The sequel to 2014's Insurgency is coming, and Lead Designer Michael Tsarouhas just announced that the game is dropping its story mode in favour of a multiplayer focused approach. Furthermore, the game will be moving away from it's real world setting to a fictional conflict inspired by modern warfare.
According to a forum post on Focus Forums', Insurgency: Sandstorm "single player and cooperative story has been cancelled for release, and will be considered again at a later date" due to its "high production requirements and [their] commitment to deliver to our fans in 2018".
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As for the setting changes, Tsarouhas describes real world conflicts as "restrictive of [their] design and, admittedly, sensitive”, and the shift to a fictional conflict will give them greater freedom to produce "a fun and atmospheric hardcore multiplayer experience" while also providing "robust options for character customization, post-release level content, community modding, and other aspects".
Instead, the game will take inspiration from real world conflicts, but in a fictionalised context. “Having this approach allows us to focus our resources on creating a fun and atmospheric hardcore multiplayer experience. It also provides robust options for character customization, post-release level content, community modding, and other aspects”.
Last but not least, the forum post also mentions that former lead creative director Andrew Spearin has left the studio to “pursue other opportunities”.
Insurgency: Sandstorm will be out on 2018 for PC, Xbox One, and the PlayStation 4, and you can sign-up for the upcoming alphas here.
