Pioner

The MMOFPS Pioner will throw players onto an island that has survived a technological disaster. They will have to survive by avoiding dangerous anomalies, fighting off unusual mutants and hostile factions. The setting of the project is a Soviet post-apocalypse. Players can play solo or in a squad, completing quests against computer bots or real people. These PvE and PvP activities are evenly distributed.

The action of Pioner takes place in the late 1980s in the USSR on a certain island. A well-inhabited place suddenly became deserted after a large-scale catastrophe, the reasons for which are unknown — an anomaly isolated the island from the "mainland." Only a few have managed to break through the veil.

From them, it is known that the laws of physics and biology have changed on the island, and a "Graveyard" has appeared in the center of the island. Rumor has it that it is a "creepy alien structure" that provokes the appearance of anomalies, mutants, and even predatory plants. Picturesque landscapes of the Russian hinterland have almost everywhere been replaced by post-apocalypse.

Previously densely populated areas quickly became deserted and degraded: settlements are abandoned, buildings rot and collapse, and machinery is overgrown with earth. Nature aggressively reclaims its own, changing the island in just a couple of years as if 50 years have passed. Only one large city has been well preserved. The few survivors have banded into factions and divided the territory into spheres of influence.

The overwhelming majority of Pioner content is "from the USSR": cars, weapons, household items, and buildings are recreated in the Soviet architectural style.

The open world in Pioner is not seamless. The available locations of large size can be explored freely, while inaccessible ones still need to be unlocked. The world consists of different biomes and is divided into a large and safe zone for PvE and a smaller area for PvP ("Empty Lands"). There is a gradation of environmental difficulty; the closer to the center of the island, the harder it gets.

The game world constantly tries to kill the player. There are areas with radiation and chemical hazards where one cannot stay for long. There are zones with anomalies — gravitational, electrical, psionic, and others — in unusual forms. Biological danger is represented by mutants — animals and plants, as well as bipedal bandits and mercenaries.

The behavior of all NPCs and bots depends on the time of day. Most bipeds and quadrupeds are active during the day and rest at night. But with the sunset, the game world is filled with the most dangerous creatures, like the Leshy.

The island and its creations are considered the main enemies in the game. In this regard, Pioner is compared to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and Escape from Tarkov.

Pioner is positioned as a first-person shooter that requires a constant internet connection. The game will offer a large set of various types of firearms, and each "gun" will have attachments that improve or even change its characteristics. Weapons after such a reassembly can differ significantly from the initial version. You can create attachments and the weapon itself by using a machine.

Once on the island, the first task is to survive and acquire at least some weapon, armor, and gear. Survival in an aggressive and dangerous environment is the second important part of the gameplay. However, without complex controls, playing Pioner is comfortable; the authors aim for a balance between arcade and simulation.

Surviving will be aided by dozens of different types of armor and other gear, which will need to be changed to fight against anomalies, mutants, and humans. For example, regular bullets can easily kill a person but won't help against thick-skinned monsters. They need to be "disassembled," modifying the weapon with an artifact and adding an electric or incendiary effect to the shot.

Pioner will not have a level system or health bars for opponents; in terms of progression, the authors are inspired by Tarkov.

It is stated that Pioner will offer 15-20 hours of engaging story, which can be completed either solo or with friends. Like in most MMOFPS games, NPCs are responsible for advancing the plot. They provide quests that players complete in separate locations or designated areas of the game world.

A variety of story and faction quests is promised, and decisions made during the gameplay will have significance later on. These decisions will also affect the standing of various factions, the state of the world region, and even the ending.

Players will take on the role of a soldier who has gone through Afghanistan, stranded on an island with a group of comrades. The landing did not go well, and the protagonist seems to be the only survivor. As the story progresses, he learns about the reasons for the catastrophe on the island and the emergence of anomalies, artifacts, and mutants, visits the mysterious "Graveyard," and possibly finds one of his partners.

After the prologue, players will explore the world, progress through the story, and complete simple quests. Once accustomed and equipped with good gear, they can test their skills in raids and battles against marauders. All of this is PvE activity.

Players can measure their strength, gathered loot, and character upgrades in closed arenas in the PvE part and in a separate PvP area of the island, where there are no rules or restrictions.

The game features a faction (guild) system typical of MMOs, with a total of four factions. Civilians have banded together into the Istoviks, the military have united into the Brigades, and there are also regular bandit marauders. Each faction has its own views and interests, often leading to brutal conflicts. Relationships with factions need to be built, loyalty increased, and various bonuses obtained from friendships, both with the entire group and with individual traders.

Pioner will feature several competitive online modes, including one-on-one and squad versus squad. More details will be announced later.

The hero's development is unconventional. Experience from quests and other activities accumulates into Influence levels. They do not increase characteristics like speed and stamina, but provide more opportunities: unlocking new weapon suppliers, quest givers, etc.