The online gaming world is always on the lookout for the next big thing. Enter Deadrop, a groundbreaking vertical extraction shooter that promises to deliver the most community-focused online PvP multiplayer experience to date. If you're intrigued, you're not alone. The team behind this ambitious project, Midnight Society, has built the game from scratch using the Unreal Engine 5, ensuring that it will have jaw-dropping visuals and unparalleled performance.

In this article, we'll explore the exciting world of Deadrop, diving deep into its innovative gameplay mechanics and the highly skilled team behind the game. With over 50 AAA developers from some of the largest franchises in the industry (Call of Duty, Halo, Fortnite), this highly anticipated game is already making waves. Spearheaded by industry veterans and none other than Dr Disrespect, the unique "vertical extraction shooter" concept challenges the traditional Battle Royale format by taking the fight to towering skyscrapers instead of sprawling islands.

Get ready to reach new heights as we delve into the captivating world of Deadrop and discover why it's poised to become the next sensation in competitive online gaming.

Value Proposition: A Revolution in Game Development for the Players, by the Players

The Problem: Disconnected Game Development

The gaming industry is plagued by a development process that is driven by publisher milestones, often resulting in unfinished games being rushed to market. Traditional AAA "beta" game builds are essentially release versions, and players have no idea how the game will look and feel until launch day. The highly scripted on-stage demos at events like E3 only add to the illusion. Developers are often beholden to publishers, working long hours to meet deadlines and shipping games riddled with bugs. This flawed system leads to a lack of transparency, a disregard for player feedback, and ultimately, a disconnection between developers and gamers.

The Solution: Midnight Society's Transparent, Community-Driven Approach

Midnight Society's vision is to revolutionize the game development process by prioritizing transparency and collaboration with the gaming community. By breaking free from the constraints of traditional development models, Midnight Society is building Deadrop from the ground up with gamers in mind from "day zero."

This innovative approach involves:

1. Complete transparency: Midnight Society's team of AAA and indie game developers are committed to maintaining open communication with their community throughout the entire development process.

2. No NDAs required: Founders are encouraged to create content based on anything they have access to, fostering a healthy feedback loop and ensuring the game is fine-tuned based on the players' perspectives.

3. A diverse range of voices: The team has selected Founders from various backgrounds, experiences, and professions to create a game that reflects a symphony of voices rather than a single perspective. This inclusive approach ensures that the game caters to a wide audience, providing a richer and more satisfying gaming experience for all.

4. Collaborative decision-making: Midnight Society tests a multitude of ideas and, together with the community, decides what feels right. This partnership results in a game that is truly built for the players and fosters a sense of ownership among the community.

By embracing this transparent, community-driven approach, Midnight Society aims to bridge the gap between developers and gamers, creating a more authentic and enjoyable gaming experience. Deadrop's development process sets a new standard for the industry, showcasing the potential of a game built with the players' best interests at its core.

The Deadrop Development Story: A Community-Driven Journey Without Deadlines

The founding team of Midnight Society boasts extensive experience in the gaming and esports industries. The co-founders include Guy Beahm (Dr. Disrespect), a top gaming influencer with a background in game development and level design for Call of Duty; Quinn Delhoyo, a veteran with 14 years of AAA game development experience, having worked on Halo: Infinite and Gears of War; Sumit Gupta, a successful entrepreneur who has founded multiple businesses in gaming and esports; and Robert Bowling, who has over 15 years of AAA game development experience and has worked as a creative lead for Call of Duty.

The roadmap emphasizes meaningful progress over predetermined deadlines, as the studio operates without a publisher. Every three months, the team releases a Snapshot of Deadrop, which includes a new feature and integrates feedback from the community. Hot fixes may also be pushed in between Snapshots to address issues or feature requests. The development process, which involves the community from Day Zero, is unprecedented in the industry and sets Midnight Society apart from traditional game development studios.

They have released several Snapshot versions of the game, with Snapshot V marking its opening to the public. The Tower Key Pre-Alpha Access grants players entry to Snapshot V and all future Snapshots through the full launch of the game.

