Dive headfirst into a dystopian world devoid of society, law, and order. RAGE 2 brings together two studio powerhouses — Avalanche Studios, masters of open world insanity, and id Software, the gods of the first-person shooter — to deliver a carnival of carnage where you can go anywhere, shoot anything, and explode everything.

An asteroid has annihilated 80% of the earth's population, and humanity's numbers are dwindling. Ruthless and bloodthirsty gangs roam the open roads and the tyrannical Authority seek to rule with an iron fist. As Walker, the last Ranger of the wasteland and a threat to their power, you have been robbed of your home and left for dead. Now you'll have to rage for justice and freedom. With ludicrous vehicle combat, super-powered first-person mayhem, and an open world full of emergent madness, you will tear across an unforgiving wasteland battling sadistic gangs to find the tools and tech needed to crush the oppressive rule of The Authority once and for all.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear super high-tech body armor and decorate themselves in the blood and entrails of their enemies. (Trust us, you’re not pulling off a Slam from high altitude without getting some person-paste on your shoes.) But what kinds of powers are in a wasteland superhero’s arsenal?

“We went through a number of iterations to ensure that we got abilities that complement and synergize with the weapons, not replace them,” explains Lead Combat Designer Peter Johansson. “In the spirit of id-style combat, we wanted abilities that support the aggressive, push forward, close- to mid-range combat we are creating. The key to survival in Rage 2 is to get up in your enemies’ faces, and the abilities are designed as tools to encourage that.”

• Slam: Rain destruction from above with Slam, a devastating ground-pound attack. The effectiveness of Slam is based on height; the higher up you are, the more powerful the Slam. Grab some air with a double-jump and smash your enemies into a chunky red paste.
• Shatter: When you absolutely need to get people out of your face, hit them with Shatter, a lethal kinetic blast that forces enemies away from you and sometimes just outright makes their heads explode.
• Vortex: Vortex lets you pull your enemies out of their comfort zone. Aim and toss Vortex near a crowd of enemies to yank them all toward one spot, leaving them primed for a well-timed grenade, rocket or other area-based attack.
• Barrier: Toss out your own portable shield with Barrier. Block incoming fire and instantly kill pretty much anything that comes into contact with your Barrier. A well-timed Barrier and Vortex combo will drag your enemies directly into your killer shield.

Those are just some of the abilities you can pick up, but between those four, Rush, Dash, Grav-Jump, Overdrive and more, you’ve got the makings for a master of the battlefield.

All abilities in the game have numerous upgrades to help you become the ultimate badass. Even the Rush ability (an extra speed boost you can trigger while sprinting) has some sweet tricks, like double sprinting speed and temporary invisibility. There are over 70 upgrades for abilities alone, some of which offer a cooldown decrease or a damage increase, while others add entirely new functionality.

“Traversal is very free and versatile in the game, and it becomes even more so the more you upgrade,” explains Yan Knoop, Gameplay Programmer. “If you master things like Dash, Grav-Jump, Float, Vortex jumps, and Rush, you can really master any space and keep your enemies constantly dizzy.”

Some of the favorite upgrades from the combat team at Avalanche Studios include: Vortex’s anti-gravity field — an excellent way to control the battlefield and hold your enemies in the air, making them easy pickings; Grav-Jump’s Float upgrade, which allows you to hover in place while aiming down your weapon sights; and the Touch of Death upgrade to the Barrier, which turns enemies that pass through it into meat cubes.

“All abilities have some sort of basic usage that’s either for offensive, defensive or traversal purposes,” says Knoop. “But most also have additional functions that really unlock their true potential beyond its original purpose. This is where the abilities really shine and enable you to be extra creative.”

Put Them All Together and…

…You’ll unlock Overdrive. As you fight, you’ll fill up your Overdrive meter. When triggered, Overdrive pushes your weapons and abilities well beyond their limits and grants them unique attributes. Some guns may gain a homing functionality, or the always-hilarious ability to juggle enemies in the air with a barrage of bullets like a sick party trick. Also while in Overdrive, the cooldown for your abilities will be reduced. Combining all of your abilities in interesting ways fills your Overdrive meter faster, which could mean the difference between life and death.

“Overdrive represents the climax of a streak of aggressive, adrenaline-fueled play,” says Johansson. “It gives the player a nod that they are playing well and rewards them with a boost. It plays a central role in the core combat loop. In addition to the frenzy-like effects, you move faster, kill quicker and regenerate your health. If you learn how to master Overdrive, it can quickly become an integral part of combat, allowing you to take on harder enemy locations with less powerful equipment. On higher difficulties, playing in a way that charges Overdrive fast becomes a key to survival.”

 

Key Features:

• WELCOME TO THE SHOOTERVERSE: id Software's shooter pedigree and Avalanche Studios' open world prowess is dream-team-made-real for RAGE 2. It's more than a shooter, more than an open world game — it's a shooterverse.
• THE WASTELAND AWAITS: Seamlessly traverse a vast and varied landscape, from lush jungles and treacherous swamps to sun-scorched deserts in your pursuit of The Authority. The wasteland is massive, and you've got the arsenal to fight for every inch.
• PEDAL TO THE METAL: From monster trucks to gyrocopters, use an assortment of rugged and wasteland-ready vehicles to speed across the badlands. If you see it, you can drive it.
• THE LAST RANGER: Bring the pain using a collection of upgradable weapons, devastating Nanotrite powers, and Overdrive, the ability to push your guns beyond their mechanical limits.
• FACTIONS & FOES: Fight against ferocious factions for control of the wasteland, each featuring a rogue's gallery of madmen, mutants, and monsters hungry for blood.

Head to the wasteland for pure pandemonium as Rage 2 is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC on May 14, 2019.