One of the many games shown off at the Xbox 2017 E3 conference was The Darwin Project, which presents a unique take on the battle royale genre that has exploded in popularity over the last year. While it’s been in open beta on Steam for some time now, Jessica Beaudoin of Scavengers Studio has confirmed on Xbox Wire that The Darwin Project is coming to Xbox Game Preview (and Steam Early Access) on March 9th, for $14.99 USD.
She also explained the three different roles players can take on in The Darwin Project:Â
As a Contestant
When you join as a contestant, you’re one of ten players fighting in the arena in hopes of being the only one left alive. You’ll face off against the other inmates using a bow and axe, and if you’re lucky enough to score some electronics, you can also add tools like energy shields to your arsenal. But remember that everything you do, from building a fire to crafting items, leaves clues behind that can be used to track you to your current location.
As the Show Director
Entering the match as the Show Director allows to you oversee the entire arena aboard a drone and unleash special powers like nukes, zone closures, and gravity storms. As a kind of master of ceremonies, your goal in the Show Director seat is to spice up the match and provide extra entertainment for both players and spectators. We’re excited to see what types of Show Director styles the Xbox community comes up with!
As a Spectator
Tune in to streaming platforms like Mixer and support your favorite broadcasters who are playing as Show Director. Each time the Show Director uses a power, they can let their stream viewers vote on the target. The power is then automatically unleashed on the zone or player that obtained the most votes. Contestants will often compete for the favor of the audience as they try to survive both the cold and each other, and that’s where you come in!
While the battle royale genre is getting crowded, The Darwin Project is a bold departure from things like Fortnite or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and I think it just might be the shake-up that the genre needs. Also, $14.99 is very low, even by Game Preview standards, which should help encourage more players to try it out.
