Mods, glorious mods, is there anything they can't do? From raising wave after wave of aspiring designers, to retooling a title from the ground up, these free-to-play fixes form a wildly important part of the PC gaming landscape. However, while many modders enjoy the kinds of creative freedoms their studio-based contemporaries can only dream of, they must also contend with little-to-no financial backing. Naturally, most large-scale efforts end up falling by the wayside, but not Just Cause 2: Multiplayer, a massively ambitious title approaching its final winter release.
Developed by a team of talented coders, the 'JC2-MP' mod takes the madcap action of Just Cause 2 — along with its criminally under-utilized island setting — and translates it to the chaotic realm of multiplayer. If early BETA testing figures are to be believed, the game could end up supporting as many as 600 simultaneous players, an extraordinarily impressive feat, especially considering Avalanche designed the game as a single-player-only experience.
Having already rejuvenated an otherwise forgotten single player title, the mod's developers are now keen to bring the mode to as many players as possible. With that in mind, the JC2-MP team have announced the game's imminent arrival on Steam. Officially debuting on December 16, 2013 - two days after the title's final round of BETA besting ends - the modification will become available at no additional cost to gamers. Think about that when seeing microtransactions attached at launch to $60 next-gen retail games.
The title promises to be completely Steam-integrated, with all of the usual central-hub perks, including the ability to quickly join friends and more. Those interested in gaining a sneak peek at the title, via the final BETA test phase, beginning December 7, can do so by picking up a dev-authorized key and activating the product through Valve's digital service. For more info on this pre-release bug hunt, head over to the mod's official website.
It's great to see a game like Just Cause 2 receive a second shot at success, and even more enjoyable to find that fans are behind the movement. The main game may have lacked in the way of activities in its vast open world but the JCP-MP team have spotted an absolute boatload of potential tucked away in the original game's innards. Hopefully, the mod's success will encourage many more gamers to adapt and retool their favorite titles, to expand upon unfulfilled promises and return lost titles to prominence.
Are you excited for the release of Just Cause 2: Multiplayer? Have you ever bought a title just to check out its mods? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check In with all of the latest Just Cause news, right here on Game Rant.
Just Cause 2: Multiplayer is set for release on December 16, 2013. The mod is free-to-play, but requires either a boxed copy of Just Cause 2 (patched up to v. 1.0.0.2), or the game's digital version, available via Steam.
Follow Sam on Twitter @GamingGoo.