(Image credit: Dreamhaven)
Dreamhaven has been steadily expanding its gaming lineup. Founded by former Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, a slew of projects are in the pipeline. Now, one of its studios, Moonshot Games, unveils its ambitious endeavor: the frenetic space-scoundrel simulator Wildgate.
Wildgate may remind some players of Sea of Thieves with its crew dynamics and vast universe to explore. It borrows elements from battle royales, extraction games, and more, yet maintains a unique essence.
The game challenges teams to venture into the perilous space surrounding Wildgate, seeking either each other or the elusive Artifact—a coveted technology piece everyone is desperate to obtain before their rivals do.
Success requires strategic planning: mining ice and asteroids for essential resources, conquering mini-dungeons to amass riches, such as a potent new laser-blade or crucial security systems to fend off intruders awaiting a chance to board.
Yes, your crew must contend with enemy boarders. Any crewmate can leap into space and infiltrate opposing ships. Respawning on your vessel after a death means precious seconds lost to thwart enemy sabotage as they abscond with your cannons or rig your generator for overload.
Dustin Browder, Moonshot co-founder, emphasized their intent for universal contributions. Influences from games like StarCraft often required top-tier player skill, but the open-ended chaos of Wildgate allows anyone to impact the outcome. “We wanted a game where people could say, ‘I played Wildgate, and you wouldn’t believe what happened,'” Browder explains. “It could be anything!”
Wildgate’s hectic nature evolves into rapid action. Matches start with a deceptive calm, but once the Artifact is discovered, the race intensifies. Everyone is alerted to the event’s unfolding, contributing to the game’s dynamic progression.
In Wildgate, the experiences of boarding ships, commandeering enemy gear, and emerging from dust clouds to wreak havoc are highlighted by Browder as moments unmatched in most games, leveraging not only combat skills but strategic innovation with tools like tractor beams and shield manipulation.
The game’s progression emphasizes match-specific loot retention with an overarching development of experience and levels that unlock fresh weaponry, gadgets, and crew roles, ensuring adaptability without restrictive archetypes.
Jason Chayes, head of Moonshot, explains their premium model aims to offer comprehensive gameplay enhancements as part of Wildgate’s evolving universe, which will witness systematic changes each season, maintaining player engagement and discovery.
Even without progression mechanics, Wildgate enchants with its sandbox chaos, allowing exhilarating space-faring adventures. Boarding enemy vessels and returning victorious adds to the allure of launching back into new matches with fresh challenges.
Moonshot Studios aims to deliver a polished product that justifies player investment and provides enduring excitement as the game evolves. “We must earn our place,” Chayes articulates, positioning themselves as eager challengers prepared to craft experiences that beckon players repeatedly.
Wildgate is poised not simply as a survival attempt amidst industry titans but as a progenitor of unforgettable gaming moments in a congested field. Slated for a 2025 release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a playtest window spanning April 10-14 this year, the anticipation continues to build.
Explore Dreamhaven’s other exciting projects like Sunderfolk, developed by Secret Door, expanding into the realm of fantasy RPGs where weapon-wielding animals and mobile integration invite both veteran and newbie players into tabletop-like adventures.