The panorama of FPS MMOs is enriched with a new contender that winks at the legacy of STALKER. GFA Games has in fact opened the doors of the Open Beta of PIONER, its multiplayer shooter set in a post-apocalyptic island, now available on Steam for all PC players. This is a particularly generous test phase in terms of content, which allows us to get our hands on the entire narrative campaign of the title, while also raising some questions about the overall structure of the project.
The currently playable build offers full access to the main story arc, spread across five acts that introduce the key factions, main locations and mysteries of the setting. The developers estimate around 30 hours of gameplay to complete the storyline experience, a respectable duration that however could leave some players with the expectation of more extensive content at the final launch.
On the PvE front, PIONER features three large-scale activities designed to test players’ cooperative skills. The Training Raid serves as a guided tutorial for raid mechanics and teamfights, preparing players for more challenging content. The raid \