Well, sort of. MOBA’s are very definitely the in thing at the moment, with just about every single development house on the planet busy on some form of MOBA. And of course, Borderlands developer Gearbox wants in on that action too. Where most MOBA games take their roots from Real-Time strategy games though, Gearbox’s Battleborn finds its inspiration in, where else, first person shooters.
Gearbox’s new game is being touted as a “a next-gen hero-shooter” and according to the succinct announcement post on the Gearbox blog, the game’s main hook is as a first-person shooter.
Here’s what Gearbox has to say about it.
“Battleborn involves our heroes – called the battleborn, conveniently enough – teaming up to fight the Varelsi, an unstoppable menace trying to destroy the last star in a dying universe. You can play with up to four friends in our five-player cooperative campaign, or try out one of several different competitive multiplayer match types in games of up to 10 players.”
It’s a strange, unholy union of the co-operative team-based MOBA, with first person shooters. Game Informer got the chance to actually play it, and they say it’s very much like a MOBA.
“Players start on a level playing field at the beginning of each match, progressing along a streamlined skill path up to level 20 filled with customizable abilities that unlock a variety of different play styles.Many of these gameplay elements will also bleed into Battleborn’s five-player cooperative campaign, which Gearbox isn’t saying much about yet.”
And here’s what Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford says the game is, to add to the confusion.
Battleborn is: FPS; hobby-grade coop campaign; genre-blended, multi-mode competitive e-sports; meta-growth, choice + epic Battleborn Heroes!
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) July 8, 2014
It’s coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2015, and according to Gearbox is focused on “characters above all else”. Here’s a look at some of those characters, by way of an overly dramatic reveal trailer.
I’m usually one to moan about there being too many sequels, but with my absolute and utter disdain for all things MOBA, I’d really rather have preferred a new Brothers in Arms or even a new Borderlands… even though there’s already one on the way.
Last Updated: July 9, 2014
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:09
“May contain content inappropriate for children” I watched the video and did not see Darryn, am I missing something here?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:19
Just because you don’t see Darryn, doesn’t mean Darryn isn’t there… watching you… judging… ready to strike like a ninja.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:19
Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn
Spaffy
July 9, 2014 at 08:21
I automatically sang that like in the movie
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:14
My tears are Becoming a Sea……Why in God’s name did they use this Majestic song for that trailer…..It didn’t suit it…AT ALL….I’m more upset at that trailer than the the fact that everyone is doing MOBAs
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:16
Gearbox just hit the reverse gear
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:19
Hehehe….Seems like they’re on automatic now
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:14
So the football last night…
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/anYLvn5_460sa_v1.gif
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:15
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:18
BWHAHAHAHA
Spaffy
July 9, 2014 at 08:18
That pretty much sums it up lol
Norm
July 9, 2014 at 15:57
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:18
Seriously I mean……This game doesn’t look like it has any great story or tale to tell. No one is gonna care about the world or story, it’s a MOBA….You’re gonna be worried about doing MOBA things..So why make this dramatic trailer with an M83 song in it…The song deserves better
/end of rant
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:30
I would describe that trailer as… uninspiring.
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:35
Totally…Was shaking my head the whole way through. Epic trailer music for a MOBA….
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:38
It’s a cool trailer for an animated movie or tv series… not a game.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:18
Robot, like a SIR
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:20
Randy Pitchford is the conductor of the hype train. Take everything he says with a truckload of salt.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:20
I rather enjoyed the video
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:22
Really? Total misuse of the song
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:23
Yeah man, was enjoyable 🙂
I’ve seen MUCH worse
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:25
Gah, that was one of the worst trailers I’ve seen! lol Feels like I was watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. It just oozes unnecessary drama
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:31
You wanted Brazil to win, didn’t you? Explains the mooooooood
😛
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:32
I wanted SA to qualify, been in a mood since the world cup started!
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:34
Gonna wait a long as time for that to happen.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:30
“FPS; hobby-grade coop campaign; genre-blended, multi-mode competitive e-sports; meta-growth, choice + epic”
I think he has covered all the bases
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:31
He left out F2P & cloud.
Jonah Cash
July 9, 2014 at 08:36
Maybe even he knows that the cloud is a lie????
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:37
That wouldn’t stop him. He told everyone A:CM was a fantastic game.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:36
Ooooo and microtransactions, for those who are impatient and wants to fast track their progress
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:40
Oh yes, & of course they’re completely optional & you won’t have to grind to earn that stuff through fun game play O_O
Kromas
July 9, 2014 at 09:44
With Season Passes. 😛
Grant [_G_] Hancock
July 9, 2014 at 08:30
Wow… that is one awesome game trailer !
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 08:32
Sarcasm?
Grant [_G_] Hancock
July 9, 2014 at 08:33
Nope … I like it 🙂
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 9, 2014 at 09:12
Same here!
Umar Reborn XIV
July 9, 2014 at 08:34
http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51963a396bb3f77b52000004/reddits-ad-sales-pitch-deck-featuring-grumpy-cat-and-the-beastmaster-is-mindblowing.jpg
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:37
Well, I am willing to reserve judgement till we see some gameplay. But yeah, it sure has colorful characters
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2014 at 08:33
The guy with the big machine gun, his head is smaller than a cocktail onion
Jonah Cash
July 9, 2014 at 08:34
See my comment!! Great minds and all that!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2014 at 08:42
hahahaha – like a mash-up of the TF2 heavy & sandvich.
Jonah Cash
July 9, 2014 at 08:34
The very big oke has a very small head……. That is all I took out of this….
Viking Of Science
July 9, 2014 at 08:49
I’m so freakin Over MOBA’s i got out of DotA when it was still a mod… Dev’s are wasting their time…. There are already too many MOBAs available. Make Real Games, damnit.
Grant [_G_] Hancock
July 9, 2014 at 10:21
Borderlands … FPS game that is best enjoyed when played with friends / other people
Battleborn … FPS MOBA game that is best enjoyed when played with friends / other people
Don’t get why so many peeps are being so negative. Sure game will be a lot of fun.
HisDivineOrder
July 9, 2014 at 12:56
We’ve already had a shooter MOBA before.
Some call it Titanfall. The rest of us call it Titanfail.