Deadside: Early Access Survival Crafting Multiplayer Game Launches on Steam

  |  
Apr 17, 2020

Perhaps 2014 was an unusual time for PC gaming. There was a strange phenomena, a syzygy of the planets that opened a gateway to the realm of the godhead and out came a numberless horde of glitchy indie early-access multiplayer survival crafting games. Patient zero was of course DayZ, whose wild success should have been the canary in our coal mine. Then came The Forest, Rust, H1Z1, 7 Days to Die, Ark Survival Evolved, and a dozen more that ironically were unable to survive. Most recent to this lineup is Deadside, which debuted a few days back. 

Deadside is a game developed and published by Bad Pixel, a Russian studio new to the market. Their only previous titles were UFO Online: Invasion and some kind of VR game called Enigma, neither of which seem to have any relation to Deadside. The premise is one you’ve seen before. You’re on a big island map with abandoned buildings and wide forests. The main difference between Deadside and DayZ is that rather than zombies roaming aimlessly, there are settlements of bandits and cannibals. There are missions, which I assume are procedurally generated go-kill-everyone-here style quests, and no endgame beyond building the nicest base. 

Obviously it remains to be seen if Deadside will make it. Most of the games that would have been in this genre have taken a turn for the battle royale style that PUBG and Fortnite have locked down. It’s difficult to tell whether or not a game of this nature is still viable in the market. Critical reception seems mostly positive, here on day 3. Naive players have gone into it not realizing that it is intentionally released while still a buggy mess, and more experienced players of the genre take issue with the server hosting restrictions and incomplete HUD elements. But 2,000 reviews within a week of release on steam certainly promises a lively multiplayer scene, at least for the moment. 

This genre was never my favorite. I tried to review DayZ for the PS4 and found myself so pissed off at how a half decade later it still feels like the exact same broken mess as when I first played it as an Arma II mod in 2013. And yet, there is something strangely appealing about this raw multiplayer experience. The organic interactions between players in this environment  navigating the broken game in unison, hunting newcomers, forming alliances, and betraying comrades, is undeniably unique. And unlike DayZ, Deadside seems to have more opportunities for teamwork, and thus more opportunities for treachery. It is undeniable that this genre lays bare the soul of multiplayer interactions, and in a way, elevates it far beyond any MOBA or battle royale. 

My personal opinion for early access is to wait and see how it goes. But if you want that very specific type of multiplayer experience, Deadside is now available on Steam for $20.

    • Tags:

    Categorized:

    0What do you think?Post a comment.

    Play Episode
    52min
    Scarred For Life
    Little Cuts 183: We Promise This is Weekly
    We're back and this was recorded last week so please disregard our talk about UFF! We're chatting:Death of a UnicornPaddington 3Eve's BayouWheel of TimeSXSW!Follow Mary Beth, Terry and the Podcast on Bluesky. We’re also on Twitter (sorta) with the same usernames. We also have a Letterboxd HQ account, so follow us there, too! Support us on Patreon!If you want to support our podcast, please please take a moment to go rate us on Spotify and give us a rating and review on iTunes. It really helps us out with the algorithms. We also have a YouTube channel! Ask us for our Discord server!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Scarred For Life
    Episode 267: The Legendary John Harrison and The Haunting (1963)
    This week we chat with filmmaker, producer, composer, writer, author...this guy's done it all...John Harrison. From working with George Romero on everything from Creepshow and Dawn of the Dead to Tales from the Darkside to the Dune miniseries to his Netflix series Residue...he's done it all. He even directed Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, which was Andrew LaSane's Scarred for Life pick, which is one of Terry's favorite movies. We chat about his long history in cinema; about how he started working with Romero to some insights into Tales from the Darkside. And we discuss his latest work, the novel Residue: Paramentals Rising, which is a sequel to the Netflix show. After learning about his horror history--including a memorable viewing of Night of the Living Dead--we find out why The Haunting terrified him as a twelve year old. John references an article written by Anthony McKay in Little Shoppe of Horrors, which can be ordered here. You can find Residue: Paramentals Rising wherever you buy your books or at WordFire Press.You can follow John on his website or Instagram and Facebook.Follow Mary Beth, Terry and the Podcast on Bluesky. We’re also on Twitter (sorta) with the same usernames. We also have a Letterboxd HQ account, so follow us there, too! Support us on Patreon!If you want to support our podcast, please please take a moment to go rate us on Spotify and give us a rating and review on iTunes. It really helps us out with the algorithms. We also have a YouTube channel! Ask us for our Discord server!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Development Hell: The Unmade Horror Movie Podcast
    SAW XI (with Mary Beth McAndrews)
    On this episode of Development Hell, host Josh Korngut is joined by Dread Central's Editor-in-Chief, Mary Beth McAndrews, to dive into the sudden cancellation of SAW XI. Together, they explore the troubled development history behind the highly anticipated 11th installment, uncovering the behind-the-scenes conflicts, studio hesitations, and creative differences that potentially led to the project's demise. Join them as they combine insider information, fan theories, and expert insights to reveal why Jigsaw's latest game won't be played and develop theories about where the franchise might go next. Discover what could have been for the beloved horror franchise, and find out if there's still hope for SAW XI to rise from the dead.Subscribe to Development Hell wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into horror’s most infamous cancelled projects.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Kim and Ket Stay Alive... Maybe
    Ep. 344 Oddity Part 2: “The Tale of the Woodm’n”
    Ket tells Kim Part 2 of Oddity. Kim refreshes our goldfish brains on how it all shook out in part 1. So, let’s all sit back down and have a charcuterie with our terrifying Man ‘o’ Wood. All the girls can ask is “does anyone have the hook up on where they could find their own Woodm’n? We have some ‘monsters’ to vanquish.” Most importantly, we’ll learn if Kim will live or die in Oddity. Writer/Dir. Damian McCarthySupport the girls on PATREON for some sweet BONE CON (bonus content) at:  www.patreon.com/kimandketstayalivemaybeKKSAM Facebook Discussion Group!!"Sammies Stay Alive... Maybe"www.facebook.com/groups/kksampodcastGet acquainted with all things KIM & KET at www.kimandketstayalive.com Chat with the girls at kksampodcast@gmail.comPeep the girls on Instagram:  @kksampodcastRock with the girls on Tik Tok: @kksampodcastBook the face of the girls on Facebook:  @kksampodcastWear the shirts of the girls from the MERCH Store:  kimandketstayalivemaybe.threadless.comOk we'll see ourselves out.Thanks for listening!xo and #StayAlive,K&KKIM AND KET’S SURVIVE THE CELLAR: link.chtbl.com/kkstcPROUD MEMBERS OF THE DREAD PODCAST NETWORKSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.