Omega Strikers

{{Infobox video game

| title = Omega Strikers

| image = Omega Strikers Game Cover.jpg

| caption = Promotional art; featuring Juliette, one of many playable characters from the game's roster

| developer = Odyssey Interactive

| publisher = Odyssey Interactive

| director =

| producer =

| designer =

| programmer =

| artist =

| writer =

| composer = {{ubl|James Landino|Garrett Williamson|VGR|Viticz|Mason Lieberman|Ian Tsuchiura|Joshua Taipale|Falk Au Yeong|Funk Fiction|Michael Staple|Koaster}}

| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android{{vgrelease|WW|April 27, 2023}}PlayStation 5{{vgrelease|WW|May 2, 2023}}Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S{{vgrelease|WW|May 5, 2023}} PlayStation 4{{vgrelease|WW|May 19, 2023}}

| genre = Action, sport

| modes = Multiplayer

}}

Omega Strikers is a free-to-play action sport video game by Odyssey Interactive. The game features short, three-on-three online multiplayer matches, in which players compete to score more goals than the opposing team.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Jonathan |title=The Omega Strikers pitch is 'gladiator hockey.' That's just the start. |language=en-US |pages=2022–09–22 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/09/22/omega-strikers-interview/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |issn=0190-8286}} It was released on April 27, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android,{{cite web |last=Colasonno |first=Chase |date=2023-02-08 |title=Omega Strikers Cross-Platform 3v3 Footbrawler Ignites the Competition on Nintendo Switch, PC and Mobile on April 27 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/omega-strikers-cross-platform-3v3-230000536.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |work=Yahoo! Finance |agency=Business Wire}}{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2023-04-05 |title=Omega Strikers adds PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, and Xbox One versions |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/04/omega-strikers-adds-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-and-xbox-one-versions |access-date=2023-04-13 |work=Gematsu}} on May 5 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and on May 19 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.{{cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/OdysseyStudio/status/1651357175267184642|title="Heads up @PlayOmega Strikers: We launch tomorrow on PC, iOS, Android, and Switch! However, the Xbox and PlayStation versions will be delayed due to technical issues. Progress made on other platforms will carry over when Xbox and PS arrive in the coming weeks. It should be fast!"|user=OdysseyStudio|author=Odyseey Interactive|number=1651357175267184642|date=April 26, 2023}}

Gameplay

Matches in Omega Strikers consist of two teams of three players, who fight to score by sending the Core, a large hockey puck, into the opponent's goal. The game is presented from a top-down perspective, with the whole playfield visible at once.{{Cite web |last=Derrick |first=Connor |date=2022-09-18 |title=Omega Strikers, a brand new sports MOBA from ex-Riot Games developers, is launching for mobile in the near future |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/omega-strikers/closed-beta-test/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=PockerGamer |language=en}}

Players can choose from a cast of characters, known as Strikers. Each Striker has a unique set of abilities which can be used to attack enemy players, move the Core, buff allies, debuff enemies, and more.{{Cite web |last=Dojranliev |first=Martin |date=2022-09-18 |title=Omega Strikers: Beginner's Guide |url=https://itemlevel.net/omega-strikers-beginners-guide/ |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Item Level |language=en-US}} When a character takes damage, their stagger bar decreases, and once it reaches 0 it becomes easier for their opponents to knock them back, or even off the field entirely for a short duration. Through interactions like scoring goals, knocking out enemies, making saves, etc., players obtain experience points that can power up strikers throughout the game. There are also various power-ups called "awakenings" that serve as upgrades throughout the game.

Development

Omega Strikers is developed and published by Canada-based Odyssey Interactive, a studio composed of former staff of Riot Games.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=2022-09-16 |title=Omega Strikers is a rare competitive game that doesn't make you feel bad |url=https://www.polygon.com/23355723/omega-strikers-preview-odyssey-interactive-characters-gameplay |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

The game entered a Steam-exclusive closed beta testing phase on 16 September 2022, and transitioned to an open beta shortly after.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-02 |title=When does Omega Strikers release? |url=https://odysseyinteractive.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/8459801004315-When-does-Omega-Strikers-release- |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Omega Strikers Player Support |language=en-US |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929165603/https://odysseyinteractive.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/8459801004315-When-does-Omega-Strikers-release- |url-status=dead }}

On 3 November 2023, Odyssey Interactive announced that, due to high player turnover and an inability to grow the game, content updates for Omega Strikers would be wound down by the end of the year, with development focus shifting to a new game set in the same universe.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Future of Omega Strikers FAQ |url=https://support.odysseyinteractive.gg/hc/en-us/articles/20078372545819 |website=Omega Strikers Player Support}} This was later announced to be a battle royale game titled Byte Breakers.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMz0jxxT2Xw |title=Introducing Byte Breakers {{!}} New Playable Prototype |date=2024-09-11 |last=Odyssey Interactive |access-date=2024-09-26 |via=YouTube}}

Accolades

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" width="auto"

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

style="text-align:center;" | 2024

27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards

| Online Game of the Year

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2024&idGameAwardType=79 |title=2024 Awards Category Details Online Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=16 February 2024}}