Today is an exciting day for fans of the Asphalt series, as Asphalt Legends Unite comes to expand the legacy of Asphalt 9: Legends, which brings a slew of new features and finally breaks down the barriers by bringing cross-play for all platforms – it’s an update so big, so transformative that we changed the name of the whole game.
Cross-play will allow you to race against your friends, no matter what their choice of platform is, and deliver a truly global competitive experience for all. This is the first time we’re bringing cross-play for the main Asphalt series, so we also took the time to bring something truly innovative and exciting for our players: a brand-new co-op mode, Team Pursuit.
With Team Pursuit, players can race for the first time in a team-based game mode, taking the role of Syndicate Drivers or Security Agents. The new game mode will task the Security Team with taking out the Syndicate Drivers before the time expires. If they fail to perform 5 Takedowns before the time expires, then the Syndicate Drivers win and live to race another day.
Both teams will have to outdo each other, by either relying on team tactics or individual brilliance. It’s also a complete break from the norm, as racing towards the finish is not the goal anymore, which opens up a whole new dimension of play. Quick brakes to maneuver behind a chasing enemy are as valid a tactic as outracing your opponents.
It will be also one of the few occasions our players will have a chance to put themselves behind the wheel of our Security cars. These souped-up versions of their street legal counterparts also have a few new tricks hidden in their sleeves. All the Security cars will be fitted with a new Nitro Boost, specifically built to help ram your opposition into submission. Security Nitro will be significantly shorter but allow for a faster charging time and more aggressive use. With increased stats and a mean nitro, the Security team will be something to reckon with.
On the opposite corner, we’ll have the Syndicate Drivers, whose sole purpose is to use all their speed and guile to survive. A handpicked selection of rides will be available on free try, to take on the security team. Feel free to pick your favorite rides, as the Security team’s cars will automatically be adjusted to whatever cars the Syndicate will be using. But be warned… if you choose the fastest cars, so will the security team!
As a team, the Syndicate Drivers will also share a total of 5 lives. Although each driver will have a maximum of 2 lives each, if the Security team manages to make 5 takedowns it will be game over! It will be critical to coordinate with your teammates to make the best out of those chances.
The whole team is excited about unveiling our first co-op mode with our players, as this game mode has been floating around the studio as a concept for a few years now, and we even had some community motivation to help goad us on. Just as we were finalizing our plans for cross-platform, one of our content creators, Admega, approached us to set up his own event using a special version of our private lobbies for him to play with his community.
With some creative use of visual layers, he managed to conjure up a good old fashioned cops’n’robbers game mode during a live stream that everyone really enjoyed. Those infectious good vibes during the stream were the final push we needed to take the project from dream to reality. After all, we finally had all the final puzzle pieces in place, with cross-play, friends lists and parties all coming. This was the perfect storm, and we couldn’t miss the boat, so the entire team really put in the extra effort to bring this exciting new mode to our players early, and just to give us yet another reason why Asphalt Legends Unite will be something you won’t want to miss.
Being such a brand-new mode, we’ll also be paying close attention to our community, sharing in their first impressions and having a feel of how it plays out. For launch, we’ll want to make sure our matches and matchmaking feel as smooth and quick as possible, so players will be randomly assigned to either team, allowing them to get a quicker taste of the action. Queueing with friends and parties will be coming in a future update, so worry not, you’ll soon be able to rally your friends together for some Mayhem!
The release of Asphalt Legends Unite will still offer you plenty of chances to play with your friends. After all, the era of cross-platform also comes with a renewed focus on multiplayer, as not only will our Multiplayer mode come with a revamp but Unite will also bring friends lists and Private Lobbies. This means you’ll finally be able to figure out who’s the king of the track amongst your Xbox friend lists, with no excuses! You’ll be able to race any car in your garage, on the track of your choice, with no fuel involved and up to 8 players.
And to welcome all your new friends into the game, we’ll have a special welcome package you can claim just by logging in during our inaugural seasons. Now the real question is… would you rather hunt with the Security team or run with the Syndicate Drivers?
