Video Games
Closed Playtest Starts Today for ‘SAW: Genesis’
Following its surprise reveal at Summer Game Fest, SAW: Genesis is entering its Closed Alpha phase as Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios prepare to showcase the game at Gamescom. Kicking off today on Steam, the playtest gives those select players an early look at the game’s asymmetrical horror experience. If you missed out on the sign-up, not to worry, as the team is planning on multiple playtests ahead of SAW: Genesis launching into Early Access.
The main goal of this first playtest focuses on checking the stability of the game’s servers and matchmaking, as well as gathering overall user sentiment regarding the core gameplay loop. During the playtest, players can form parties of up to three Accused, while matchmaking assembles a complete lobby by pairing each group with a fourth player taking on the role of the Judge.
“We are fully aware how crucial it is to shape an asymmetrical multiplayer game together with the community, and our goal is to organize more playtests before the Early Access launch,” reads the statement from the devteam. “With every playtest, we plan to implement feedback, improve the game’s balance and meta, polish the gameplay experience and provide more ways for pure fun.”
Co-developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, SAW: Genesis is set in the grim aftermath of World War I, where you play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.
Players can either step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or, they can play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.
Your goal as the Judge is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.
SAW: Genesis is currently in development for release into Steam Early Access.
For those wanting more wintery horror games, Nord Unit has you covered with their upcoming co-op Antarctic horror FPS, UNFROST. Coming to Steam, the game has you braving the elements in Antarctica as you hunt for tough-as-nails ancient otherworldly beings that require some heavy firepower to take down.
UNFROST is set in Antarctica, where you and your squad seek out ancient entities known as the Riftborne. It’s easier said than done, as you’ll need to gather evidence, survive extreme conditions, and prepare to launch a nuclear strike, which is the only weapon capable of killing them. Of course, you’ll also need to figure out how to escape before the strike hits.
But, in order to launch the strike, you’ll need to figure out just the right tunings in order to actually damange the Riftborne, which cannot be defeated with conventional weapons. That involves exploring abandoned stations, frozen ruins, and anomaly zones to recover samples, scan anomalies, and analyze evidence.
You’ll need to work together with your squad by divvying up tasks, sharing evidence, and transporting equipment. For example, one squad member may investigate anomalies, while another secures the perimeter or hauls critical equipment through a blizzard.
And yes, as you might have guessed, the Antarctic weather will be your first and foremost foe in UNFROST. You must brave the freezing temperatures and inclement weather while managing warmth, supplies, and sanity. The longer your mission lasts, the tougher it will be to survive.
Obviously, the Riftborne isn’t going to wait around for you. In fact, it’ll be hunting you from the very start. As such, you’ll need to constantly adapt in order to avoid certain death. Once you’ve determined the Riftborne’s weakness, you must configure the correct nuclear payload, launch the strike, and get out before impact. You don’t want to be around when the bombs drop.