Abyssus is a "brinepunk FPS" (whatever that means) from DoubleMoose Games, The Arcade Crew, and Dotemu. After arriving on Steam last year, it has received a handful of major updates. The latest update, version 1.3, does not seem to be popular with Steam players. On the plus side, Abyssus also just launched on Xbox Series and PlayStation 5, and those players probably won't be attached to a previous update. There is 4-player online co-op with crossplay and plenty of brine in store for them!
Game features
- Visceral, fast-paced FPS action, with top-notch weapon feel and combat responsiveness
- Up to 4-players co-op
- Roguelite meta progression with advancements, rewards, and unlocks
- 70 hand-crafted levels, procedurally sequenced to make every run a new experience
- 9 different weapons customizable with 45 weapon mods
- Over 140 Ancient Forge mods to further empower weapons and skills
- Extensive pre-run and in-run character customization options
- 36 different enemies and 12 bosses that will put your skills to the challenge
- Over 250 Charms and Blessings to craft the perfect build
Version 1.3 update details
- A new God joins the lineup, introducing a host of new blessings for your abilities and weapons
- New blessings are now available for previously existing Gods, too
- A new playable area is now playable, including brand-new enemies and bosses
- New room objectives are available to make sure that no two runs are ever the same
- A revamped and expanded skill tree & streamlined matchmaking and quickplay options
- Crossplay is available across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox
- New sea shanties, the best way to build team camaraderie
Update controversy
This week's Version 1.3 update has received a mixed reception from Steam players. A number of recent Steam reviews complain about nerfs to players and the skill tree. Did the developers fix something that wasn't broken? Having not played the game yet, I can't weigh in with any detail, but it certainly looks like some of the changes might be walked back in the future.
What is brine?
Given that Abyssus is a "brinepunk FPS," it's important that players understand what brine even is. According to Vocabulary.com, brine is "water containing salts." Abysuss takes place underwater maybe, and if so, it's quite possible that the water in the game has a high concentration of salt. We'll try to check it our and report back soon!
Abyssus costs $24.99 on Xbox Series and PlayStation 5, and $22.49 on Steam ($14.99 during the Steam Summer Sale). It's currently included in Xbox Game Pass, so Xbox gamers can easily test the water for tastiness before buying. Physical PlayStation 5 editions are available to preorder on Amazon and directly from Silver Lining Direct.