Steep (video game)
An online multiplayer extreme sports game set in open-world mountains.
Steep is a sports video game developed by Ubisoft Annecy and published by Ubisoft, released worldwide on 2 December 2016 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It was the studio's first original game, set in the Alps and later expanded with downloadable content to include mountains in Alaska, Japan, and Korea. The game emphasizes online multiplayer, allowing players to compete in winter and action sports disciplines such as skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, and wingsuit flying.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Director
- Igor Monceau; Arnaud Ragot
- Producer
- Sébastien Arnoult
- Designer
- Arnaud Mametz
- Programmer
- Grégory Garcia
- Writer
- Barry Keating
- Composer
- Zikali
- Engine
- AnvilNext 2.0
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Steep is an online multiplayer extreme sports game set in an open world environment of the Alps, centered on Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Europe, which can be explored freely by players. Later downloadable content added the Alaska Range, centered on Denali, as well as Japanese and Korean mountain ranges, with Korea featuring the venues of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County. The game can be played from either a first-person or third-person perspective, and utilizes camera angles similar to GoPro during races via a sponsoring deal. The four main activities are skiing, wingsuit flying, snowboarding, and paragliding; later DLC incorporated rocket-powered wingsuit flying, sledding, basejumping, and speed riding. Players switch between activities using the game's menu wheel. All players share the same game world and can engage in sports activities simultaneously, with collisions possible unless disabled in settings. The 'mountain view' mode shows different drop zones that serve as fast travel points. Hidden races, challenges, and areas can be discovered through exploration, and binoculars help locate new locations. A trick system allows special maneuvers like spinning and grabbing while skiing or snowboarding, awarding points for tricks. Excellent race performance earns medals. On crashing, players can retry immediately and view the g-Force endured. Player paths are recorded automatically and can be viewed in mountain mode. Players can capture screenshots, view performance data, and share replays to the community and social networking sites. They can set and share their trail as a challenge for others. There are six play styles ranging from racing to exploring.
Development
The game was developed by Ubisoft Annecy, a French studio that had previously worked on multiplayer modes of the Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell franchises and assisted in developing Tom Clancy's The Division. Co-development involved Ubisoft studios in Kyiv and Montpellier. Steep became the studio's first original game, with development starting in late 2013. The concept was inspired by the developer's proximity to the Alps and by Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, whose large open world required transport methods like paragliding. The Trials series also influenced the design. Ubisoft was initially unconvinced by the concept but later greenlit the project, largely due to the popularity of extreme sporting videos on YouTube and renewed interest in Skate 3 through Let's Play streaming. Game director Igor Manceau said the team pitched the project as bringing online structure and open world elements new to the sports genre. He described it as a 'passion project' and a 'natural progression' for the studio, designed to be accessible for newcomers and complex for fans. The team collaborated with the action sport industry and consulted professional skiers and extreme sports athletes such as Louis Aikins, Kevin Rolland, Sammy Luebke, and Horacio Llorens. Professional skier Matilda Rapaport died while shooting a promotion video in Farellones, Chile due to a sudden avalanche accident. The game was revealed with a trailer and playable demo at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo as the closing act of Ubisoft's press conference. An open beta preceded the official launch. A version for the Nintendo Switch was announced but later canceled.
Reception
Steep received 'mixed or average' reviews on Metacritic. Critics generally praised the vast open world and enjoyable activities but pointed out a lack of direction and overall scope, with criticism also directed at the always-online concept. In February 2019, Ubisoft announced that Steep had been played by 10 million individual players. Matthew Kato of Game Informer gave a positive review, finding the game captivating through its open world, gameplay, and atmosphere. He called the volume of challenges admirable and the scale of the open world impressive, particularly noting how the world was tailored to each discipline. He observed that the trick system aimed at accessibility and did not resemble the Tony Hawk's series. TJ Hafer of IGN also rated the game positively, describing its world as one of the most diverse and visually interesting open worlds in video games. He found the physics satisfying and balanced between realistic and arcade approaches, and unlike other critics, he thought the open concept worked well. He praised the controls as intense, engaging, and at times frantic, and described the open world as gorgeous and awe-inspiringly gargantuan with grandiose, attractive environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Steep (video game)?
Steep was directed by Igor Monceau and Arnaud Ragot.
Who designed Steep (video game)?
Steep was designed by Arnaud Mametz.
Who composed the music for Steep (video game)?
The music for Steep was composed by Zikali.
What engine does Steep (video game) use?
Steep runs on AnvilNext 2.0.
More in Ubisoft Games of the 2010s
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced