Why Early Access?

“The contributions of the Subsim-community has played a major part in the development of Wolfpack from day one. Creating a genuine and realistic U-boat experience is not only a technical and visual challenge. It also requires a massive research effort, since the entire concept of the game is heavily dependant on actual historical facts and technology. This research acts as the foundation on which the design choices are made, and the collective knowledge possessed by the community is an invaluable asset.

In order to make Wolfpack reach its full potential, we believe that the involvement of the community is essential during the entire process. Not only by providing technical and historical facts, but also by actually playing the game, contributing with ideas regarding campaign scenarios and missions, enemy behaviour and additional features such as difficulty options. It is a lot more efficient for us as developers to take part of your actual experiences as players, rather than keeping you guessing how the game actually feels to play.

The Early Access release gives you as a player the possibility to be part of the process and affect the final product, and gives us as developers the privilege to hear your thoughts and ideas while finishing the final product.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Our vision for Wolfpack includes a lot of dynamic, advanced and interconnected systems - as well as advanced graphics. While we fully believe our vision for Wolfpack is achievable, we are working with a small team and have to take that into account.
Our aim is to release the final game as fast as possible, but we do not want to compromise on quality - thus, the game will be done when it is done.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version of Wolfpack will feature a campaign with missions based on iconic events during the different stages of german U-boat warfare between 1939 and 1945 such as the infiltration of Scapa Flow. The level of difficulty will increase successively throughout the war, with additional and improved enemy ships, aircraft and anti-U-boat tactics. The missions will be set in various seasons and locations with suitable weather conditions.

The full version of the game will also introduce tech level updates for the player, such as radar and improved weaponry.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current version of Wolfpack features a player-controlled type VII C U-boat and offers a unique, hands on take on U-boat simulation. The complex systems are operated manually in first person in order to create a genuine and immersive experience.

The players encounter large randomized convoys of merchants escorted by destroyers, sloops, and corvettes. Their objective is to intercept and sink enemy ships by launching torpedoes or by using the 88mm deck gun and escape undetected. Cooperative gameplay with several crews controlling different U-boats is already available.

All stations and instruments in the U-boat are modeled after original pictures and sources, and kept as realistic as possible without compromising usability. The players may control depth and speed using the dive planes. Use the hydrophone to examine and filter exterior sound in order to locate enemy ships. Send encrypted radio messages using the radio and enigma machine. Determine the distance, speed and angle of ships while configuring the TDC manually and pursue manual navigation using intricate map tools.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Wolfpack will be priced the same during and after the Early Access period.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“Since Wolfpack has been a community based project from the start, we intend to keep it that way and increase the community involvement even more during the Early Access period. We already have a small but dedicated group of people contributing with research and ideas, but we believe that the interest will grow even more when the game gets available on Early Access, and a bigger crowd gets to experience the game for themselves.

Our close ties with Subsim.com, where we have our own sub-forum have made us accustomed to discussing ideas and concepts with the community, and we have had great experiences with forum threads and Q&A sessions discussing all sorts of aspects of the game. We are of course planning on incorporating the Steam Community Hub in the process, communicating with the players through discussions, answering questions and posting news and updates regularly.

Wolfpack is not only a community based project, but also also a Co-Op game where the core feature is playing with other people. This pushes the need for an active community even further, and we strive to encourage people to form new U-boat crews, be part of the discussion and sharing their thoughts and opinions both with us and with fellow players.”