Battleborn Gets New Story Trailer, Open Beta

battleborn game

The next game from the creators of the Borderlands franchise just got a lot more interesting.

A new trailer for Gearbox Software’s Battleborn finally provided some details on the game’s plot, and they’re intriguing. Check it out below:

 

 

In the trailer, it’s clear the player is part of a rag-tag group of warriors, trying to protect the universe’s last star, Solus. Opposite these heroes are “a legion of cosmic horrors and a traitorous scumbag.” Can the heroes put aside their personal differences and stop their infighting to save it all? From the trailer, Battleborn piques my interest, and Gearbox’s rather signature humor hits all the right notes. But Battleborn is more than just a narrative campaign.

In Battleborn, players are able to take part in story mode and play cooperatively – online or splitscreen. You can choose from deep roster of 25 playable heroes and no two are the same. According to Gearbox, “every hero has their own personality and comes equipped with their own unique weapons and powers.”

The game includes a robust multiplayer experience as well. Up to 10 players can play online in 5v5 matches, with three distinct multiplayer modes:

  • Incursion

    Teams of heroes must defend their base from waves of AI-controlled minions while working together alongside their own minions to destroy their opponent’s base.

  • Capture

    Teams of heroes face off in a fast-paced death match and must capture and hold objectives on the map to win.

  • Meltdown

    Teams of heroes must guide their minions as they march to their death at the center of the map. Points are scored for every minion who throws themselves into the incinerator, and the team with the most points wins.

Battleborn also features a persistent progression system. This means all experience points, whether earned through playing Battleborn‘s Story Mode or Competitive Multiplayer modes, contribute to leveling up individual Character Rank, as well as player profile Command Rank:

  • Character Rank

    Each hero can permanently rank up from 1 to 15 outside of missions and matches, allowing players to unlock additional augments in their helix skill tree, as well as additional skins for each character.

  • Command Rank

    Players can rank up their own player profile, unlocking badges and titles to impress friends, and loot that can be used to benefit any hero the player chooses to command.

Additionally, Battleborn‘s accelerated character growth “Helix System” allows players to level-up a character from 1 to 10 and fully experience each hero’s unique weapons and powers in a single story mission or multiplayer match.

I was one of the players who got a chance to take part in Battleborn‘s Closed Technical Test. While I can’t say much about it due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement, I’m pleased to say that I won’t have to! Battleborn is getting an Open Beta. Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford made the announcement on Twitter Wednesday:

battleborn, open beta, datePlaystation 4 players get exclusive early access to the Open Beta on April 8th at 10 AM (PST). Battleborn‘s Open Beta hits Xbox One and PC on April 13th at 10 AM (PST). The Open Beta ends April 18th at 7 AM PST. 

Players can go in solo or co-op with up to 5 players in two full Story Mode episodes: The Algorithm and Void’s Edge. You’ll also challenge other players in two of the game’s Competitive Multiplayer modes: Incursion and Meltdown. Visit Battleborn‘s website for more Open Beta details.

Battleborn is due to release on May 3, 2016, across PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.