Quantum Break

Overview

Quantum Break is a sci-fi supernatural thriller third-person shooter developed by Remedy and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox One and PC on April 5, 2016.

Considered a spiritual successor to both Max Payne and Alan Wake series, Quantum Break features a long-winded story and gameplay elements that both involve time manipulation. The game's main protagonist, Jack Joyce, uses a variety of time-manipulation abilities, including some that resembles Max Payne's "bullet time" system.

The game's story is set in the fictional American town of Riverport and involves a time travel experiment, demonstrated by Monarch Solutions mastermind Paul Serene, that failed catastrophically, causing a compounding time anomaly known as the "Fracture". The main protagonist is Jack Joyce, Paul's best friend who was caught in the blast and received "chronon" radiation that granted him and Paul their superpowers. Jack must now find a way to fix the Fracture while being hunted by Paul and his Monarch forces.

One of the key features of the game is its integrated live-action television series, which includes four 30-minute "episodes" interleaved between the game's five "acts". Focused on certain side-characters from the antagonist forces, these episodes can be manipulated both by actions performed in-game and by pre-episode "junctions" (where players control Paul in-game and are given a single narrative-changing choice after using premonition to view the consequences).

Gameplay

Both Jack Joyce and Beth Wilder will be playable character in the game each with their own time manipulation powers. Remedy's creative director Sami Järvi (Sam Lake) stated that this will be a third person action shooter, in line with Remedy's past AAA game like Max Payne and Alan Wake. Though the game will be heavily influenced by Max Payne's gun play and not Alan Wake's. Unlike their past game, Quantum Break features a dynamic cover system and various time manipulation powers.

Jack Joyce

Jack has the ability to time rush, this gives him the ability to move at hyperspeed and evade or get up close and melee enemies. He will be able to stop time in a small area and shoot bullets into the frozen area, when time resumes in this small pocket it delivers one giant blow to an enemy. He can active a time shield that shields him from oncoming bullets during battle. During a stutter in time, Jack can traverse through the frozen state. During these stutters in time, he will have to navigate platforms that are stuck in a stutter in time, a falling bridge falling apart for example, and use his powers to freeze the said objects and navigate quickly though them.

Cover System

The game features a dynamic cover system, a first for a Remedy game. It is full automatic, this meaning that player input is not required. When a player is standing near a valid object, Jack will automatically go into cover.

Development

Quantum Break was initially unveiled at Microsoft’s May 21, 2013 Xbox One reveal event. The initial reveal trailer showed off a bit of the live action show with a few cuts of the game. An in-engine trailer was later shown off at E3 2013, with an extended demo shown behind closed doors. A 2015 release window was given to the game on May 29, 2014 with the first ever gameplay to be shown at Gamescom 2014. At Gamescom 2014, Remedy gave an 8 minute long demo of the game, an extended version of the demo was later released. The game was officially delayed to 2016 on April 2, 2015, the reason given was to deliver a more polished product.

At Gamescom 2015, Remedy revealed the release date of the game along with a newly recast protagonist, played by Shawn Ashmore. The original model for Jack Joyce, Sean Durrie, is still in the game as a different character.

Miscellaneous Information

• Remedy CEO Matias Myllyrinne has stated Quantum Break as "the biggest entertainment undertaking" in Finnish history.
• Hollywood actors Dominic Monaghan (IMDB) and Shawn Ashmore (IMDB) are part of the game's cast, revealed on November 21, 2014 via Remedy's twitter.
• Remedy has created a brand new engine to power Quantum Break called the "Northlight Engine".
• Quantum Break uses Digital Molecular Matter, technology found in games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This allows Remedy to create action set pieces where everything is crumbling and breaking apart.
• Remedy beefed up the 55 person team that worked on Alan Wake to 100+ employees that will work on Quantum Break.
• The first thing Remedy does after hiring actors is send them to the dentist to get dental molds, then digitize and implant them into their digital count parts.
• Remedy enlisted a ex-CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) scientist and university teacher to teach them about quantum and classical physics, helping them mold this time travel mystery plot.
• Unlike Alan Wake, Microsoft has full ownership of the Quantum Break Intellectual Property.
• Remedy has vastly improved their facial capture technology partnering with Dimensional Imaging.

Links

• Official Website