When Trion Worlds’ Defiance arrived on shelves in early 2013, it was a third-person MMO shooter that was set in a version of the San Francisco Bay Area ravaged by war with extra-terrestrials, and was even released in tandem with a Syfy TV show tie-in. Defiance 2050 is a fresh take on the Defiance universe, making some major improvements to its predecessor’s formula. We chatted with Matthew Pettit, the game’s lead producer, about some of the biggest changes.
1. Better graphics
Defiance 2050 features an updated graphic system that will allow for much more immersive gameplay. “We updated to a 64 bit client, which allows the open world MMO aspect of Defiance to really push the limits of memory on PCs,” Pettit explained. Players can expect sharper visuals and enhanced textures.
2. New class system
Defiance 2050 will utilize a class system that was completely absent from the first title. Players can now choose between the Assault, Guardian, Combat Medic, and Assassin classes, each with their own unique skill trees and specializations. The system encourages a much more inclusive, teamwork-centered mindset. “Collaboration and cooperative play for us at Trion is everything,” Pettit said.
3. Revamped itemization
Instead of having players grind for loot, Defiance 2050 incorporates a weapon modification system that allows players to upgrade their weapons using “salvage” found in-game. This not only lets players customize their gameplay, but is essential to progressing through the game. “A lot of the content in the game is now gated behind what we call a ‘power rating,’” Pettit said. “It's no longer based on completing objectives. As you find weapons and level them up, you will increase your power rating and unlock more content.”
4. Free-to-play from the beginning
Lastly, unlike the first Defiance, Defiance 2050 was designed with free-to-play in mind. The reworked systems are meant to welcome new players and encourage large amounts of people to play together. “You can get 75 to 100 players on screen fighting a big monster out in the open world. You don't have to enter an instance to do it, and you don't have to figure out a four man group: All you do is show up and participate.”
In addition to these major changes, Trion Worlds has big plans for the future of Defiance 2050. “This is a game to which we want to keep adding content over the next five years,” Pettit said. “We’ve got an amazing foundation on which we can iterate and iterate quickly. I’m feeling really good about it.”