Deadrop: A Well-Designed Game with Addictive Gameplay and Unique Mechanics

Graphics and Sound:

Deadrop showcases decent graphics in its early stages, complementing its retro-futuristic design. The game's art style and animation blend well with the overall aesthetic, creating an immersive environment for players.

Gameplay Loop and Replayability:

The gameplay loop in Deadrop is engaging and addictive, keeping players coming back for more. Players start in their hideout, choose their loadout, and are dropped into a random spot on the map. The primary goal is to find loot, engage in combat with other players, and reach one of the extraction points with the acquired loot to upgrade their stash. The looting element adds excitement to the game, as players have something at stake in every match. Players can also enter the game with minimal gear to gather items and fill up their stash.

Mechanics and Balance:

Deadrop's mechanics offer a unique experience, with elements like the Rising Freeze keeping players on their toes as they fight for loot and try to extract before time runs out. The game features a dynamic difficulty system that allows players to drop in either geared up or with minimal equipment, creating varying levels of challenge. The respawn component adds another layer of strategy, as players have the opportunity to revive up to two times.

Overall, Deadrop demonstrates a well-balanced and engaging game design that keeps players coming back for more.

Exploring Deadrop's Blockchain Elements: NFTs, Meta Economy, and Industry Guilds

Deadrop's Founder's Access Passes are distributed as NFTs, with a total supply of 10,000. These passes were given to selected individuals based on diverse criteria, ensuring fair distribution among the Day Zero community. The Founder's Access Pass holders receive a one-of-a-kind VisorCortex design as part of their unique Variant and various other benefits, including early access to game builds and exclusive rights to create digital content.

The NFTs in Deadrop play a significant role in the overall user experience. Founder's Access Pass holders not only gain early access to game builds but also receive exclusive rights to create digital content and participate in development round tables. Moreover, they get early access to Industry Guilds, which will be responsible for running the in-universe manufacturing of weapons, mercenaries, and cosmetics. This high level of utility within the game creates a strong demand for the NFTs, potentially increasing their value over time.

In addition to NFTs, Midnight Society is designing a meta economy layer for the game, which will form the core of Industry Pass Holders. The Industry Pass holders, also known as The Eyes, will form guilds and play an essential role in the game's economy. Furthermore, the NFTs are based on the ERC-721 token standard, allowing them to be traded on secondary marketplaces like OpenSea after the initial hold-up period.

Deadrop's Promising User Adoption and Engagement: Leveraging Influencers and Strong Community Support

Deadrop has shown promising adoption and user engagement, leveraging the popularity of its co-founder, Dr. Disrespect, who boasts a significant following of over 4 million subscribers on YouTube and 2.5 million on Twitter. As the face of the game, Dr. Disrespect frequently livestreams the game and participates in public events to promote it further.

The game's official Twitter page, Deadrop, has attracted 40,000 subscribers, while the game studio's Twitter page, Midnight Society, has amassed 176,000 followers. These numbers indicate a strong community following and interest in the project.

Furthermore, Midnight Society's Discord server is bustling with activity, as gamers eagerly try out the public release of Snapshot V. The active user engagement on their Discord showcases the community's enthusiasm and support for the game, which is a positive sign for its future adoption and growth.

Conclusion: A Community-Driven Game Revolutionizing the Gaming Industry

Deadrop is poised to disrupt the competitive online gaming scene with its innovative vertical extraction shooter concept, collaborative development process, and strong community support. Midnight Society's experienced team of industry veterans and their commitment to transparency and community-driven development set the stage for a game that truly caters to the players' needs and desires. With a well-designed game that offers engaging gameplay, unique mechanics, and an exciting meta economy, Deadrop has captured the attention of gamers and influencers alike.

Leveraging blockchain technology and NFTs, Deadrop aims to create a dynamic in-game economy and unique user experiences, adding a new layer of depth to the gaming world. By challenging traditional game development models and embracing a more inclusive and cooperative approach, Midnight Society is setting a new standard for the industry and showcasing the potential of a truly player-centric game.

As the Deadrop community continues to grow and Snapshot releases progress, the future looks bright for this ambitious project.

Me and my team at Gameonomics will certainly keep an eye on this project, so follow us if you want to stay up to date with key developments and summaries: