CD Projekt RED, the studio behind The Witcher series and upcoming action RPG Cyberpunk 2077, has revealed it is working on a multiplayer online battle arena game (affectionately or not-so-affectionately known as MOBAs) that will take place in the Witcher universe. The game will be free-to-play, and is coming to mobile platforms later this year. I’m not sure who has been hotly anticipating this news, but apparently the wait is almost over.
The Witcher Battle Arena will feature both a Conquest and 3-on-3 mode, where players will take control of “familiar faces” from Witcher lore and pit them against each other while commuting to work, taking their lunch breaks, or laying in bed two hours after class has already begun (you know, because it’s a mobile game). Despite development being handed off to Fuero Games, CDPR is still in charge of design, as well as quality control and creative direction, presumably.
Related: E3 2014: The Witcher 3 Preview – Why’d He Slice Off His Ear?
Notably, the new game will be made available not just for iOS and Android, but also for Windows Phone and Windows tablets. That’s Windows Phone. And Windows tablets. I know you’re there somewhere Microsoft, I can smell you! Admit this was all your idea!
CDPR knows terms like “free-to-play” and “pay-to-win” are generally feared by gamers, and is doing its best to reassure that whatever system it implements will be fair and reasonable. As such, everything in the game will be available to all players, with nothing more than quicker access and minimized grinding granted to those who upgrade for “a reasonable price.” Tadek Zielinski, the company’s Creative Analyst, had the following to say.
In a world full of enter-your-PIN-number-to-win mechanics, what we value above all is well-balanced and honest gameplay. Battle Arena is all about skill and dedication, and we’ve spent hundreds of hours planning to make it a paragon of fairness in mobile gaming.
This gives me the willies. If Witcher as an IP is big enough to succeed as a free-to-play MOBA on mobile platforms, then more power to CD Projekt RED for trying. It’s just not something I remember anybody asking for. The game is slated for a Q4 2014 release, so I suppose it won’t be long before we all discover its true potential.
