of 11 weapons (one for each weapon type in the game), outfit elements, and an appropriately metal Cerberus “hood ornament” for the player’s vehicle. The developers stress that this content pack is purely cosmetic and is in no way “pay to win.” If you immediately like the idea of your player shooting aliens in the face while looking like biker trash, you can pre-order the game and get it on Day 1. If you’re wanting to wait a bit, it can be obtained (for an unspecified price) later.
The larger announcement concerned the game’s end-game mechanics. After players have spent 40+ hours (by People Can Fly’s estimation) clearing the main story campaign and blasting their way to level 30, new challenges await them in Expeditions. These areas are entirely new mission zones, not recycled content, which operate on a completely different “Challenge Tier” mechanic than the main game’s “World Tier” mechanic. Certain zones have certain Challenge Tier requirements players have to meet in order to unlock them, with the final zone opening at Challenge Tier 15. As the Challenge Tier rises, the rewards go up as well, ultimately growing your character and their gear to level 50. And unlike the main storyline, you don’t get any loot until you succeed or are brutally slaughtered alongside your buddies (yes, you get some consolation loot for a party wipe). Expeditions are intended to challenge players who love to tweak builds and work with friends, so teamwork and coordinated character builds are going to be paramount.
Outriders is scheduled for release on February 2, 2021 worldwide for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and players on PS4 or Xbox One will be eligible for a free next-gen upgrade.
