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Second Extinction

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Second Extinction
Developer(s)Systemic Reaction
Publisher(s)Systemic Reaction
Platform(s)Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
ReleaseCancelled
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Second Extinction was a cooperative first-person shooter developed and published by Systemic Reaction for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. In the game, mutated dinosaurs have taken over the Earth, and players must work together in fighting a war against the animals. The game received an early access release through Steam on October 13, 2020, and through Xbox Game Preview on April 28, 2021.

Originally scheduled to leave early access on October 20, 2022, the full launch was delayed several times due to unspecified issues, before being cancelled in October 2023. The game had been in development by a small 35-person team which lacked the resources necessary to continue. The game servers are scheduled to shut down in 2024.

Gameplay

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Second Extinction is a first-person shooter,[1][2] and a live service game,[3] with content updates being made regularly.[4][5][6] Because the game is always online, it does not include a pause feature.[7]

The game's premise revolves around mutated dinosaurs taking over the Earth. A group of human survivors retreated to an orbital station, and eventually returned to Earth, launching a war against the dinosaurs.[3][8][9] The animals work together against the player.[5] Enemies include raptors and T. rexes. Because all the dinosaurs are mutated, they possess unusual features, including the ability to generate electricity to launch shock attacks. Some dinosaurs can spit acid,[10][11][12][13] while others can dig underground, or can call reinforcements.[14]

The game can be played solo, but is primarily meant as a three-player cooperative video game.[7][15] The game has several playable characters,[11][14] who are divided into different classes, each one with its own weapons.[16][17] The player can request additional ammunition and health to be airdropped into the environment.[12][14][18]

The game has various locations,[1][14][19] including caves where dinosaur nests must be destroyed.[12][14] The game has four threat levels (low, medium, high, and emergence), which are applied to each area depending on the local dinosaur population.[20][21] Players' success in the war effort will reduce threat levels in parts of the world, although the dinosaurs will turn elsewhere in response, increasing the threat level wherever they go.[1][19] Threat levels are updated each week.[7] The game has several weather conditions, such as snow storms,[14][22] and some gameplay takes place at night.[23]

An update in September 2021 added a horde mode and a new playable character for a total of six. Full crossplay support, matchmaking lobbies, and voice chat were also added.[24][25]

Development and release

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Second Extinction was announced on May 7, 2020.[26] It was developed by Systemic Reaction, a newly formed self-publishing division of Avalanche Studios Group.[3][27] The game was developed by a small team of 35 people, based in Malmö, Sweden.[1][28] The dinosaurs were designed as mutants in order to portray them with monstrous elements.[5] Gameplay was designed to be exceptionally challenging unless playing with other people.[6] Systemic Reaction developed the game using its Apex game engine, which allowed for a high level of detail, particularly when killing dinosaurs. Producer Brynley Gibson said that with the engine, "no two dismembered raptors even look the same as they sail through the air."[29] The game also features an abundance of explosions.[6]

Second Extinction was released for computer platforms, via Steam Early Access, on October 13, 2020. At the time, Systemic Reaction stated that the game still had a number of glitches which would be gradually corrected. The game would remain in Early Access for an undetermined amount of time while the issues were worked out.[30][31][32] The game was released for Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on April 28, 2021, via Xbox Game Preview and Xbox Game Pass.[6][33] The full game was scheduled to launch on Xbox and Windows platforms on October 20, 2022.[34] However, the release was delayed until the following month,[35] and was later pushed back to 2023.[36] The delays were a result of unspecified "critical issues".[37]

In October 2023, Systemic Reaction announced cancellation of the full launch, due to a lack of necessary resources to leave early access. The company stated that Second Extinction would be removed from sale, and that its early access servers would be shut down in 2024,[37] making the game unplayable to those who purchased it. The development team did not have the resources to add an offline mode, which would have required significant changes to the game.[38]

