Exoborne Is an Extraction Shooter With a Twist(er)

Exoborne: A Thrilling Extraction Shooter with Powerful Exo-Rigs

Exoborne, an upcoming extraction shooter, refines the genre's core tenets – infiltrate, loot, and escape – by introducing powerful Exo-Rigs that significantly boost strength and mobility. My hands-on experience with roughly four to five hours of gameplay revealed a title with high potential, though it's not without its caveats.

The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's unique identity. Currently, three distinct rigs exist: the Kodiak (emphasizing defense and devastating ground slams), the Viper (rewarding aggressive play with health regeneration and a powerful melee attack), and the Kerstrel (prioritizing mobility with enhanced jumping and temporary hovering). Each rig can be further customized with unique modules, enhancing their individual strengths. While the three rigs offer diverse gameplay, the limited selection feels restrictive, leaving room for future expansion.

The shooting mechanics feel excellent. Weapons possess a satisfying weight and recoil, melee attacks deliver impactful blows, and the grappling hook adds a dynamic layer to traversal, significantly improving map navigation. Dynamic weather events, including tornadoes and rain, introduce unpredictable challenges and opportunities. Tornadoes provide aerial boosts, while rain renders parachutes ineffective. The inclusion of fire tornadoes adds another layer of risk and reward to traversal.

Risk and Reward: A Core Mechanic

Exoborne's design hinges on a compelling risk-reward system. A 20-minute timer begins upon entry, culminating in a location broadcast to all players, triggering a 10-minute extraction window. Leaving earlier yields less loot, but staying longer increases the potential rewards. Loot is scattered throughout the environment, with other players representing the most valuable targets, allowing for the acquisition of their hard-earned items.

Artifacts, high-value loot boxes requiring keys, serve as significant objectives. Their locations are publicly displayed, prompting inevitable player conflict. Highly guarded areas containing superior loot further incentivize risk-taking. This creates tension and encourages squad communication. Even after being downed, players aren't entirely eliminated; self-revives and teammate revives offer a fighting chance, though they are time-sensitive and vulnerable to enemy attacks.

Concerns and Future Outlook

Two key concerns emerged from my preview. Firstly, Exoborne strongly favors coordinated squads. While solo play and random matchmaking are options, the experience is significantly enhanced with a pre-formed team. This is a common challenge for squad-based extraction shooters, especially given Exoborne's non-free-to-play model.

Secondly, the late-game remains unclear. While PVP encounters were enjoyable, their infrequency raises questions about the long-term appeal beyond the initial thrill of the hunt. The developer's focus on PVP competition in the late game needs further elaboration to ensure sustained engagement.

Exoborne's PC playtest, running from February 12th to 17th, will be crucial in addressing these concerns and shaping the final product. The core gameplay loop is undeniably engaging, but its long-term success hinges on addressing these points.