Legendary Online Game Revived: Making an Unbelievable Comeback 5 Years After Shutdown
Gearbox Publishing surprises fans with an exciting announcement: an exclusive weekend event for a once-defunct online game Prepare to be thrilled as players are invited to revisit the long-lost multiplayer project, making a triumphant return after 5 years of absence Don't miss out on this epic comeback!
Highlights
Gearbox Publishing is bringing back the previously shut-down multiplayer game Gigantic for a temporary weekend event, inviting past players to join.
Due to delays and being overshadowed by the success of Overwatch, the game was ultimately shut down.
The Throwback Event in Gigantic will introduce new features, such as a Rush game mode and revamped progression, which may potentially hint at upcoming plans for monetization.
Gearbox Publishing has announced a temporary return for the previously shut-down multiplayer game, Gigantic. They will be hosting an invite-only throwback event for fans. Gigantic was a free-to-play third-person hero shooter with team-based combat and AI guardians, combining elements of Overwatch and a MOBA. Despite the servers going offline in 2018, Gearbox is giving the game another chance, albeit for only a weekend.
Development for Gigantic started back in 2013, with Motiga as the developer. They received significant funding and support from publisher Perfect World Entertainment in 2014. However, Motiga's ambitious vision for the game ultimately led to its downfall. Gigantic faced numerous delays, allowing Overwatch to beat it to the market and become dominant. Shortly after its full launch, Perfect World shut down Motiga, leaving only a small team to support Gigantic during its last few months online.
To the surprise of many, Gearbox Publishing recently issued an email on Tuesday extending an invitation to previous Gigantic players for a special weekend Throwback Event. Titled "You're Invited to Play Gigantic (Again!)", the email invites recipients to engage in the game on October 5th and 6th, offering a unique opportunity to revisit the dormant project. There is, however, one condition to participate. The Gigantic Throwback Event is exclusively for invited players, who must also consent to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prohibits them from discussing or sharing any information or media related to the event.
The announcement of Gigantic's return is not the only surprising aspect. Gearbox confirms that the Throwback Event will introduce significant new features to the game, including a fast-paced Rush game mode, improved tutorials, progression, customization, and a Fortune Card system that seems to lay the groundwork for future monetization. Essentially, the Gigantic Throwback Event could be seen as Gearbox's way of testing and preparing for the full return of the free-to-play game.
Just to clarify, Perfect World, the publisher of Gigantic, rebranded to Gearbox Publishing in early 2022 after being acquired by Embracer Group in late 2021. It's important to note that Gearbox Software, famous for the Borderlands franchise and its own publishing endeavors, is a separate entity. This is why Gearbox Publishing is able to bring back Gigantic, even if it's only for a limited period.
The announcement of Gigantic's Throwback Event raises several unanswered questions. Why is there a need for an NDA for a one-off weekend? And why put in significant effort to reintroduce Gigantic with new content if it's only for a weekend? These inquiries suggest a potential relaunch for Gigantic. It is possible that the hero shooter will achieve greater success in 2023 compared to its initial release in 2017. Mark your calendars for October 5 and 6, as Gigantic is making a PC-exclusive return for a weekend event.
