Archangel, a landmark FPS title developed exclusively for VR platforms, is getting its first major expansion that brings multiplayer to the title. Hellfire is a free update for all owners of the base game, which will get a price reduction leading up to the expansion's launch. The expansion is bringing a wide range of content to the game, with cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes being in the spotlight.
Archangel is a linear, and somewhat short title, albeit intense and action-packed. It feels more like a highly-interactive VR film at times than a straight-up video game, but for what the game wants to achieve, it's fitting. It isn't quite clear how Hellfire will implement some of the features Skydance has announced, and how these things will work with the game's current mechanics, but players will have a chance to find out starting on the 25th of March, when the Early Access Battle Training mode will become available.
Alongside Team Deathmatch, Hellfire will bring with it Co-op and a selection of new maps and mech variants. The Team Deathmatch mode will be temporarily free to play for everyone, allowing players to try out the title before buying in. Much of Archangel's campaign is on-the-rails with players controlling combat, aiming and abilities but not movement, however the developers indicated that team deathmatch, consisting of 2v2 matches, will be off rails.
"Archangel: Hellfire will deliver the most intense and immersive multiplayer mech combat that players have ever experienced," said Peter Akemann, President of Skydance Interactive. "The team is working hard to bring the player-versus-player off-rails combat that fans have been asking for, and really embody that fantasy of piloting a giant building-sized mech. And with the free team PvP multiplayer experience, all VR gamers will soon have a chance to hop into the cockpit and prove their mettle."
Hellfire is bringing a total of 4 maps and 6 new mechs to the game. The latter are organized into 3 classes, each with unique weapon loadouts and abilities. The fully detailed cockpits of these machines will have functional controls to improve immersion. In-universe, the multiplayer mode takes place after the campaign, with the HUMNX corporation having developed their own mechs following the final battle in the last story mission.
Archangel: Hellfire will launch on the 28th of June on Steam.
