One of many coolest reveals finally week’s Warhammer Skulls occasion was Boltgun 2, a sequel to the lovingly made mix of Warhammer 40K and retro Doom video games. That first sport earned itself a spot in many individuals’s hearts, a loving homage to 2 worlds. However now there is a sequel cooking away, and all eyes are on the long run.
So to assist peel again the curtain just a bit on Boltgun 2, I chatted to principal designer Matt Bone. We touched on what to anticipate from Boltgun 2 in comparison with the unique, what it is like making video games throughout the Warhammer 40K IP, and whether or not or not a fan favorite will ever discover a residence on the tabletop.
VG247: Boltgun was obtained very positively from Warhammer followers and Retro Doom lovers alike – are you able to communicate on how you are feeling about this reception to the unique sport?
Bone: Throughout growth we had been actually excited in regards to the sport, nevertheless it’s all the time unattainable to foretell what gamers will suppose till it’s of their fingers. So, it was an enormous aid when it was obtained so positively and went past even our highest hopes.
Because the studio itself and everybody in it are massive Warhammer followers, we had been excited to share our ardour for Warhammer with the gamers. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is actually the sport we wished to play as followers ourselves; we simply bought the enjoyment of with the ability to make it too.
The very fact it turned our studio’s greatest sport is simply testomony to the keenness of our workforce and our love for the Warhammer 40,000 universe. On the very core of Boltgun, we wished to please each Warhammer 40,000 and retro shooter followers, and it feels prefer it was a hit on each fronts. All of the love from our group and the Warhammer 40,000 group was past our expectations.
Now we’re aiming to do it another time!
We’re excited to proceed working with Video games Workshop to create extra video games for the viewers, particularly as we get to discover inventive spin-offs like Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Phrases of Vengeance! That one was lots of enjoyable to make and we’re giving it away without spending a dime so it’s undoubtedly price a attempt.
VG247: What can we anticipate when it comes to a change of setting in Boltgun 2? The place has Malum Caedo discovered himself now?
Bone: Malum Caedo gained’t be restricted to Graia in Boltgun 2, the branching marketing campaign of his mission means he’ll be purging throughout new worlds. We will’t reveal all proper now however we are able to share that there can be new, never-before-seen environments with all new enemies for Malum to face towards. We’re including some areas and enemies that followers have been asking for, and the sequel was an amazing place to incorporate these.
We’ll have extra to share sooner or later and may’t wait to indicate them off!
VG247: Inform me a bit extra in regards to the enhancements we are able to anticipate from the unique sport! What’s there when it comes to new weapons, gameplay mechanics, and many others?
Bone: It’s nonetheless just a little early to share an excessive amount of, however we undoubtedly wish to present extra selection when it comes to the gameplay and the locations the participant can be visiting – and naturally the heretics they’ll be purging. We’re doubling down on the issues followers appreciated about Boltgun – its excessive, retro tackle the Warhammer 40,000 universe – while offering loads of new surprises. “Joyously Grimdark” is one in every of our design pillars, which I believe conveys the tone of Boltgun video games effectively: they’re a lovingly tongue-in-cheek celebration of Warhammer 40,000, revelling within the pixel glory of blood, gore and gloom! .
VG247: Will Horde mode be making a return from the primary sport?
Bone: It’s too early to say but. We added horde mode as DLC for Boltgun and it appeared to go down effectively, so we’re wanting into extra distinctive modes like that, whether or not for the bottom sport or post-launch. We rely loads on participant suggestions for this type of factor – if it’s one thing individuals are clamouring for, we’ll do our greatest to incorporate it.
VG247: The unique Boltgun was tied to the occasions of Warhammer 40,000: Area Marine,with Caedo heading to Graia years after the occasions of the sport. Now that Area Marine 2 has come out, can we anticipate comparable ties between Boltgun 2 and Area Marine 2? Or, has the workforce been given extra freedom to create a sport completely separated from different 40K video games?
Bone: It was nice to pay homage to different Warhammer 40,000 video video games which the workforce are massive followers of two. For anybody unaware, the primary Boltgun picks up instantly after the occasions of Area Marine 1 as Ultramarine Malum Caedo goes on a mission to find a misplaced shard of Area Marine 1’s very important artifact. We even put in a enjoyable easter egg for Warhammer followers in Malum’s taunt to reference Captain Titus!
As for what’s to return in Boltgun 2, you’ll simply must play to search out out what different enjoyable Easter Eggs we’re hiding for the followers.
VG247. Video games Workshop loves releasing named Area Marine characters for the tabletop sport, and given he’s an Ultramarine, Caedo should have shot absolutely. Have any official discussions taken place on bringing Caedo to the tabletop? Or ought to followers preserve at it with kitbashing?
Bone: We’d after all find it irresistible if at some point there was a method for Malum Caedo to return to the official tabletop sport, everybody within the studio would like to have him of their armies – I believe we’d must put in a studio vast order!
We completely love seeing all of the wonderful kitbashes of Malum Caedo that the followers repeatedly share with us and we’ve seen nice examples throughout socials and reddit. When gamers tag us in pics of ones they’ve made, we share them throughout the dev workforce and everybody will get tremendous hyped.
VG247. Auroch Digital has after all achieved extra than simply Boltgun. What’s it like working with Video games Workshop for a licensed sport like Boltgun 2, versus a completely unbiased enterprise?
Bone: For me, I like attending to mess around in a universe that has actually many years of lore behind it. To name the Warhammer 40,000 universe large is an understatement – each time I believe I’ve a good deal with on it, I’ll uncover an entire new half I knew nothing about, which normally ends in me getting misplaced down a rabbit gap for just a few hours. With regards to making the sport, which means we’re typically beginning just a few steps forward: need an thrilling new enemy? Right here’s just a few hundred to select from, together with beautiful fashions and pages of lore. Desire a new location? Right here’s a galaxy of worlds and tales to faucet into.
Normally, it’s very important that the sport stays trustworthy to the IP, even in our retro-styled method. We wish to current it in a method that’s each distinctive and nonetheless the universe followers know and love. That is true for our Phrases of Vengeance challenge too. We had this loopy concept of creating a Boltgun typing sport, and Video games Workshop – as a substitute of questioning our sanity – had been utterly onboard and helped us massively in reaching it. They most likely do nonetheless query our sanity, however that feels applicable for the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
Boltgun 2 is about to launch in 2026
