Exoborne Is an Extraction Shooter With a Twist(er)

Get in, secure the loot, and extract safely—these are the core principles of any extraction shooter, and the upcoming Exoborne is no exception. However, Exoborne elevates this familiar formula by introducing super-powered Exo-Rigs that boost both strength and mobility, alongside dynamic weather effects and the ever-popular grappling hooks. After spending about 4-5 hours with the game at a recent preview event, while I didn't find myself craving "one more drop," I believe Exoborne has the potential to make a significant impact in the extraction shooter genre.

Let's dive into the Exo-Rigs, as they're crucial to Exoborne's unique identity. Currently, there are three types of Exo-Rigs: Kodiak, which offers a shield during sprints to protect your head and enables devastating ground slams from above; Viper, which boosts health regeneration upon killing or downing enemies and provides a powerful melee attack; and Kestrel, which sacrifices offensive capabilities for enhanced mobility, allowing higher jumps and temporary hovering. These archetypes can be further customized with modules, each type of suit having specific modules to enhance their unique abilities.

Personally, I relished the thrill of swinging into action like Spider-Man with my grappling hook and executing Kodiak’s ground power slam to devastate the surrounding area. Yet, the other suits were also engaging to experiment with. Although Exoborne currently offers only three suits, which might feel limiting, developer Shark Mob did not disclose any plans for additional Exo-Rigs at this time.

When it comes to the shooting mechanics, Exoborne delivers a satisfying experience. The guns have a weighty feel with a gratifying kick, melee attacks are impactful, and using the grappling hook for swift map traversal is a refreshing alternative to traditional movement. Weather events add another layer of strategy, with tornados enhancing aerial mobility, while rainfall can render parachutes ineffective. To further immerse players in the post-apocalyptic setting, fire tornadoes not only aid mobility but also pose a lethal threat if you venture too close.

Risk vs. Reward

Risk versus reward is the driving force behind nearly every aspect of Exoborne's design. Upon dropping in, a 20-minute timer begins, broadcasting your location to all players once it hits zero, leaving you just 10 minutes to extract or face immediate termination. You can choose to extract at any point before this, provided you have the funds to call for transport, but the longer you stay, the more loot you can accumulate. Loot is scattered across the map, found on the ground, in containers, and on AI enemies, with the richest hauls coming from other human players, allowing you to claim their gear and collected loot.

In addition to standard loot, artifacts represent the high-value prizes on the field. These are essentially loot boxes that require both the artifact and keys to unlock their contents upon successful extraction. Artifact locations are visible to all players, inevitably leading to confrontations with other players to secure these valuable rewards.

The map also features high-value loot areas, heavily guarded by formidable AI mobs, challenging players to take significant risks for the best rewards. This setup fosters a tense atmosphere, encouraging effective communication within your squad. Even if you're downed, you're not out of the fight. Self-revives allow you to get back into action if you haven't bled out, and teammates can resurrect you if they reach your body in time, though this process is lengthy and risky if enemies are nearby.

After my demo session, I had two major concerns about Exoborne. The first is that the game seems to thrive when played with a dedicated group of friends. While solo play and teaming up with strangers are options, they're less ideal, a common challenge in squad-based tactical extraction shooters, compounded by the fact that Exoborne isn't free-to-play.

The second concern revolves around the lack of clarity on Exoborne's late-game progression. Game Director Petter Mannefelt mentioned that late-game details were not available yet, but it would likely revolve around PVP and player comparisons. While PVP was enjoyable during encounters, the downtime between skirmishes was too lengthy to make me eager to dive back in solely for PVP.

As Exoborne continues to evolve, its upcoming playtest from February 12 to the 17th on PC will offer further insights into its development. Stay tuned to see how this promising extraction shooter shapes up.