Hero shooters are undoubtedly all the rage in the current time: likely inspired by the extreme success of Overwatch, the likes of XDefiant and others are looking to get in on the action. Now, it’s the turn of Bad Guitar Studio, and the inclusion of game-winning ‘power-up cards’ in FragPunk.
Fast, Fun, Frantic
Recently announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, FragPunk is set to arrive onto Xbox and PC sometime in 2025. Each round of this colourful and cartoony FPS lasts just two and a half minutes, so you better get your skates on! Thankfully, the TTK (time to kill) here is very short, making this akin to a twitch-shooter like Counter-Strike or Valorant.
The real unique draw of FragPunk is undoubtedly the use of power-up cards. Selected before the round commences, your team will have access to power-ups to deploy through the match. Whether it’s a helpful demon to summon and deal extra damage, some tall grass to hide within to set up an ambush, or even the ability to give your enemies massive heads, allowing for easy headshots, each card brings in playful and often powerful advantages.
Of course, synergising your cards to counter those of the opponent’s team is vital.
On the choice to adopt this card mechanic for FragPunk, Xin Chang – Creative Director and Producer over at Bad Guitar – had this to say:
We are overjoyed to be bringing FragPunk to players around the world. Our team at Bad Guitar lives and breathes FPS games, and we are ready to leave our mark on the genre… We explored a number of elements that make first-person shooters special and considered ways to truly innovate in this space. FragPunk’s card mechanic is a literal game changer and we can’t wait to see players surprise us with their own unique combinations of cards, heroes and weapons, round after round.
Key Features
- Shard Cards & Power to Bend the Rules: No two rounds of FragPunk are ever the same thanks to over 70 shard cards to play with! These unique cards can amplify jump height, reverse the roles of attackers and defenders, engulf bullets in flames or turn them into chain lightning, and even resurrect players! And since the card selection changes every round, this creates new and unique combinations, with infinite gameplay possibilities!
- Frantic 5v5 Hero Shooter Action: Each round only lasts 2.5 minutes, so get a move on! This frantic match time means players have to aim true and react fast to win the fight. Choose between a varied cast of heroes with diverse abilities, customize weapon combinations, pick the best cards and get ready for a lightning-fast fight!
- Endlessly Replayable: With its varied selection of heroes, weapons, shard cards and maps to play in, FragPunk can look forward to discovering several combinations which will result in a fresh new experience for each new round as they develop their personal combat style.
- Immersive Maps and Vibrant Visuals: FragPunk features complex and varied map designs mixed with visual effects including collages, graffiti and a blend of realistic and stylized textures. Players can feast their eyes on bold colors, sharp shapes and dynamic lines that provide an amazing visual experience while the bullets fly.
Coming Next Year
FragPunk will arrive on Xbox consoles and PC at some point in 2025.
As soon as we gather more info on the game, or indeed a definitive release date, you can be sure we’ll get it over to you ASAP. For now, you can find more information on FragPunk via the game’s official Xbox Store page, as well as through the announcement trailer below.
Do you have room in your life for another hero shooter? Let us know in the comments below, and on our social media channels.
