Early last year, Square Enix announced Foamstars, a new PlayStation-exclusive lighthearted multiplayer shooter with more than a little Splatoon DNA in it. In the time since then, Square Enix has held an open beta, but hasn’t announced when the full game will release. Well, we can now report Foamstars will be launching in early February, and it will be available as a PS Plus Essential game from Day 1.
During preview for press, Square Enix revealed that Foamstars will launch with three PvP modes – Smash the Star, Happy Bath Survival, and the newly-revealed Rubber Duck Party, which is essentially a version of Overwatch’s Escort mode with a ducky-shaped payload. But if PvP isn’t really your thing, there will be other options, including Squad missions that allow you to team up with friends against “bubble beasties” and solo missions designed to teach you the ins-and-outs of Foamstars’ various playable characters. Don’t expect any actual story from these PvE modes, although Square Enix promises characters will have unique lines of banter with each other as you play.
While Foamstars will be “free” for PS Plus subscribers at launch, it will only stay that way for a month. Somewhat surprisingly, this is not a free-to-play game, with its regular price tag being 30 dollars. A year’s worth of free seasonal updates are planned by Square Enix, which will offer cosmetics, playable characters, maps, modes, and more. There will also be season passes which will come in free and premium variants (the latter will set you back $6). While the developers of Foamstars are only promising a year of content, if the game is successful they may evaluate the situation and do more.
“Foamstars is a vibrant, over-the-top shooter, that is accessible to players of all skill levels. It combines the fun of partying with the thrill of combat, where players blast through matches using foam to attack, build, and defend. Taking control of a quirky and colorful ensemble of athletes, players are dropped into the eccentric city of Bath Vegas to compete in Foamsmash. Created as a casual yet competitive experience for everyone, Foamstars features a combination of PvP and PvE modes for up to eight players, either as four vs. four, solo, or co-op as a squad with three teammates.”
Foamstars launches as PS Plus Essential title on PS4 and PS5 on February 6. What do you think? Foaming to give the game a try?
