Exploration survival MMO Population Zero is arriving on Steam Early Access in just a few days, on May 5. A brand new launch trailer was released alongside the news, showcasing the game's more unique qualities.
Although there are many survival-based multiplayer games out there currently, Population Zero does have a few gameplay mechanics that'll hopefully help it to stand out. It's a race against time in which players get 168 hours (or a week) to save themselves from the planet's ticking time bomb, called the Sphere.
In Population Zero, players take on the role of someone whose ship has been destroyed, marooning them on an unknown planet called Kepler. Not only that, but they've got 168 hours until total human extinction occurs. Given that, the player's goal is to repair their hibernation pod in order to save themselves, all while navigating harsh wildlife, the planet's various colonists, and more. Fail, and the player character is turned into a nightmarish creature by the power of the Sphere.
The survival exploration game can be played either on PvE or PvP mode. PvE is good for newcomers, who can play without fear of being abruptly killed by higher-level players, while PvP mode naturally adds another layer of challenge and competition to the game. PvP mode also includes multiple respawns--although each respawn increases the character's mutation levels.
Population Zero certainly has an interesting concept, even among other survival exploration games, and with the ongoing stay-at-home orders in place due to coronavirus, players should have plenty of opportunities to try out the new game themselves.
Population Zero releases on May 5 for the PC via Steam.