The genesis of Fragpunk sprang from a situation many of us find all too familiar—a cracked phone screen. Yet, beyond this frustrating encounter, the swirling spectrum of neon illuminating a damaged screen perfectly encapsulated the rebellious yet dystopian vibe that Fragpunk sought to evoke. It’s a metaphor that digs deeper, reflecting how this single device entangles with our everyday lives, projecting a fragmented world with countless disparate, yet oddly parallel, perspectives.
In Fragpunk, you step into the Shardverse—a universe fractured by an enigmatic substance known as Glunite. This element bestowed extraordinary powers upon ordinary folks from alternate realities, but left them dependent on it for survival. Now called Lancers, these individuals take on mercenary roles, duking it out across various Shards for any Glunite they can scavenge. After each match, players receive Shard Cards, allowing Lancers to manipulate their environment, either aiding their team or hampering foes. These cards introduce quirky surprises, like flipping on a big-head mode for opponents, or they can drastically alter gameplay by opening portals to parallel versions of the map, effectively doubling the battleground.
This multiverse concept in Fragpunk isn’t merely for show; it seamlessly integrates into the gameplay, bringing the elements of visual flair and functional mechanics together. Fu Wenhe, the narrative director at Bad Guitar Studio, boasts about this feature: “Our game stands out because no two rounds are identical. We’ve adhered to our core philosophy: bending rules and defying norms, consistently weaving this through our art, narrative, and gameplay designs. From day one, our mission was to create a game accessible and enjoyable for players around the world. Our inspirations mostly stem from widely consumed global media.”
Interestingly, the game draws its visual inspiration from the Spider-Verse films, blending 2D and 3D elements. But Fragpunk’s ties to the Spider-Verse run deeper than aesthetics. It captures the essence of diverse characters from alternate realities finding harmony within a single world—a balancing act achieved through a narrative-first approach to shaping each character’s role in the game’s universe.
As Li Yiming, the art director, explains, the aim was not to spotlight a sole protagonist but to craft a troupe of characters unified by design principles yet distinct in their traits. “We designed a consistent logic for all characters—appearance, animations, skills, and color scheme—ensuring a uniform art style while allowing individual personalities to shine.”
Characters are important, yet the maps and settings Lancers navigate embody the Shardverse’s essence and the multiplicity of realities in play. Although Fragpunk is rooted as a competitive shooter, the team at Bad Guitar has reimagined traditional map styles through the lens of their distinct narrative elements, embedding each location with its own slice of the world’s lore. According to Fu, the map design team works in tandem with the narrative team, allowing for creative freedom while grounding the environments in the wider game universe.
Once maps are crafted, they circle back to the narrative designers to infuse them with identifiable features and names that aid in gameplay communication. “Our task involves ensuring these names align with Fragpunk’s story while remaining intuitive for players to relay during matches,” adds Huang Jingsi, one of the narrative masterminds.
The advantage of parallel universes isn’t merely narrative in the sprawling and competitive realm of hero shooters and free-to-play games. It becomes a practical tool for introducing fresh characters, maps, and even seasonal content. The Shardverse provides a natural yet compelling backdrop for exploring varied styles and lore-driven narratives without teetering into the haphazard chaos seen in some other live service games.
Fu sums it up: “Our design of the Shardverse suits our punk-themed hero shooter. By crafting an inclusive universe and lore, we’ve allowed room for expansive design and development. Our goal is to create stunning or humor-filled skins. For high-tier skins, we push boundaries, portraying key moments from a character’s story, whether past or future.”
Beyond cosmetic options, Bad Guitar plans to expand Fragpunk’s lore through diverse media, including digital comics and animations, enriching the game’s narrative tapestry. Fu sees storytelling potential across multiple platforms: “Inside the game, story snippets unfold through text and character dialogues. Outside the game, expect comics and animated trailers to weave our lore.”
Before you immerse yourself in Fragpunk, check out our preview and interview with creative director Xin Chang to learn more about its unique gameplay experience. Fragpunk launches on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 6th, with Xbox and PlayStation versions following at a later date.
