Exoborne creative director, Petter Mannerfelt, details the game’s unique features
Sharkmob has announced a playtest for its ambitious survival shooter, Exoborne. The playtest is running between Feb 12–17 and players should sign up on Steam to be among the first to play.
We spoke to creative director Petter Mannerfelt to find out how community feedback has already shaped the game and what players can expect from this high-octane title.
Community-driven development continues with February playtest
The upcoming playtest represents a crucial milestone in Exoborne’s development, with Sharkmob emphasizing their commitment to community-driven game design.
The studio has already implemented significant changes based on previous testing phases, including a comprehensive overhaul of the looting system, refinements to item placement and landmark design, and a complete inventory system redesign.
These improvements demonstrate Sharkmob’s dedication to creating a game that resonates with its player base through direct feedback and iteration.
3 customizable Exo-rigs define your playstyle
At the heart of Exoborne’s gameplay are three distinct Exo-Rig platforms, each offering unique tactical advantages and customization options.
- The Kodiak serves as the heavy-duty option, capable of wielding powerful weapons and providing tank-like capabilities.
- For players preferring agility, the Kestrel excels in aerial mobility, featuring hovering capabilities that can be strategically combined with environmental elements like tornadoes.
- The Viper rounds out the trio as a versatile stealth-focused platform that adapts to various playstyles.
Dynamic weather shapes the battlefield
One of Exoborne’s most distinctive features is its dynamic weather system, which directly influences gameplay strategies. Players can utilize environmental forces to their advantage, such as:
- Using tornadoes for vertical mobility with the Kestrel Exo-Rig
- Creating tactical opportunities with updrafts from fire abilities
- Adapting to visibility challenges during foggy conditions
- Managing movement limitations during rainstorms
High-stakes survival across diverse landscapes
Exoborne implements an intense risk-versus-reward system where death carries significant consequences—players lose everything, including their customized Exo-Rig and equipment.
To maintain balanced gameplay and team dynamics, however, players retain access to a baseline Exo-Rig equipped with essential mobility tools like a grappling hook, ensuring they can keep pace with their squad even after a setback.
This high-stakes gameplay unfolds across multiple distinctive environments. The game features a sprawling open-world map where natural forces dramatically transform the landscape, creating longer-range encounters with moderate risk-versus-reward opportunities.
In contrast, a more compact town setting drives intense close-quarters confrontations with higher-stake outcomes. Each environment demands different tactical approaches and risk assessment from players.
Exoborne aims to deliver an experience where tactical decision-making, environmental awareness, and loadout customization combine to create unique gameplay scenarios.
As Mannerfelt emphasizes, “You are what you carry,” and every decision about your equipment could mean the difference between success and starting over.
Sign up for the playtest on Steam, and watch the official Exoborne website for the latest updates to come.