A new round-based multiplayer FPS, Blindfire, was announced during Xbox’s most recent Partner Preview, and though multiplayer shooters are a dime a dozen, this one comes with a unique twist that helps to set it apart: It takes place almost entirely in the dark.
Blindfire will be available today in early access through the Xbox Game Preview program on both Xbox Series X|S and PC, and its novel premise looks to put an emphasis on “slower, more tactical play,” according to an Xbox Wire blog. The game’s multiplayer arenas are almost entirely shrouded in shadows. Since the noise and muzzle flash of firing a weapon is a dead giveaway, players will need to think strategically about when to engage the enemy. For an example of how important noise is in Blindfire, players have the option of doing a quick, loud reload or a slower, more careful reload that makes as little sound as possible, said Matt Dunthorne, lead designer for Blindfire at developer Double Eleven.
“The beautiful thing about the concept in my opinion is how pure the core idea is, there is no fluff or excess and it can be explained in a single sentence,” Dunthorne said. “‘It’s a pitch-black room, you have a gun, so do your enemies…good luck!'”
The game’s main game mode, Bodycount, comes in both free-for-all and team variants, and takes place over five rounds where players only have one life each round. That makes matches a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, as players stalk each other from the shadows. However, simply hiding in a dark corner won’t net players a win. Those who seek out action–getting multikills, headshots, or earning the first kill of the game–will earn more points, though those who survive a round without taking damage will be rewarded as well.
“Kills are less about pure shooting prowess, and more about clever use of environmental cues,” Dunthorne said. “Moving cautiously, listening carefully, and thinking about which target to engage, as well as considering who could be waiting in the shadows to take you out, too. It’s a unique challenge that forces you to play differently.”
Over the course of a match, the lights in the arena will slowly start to come on, in a way mimicking the mechanics of an encroaching battle royale circle. The lights will flush players out and push them towards the center of the map, making them more easily visible to one another.
Players won’t be entirely in the dark the entire match. Each player can use an ability called Echo that briefly outlines their immediate surroundings. If an Echo reveals an enemy player, it will show their last known position and will make it so they can potentially be hunted down.
During its Xbox Preview launch, only two weapons will be available: a powerful and accurate pistol as well as a close-range shotgun. Dunthorne said that while new weapons will be added over time, the goal is to “eliminate loadouts” and make it so success is more determined by “strategy and execution” than what gear someone brings to the battle.
Other announcements to come out of the Xbox Partner Preview include the reveal of Remedy Entertainment’s first multiplayer game, FBC Firebreak, which will be coming to Game Pass on day one alongside titles like Subnautica 2.