Blade & Soul developer has a brand new MMO popping out in 2024
On: November 14, 2022
NCSoft is gearing as much as launch its subsequent MMO. At present titled Undertaking LLL, the South Korean developer is touting it as an open-world third-person shooter set to launch in 2024.
That launch date remains to be a means out, however the developer has handled us to nearly 10 minutes of gameplay footage within the meantime. It is an terrible lot of runnin’ and gunnin’ swaddled in an industrial sci-fi blanket—or within the protagonist’s case, a cloak. The primary couple of minutes are very stealth-heavy as the primary character saunters round dimly-lit concrete halls, tossing out a drone that scans the desolate constructing for enemies. They’re finally noticed and the cloak disintegrates, transitioning into conventional run-and-cover shooting.
It is all somewhat samey for almost all of its nine-minute run, although there are a few highlights. At one level the protagonist connects with a column-like statue, draining its gentle earlier than it transforms into what seems to be a human hanging from the ceiling, a bomb strapped to its chest. The video’s dialogue is in Korean which makes it robust to get a full grasp on what’s occurring, however our protag manages to leap out of the constructing and narrowly keep away from the explosion. The tip of the video reveals off some mecha piloting, slowly plonking round grunts whereas firing missiles at automobiles.
(Picture credit score: NCsoft)
Probably the most intriguing half comes right on the finish. After being ejected from the mecha by one other highly effective hunk of steel, all focus turns to gunning it down. It is profitable and the mecha slumps earlier than remodeling right into a terrifying cluster of spinning arms. The ultimate few seconds have a wildly completely different vibe to the eightish minutes that precede it however are by far essentially the most fascinating.
In an interview with Gematsu, venture lead Seeder Jaehyun Bae mentioned that NCSoft needed to “create a brand new style that’s fully completely different from the not too long ago well-liked looter shooter or battle royale,” drawing inspiration from media like Dune, Blade Runner, and Complete Recall for its themes. Surprisingly for an MMO, Undertaking LLL will apparently have a predefined cast, every with their very own identify, background and motivations.
It is an fascinating sufficient idea, although I ponder if this can be a venture that may ever see the sunshine of day. The gameplay demo is polished, albeit somewhat stuttery, however I really feel like we have seen loads of video games introduced this manner that vanish into the aether quickly thereafter.
