Gray Zone Warfare debuted on Steam as an “Early Access” title on April 30, and it appears to be poised for success for its developers, Madfinger Games as by May 4th, the MMOFPS game had already sold over 500,000 copies.
Described as a realistic open-world MMOFPS, “Gray Zone Warfare” is offered on PC via Steam for a price of $35 USD. Players immerse themselves in military operations on a fictional “Lamang Island” in Southeast Asia, where three private military companies (PMCs) vie for supremacy.
Gray Zone Warfare endeavors to deliver a distinctive FPS adventure, presenting a sprawling MMO-like open world teeming with PvEvP and PvE modes to suit various player tastes.
Set in the realistic landscape of Lamang Island, players are challenged with exploration, mission completion to increase vendor reputation so that you can buy enhanced weaponry.
Oh yeah, and there’s also scavenging lootable items.
With the primary emphasis on Player versus Environment (PvE), the expansive open-world terrain hosts a thousand AI soldiers, while up to 48 players can simultaneously access the same server to participate in the chaos.
The game is your standard extraction shooter, and undoubtedly, Gray Zone Warfare‘s swift success is likely due to the controversy surrounding Battlestate Games, the developers of Escape From Tarkov.
I don’t mind when other games seize opportunities created by the downfall of others. Pocket Pair’s Palworld did just that by taking Nintendo’s traditional Pokémon formula and infusing it with the elements of an open-world survival game.
Gray Zone Warfare made its early access debut on April 30th, kicking off with a strong start by drawing in a substantial player base. According to SteamDB, concurrent player counts on Steam have consistently hovered around 40,000 daily.
At the time of writing, user reviews show a mixed reception, with approximately 68% of about 31,166 reviews being positive, earning it a “mixed” status. While criticisms have been voiced regarding optimization, performance and server issues, the game’s concept has been praised, leading to its flourishing popularity among players.
I have reservations about purchasing games in “early access,” as it often means committing to ongoing development for years to come. Developers may lose motivation to improve or work on their game once it gains attention from influencers.
A prime example of this is 7 Days to Die by The Fun Pimps. Despite being listed on Steam for 11 years, the game’s next Alpha 22 update is expected to transition it into a full-scale release.
However, the integration of functioning Steam Workshop game mods is projected to take at least another two years. With The Fun Pimps having accumulated significant revenue from their game over the years, they’ve become a bunch of lazy pricks.
As always, you should vote with your wallet. If buying into a game mid development isn’t of concern to you, and you happen to really enjoy the ultra realism extraction shooter variety, Gray Zone Warfare seemingly looks to be the final nail in Escape From Tarkov’s coffin.
Providing PvE and PvPvE right out of the gate whereas it had taken Battlestate Games upwards of seven years before introducing an offline game mode, which is locked behind a $250 paywall.
Gray Zone Warfare stands out in its approach. Unlike Tarkov, where there’s a set time limit to navigate across specific points of interest, gather loot, and reach the exit in a large environment, the servers of Gray Zone Warfare operates perpetually.
There are no time constraints; instead, it offers a vast, continuous open-world experience set in an Asian jungle. This aspect is clearly emphasized in their marketing, positioning the game as an “MMO.” While it’s technically an extraction shooter, the immersive environment makes it feel more like a survival game with a focus on extracting loot.
The rapid surge in sales, totaling over 500,000 in just four days, is not surprising. Aside from Gray Zone Warfare gaining popularity among influential streamers, the game offers a more comprehensive and appealing experience compared to Escape From Tarkov.
What’s more, at just $35 USD, it’s actually cheaper, and it’s conveniently available on Steam, eliminating the need for bullshit proprietary launchers and accounts.
While I remain cautious about buying games of this type due to the risk of disappointment, if you’re someone who enjoys military simulators or is a fan of Escape from Tarkov, Gray Zone Warfare is worth considering.
It may be prudent to wait and see how its developers, Madfinger Games, improve performance, stabilize gameplay, and add more content and features before making a purchase, but given how Battlestate Games’ reputation has committed suicide, if you were going to put your hopes towards a hyper realistic extraction shooter, I’d favor this one.
