Exoborne: Get in, grab the loot, and get out—that's the core gameplay loop of this upcoming extraction shooter. But Exoborne elevates the formula with powerful Exo-Rigs boosting strength and mobility, dynamic weather effects, and the ever-popular grappling hook. After a 4-5 hour preview, while not craving an immediate "one more drop," Exoborne shows strong potential to make a splash in the genre.
The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's identity. Three distinct types are available: the Kodiak, a tanky option with a sprint shield and devastating ground slam; the Viper, rewarding aggressive play with health regeneration on kills and a powerful melee attack; and the Kestrel, prioritizing mobility with enhanced jumps and temporary hover. Each Rig further customizes with unique modules, enhancing their abilities. Personally, the Kodiak's combination of grappling hook maneuvers and ground slam proved incredibly satisfying. While only three Rigs are currently available—feeling somewhat limiting—developer Shark Mob remained tight-lipped on future plans.
The shooting mechanics feel excellent. Weapons pack a satisfying punch, melee attacks are impactful, and the grappling hook adds a dynamic layer to traversal, surpassing simple foot travel. Random weather events introduce strategic elements; tornadoes boost aerial mobility, while rain renders parachutes ineffective. Fire tornadoes offer another traversal option, but get too close, and you'll be incinerated.
Risk vs. Reward: The Core Loop
Risk and reward are interwoven throughout Exoborne. A 20-minute timer begins on deployment; at zero, your location is broadcast, giving you 10 minutes to extract or face elimination. Extraction is possible earlier, but the longer you stay, the richer the rewards. Loot abounds—on the ground, in containers, and from enemies—but the biggest scores come from eliminating other players and taking their spoils.
Beyond standard loot, artifacts are high-value targets. These loot boxes contain valuable items, but only if successfully extracted. Collecting artifact keys is crucial for opening them. Artifact locations are visible to all players, often leading to player-versus-player encounters. Similarly, high-value loot areas are heavily guarded by tougher AI, demanding significant risk for substantial rewards. This creates intense gameplay, emphasizing squad communication. Even after going down, you aren't entirely out; self-revives are available (before bleeding out), and teammates can revive fallen comrades, though this is risky.
Two key concerns emerged from the preview. First, Exoborne strongly favors coordinated squads. Solo play or random teammates are less ideal, a common drawback for squad-based extraction shooters, exacerbated by the game's non-free-to-play model. This could deter casual players.
Second, the late-game remains unclear. While the director mentioned PVP focus, the preview lacked sufficient late-game content to assess its long-term appeal. Hopefully, Shark Mob has concrete plans for this aspect, as the intermittent PVP encounters, while fun, weren't enough to drive repeated play solely for PVP.
Exoborne's PC playtest runs February 12th-17th, providing further insight into its potential.
