Krafton's Anticipated Title 'Project Arc'... Continuing the PUBG Legend

Top-Down Shooting Game
Featuring Realistic Gunplay Action

Krafton will showcase a new top-down shooting game, ‘Project ARC,’ at G-Star 2024. Developed directly by the PUBG Studio team, this game is a 5v5 team-based military strategy shooting game and is considered a highly anticipated title expected to continue the legacy of Battlegrounds.

On the 8th, Krafton released the official gameplay trailer for ‘Project ARC.’ The game features realistic yet fast-paced gunplay action inspired by Battlegrounds. The name ARC is derived from ‘Character Arc,’ symbolizing the character’s transformation and internal journey.

The demo version released on the 28th of last month showcased the distinctive characteristics of long-range weapons such as assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, and designated marksman rifles (DMRs). Notably, the game implements realistic shooting mechanics that require more precise aiming skills because bullets follow a 3D physical trajectory, causing aiming accuracy to vary depending on the shooting posture. Stability differs when shooting while standing versus sitting, and this control mechanism reflecting that adds to the immersion.

Support items like medical kits and Blue Zone grenades each play different roles, requiring players to devise appropriate strategies depending on the combat situation. Through such diverse weapons and items, players can enjoy more strategic battles.

Above all, the game adopts a unique top-down view vision system that emphasizes strategic fun. The fan-shaped field of view distinguishes between areas visible and invisible to the character. Players can hide out of the enemy’s sight to launch surprise attacks or perform penetration shots on enemies behind walls. This means players can engage in tense psychological warfare through vision battles, predictive play, and appropriate weapon use.

The most anticipated content is the ‘Bombing Mission.’ This is a mode where attacking and defending teams battle to hack the Crypt device. The attacking team must install a ‘Decrypter’ on the Crypt to achieve their objective, while the defending team’s role is to prevent the attack plan and eliminate the enemies.

The Decrypter device can only be installed at designated locations on the map, so the attacking team must strategically choose their entry routes before starting. Various tactics are possible, such as concentrating on one route or dispersing the team according to each member’s role and skill. The defending team must predict the attackers’ routes to set up barricades and traps, and smooth communication and battlefield understanding among team members become crucial factors determining the outcome of the battle.

Project ARC is structured around teamwork, making it highly likely to develop into an esports title. Due to the top-down view, observing (spectating) is easy, enhancing the viewing experience for the audience. Real-time situations between attackers and defenders are visually clear, and the numbers of enemies and allies can be intuitively grasped, making it easy to understand the game’s progression.

However, the entry barrier may be high for beginners or users unfamiliar with shooting games. It takes time to get used to the different field of view system compared to typical first-person or third-person shooters. The somewhat complex control scheme may also be an obstacle to becoming familiar with the game.

Additionally, ‘team kills’ targeting the same team are possible, raising concerns about intentional betrayal. Regarding this, Project ARC PD Yang Seung-myeong stated, “We will continuously devise control measures against intentional trolling behaviors through live service operations after the game’s release.”

The official release of Project ARC is planned for early next year as an Early Access title on Steam. This is analyzed as a strategic choice by Krafton to gauge user reactions in the global market and further enhance the game’s completeness.

The game will be unveiled for the first time at ‘G-Star 2024,’ the largest domestic game exhibition held at BEXCO in Busan from the 14th to the 17th. Visitors attending the event will be able to experience Project ARC firsthand at the Krafton booth.