Deathloop is the latest release from Arkane Studios, developers of Dishonored and Dishonored 2. The game sees players take on the role of an assassin as they attempt to rid the island of all of their enemies within 24 hours. In this guide, we’ll cover the Deathloop release date, as well as the main details that you need to know about the game.
Deathloop Release Date
Deathloop will launch on May 21, 2021. This is almost exactly in the middle of the year. It means that the game will be out before the glut of summer indie releases, but before too long has passed since the release of the PS5.
The game is a PS5 exclusive, and it won’t be playable on PS4. This will mark one of the few games that are only available on this console coming to market.
What is Deathloop?
In Deathloop, players take on the role of the assassin Colt. He’s stuck in a time loop on this island, as is everyone else. The 24-hour period will repeat itself over and over again unless players kill the eight enemy targets.
These eight targets are all around the island, and they have their own routine throughout the day. They’re well aware that Colt wants to bring an end to the loop, so they’re working against him. They do this by telling all of their followers to kill Colt on sight if they see him.
This makes taking down all the targets a lot more difficult. Through the use of various weapons and powers, which stick with Colt through each loop, players need to identify a way through this puzzle of death and time.
Interesting Arsenal
Players have loads of weapons to choose from in Deathloop. They’ll pick these up as they explore the island and kill enemies around it. The weapons are one of the two constants in the loops. Once players have picked them up, they’ll be able to use them every time they die and restart.
The weapons range from pistols, shotguns, and sniper rifles, to swords and crossbows. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. This all plays into how a player needs to approach every target. For some, stealth is the best option, while more firepower is required for others. This leads into the next major part of the game.
Learning From Memory
Colt doesn’t forget everything that happens in a loop when he dies. He remembers it all. This means that players can experiment with every single loop they do. If you want to learn what happens when you go through a specific window, then you can find out. Sure, you might die and restart, but now you know what that entry route is like.
This is how players will learn the map and master the game. There are several routes to take for every target, making for hundreds of potential combinations. Adding to this are the powers that Colt can learn and master.
Powers
The aspect of Deathloop that brings it into a similar space to the Dishonored games is the powers. These include a teleport, the ability to become invisible, telekinesis, and even a defensive shield or explosion.
Colt can use these powers to enhance every run he makes. In one route, a certain power could be useless, but in others, they may be essential.
For example, getting in through a crowded party is impossible without a lot of firepower and defense. Or, it’s incredibly easy with a stealth approach using invisibility. This is where players will change how they play the game based on each situation’s needs.
There’s always another route to take. If you don’t have the power or weapon to use, then you could head off and try something different. Eventually, you’ll have everything you need to take the situation on in a new way. This is the beauty of the game, and where it will provide the most replayability.
Julianna
There is one major complication that will continue to come back and haunt players with every loop. Juliana. She is an enemy assassin who only has one job, to take Colt down. She will hunt him through every loop and kill him when she finds him. This means that players have to be looking for her constantly, otherwise they could make it to the end of the game and be killed moments before victory.
This character is interesting for a number of reasons. First, players could plan their runs around her. If you don’t want to deal with Juliana later in the loop, you could dedicate some time to finding her first and killing her. This should leave the rest of the run open for you to complete it without Juliana trying to kill you.
The other aspect of Juliana is that she can be controlled by other players. This is Deathloop’s unique form of multiplayer. It means that the Juliana hunting you could have even more map knowledge than you do. If that’s the case, and they stalk you, they’ll know exactly when to take you down.
This could lead to some incredibly frustrating encounters, but as a game mechanic, it’s easily one of the most exciting about this release. Previously, Arkane Studios has only added multiplayer to one other game, Prey. While it worked well in one way, it was also very flawed. In Deathloop, it looks like the introduction of multiplayer from the game’s inception will benefit it and make it feel brilliant.
PS5 Firepower
The PS5 is an incredibly powerful console, and Deathloop will make the most of the unique features available on it. Most of this will come in the form of the game’s visuals and size, which the PS5 can support.
However, the DualSense controller will also come into its own. The haptic feedback in the controller will make players feel the snow, rock, or water that Colt is moving through. It’ll add tension to the stealth scenes, and adrenaline to the action.
The adaptive controllers will work with each weapon. While they’re all tweaked for every gun separately anyway, when a gun jams, the controller will too. This will make players feel like they’re really in the middle of the game and battle. Providing an experience like no other.