Announced back in 2023, Exoborne is an upcoming extraction shooter by Sharkmob. Set in a parallel alternate timeline, Exoborne has players take part in a mysterious conflict. Its unique take on the extraction shooter genre, complete with dynamic nature and the constantly changing world made us ask the developers some questions. Narrative director and studio co-founder Martin Hultberg got back to us with quite a few interesting answers.
With there being quite a few extraction shooters coming out these days, how does Exoborne seek to separate itself from the pack?
We love shooters. Especially high-stakes variants, like extraction shooters. Some of us even worked on one of the very first games with an extraction mode, Tom Clancy’s the Division. What I think makes Exoborne stand out is a mix of things really – not one single thing alone. The combination of dynamic forces of nature that affects game-play, fluid traversal and the Exo-Rigs create a unique experience within the high-risk / high-reward shooter segment. There is nothing quite like it out there as far as I know.
Forces of nature, like storms and tornadoes, exist to a degree in other PvP games. None have integrated it to the same level we have however. They really help shape and evolve a session, forcing you to adapt and strategize on the fly. “No plan survives contact with the enemy” has never been as true as when a firenado barrels down on your extraction point!
The traversal is something we played around with in Bloodhunt, Sharkmobs first game. We have honed that experience and tweaked it, taking many learnings with us to make sure it becomes a fluid traversal experience both in the vertical and horizontal space. That allows you to flank, take advantage of wind, fly long distances using the glider, grapple up cliff walls or rooftops etc. Since the exo-rigs prevent you from taking fall damage you can really play around with it and allow yourself to pull off crazy moves.
And then the Exo-Rigs, the literal backbone of any Exoborne warrior. It is a mobility, weapon and abilities platform allowing you to create the playstyle you want. By modding it, combining it with special abilities and bringing the guns of your choosing you can either adapt it to excel under certain conditions, be a jack of all trades or fill a specific role in your team of three.
"It is a mobility, weapon and abilities platform allowing you to create the playstyle you want."
How often can players expect to run into other players in a general outing in Exoborne?
In Exoborne, player encounters are designed to be dynamic and unpredictable, influenced by the game’s unique features. The pacing of these encounters is crucial, and it’s something we continuously monitor in all our past and upcoming playtests. It’s difficult to give an exact frequency, as this depends on many factors. For example, players might choose to stick to the outskirts of the map to scavenge or deliberately avoid high-risk areas during a particular run. Even the Forces of Nature can impact how often players run into each other. On a bright, sunny day, you might be able to spot enemies from a distance, but if a heavy fog rolls in, and you’re not equipped for spotting, you may need to rethink your approach and retreat.
The key takeaway is that the danger of PvP is always present. In addition to the dynamic world, the Forces of Nature keep you on your toes, ensuring that no two encounters are ever the same.
What kinds of meaningful progression can we expect from Exoborne?
Exoborne progression is primarily based around your Exo-Rig and your player base. Serving different purposes, they get advanced by performing assignments, finding valuables, doing successful extracts etc. A bunch of activities count towards your progression and even if you die you can expect to gain something. That long term progression is super crucial, because it allows us to keep high risk in every session. We noticed that a game like this requires the risk of losing everything when you go on a raid, at the same time players need to know they haven’t wasted their time and have nothing to show for it.
Will there be things aside from scavenged loot and weapons that players can find in the world?
Yes, in addition to scavenged loot and weapons, Exoborne features several other valuable items that players can find in the world, each contributing to the high-risk, high-reward gameplay. One of the most notable being Artifacts which may contain the highest value loot like mods that unlock new abilities for your Exo- Rig. These artifacts come in different tiers, with the highest-tier artifacts marking you on the map for all other players to see. This creates an intense risk-reward dynamic—while these powerful artifacts can offer great rewards, they also make you a target, encouraging players to weigh the risks of carrying them versus the potential benefits.
Another key element is Data Fragments, which are scattered throughout the world. These fragments are essential for unlocking important locations like Rebirth Facilities or special crates, adding another layer of strategy and progression. Players will have to decide whether to go after these data fragments and risk confrontation or focus on other objectives.
Additionally, scattered around the map are story elements that help deepen the narrative and world-building. These pieces of lore give players a richer understanding of the Exoborne universe, enhancing immersion and offering context as they explore.
"In addition to scavenged loot and weapons, Exoborne features several other valuable items that players can find in the world"
Are there any plans for a potential PvE-only mode in Exoborne?
Currently no. The initial experience is focused around PvPvE – they feed off each other and really require each other to provide a tense, thrilling experience. What happens in the future though, we will just have to see!
What kinds of special abilities will players be able to use with the Exo-Rig?
In Exoborne, everything you can do is tied to your loadout—you are what you carry. By adding mods to your Exo-Rig, you can unlock a variety of abilities. These range from basic tools, like frag grenades, to more exciting and expansive skills that interact with the Forces of Nature.
For example, there are passive abilities that can give you an edge in extreme weather conditions, like making you immune to lightning strikes during a storm, allowing you to move freely while others are forced to take cover. You can even harness lightning itself as an active skill, using it as a weapon to zap your enemies.
Even less dangerous elements, like heavy fog, can be leveraged with the right Exo-Rig mod. In these conditions, you can mark enemies for yourself and your team, giving you the upper hand to sneak up on them or eliminate them from a distance before they even know you’re there.
The ability to adapt to these changing environments and leverage the Forces of Nature for your advantage adds a unique layer of strategy and excitement to combat
How has the response been for the Exoborne playtests?
We have a “community first” mindset in the team. This means we test early and test often. Even though we are just gearing up for our first major online tests, we have been running several smaller ones for quite some time. Depending on where in the project you are, the feedback is of course different. We are eagerly looking forward to the feedback from this playtest, as it is the most advanced and comprehensive build to date.
"Even less dangerous elements, like heavy fog, can be leveraged with the right Exo-Rig mod."
As a developer, what are your thoughts on the PS5 Pro? How does boost in GPU help in developing your game compared to the base PS5?
As with any new technology, we’re always looking at how to best leverage it for our game. While I can’t share specific details just yet, I know our teams are actively exploring its potential, and we’ll have more to share in the near future.
What are your thoughts on PSSR? What kind of opportunities will this open for the game?
We don’t have any details to share just yet. As we say above – we’re open to how it can enhance the game, and we’ll provide more updates in the future.
Do you have plans to launch the game on Nintendo Switch 2?
Given how hot off the press this announcement is, we think it’s too early to say.
