Battleborn features a TV-style story mode, open beta next month

Two of eight episodes in the beta

New details have been revealed about Battleborn‘s story mode that will take place over eight “TV-style episodes.”

According to the official site, “the game’s Story Mode is structured just like some of our favorite episodic television shows; from Star Trek and X-Files, to cartoon throwbacks like X-Men and Transformers. Collectively, the ‘season’ included with the game has one large over-arching story spanning eight episodes (plus a prologue), and each episode tells a self-contained story about the Battleborn‘s fight to save the last star, Solus.” 

I’m not sure how a story mode can be structured similarly to all those classic shows, but what I do know is when I hear the word “season” when discussing video games, I instantly think of season passes. Battleborn‘s first season pass includes five new “story operations” with the difference between a story episode and a story operation not being made clear, only that they call these side stories. What is the difference between self-contained stories and side stories? My head hurts.

Does anyone else get the feeling that the episodes in the full game might end in a cliffhanger, enticing players to buy the season pass? I hope not. But at least this pass isn’t crazy expensive like some others we have seen lately; it’s selling for a potentially reasonable $19.99.

Playing through the story mode unlocks gear for competitive multiplayer. Whether or not said gear is strictly cosmetic remains to be seen, but if not, it will surely rustle some Jimmies of those who prefer to avoid campaign modes. 

If I sound like I’m overly critical, you should probably know that Battleborn is one of my most anticipated games of the year. I just don’t want 2K or Gearbox to fuck it up. Let’s just hope this one isn’t built from the ground up for DLC like 2K’s last multiplayer-centric game.

Battleborn‘s open beta starts on April 8 for PS4 and April 13 for PC and Xbox One.

Those who participate in the PS4 beta will receive the first DLC pack for free, instant access to the hero Alani upon release, and will be able to play as a penguin in a mech suit named Toby during the beta, while PC and Xbox One players get their feelings hurt and a shorter beta. Progress does not carry over to the full game when it launches May 3, the same day as Blizzard’s Overwatch starts its open beta.