Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and developer Echtra Games Inc. today announced that upcoming MMO-lite Torchlight Frontiers will be launching instead as Torchlight III on Steam. A closed alpha testing phase is planned for January 29 and the Steam launch will occur this summer.
“When we started developing Torchlight Frontiers, we were focused on creating a shared-world experience,” said Max Schaefer, CEO of Echtra Games and co-founder of the Torchlight franchise. “During development, you often discover what type of product a game was meant to be and we found Torchlight Frontiers was meant to be a true successor to Torchlight I and II.”
Torchlight III will also be an ARPG-styled, isometric dungeon crawler that will lead players through the Torchlight universe in a vibrant hack-and-slash with a focus on linear progression.
“Based on this and extensive feedback from our Alpha testers, we decided it was time to take the game back to its roots and model it after the classic Torchlight games that ARPG fans have come to love,” Schaefer added. “We’d like to thank our dedicated player base for supporting us and providing such insightful feedback during early development.”
Players will be able to purchase the full game on Steam during its summer launch and play however they like — that means online or offline like any other Torchlight game from the series – with full access to all of the content.
Our reviewers have already had a chance to play the game as Torchlight Frontiers and it is very similar to the other games in the series with a dungeoneering progress across the landscape. It also includes full-length dungeons that often end in exciting boss fights and lots of epic loot to be had.
Pets are back with Torchlight III as before and players can choose between a fluffy alpaca, a swift owl, or a loyal canid from the beginning. It is possible to make the pets stronger as the hero levels up by adding skills and equipment.
Players will also get a sort of housing with an account-based “fort” that the player will upgrade and furnish as they travel. Enough renovations and it might even be spruced up enough to show off to friends without embarrassment (be sure to dust and mop first). Forts can also house workshops and stables for pets amid other useful buildings.
Currently, PWE has only revealed three of the four character classes – the Dusk Mage, Forged, and Railmaster.
The publisher is expected to reveal the final class next month.
To learn more about Torchlight III, PWE has published a website at Torchlight3.com and updates are posted regularly on Twitter and Facebook.
Also, be sure to check out Torchlight III on Steam before the launch. Now is a good time to add it to a wishlist.
Image: Perfect World Entertainment
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