Reception

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The game had a Mostly Positive rating among Steam players.[39] David Jagneaux of IGN concluded, "As far as Early Access games go, Second Extinction is in excellent shape. For all intents and purposes, it feels very close to being finished already".[40] Chris Jarrard of Shacknews praised the graphics in the Early Access version,[11] while some critics found the weapons to be dissatisfying.[22][31] Gameplay was compared to other games such as Left 4 Dead, Destiny 2,[3][4][6][7] the Turok series, and Avalanche's Generation Zero.[14][22][41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wales, Matt (September 28, 2020). "Generation Zero company's co-op dino FPS Second Extinction enters PC early access next month". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  2. ^ O'Connor, Alice (May 7, 2020). "Second Extinction is a co-op FPS about fighting mutant dinosaurs". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Purslow, Matt (May 7, 2020). "Second Extinction Looks Like a Dinosaur Left 4 Dead From the Makers of Just Cause". IGN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Bonifacic, Igor (May 7, 2020). "'Second Extinction' looks like 'Destiny' with dinosaurs". Engadget. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Reeves, Ben (August 15, 2020). "Second Extinction Team Explains Why Their Dinosaurs Are So Deadly". Game Informer. 1:00, 4:00. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Good, Owen S. (April 26, 2021). "Second Extinction's dinos and guns: Two great tastes that go great together". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Zwiezen, Zack (April 29, 2021). "It's A Shooter With Dinosaurs, And That's Enough For Me". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Reiner, Andrew (May 7, 2020). "Team Up With Friends To Battle Mutated Dinosaurs In Second Extinction For Xbox Series X". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Tack, Daniel (August 12, 2020). "Second Extinction Comes To Early Access In September". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Gerblick, Jordan (February 19, 2021). "Co-op dino shooter Second Extinction hits Xbox Game Preview in Spring". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Jarrard, Chris (October 12, 2020). "Second Extinction hands-on preview: Raptors and roughnecks". Shacknews. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Bailey, Dustin (September 8, 2020). "The terror of Second Extinction's acid-spitting reptile raid teams". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Lowry, Brendan (October 17, 2020). "Second Extinction preview: A roaring good time". Windows Central. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Mike (September 8, 2020). "Section Extinction is the Modern Answer to Turok: Dinosaur Hunter". USgamer. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Ramée, Jordan (May 8, 2020). "Hunt Mutant Dinosaurs In Second Extinction For Xbox Series X". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Skrebels, Joe (June 10, 2020). "IGN Expo: Second Extinction - World Premiere Gameplay Revealed". IGN. 5:37. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  17. ^ McCafferty, Ryan (September 8, 2020). "Second Extinction Hands-On Preview: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth". IGN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Livingston, Christopher (June 10, 2020). "Watch humans fight mobs of mutant dinosaurs in this Second Extinction gameplay footage". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  19. ^ a b LeBlanc, Wesley (September 14, 2020). "Second Extinction: Early Access October Release Date, Details Released". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  20. ^ McCafferty, Ryan (August 11, 2020). "Second Extinction Early Access Release Month, 'War Effort' Multiplayer Details Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Mercante, Alyssa (August 12, 2020). "Second Extinction, the co-op dino shooter, is hitting Steam Early Access this September". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c Polanco, Tony (September 15, 2020). "Second Extinction (for PC) Preview". PCMag. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Livingston, Christopher (September 8, 2020). "Co-op dinosaur slaying gets chaotic as hell in Second Extinction". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  24. ^ Chalk, Andy (September 29, 2021). "Co-op dino shooter Second Extinction is getting full crossplay and a horde mode". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  25. ^ Allen, Jen (September 30, 2021). "'Second Extinction' adds horde mode in biggest update yet". NME. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  26. ^ Hawkins, Josh (May 7, 2021). "Second Extinction brings intense 3-player co-op to Xbox Series X". Shacknews. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  27. ^ Avard, Alex (May 7, 2020). "Second Extinction pits players against dinosaurs in new shooter from the creators of Generation Zero". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  28. ^ Takahashi, Dean (May 7, 2020). "Second Extinction is a 3-player co-op shooter for the Xbox Series X". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  29. ^ Avard, Alex (August 28, 2020). "Second Extinction shows off the power of its Apex Engine in new Future Games Show trailer". gamesradar. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  30. ^ O'Connor, Alice (October 13, 2020). "Second Extinction wants you and your mates to destroy a lot of dinosaurs". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  31. ^ a b Wilde, Tyler (October 16, 2020). "Second Extinction's janky co-op dino shooting shows potential". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  32. ^ Chalk, Andy (September 25, 2020). "Watch mutant dinosaurs get blown up real good in this Second Extinction gameplay video". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  33. ^ Nunneley, Stephany (March 27, 2021). "Second Extinction coming to Xbox Game Preview in April". VG247. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  34. ^ Romano, Sal (August 25, 2022). "Second Extinction launches October 20". Gematsu. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  35. ^ "Full Launch Coming In November 2022". Second Extinction. October 14, 2022. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  36. ^ "Full Launch is now planned for 2023". Second Extinction. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  37. ^ a b "A Final Update on Second Extinction". Second Extinction. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  38. ^ Ngan, Liv (October 18, 2023). "Servers for online dino shooter Second Extinction to shut down next year". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Saed, Sherif (February 19, 2021). "Dino shooter Second Extinction coming to Xbox Game Preview this spring". VG247. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  40. ^ Jagneaux, David (October 22, 2020). "Second Extinction Early Access Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  41. ^ Chalk, Andy (May 7, 2020). "Second Extinction is a co-op FPS that looks like Turok crossed with Generation Zero". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
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