While fans and players anticipate the promises coming from next-gen consoles and features like PS5’s Duelsense controller’s stereo rumble, the games will be what defines this holiday season’s upcoming launches. From what Microsoft and Sony have already shown off, the looter genre might be the best off at the start of the next console generation thanks to titles like Godfall and Outriders.
With both of these games releasing on multiple consoles, they may not be the Next-Gen exclusives that will show off the capabilities that only the PS5 and Xbox Series X have. However, Godfall and Outriders will be the first to bridge the gap for looters of multiple genres from modern PCs and consoles into the next generation of consoles.
Godfall is looking redefine the fantasy looting systems commonly found in early looters, and Outriders draws from titles like Anthem or Destiny to push the looter-shooter genre forward. As a result, the long running genre that often defines the most successful and lasting titles is earning a strong footing with next gen with new releases and returning games. Of course, the success of the genre on future consoles may be riding on how these new titles evolve looters and direct where future games will be going as they move forward.
Early to Modern Looters
To start looking at the genre as a whole, we’ll need to identify exactly what makes a game a looter in the first place and why they are so massively popular. That discussion starts pretty securely with Diablo, the series that cemented the genre way back in 1997, and that every other game has taken hints from since. Even modern titles take from Blizzard’s original interpretation of the genre, with games like Borderlands and Destiny utilizing loot in a similar way in order to create replayability and expertly extend average playtimes.
The biggest thing that looters like Diablo and now Borderlands 3 with its mayhem mode brings to the table is the way that the loot systems extend the gameplay cycle indefinitely. Adding the ever evolving loot and scaling difficulties gives players new challenges to overcome, even against previously defeated enemies and levels, and a constant stream of rewards. This is how these games create a compelling content loop without being pressured to add giant amounts of content, but instead extending the loop with new gear and level caps.
Evolution of Looter in Godfall and Outriders
Godfall more than anything feels like the next logical step for the Diablo format, taking the isometric beat-em-up to a third-person slasher. With combat in Godfall that seems to be taking hints from action-adventure RPGs like Monster Hunter and God of War, this upcoming title seems to be a melding of genres. The same can be said for Outriders and its Warframe or Mass Effect styled combat that expands on the loot cycle in a large way to extend beyond both titles.
By taking a heavy focus on loot and combining that with the hack-and-slash genre, Godfall is taking the action of Diablo that was originally defined by the limits of its time into modern gaming. Similarly, the combat system of Outriders has previously worked well for story driven titles, but hasn’t been properly utilized with looter mechanics. While there certainly are standouts like Warframe, the loot cycle is built much more around gathering parts and blueprints, all of which feeds into the microtransactions Outriders claims not to have.
When all is set and done, the evolution of the genre being formed within Godfall and Outriders will likely inform the future of looters. Working from there, as more console exclusives release to take advantage of Next-Gen consoles’ more prominent features, the way forward will have already been set.
Godfall is set to release Holiday 2020, for PC and PS4.
Outriders is set to release December, 2020, for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.