How do you make an asymmetrical multiplayer title more engaging than simply throwing everyone in a “serial killer/monster versus survivors” scenario? That’s easy; you pit an otherworldly hunter bred for the sole purpose of killing prey against the most elite soldiers our world can offer, then see who comes out on top.
That is the premise Illfonic is going for with its upcoming title, Predator: Hunting Grounds, an exclusive title for the PlayStation 4 announced during Sony’s State of Play yesterday. It is based on the actual Predator franchise, which Is currently owned by 20th Century Fox. The first film in particular is a cult classic; if you haven’t watched it, you’re missing out on one of the best action thriller films ever made. Like the movies it’s inspired by, Predator: Hunting Grounds centers on a conflict between gruff soldiers on a mission and the Predator, who ultimately comes and picks them off one by one.
Of course, as an asymmetric title, one player will get to be the Predator, who has access to otherworldly tech and abilities. The Predator can cloak himself, has overall heightened senses, and of course those terrifying blades that can easily dismember, bifurcate or eviscerate any poor soul who comes into contact with them. He also has the iconic Plasmacaster gun, which reduces its targets into a bloody mess.
That’s not to say the soldiers won’t have a fighting chance against him, though. The other players will be assigned as the Fireteam, attempting to finish their given mission before the Predator can eliminate them all. They will pack state-of-the-art conventional weaponry, which vary from close-range gear like pistols and shotguns to fully-automatic guns like assault rifles. Their real edge comes from their numbers; it’s one versus many, and only one or the other can come out on top.
The developer, Illfonic, is also known for their other asymmetric title Friday the 13th: The Game. It’s based on the horror movie franchise of the same name, so I guess you can say that this genre is their forte. We can only hope that whatever expertise they have from developing that title, they can successfully bring to Predator: Hunting Grounds.
Predator: Hunting Grounds is set to be released exclusively on the PlayStation 4 sometime in 2020.
