As civilization prepares for an impending ice age, a twisted new project emerges, half science experiment and half live-entertainment. It's called Darwin Project and it challenges participants to survive the cold and fight to the death in a treacherous, snow-covered arena.

Darwin Project takes the battle royale genre up north to the Canadian Rockies. Set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, an impending ice age has kick-started a twisted new reality show, in which participants must fight to the death to earn their survival. Other combatants won’t be players’ only worries though, as the harsh climate will put even the most hardened survivalists to the test.

Darwin Project offers a competitive multiplayer third-person experience with an emphasis on survival. Players must withstand extreme environmental conditions, track opponents, craft tools, set traps, and even negotiate temporary alliances to be the last one standing at sunrise.

After two heated test sessions full of arena-based cooperation, Scavengers Studio is excited to make Duo Mode a permanent part of Darwin Project on Steam. Joining its standard free-for-all game mode, Duo Mode allows combatants to team up with friends or strangers as they stake their claim on the snow-covered battlefield. The developers continue to welcome player feedback as they work to improve Duos even further. Xbox One support for Duo Mode is also planned and will be announced soon.

While Xbox One owners may have a little longer to wait for Duos, there’s still a lot to get excited about amongst the Canadian Rockies. Scavengers Studio has been listening to the community’s feedback and has implemented a new feature on Steam and Xbox One to even the playing field for new and veteran players alike. Say hello to skill-based matchmaking, the latest feature outlined in a blog post from Creative Director and survivalist extraordinaire Simon Darveau. Not only that, but Xbox One owners can now spark up their own Private Matches as of the latest update, making it easier than ever for friends to join the manhunt together.

Need another reason to jump into the fray? Scavengers Studio recently launched its first holiday event, complete with special cosmetic rewards. Keeping the Easter spirit going until Friday, April 6, players on PC and Xbox One will find colourful Easter eggs hidden across the arena. Collect enough of these in between eliminating the competition and outfit yourself in the finest Easter bonnets!

Darwin Project is now available on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview for $14.99 USD.