First-Person Shooters of the 2010s, Part 1 Codexery

Deep Rock Galactic

Cooperative dwarf miners battle aliens in destructible caves.

Deep Rock Galactic

Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative first-person shooter developed by Danish studio Ghost Ship Games and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. It entered early access on February 28, 2018, and was fully released on May 13, 2020 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One, with later releases for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set on the alien planet Hoxxes IV, where players control dwarf miners employed by an intergalactic mining corporation to extract resources from procedurally generated caves while fighting hostile wildlife.

Quick Facts

Title
Deep Rock Galactic
Developer
Ghost Ship Games
Publisher
Coffee Stain Publishing
Director
Mikkel Martin Pedersen
Artist
Robert Friis
Producer
Tim Badylak / Sebastian Badylak / Robin Cederholm
Designer
Mikhail Akopyan / Fran Avilés / Anders Heindorff
Composer
Sophus Alf Agerbæk
Released
Windows, Xbox One · May 13, 2020 · PS4, PS5 · January 4, 2022 · Xbox Series X/S · September 9, 2022
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Platforms
Windows · Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S
Genre
First-person shooter

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Deep Rock Galactic takes place on Hoxxes IV, an alien planet rich in precious minerals but filled with hostile wildlife and environmental hazards. Players assume the role of a dwarf miner working for Deep Rock Galactic, an intergalactic mining corporation, tasked with extracting valuable resources and operating heavy machinery. The game emphasizes teamwork among four distinct classes: Scout, Engineer, Gunner, and Driller, each with unique weapons and tools that complement one another. Missions involve navigating fully destructible, procedurally generated cave systems, completing objectives such as mining Morkite or repairing equipment, and extracting via an escape pod while managing limited ammunition and enemy swarms. Solo players are assisted by a flying robot named Bosco.

Reader's Guide

Deep Rock Galactic received positive reviews from critics, who praised its class-based gameplay and atmosphere. The game sold over eight million units as of January 2024 and has been part of Xbox Game Pass since November 2020, as well as PlayStation Plus during its release month. Its development was inspired by Minecraft and Left 4 Dead, with the team aiming to create a cooperative experience where players of varying skill levels could contribute equally. The early access model allowed Ghost Ship Games to prioritize features based on community feedback. The low-poly art style was chosen for efficiency, and the procedural world generator was the most challenging aspect of development. Post-launch updates have added seasonal content, new mission types like Deep Scan and Heavy Extraction, and a free battle pass-like system. The game's progression includes weapons, upgrades, cosmetics, and perks, with Matrix Cores earned from Deep Dives unlocking special modifications.

Did You Know?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deep Rock Galactic?

Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative first-person shooter developed by Ghost Ship Games in which players take on the role of dwarf miners extracting resources from procedurally generated caves on the alien world Hoxxes IV while fending off hostile creatures.

What classes can you play in Deep Rock Galactic?

The game offers four distinct dwarf classes—Driller, Gunner, Engineer, and Scout—each equipped with unique tools such as rock-boring drills, heavy weaponry, deployable turrets, and zipline guns to handle different combat and traversal situations.

Why is Deep Rock Galactic considered important in the FPS genre?

It helped popularize fully destructible terrain in a co-op shooter context and built a dedicated community around its 'rock and stone' motto, selling over eight million copies by early 2024.

When and where was Deep Rock Galactic released?

The title entered early access on February 28, 2018, and received its full 1.0 launch on May 13, 2020, initially on Windows PC and Xbox One, with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S versions following afterward.

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