Torchlight: Infinite
{{Short description|2022 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| collapsible =
| state =
| italic title =
| title = Torchlight: Infinite
| image = Torchlight Infinite steam header.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer = XD Inc.
| publisher = XD Inc.
| series = Torchlight
| engine = Unreal Engine 4
| platforms = {{plainlist|
}}
| released = Open beta
October 12, 2022
Global
May 9, 2023
| genre = Hack and slash, action role-playing
| modes = Multiplayer
}}
Torchlight: Infinite is an action role-playing game and the fourth game in the Torchlight series. It is developed and published by Chinese company XD Inc. for Android, iOS, and Windows. These versions are all cross-platform.
Gameplay
Torchlight: Infinite is a dungeon crawler where the player controls a character in a high fantasy world, much like previous installments in the Torchlight series. From an isometric, top-down view, the player controls their character to move about the game's world, using hack and slash with a variety of weapons, magic spells, and skills to fight monsters, collect new items and treasure, and sell and buy items to improve their character's abilities. A focus of these various progression systems is to create more customization options for players.{{Cite web |last=Leroux |first=Faith |date=2022-04-23 |title=Torchlight: Infinite beginner's guide — Getting started in the era of Ember Technology |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/torchlight-infinite-beginners-guide/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Android Police |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Garrett Harley |date=2022-10-23 |title=Torchlight: Infinite - 6 Beginner Tips |url=https://www.thegamer.com/torchlight-infinite-beginner-tips/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}
Torchlight: Infinite draws from the lore and high-fantasy setting of previous Torchlight games, especially the more linear approach introduced in Torchlight III. Infinite develops a more apocalyptic world and unifies its dungeon levels with relatively rigid quest lines.{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=C. J. |date=2022-07-26 |title=Torchlight Infinite's open beta is heading to PC in October |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/torchlight-infinites-open-beta-is-heading-to-pc-in-october |access-date=2023-02-28}}
=Characters=
As of season one, there are six player characters available in Torchlight: Infinite. These characters are analogous to a character class selection in many other games. Each of the six characters is associated with one heavily customizable skill tree, although other trees become available after leveling up.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
=Customization=
Cosmetics are acquired by completing in-game quests or with real money via the in-game gacha system.{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Ed |date=2022-09-06 |title=Money, Power and the Gacha Grind in Torchlight Infinite |url=https://www.gamespace.com/all-articles/money-power-and-the-gacha-grind-in-torchlight-infinite/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.gamespace.com}}
=Seasons=
| class="wikitable"
! width=10% | Season ! Period ! width=70% | Description |
| Season 1 "Dark Surge"
| October 2022 – January 2023 | Announced concurrently with the open beta phase.{{Cite tweet |author=Torchlight: Infinite |user=torchlight_xd |number=1571840061980971014 |title=Closed Beta has ended, but your adventures in Leptis have only just begun!}} |
| Season 2 "Blacksail"
| January 2023 – May 2023 | Brings new map updates, enemies, and items.{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Ed |date=2023-01-11 |title=Torchlight Infinite Season 2 Begins Tomorrow With Blacksail |url=https://www.gamespace.com/all-articles/news/torchlight-infinite-season-2-begins-tomorrow-with-blacksail/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.gamespace.com}} |
| Season 3 "Cube of Rapacity"
| May 2023 – September 2023 | Concurrent with the global release and end of open beta.{{Cite tweet |author=Torchlight: Infinite |user=torchlight_xd |number=1655898370379247620 |title=The adventure begins on May 9th at 5pm PDT!}} |
| Season 4 "City of Aeterna"
|September 2023 – present |Monument for Whom It Stands In the interactive Hunter map, Monument of Aeterna allows entry to the edge of the lost city - Ruins of Aeterna. In the Ruins of Aeterna, the Hunter needs to Ignite the candlesticks within an Exclusive time limit to obtain Rewards and acquire a piece of the Mark of the Ruins that records the status of all candlesticks. (from Official Website) |
Development
Torchlight: Infinite was developed with the Unreal Engine 4 game engine, and this has led to some difficulties as much of the development team at XD Games was unfamiliar with the platform prior to work on this title.{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Christina |date=2023-03-03 |title=Torchlight: Infinite Devs Respond to Blacksail Season Issues and How They Plan to Improve |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/torchlight-infinite-devs-respond-to-blacksail-season-issues-and-how-they-plan-to-improve-2000127434 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=MMORPG.com |language=en}}
David Brevik, known primarily for his role in creating the Diablo series, is a consulting producer on the Torchlight: Infinite team.{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Paige |date=2022-09-23 |title=Diablo veteran David Brevik joins the Torchlight: Infinite team |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/job-news/79700/diablo-veteran-david-brevik-joins-the-torchlight-infinite-team/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=pocketgamer.biz}} Brevik, a self-described "big Torchlight fan", is involved with media and community outreach in the project.{{Cite news |last=Huang |first=Zheping |date=2022-11-04 |title=Diablo's Creator Explains Why He's Working for a Chinese Rival |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-04/diablo-s-creator-explains-why-he-s-working-for-a-chinese-rival |access-date=2023-02-28}}
The developers at XD were influenced by the MMORPG genre and sought to bring the best of previous Torchlight games together with the best of other genres.{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Lauren |title=Torchlight Infinite isn't about 'something new', it's about perfection |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/torchlight-infinite/david-brevik-something-new |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=PCGamesN |date=2 November 2022 |language=en}}
