Dropzone brings together classic attributes of Real-Time Strategy such as map control and multiple units the player must direct, with 1v1 intense online competitive play and familiar keyboard and mouse controls.  Players must develop their tactics, customize their Rigs to suit their play-style, and then bring them into battle against their opponent to see who can score the most points during a 15-minute match.  Dropzone provides a vast array of choices between Rigs and their load-out, and a rich variety of maps set on alien-infested Europa over which players will contest.

It is the 22nd Century. All of humanity depends on a rare and powerful energy source called Cores mined from Jupiter&rsqu;s moon Europa—but Europa has fallen. A hostile alien presence called the Kavash has conquered the planet and pushed humanity tthe brink. Players step intthe role of Core Hunters: part renegade captains and part privateers. Each player commands a squad of three elite Pilots operating battle-hardened Rigs, competing for riches at the edge of the dropzone. It is a lethal, glorious, and slightly mad way tearn a living.

A hallmark of the RTS genre is control of multiple units, where your ability tdeploy and divide your attention determines your ability tdominate the battlefield. Players control three unique Pilots whoperate Rigs equipped with gear that determines their strategy and effectiveness.

Every Pilot specializes in a particular Rig type: Tank (tough but slow), Mechanic (versatile support), Gunner (powerful but lightly armored), and others types tbe announced. Players may mix and match Pilots, types, and gear as they choose tdevelop strategies and tactics tcounter the loadouts of their opponents. Choices are limited only by imagination and personal skill. &ldqu;Dropzone&rdqu; emphasizes player excellence in an arena of unparalleled 1v1 combat: 15 minutes, 3 Rigs, 2 Players, and 1 Hell of a Fight. 

“Players are the backbone of Sparkypants Studios, and their feedback and support has helped us turn Dropzone into a game that’s quick and modern while retaining the feel of classic RTS multiplayer,” said Jason Coleman, President, Sparkypants. “Internally, we’ve said that our goal is to ‘deconstruct’ the RTS genre, working to build an accessible game for a broad range of players that offers fierce competition and flexible play-styles in fast sessions.”

The Dropzone player community will be receiving a range of bonuses in the game’s new Steam Early Access build, including Pilots, Rigs, Gear, one Daredevil Recon Pilot Skin and an Exclusive Early Access Player Emblem & Vision Tower. New players will also be invited to check out the hybrid of real-time strategy and battle arena gameplay, diving into Steam Early Access for $19.99. Additionally, a huge amount of new features will be added to the game when it hits Early Access, which we’ll be telling you more about soon. Dropzone will raise the bar for strategy and online battle arena games in its Early Access debut as one of the most polished, content-rich Early Access games to ever hit Steam.

“Dropzone is a one-of-kind game that is going to surprise a lot of people that are seeing it for the first time; during our closed beta Sparkypants has continued to iterate, build upon and improve Dropzone in response to player feedback,” said Christopher Sturr, Director - North America Publishing & Marketing, Gameforge. “We are confident that Dropzone will not only capture the attention of PC gamers on Steam, but will raise the bar for an Early Access title.”

Play Dropzone today via Steam Early Access, with both the full-fledged Squad Edition and advanced Commander Edition available now. All previous beta players will have their account migrated to Steam free of charge.

In Dropzone players compete tretrieve and recover Cores from the alien-infested moon of Europa. Deliver a Core tyour orbiting spaceship tscore a point. Recover Cores from the hives of the alien Kavash, or destroy your opponent&rsqu;s Rigs and poach their Cores, as they try tdthe same tyou. But don&rsqu;t overstay your welcome. After 15-minutes on the planet, the Kavash will overwhelm all invaders.

Each player alshas a Dropship ttransport forces tand from the surface of Europa. The Dropship and its trusty crew repair Rigs when they are damaged in a fight, and they respawn Rigs after they are destroyed by the enemy.

Cores are not the only way tscore in &ldqu;Dropzone.&rdqu; Every map features up tthree randomly selected objectives that when completed add points ta player&rsqu;s score. For example, gain control of all four vision towers on the map and you will capture &ldqu;Total Vision,&rdqu; worth twpoints. Not only does this objective boost your score, but it alsoffers a tactical advantage by giving you line of sight over the entire battlefield.

Key-Features

• 1v1 Focus on individual skill and strategic customization
• Familiar PC mouse/keyboard controls from the best of the RTS and MOBA genres
• Intense 15 minutes matches
• Extensive options for customizable units – combine pilots and gear tbuild a squad of Rigs that suits your style of play
• Easily understandable rules and victory conditions that provide for incredible strategic depth
• Integrated Spectator and Replay Modes allow players twatch and learn
• Powered by the brand-new next-gen Sparkle Engine, designed specifically for:
  • Robust Online Play
  • Responsive Controls
  • Amazing Visual Fidelity that is 4k Gaming-Ready, but can scale lower-end HW