Bethesda has unveiled BattleCry, a new free-to-play multiplayer PC combat game from its studio of the same name. Set in a world where gunpowder has been banned, BattleCry’s 32-player team action focuses on powerful “transformative” weapons. They include swords (very big swords) that become shields, electrostatic-charged blades, armor-piercing bows and, as shown in the trailer, face-mashing gauntlet things.
The game’s retro-futuristic world is dreamed up by Viktor Antonov, the conceptual artist for Half-Life 2 and visual design director for Dishonored. In the alternate history of BattleCry, world war at the turn of the 20th century shaped conflicts for years to come. Now things are settled in designated “WarZones,” where select teams eviscerate each other with great big weapons. At the very least, it sounds organized.
As for the gameplay, players can choose to enlist with the Royal Marines or Cossacks and progress their character through ranks to unlock abilities and builds. E3 attendees will be able to get their hands on BattleCry next month, while a beta is scheduled to begin in 2015.