Liu Heng, the producer of Torchlight: Infinite, has discussed the developers' focus on monetization. Specifically, they wanted to avoid monetizing the skill or power progression, which could be considered pay to win. Instead, XD Inc. limited microtransactions to a gacha system for cosmetic items such as hero skins.{{Cite web |last=Gregson-Wood |first=Stephen |date=2022-08-16 |title=Interview: Liu Heng, Producer on Torchlight: Infinite, discusses the team's approach to monetisation |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/torchlight-infinite/liu-heng-interview/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}} The developers also concerned themselves with what similar games, such as Diablo Immortal, had found success with.{{Cite web |last=Koch |first=Cameron |date=2022-07-26 |title=How Torchlight Infinite Looks To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Diablo Immortal |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-torchlight-infinite-looks-to-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-diablo-immortal/1100-6505900/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
Release
Torchlight: Infinite entered its first phase of closed beta on January 18, 2022, exclusively on mobile platforms.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-14 |title=Upcoming ARPG Torchlight: Infinite Enters Closed Beta |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/upcoming-arpg-torchlight-infinite-enters-closed-beta |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=IGN |language=en}} The Windows version was announced on July 23, 2022, and was available during the game's final closed beta, which began on September 5, 2022.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=2022-07-07 |title=Torchlight Infinite's PC version will be detailed later this month |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/torchlight-infinites-pc-version-will-be-detailed-later-this-month |access-date=2023-02-28}}{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Luis Joshua |date=2022-08-31 |title=Torchlight: Infinite Closed Beta Begins September 5 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/torchlight-infinite-closed-beta-begins-september-5/1100-6507025/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
The open beta phase began on October 12, 2022, concurrently with the beginning of the first in-game season.{{Cite web |last=Kit |date=2022-09-20 |title=Torchlight: Infinite Open Beta date announced, creator of Diablo joins their team |url=https://www.gamerbraves.com/torchlight-infinite-open-beta-date-announced-creator-of-diablo-joins-their-team/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=GamerBraves |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=2022-09-05 |title=Torchlight: Infinite reimagines the series as a free-to-pay game for PC and mobiles |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/torchlight-infinite-reimagines-the-series-as-a-free-to-play-game-for-pc-and-mobiles |access-date=2023-02-28}}
In April 2023, Torchlight: Infinite was announced to be coming out of early access/open beta on May 9, 2023.{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Vikki |title=Torchlight: Infinite is coming out of early access and has an official launch date |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/torchlight-infinite-is-coming-out-of-early-access-and-has-an-official-launch-date/ |access-date=24 April 2023 |agency=GamesRadar |date=23 April 2023}}
Reception
{{Video game ratings
| rev1 = Gamezebo
| rev1score = {{rating|2|5}}
| rev2 = Multiplayer.it
| rev2score = 7/10
}}
The game was received with mixed reviews by critics.{{Cite web |title=Torchlight: Infinite |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/torchlight-infinite/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Metacritic |language=en}} It has drawn varying comparisons with similar mobile games, especially Diablo Immortal and Path of Exile.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-02-25 |title=Torchlight Infinite vs Path of Exile: Comparing the two looter shooter titles |url=https://gamingonphone.com/news/torchlight-infinite-vs-path-of-exile-comparing-the-two-looter-shooter-titles/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=GamingonPhone |language=en-US}} One Torchlight fan and critic was unimpressed at launch, saying "Torchlight Infinite is not Torchlight."{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Glen |date=2022-10-13 |title=Torchlight Infinite Review - Look How They Keep Massacring My Boy |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/torchlight-infinite-review/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Gamezebo |language=en-GB}} Similar concessions were made even in more positive reviews, which focused on Torchlight Infinite{{'}}s successful mechanics rather than franchise consistency.{{Cite web |last=Melani |first=Giorgio |date=2022-10-22 |title=Torchlight: Infinite, la recensione dell'action RPG mobile rivale di Diablo Immortal |url=https://multiplayer.it/recensioni/torchlight-infinite-recensione.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Multiplayer.it |language=it}}{{Cite news |last=Penzhorn |first=Sascha |date=2022-10-21 |title=Torchlight Infinite habe ich im Test zuerst gehasst, dann machte es Klick |language=de-DE |work=GameStar |url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/torchlight-infinite-im-test,3385890.html |access-date=2023-02-28}}
The developers seemed to make inconsistent comments about in game purchases during development, drawing some attention to whether or not the game was pay to win.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lewis |date=2022-10-18 |title=New Torchlight Infinite class is locked behind a £12.99 season pass |url=https://www.droidgamers.com/news/new-torchlight-infinite-class-locked-season-pass-thea/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Droid Gamers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lewis |date=2022-09-06 |title=Torchlight: Infinite pay-to-win features uncovered before launch |url=https://www.droidgamers.com/uncategorized/torchlight-infinite-pay-to-win-features/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Droid Gamers |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://torchlight.xd.com/ Official website]
{{Torchlight series}}
Category:Video games developed in China
Category:Android (operating system) games
Category:Unreal Engine 4 games