Hey, Xbox fans! The Callisto Protocol’s all-new Riot Mode is launching tomorrow, an exciting new player experience that’s all about defeating as many enemies as possible. In Riot Mode, you will take on wave after wave of enemies, while facing increasingly difficult challenges. To add to the fun, you can earn credits that you can use to buy upgrades and loot from crates scattered throughout the arena. I recently had a chat with Level Designer Kevin Jaszanovits and Senior Systems Engineer Philip Greene, some of the folks behind The Callisto Protocol’s all-new Riot Mode, to learn more about this exciting new mode.
Riot Mode brings a different flavor to The Callisto Protocol’s core elements. To achieve this, the developers had to break some rules from the main game and push their pre-existing designs in different directions.
“We wanted to make this mode more like an arcade game rather than a horror game to have more fun with it,” Jaszanovits explains.
Jaszanovits’s goal as a level designer was to create an environment where players could run from room to room, feeling constantly chased and surrounded by enemies. “We tried to remove or adjust gameplay elements that slowed the player down,” he says.
Greene adds: “Our goal was to achieve a simple, entertaining gameplay loop, but with a secondary value that lets players come up with new strategies over multiple play sessions. This leads to multiple different systems that grant players power over time to let them find their style and power through waves of infected.”
Riot Mode features enemy behavior and wave composition that keep players on their toes. As you progress through the game, you’ll need to adapt your strategies to overcome each new challenge. With only two weapon slots available, you’ll also need to spend credits wisely to upgrade and change weapons and to open health, GRP, and fuse containers. And when things get really tough, activate rampage mode for a temporary buff with unlimited ammo, GRP usage, and enemy insta-kill.
“We wanted to dig deep into just having a fun time murdering,” Greene says. “So, we went with as many features as we could put into the game that drove those feelings of fun combat. Powering up the player with strong weapons [and] giving them additional perks that allow them to take combat to a new level.”
To add to the arcade-like feel, Riot Mode includes a scoring system based on kills and dismemberment, with an overall score keeping track of the player’s progression throughout the game. “I can get to the 30s pretty consistently, but some of our QA testers have broken 100 waves. It’s fun seeing our team members post their high scores in our internal chats. You have to show the receipts if you want bragging rights,” says Jaszanovits.
Riot Mode is a challenging and entertaining experience that will keep you engaged for hours. The focus on keeping the fight constant and flowing, while also introducing fun sub-systems and a simple gameplay loop, makes it a great addition to The Callisto Protocol. It’s available on May 23, 2022, as part of the Riot Bundle, included with The Callisto Protocol Digital Deluxe Edition, Season Pass, or available for purchase separately. The Riot Bundle also includes eleven new enemy death animations and The Prospector Skin Collection. Are you ready to start a riot?
* The Riot Bundle requires The Callisto Protocol base game to play.
The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S – Digital Deluxe Edition
KRAFTON, Inc.
HORROR ENGINEERING
The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation take on survival horror from the mind of Glen Schofield. Blending atmosphere, tension, and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses players in a pulse-pounding story where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner.
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY
Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, The Callisto Protocol casts players as Jacob Lee, an inmate in Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob must face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that stalk him as he unravels the dark mysteries at the heart of the powerful United Jupiter Company.
MASTER BRUTAL, STRATEGIC COMBAT
The Callisto Protocol challenges players to master a thrilling blend of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, including a unique gravity weapon once used by Black Iron guards to control the prison population. Players will be forced to get up close and personal with their grotesque opponents, hacking off limbs, blasting off legs, and getting creative with whatever is at their disposal to survive each life-or-death encounter.
EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON
One of the most hostile, isolated environments in the universe, Callisto looms large over Jacob’s desperate struggle to survive. Players must not only contend with the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but also the centuries-old secrets that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon, both above and below the surface.
Pre-order now to get the following digital content:
– Retro Prisoner Character & Weapons Skin
– Season Pass
The Season Pass includes:
Outer Way Skin Collection: Bear the armor of the Outer Way, an underground insurgency pitted against the UJC, as you fight to survive the horrors of Callisto.
Contagion Bundle: Discover the ultimate survival horror experience with a new mode, Contagion. With reduced ammo and health drops, a customized difficulty and permadeath – there are no second chances to escape Black Iron Prison or the horrors lurking beneath the surface of Callisto. The Contagion Bundle also includes thirteen new Jacob death animations and the Watchtower Skin Collection.
Riot Bundle: Venture into a previously undiscovered area of Black Iron Prison and battle through waves of brutal enemies. Gather credits to upgrade your weapons, or forge new ones, and survive the onslaught as long as you can in Riot, an all-new mode. The Riot Bundle also includes twelve new enemy death animations and the Engineer Skin Collection.
Story DLC: Dig deeper into the horrifying secrets of The Callisto Protocol.
