Trion Worlds, the crew most notable for MMOs Defiance and Trove, have turned their attention to the small scale. Well, comparatively anyway. The studio’s been working on a new free-to-play, team-based, turn-based tactical combat team called Atlas Reactor [official site], an amalgamation of XCOM tactics with Overwatch aesthetic, from the look of it. Check it out for yourself after the jump.

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I defy you to name a recent-ish MMO that hasn’t gone F2P or isn’t at least trending that way. Defy you, I say! If you said Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, well… good job. I feel kind of silly about all those theatrics now. But if you said Defiance, then MWAHAHAHAHA you have fallen for my ruuuuuuuuuuuse>. The only MMO with its own Syfy TV show is going free-to-play in June. That’s… exciting? I don’t actually know, as I haven’t played it save for a demo session on the film set of the TV show (a recreation of St Louis, Missouri in Toronto, Canada because uhhhhhh). Reception seemed pretty tepid when the game first launched, though. I wonder if it’s picked up the pace sense then? Oh well. Scant F2P details below.

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At this rate, Trion Worlds might soon be forced to change its name to Trion Islands, or maybe Trion Small Yet Charming Spanish Getaway Vacation Villa. After the Rift team got hit by a major round of layoffs late last year, Defiance‘s band of trigger finger scratchers has taken a possibly even bigger hit. While the exact number is unconfirmed, many reports place the total at around 100, which is a worrisomely not-small portion of the entire company. For its part, Trion has confirmed the unfortunate turn of events, but it’s been illusive otherwise. The company’s statement is after the break, in addition to a few further details.

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Defiance describes itself as an “online open-world shooter”, but it can’t pull the wool over my eyes – I know it’s really an MMO. Look at it, pretending to be something new and different even while thousands of players sprint around chasing experience points and killing infinite, infinitely respawning monsters. You can’t fool me, Defiance! I defy your description of yourself. I DEFY IT.

Defiance also a tie-in to a new sci-fi serial on the Syphilis channel, but as the trailers suggest it’s a sort of grey pantomime I currently have no intention of watching it. Perhaps an hour* with the game, which as far as I can ascertain is designed to be standalone as well as tie-in, would change my mind? (more…)