While we’re still waiting for a definitive STALKER 2 release date, there’s another game that fans of the seminal Chernobyl-inspired shooter game should keep on their radar: PIONER. Originally surfaced in 2021, it is in development by newcomer studio GFA Games, which received a Tencent investment later that year.
The setting of PIONER is very similar to STALKER. An island located somewhere in the Soviet Union is subjected to an environmental catastrophe caused by a mysterious energy source, which mutates flora and fauna, creating various types of anomalies that players will need to investigate.
Unlike GSC Game World’s game, though, PIONER was designed from the start as a multiplayer game, specifically, a Massively Multiplayer Online First-Person Shooter (MMOFPS). Beyond uncovering the narrative mystery behind the anomalies and their source, players will also have the chance to explore dungeons, take part in raids, join one of several factions, and even fight in clan versus clan battles for control and influence.
With the game due to be playable soon on PC and consoles, I’ve had the chance to dive into greater detail on the PvE/PvP mechanics of PIONER as well as the release plans with GFA Games CEO Aleksandr Nikitin.
You’ve said the game features over 50 quests and ‘elaborate stories’ with moral dilemmas or choices that affect the quest’s outcome. Can you give some examples? Also, how long do you estimate these quests and stories will take to be completed by the average player?
We focus on several different types of quests. There are various quests in the game, both daily activities passed in a few minutes (not counted in these 50s) and more extensive and comprehensive tasks, including quest lines. For easy comparison, you can take the classic side quests from The Elder Scrolls (the latest) or Fallout. In narrative structure, the game is very similar to the Bethesda games.
In our previous interview, you said players would need to sleep and eat in PIONER. Will the penalties be harsh for those who won’t take care of those needs?
There will be limitations, but we have reduced the pressure on the player during development. PIONER remains a complex game, but it is a game about exploring our unique world, and we want the player to focus on that.
Are there any combat roles in this game? That is to say, is it possible to be a ‘support’ character that helps the group or draws the enemies’ attention for a while?
There are no classic roles in the game, but the player can be upgraded to better imitate a particular role in everyday gameplay. Variability is present, but the player’s skills come first.
How many dungeons are there in the game, and what is the party limit for dungeons? Are there any raids (larger dungeons) for the endgame?
The game has several extensive dungeons to raid after reaching the maximum level. In addition, a huge number of story, co-op, and single-player dungeons will have to be visited while completing story and side activities.
You’ve said that PvP takes place in certain zones like the Shadowlands. Are there any specific objectives for players to capture there, and what are the incentives to go to such a dangerous place?
It is possible to seize certain territories in the Shadowlands if it is done by a clan. We will tell you more about this later; right now, the system is too basic. It is important to understand that not only the Shadowlands are available for PvP. We highlight this area because it is a large part of the map where PvP is not limited by anything.
How does the PvP loot system work?
The killed player gets his resources and equipment taken away, but not all of them. Also, the killed player can return for his items if no one has picked them up yet. We tried to find a balance so the player can lose volumetric progress after his death in the Shadowlands but will not lose the opportunity for revenge and motivation to play further.
Is there a karma-like reputation system to combat excessive player killing?
There is something similar to the karma system, but it only works in PvP zones and affects the reward for the most active players. In addition, a number of faction daily quests are associated with killing particularly nimble players.
Can you share more information on the Clan system and its perks? Is there a way to conquer the outposts of enemy clans and defend yours, like sieges?
Yes, battles between clans for outposts or map spots are possible and encouraged. Right now, we are looking to make this more effective because the current implementation is far from ideal. In general, you have to constantly re-invent much of what is considered commonplace in an MMO.
How important is crafting in PIONER, and how does it work? Is there an auction house for player trading?
Crafting is most important in PIONER, especially in improving items and creating exclusive ones. At some point in the game, the global development of your hero will be done solely through the constant use of the workbench.
Is there any form of player and/or clan housing?
Such a thing in the game is present for clans. A special resting place has been created where a clan can rent a room.
Can you share more information on the server structure of your game?
Yes, of course, the server structure is based on large regional logical mega-servers with a scalable number of mirrors. Examples of such implementations are The Elder Scrolls Online and Lost Ark.
Will there be crossplay between PC and consoles?
Cross-platforming is built into the game’s framework and is bound to appear in the release version or over time, but cross-play between PC and console players is currently completely absent and is in the early design stage.
Does the game support controllers on PC?
Yes, the game is being tested daily on consoles and Xbox controllers.
Are you still using Unreal Engine 4? If so, do you plan to update to Unreal Engine 5?
There are plans to switch to Unreal Engine 5, but they are not on the current agenda. Our current goal is an optimized release version, which could be interfered with by the sheer number of radical, albeit positive, innovations in Unreal Engine 5. We chose not to take the risk, and only time will tell if that decision was correct.
Will PIONER support cutting-edge technologies like ray tracing and upscalers such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS on PC?
DLSS and FSR are already integrated into the game at this moment. In development, we limited ourselves to “optimizing” technologies. These are very important for us, as our goal is to provide players with high performance. PIONER has no right to release the game with bad optimizations. We compensate for the lack of excellent graphical “know-how” with the high level of environment detailing, which we think is more important for an MMO shooter.
Are you going to release your game only on the new consoles (PS5, Xbox Series), or will the old ones (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) be supported too?
Right now, we have no plans to release the game on Xbox One or PlayStation 4. However, we do not exclude these releases in the future as one of the game’s post-release scenarios.
Are you preparing multiple graphics presets for consoles, such as image quality/performance?
No, we don’t have such presets, largely because we don’t have the prerequisites to create them. It’s all about effective performance for an MMO shooter, and the game is already being implemented focusing on that.
Did you settle on the PC store that will distribute the game?
At the moment, this issue of publishing is being negotiated across different regions, but players in most regions will have a choice.
Can you confirm that both the beta and the full release of PIONER will take place this year on all platforms?
Yes. We can confirm the start of the beta test this year. Speaking of the release for ALL platforms, we have to agree on a release schedule with our publisher, as this issue depends on the simultaneous release and is tied to licensing by console manufacturers. However, we are already actively carrying out the first closed alpha tests, including the massive ones.
Thank you for your time.
