The big promise ofBack 4 Bloodover previous co-op shooters likeLeft 4 Deadis the game’s live-service support and layers of progression.Left 4 Deadplayers already play the same content week to week, so it makes sense to reward them for that and roll out fresh experiences to keep them coming back for more.Back 4 Blood, however, didn’t cover all of the ways thatLeft 4 Deadplayers like to play. Namely, solo players are locked out of these progression systems. That’s going to be changing in December, however.
Developer Turtle Rock has shared itsroadmap for the near future ofBack 4 Blood, detailing update plans for November and December, as well as more general goals for 2022. One particularly exciting bullet point listed for December’s updates is regarding solo play. Turtle Rock plans to implement solo offline play with campaign progression, a major shift from the current design ofBack 4 Blood’s offline solo play.
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Since launch, solo play inBack 4 Bloodhas been disconnected from the game’s progression systems. That means noSupply Points, no stat tracking, and no progress toward Accomplishments. Players instead of access to a range of content that online players earn through achievement and challenge, which was rewarding in its own way but effectively split multiplayer and solo into two entirely different experiences with no tangible crossover.
Exactly whatTurtle Rock’s plansare in its upcoming patch aren’t yet clear. “Campaign progression” could mean a variety of things, however. Taken at its most literal, the addition of “campaign progression” likely means solo play will remain entirely detached from online multiplayer and its progression systems. It would instead lead to a new, separate progression path.Back 4 Bloodplayers will likely want something more substantial, like a way to earn Supply Points. Turtle Rock may not be comfortable with that, however.
In Turtle Rock’s defense, it acknowledged that players werefrustrated withBack 4 Blood’s solo optionsearly. A Twitter post on October 8 said that Turtle Rock “heard your frustrations,” and that the team was “discussing ways to address the issue.” The December update will be the product of months of planning and work from Turtle Rock.
Back 4 Bloodplayers hungry for new content will be happy to see more than just solo mode changes coming in December. Turtle Rock will also be adding new cards with a new card type,new Supply Linesto progress through, a practice area, and even a seasonal event. For a more substantial content update, the Tunnels of Terror expansion is tentatively planned for 2022.
Back 4 Bloodis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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