Gearbox is making a MOBA. Sort of. The developer behind the shoot ‘n loot Borderlands franchise is hard at work on another, albeit different game called Battleborn, and it’s a genre mashup that mixes traditional first person shooter gameplay with MOBA elements. The game will feature a story mode that can be played solo or through 4 person co-op alongside the team based competitive play we are used to in other MOBAs like League of Legends and DOTA 2. It’s scheduled for release on February 9, 2016 on PS4, Xbox One and PC and published by 2K Games. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect when this game drops.

Setting

Space fantasy is a mashup genre in itself, and given the genre blurring gameplay and setting of Borderlands, it’s no surprise to see a riff on that motif again here. Everyone in the universe has gathered on a star called Solus to seek safety after a universal disaster wiped out all of the other planets and stars. Sending out their best champions known as Battleborn, the remnants of the universe pin their hopes on these heroes’ ability to stop the evil behind the disaster. Naturally, they find time on the side to fight each other for fun.

Gameplay

• You will be able to choose from a roster of 25 heroes (10 have been revealed), all of which are promised to be unique in their weaponry and powers from melee to ranged to magic.
• The game will feature a story driven campaign mode which can be played alone, via 4 player co-op or via split screen.
• Multiplayer will be 5v5 and will feature 3 modes:
  • Incursion: Teams of heroes must defend their base from waves of AI-controlled minions while working together alongside their own minions to destroy their opponent’s base.
  • Devastation: Teams of heroes face off in a fast-paced death match and must capture and hold objectives on the map to win.
  • Meltdown: Teams of heroes must guide their minions as they march to their death at the center of the map. Points are scored for every minion who throws themselves into the incinerator (ha!), and the team with the most points wins.

Progression and Leveling

This is of course a big part of any MOBA, and Battleborn’s approach is varied:

• Within a multiplayer match or story mission you will be able to rank your character up to level 10, which will reset when a match begins. Upon leveling up, a character can upgrade 2 abilities at once which are chosen from their leveling tree, called the Helix System.
• Outside of matches and missions all the experience you earn via story missions or multiplayer matches go towards leveling up Character Ranks and Command Ranks. This persistent progression is permanent!
  • In the case of Character Rank, you can level up your hero permanently to 10 which unlocks abilities in the match/mission skill tree and new character skins.
  • Command Rank is for your player profile and progressing up unlocks badges, titles and loot that you can then use with any of your heroes.

Of course, all of this describing is well and good, but seeing is believing. Have a look at their Gamescom Trailer:

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