Asteroids: Outpost Brings the Gold Rush to Space
You know what's just begging to become an open-world, sandbox multiplayer game? The classic arcade game Asteroids! What's that? You think that's a really weird idea? Well, Atari doesn't, which is why we're getting Asteroids: Outpost.
Asteroids: Outpost puts players in charge of surviving life on a (you guessed it) space outpost set atop a precarious asteroid. Players will have to scavenge for supplies, craft new equipment, join or conquer other players, and, of course, blast down lots and lots of asteroids. Though Asteroids: Outpost is an FPSMMO, it still tries to bring in some elements of the original Asteroids to justify the nominal connection, and here incoming space debris acts as both a great supply of resources as well as an ever-present danger. Will you get smushed by a burning meteor? Will you make it to the landing site before everyone else to get the best ore first?
According to CEO Fred Chesnais, it's Atari's intent to pay "homage to the original Asteroids by incorporating classic features such as asteroid blasting capabilities, while introducing a completely new premise and gameplay. Asteroids: Outpost will appeal to both fans of the classic Asteroids as well as enthusiasts of immersive survival games and expansive MMOs."
This new Asteroids sounds like a pretty drastic departure from the original; whether it ends up being an awesome new take on a classic game or sucking harder than Bomberman: Act Zero is something we'll have to decide for ourselves when it arrives.
Asteroids: Outpost is slated for a PC release, though no firm date has been announced as of yet.