Sony Online Entertainment is expanding its offering of free-to-play games with a new competitive multiplayer shooter entitled Bullet Run.
The game's fiction places players in a near-future deathmatch style TV game show (a plot we're pretty sure has never been previously used in any movie or game), where they must battle to gain fame. SOE says that simply killing opponents won't be enough to gain fame -- contestants must use "style and attitude." Perhaps this is similar to the style points that you earned in Bulletstorm for outlandish kills?
Developer ACONY intends to bring the depth and quality of gameplay of a retail game to the free-to-play market. To that end, there will be a host of character customization options, unique weapons, and unique battle arenas. The trailer (see below) announces two gameplay modes: Team Deathmatch and Dominion. It supports up to 20 players total in each match.
As with most modern shooters, there will be abilities you can unlock through kill streaks and the ability to combine and tweak weapons to your specifications. Your character can also advance their skills through earned fame (the game's form of XP) and in-game currency. We imagine there will also be the option to buy items through micro transaction, but that was not stated in the press release or the game's FAQ.
You can sign up for the Bullet Run beta on the game's official site. While no release date has been given, SOE expects to launch the game sometime this summer.