Torchlight Frontiers Promises 60-80 Hours Of Content When It Launches Later This Year
It might be a good idea to clear out your calendars in preparation for the Torchlight Frontiers release because you probably won’t have time for anything else when the highly-awaited ARPG finally goes live. According to Echtra Games founder and CEO Max Schaefer he and his team already have enough ideas to create five years’ worth of content in addition to the 60 – 80 hours of linear content that will be available on launch day.
“The opportunity to turn Torchlight into an MMO is something that a lot of us have wanted to do since Torchlight,” Schaefer said in an interview with Escapist Magazine. “We can keep building and taking it in directions that we had never thought of that the players want it to go. It’s something I’ve really wanted to do in my career, and finally we’re doing it.”
Players will be able to explore a number of uniquely-themed biomes with insect-infested forests, underground caves, fishing villages, cemeteries, battlefields, and more. These zones won’t have specific level requirements, which means that anyone can start adventuring wherever they like. Players, however, will need to equip specific gear to survive in each area. “That way when we introduce new areas, we don’t have to decide, ‘Is this a newbie area or is this an endgame area?’ It’s just a new area.”
As for monetization, Schaefer says that they’ll be limited to convenience items like additional stash slots and shareable maps to areas with better loot. “Most of the good stuff is in the free track,” assures the CEO. “We want to be very gentle with monetization. We don’t want this to be a pay-to-win game. We don’t want you to feel like you’re at a point where you can only progress if you pay. That’s not how you get a good long-term dedicated audience.”
Torchlight Frontiers is scheduled to launch later this year for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The game promises a deep and rich fantasy world that, according to Schaefer, “doesn’t take itself too seriously.” Players can also look forward to competitive features and PvP being added in the future.
