Defect: Where Doom's Fury Meets Dredd's Grit - A Gaming Revolution by EMPTY VESSEL STUDIO

In what looks set to be one of the biggest experiments in video games design this year, two former giants of the industry have created the studio behind a game that could transform squad-based shooters – not by adding health-bar stats for each enemy or any of the other whizz-bangery we’ve come to expect from such games, but by harnessing the intensity of Doom and the desolation of Judge Dredd, mixed with the gameplay sounds of Mick Gordon. Pull apart that sentence and unpack the different strands that make up Defect.

The Genesis of an Epic: Introducing "Defect" by EMPTY VESSEL STUDIO

Videogame designer Empty Vessel might be a new face in the industry, but its staff reads like a jukebox of industry veterans, each of whom lists as a past credit smash title after smash title. Its latest product, a game called ‘Defect’, is aimed at bottling together the chaotic mayhem of Doom and the grim, Dredd-esque authoritarianism of Judge Dredd. At its core, ‘Defect’ is an online squad-based shooter that places gamers at the forefront of the rebellion, leading a group of elite operatives against the powers that be and their army of robotic law-enforcement goons.

A Canvas of Neon and Night: The Visual Majesty of "Defect"

In Defect, a world fierce in its beauty is lain down across clouds of rust and fizzing neon. It’s cyberpunk brought to life, and so very much the truth of dystopian fiction: though ravaged by fading humanity, these environments spring from the very real beauty of industrial decay. Defect’s worlds are produced with a master artist’s eye for style, and are as lush and arresting as they are oppressive. These worlds are rich with narrative potential, and great things are promised to those prepared to delve deep.

Sonic Warfare: Mick Gordon's Auditory Alchemy in "Defect"

Perhaps the most exciting announcement, though, is the name of the composer: Mick Gordon, whose music has defined the aural moods of Doom and Wolfenstein. His distinctive fusion of industrial and electronic sound should only charge ‘Defect’s’ energy with more electricity, and because of his past history of musically integrating sound with gameplay, I’m fairly certain that every single mission, every single firefight and every single area of exploration in ‘Defect’ will pulse with an energetic beat.

Into The Fray: Gameplay Mechanics and Combat in "Defect"

At its core, ‘Defect’ is a high-octane, fast-paced game, in which players need to fight their way out of dangerous arenas and, of course, a whole lot of robots. The trailer promises an impressive arsenal of weapons and abilities, with all of it ready to be deployed in ways that will destroy your enemies and leave them in pieces. And not just the robots; bosses, too, frequent this dark dystopia, and you will need to outsmart, adapt and overcome them to escape.

Building Your Squad: Strategy and Customization in "Defect"

The deep character customisation and team tactics of Defect raise the stakes on the squad-based shooter genre. Sure, you’ll get to choose what weapons you’ll carry into battle. But it’s beyond that – by also choosing what agents you bring along, each equipped with unique skills and weaponry, you’ll also be able to create a final division of specialised soldiers with myriad combinations, so that no two missions play alike and no two challenges can be overcome in the exact same way. You may find yourself fighting for the world you want to live in – but you’ll get to decide exactly how you’re going to accomplish it, defeating the criminally corrupt government and its unstoppable enforcers along the way.

"Defect": A Title Shrouded in Anticipation

While ‘Defect’ remains shrouded in the psychodrama of development, the gleam of its promise has drawn a cult following. The manic brutality of gameplay Doom meets Judge Dredd’s post-apocalypse pessimism under the game direction of EMPTY VESSEL STUDIO. Set for release later in the year, ‘Defect’ is already shaping up to be 2017’s most subversive game.

Storming the Future: What Lies Ahead for "Defect"

We all stare at ‘Defect’ as it slowly achieves form in the course of its development cycle, hungry for new glimpses of its shape and behaviour. Each teaser, each announcement, is a lighthouse, drawing people into EMPTY VESSEL STUDIO’s orbit as they try to see the heart of their vision a little more clearly. With a small team of developers who have worked on some of the finest video games of the past two decades as well as the top scoring talent in the industry, ‘Defect’ will prove what a game is capable of when all of its pieces fit together.

Understanding the Studio Behind "Defect"

In short, Empty Vessel Studio represents game-industry innovation at its finest: a studio founded by game veterans with a passion for breaking new ground and creating a ‘smash hit’ game. ‘Defect’ may not be a smash hit yet, but it clearly is a game that breaks new ground in multiple ways. Take EMPTY VESSEL STUDIO at its word, and ‘Defect’ truly represents the start of the next revolution in the world of gaming.