FragPunk adds Farlands PvPvE mode in Early Access

FragPunk is expanding with Farlands, a permanent PvPvE mode in which you deliver cargo across a shared, evolving world. Enemies aren't the only threat: the weight of your cargo, weather conditions and other players also determine whether a delivery succeeds. Farlands is now available worldwide in Early Access on PC and console.

Delivering cargo rather than just eliminating opponents

Farlands revolves around delivery missions in a world shared with dozens of players. You gather resources in dangerous areas and try to get your cargo safely to its destination. Along the way, you face both AI-controlled enemies and other players: the combination of PvE and PvP at the heart of the mode.

Encountering another player doesn't have to lead straight to a firefight. Global voice chat and emotes let you communicate and, for example, agree to escort a valuable shipment together. Such an agreement offers no guarantees, though: a temporary ally can still turn on you to claim the loot.

Servers evolve over a five-day cycle

Each server runs on a five-day cycle, with time continuing to pass in the game world. You can return to the same server to take on new missions and gather resources. Player actions influence faction levels, which in turn affect the strength, numbers and distribution of enemy forces.

That means an outpost you've cleared won't necessarily stay safe. Enemies can return and grow stronger. On the upside, defeating tougher opponents can yield rarer resources. Heat, cold and rain also play a part: they accelerate health loss and affect cargo transport. Your load and route therefore need more thought than simply choosing a destination.

Investing in equipment, vehicles and your base

Successful deliveries earn resources you can use to prepare for future trips. Farlands thus ties its delivery missions to longer-term progression. The main options are:

• Equipment: upgrade weapons and other gear through NPCs in the Hub.
• Base: upgrades unlock more advanced crafting, skill trees and additional cargo storage.
• Blueprints: find new development options while searching for supplies.
• Vehicles: collect vehicles suited to different terrain and playstyles.

Farlands does not replace the existing 5v5 battles. Those remain available in Shard Clash, where cards change the rules of combat. FragPunk is free to play on Xbox. No date has been announced for Farlands to leave Early Access.

What does this mean for you?

Farlands looks particularly appealing if you enjoy planning, gathering resources and upgrading a base alongside shooting. The combination of vulnerable cargo and unreliable fellow players could keep even familiar routes tense. If you prefer short, self-contained matches, Shard Clash remains the more logical choice. How well the five-day server cycle and progression fit together remains to be seen during Early Access; the announcement does not clarify what carries over into a new cycle.

Source: Xbox Wire