ROB RUN, a free-to-play multiplayer action game, has attracted more than 23,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after launching in Early Access on November 4. Set in a criminal underworld, it lets players stage heists, fight the police and form gangs. Its setting and some mechanics invite comparisons with GTA Online, though ROB RUN puts more emphasis on survival and competition between players.
Both criminals and police are controlled by real players, creating the potential for unpredictable encounters. The developers describe a world that can host up to 5,000 players, with activities including bank robberies, attacks on rival gang hideouts and shootouts with law enforcement.
Players can also create or join criminal organizations, assign roles and compete for territory. Each gang can build and upgrade a hideout to store stolen cash, vehicles and other resources, but rival groups can target these bases.
The game’s servers run in cycles that periodically reset the world’s progress. Players can rise from petty criminals to leaders of powerful organizations, but will have to start over when a new cycle begins.
ROB RUN is available to download and play for free on PC through Steam. Its developers expect Early Access to last between six and 12 months, during which they plan to add content, improve performance and adjust the game based on community feedback. Early user reviews are currently mixed.
Sources: Vandal.