A New Player Experience

The New Player Experience update is now available on PC! This update contains a massive push toward a better starting experience for new players. Everything from character creation, to the tutorial, to default loadouts, to the player's first "real" combat, to quality of life has been revisited.

Character Create

The character create and character selection screens have been completely overhauled. New UI, audio, faction introductions, FX and lighting all combine to enrich a player's introduction to the battlefields of Auraxis.

New Tutorial

When looking at learning curve (or cliff?) of PlanetSide 2, we tried to isolate the lessons that could not only introduce players to the gameplay basics, but also help them understand and reinforce behaviors they'd be engaging in often. Capturing and defending bases, switching classes to adapt to situations, checking the map, and learning how to identify fights were among them. The new tutorial attempts to take all of these lessons and create a walkthrough that feels cohesive, and helps connect the player to the feeling of our game using mock battles and live-fire exercises.

Post-Tutorial

New "faction embassies" can now be found on board the Sanctuary space station. After completing the tutorial, the player lands here first to unlock some equipment, and heads down to the planet's surface where they'll be able to speak to new "Field Commander" NPCs located in the upstairs room of each faction's Warpgate. We use this as a bridge to the game world, and help the player transition to their first major battle. The mission system guides much of this experience, creating short, achievable goals within the sandbox.

New Drop Pod Cosmetics

In the Depot you'll find the new Sky-cutter Drop Pod, complete with new engine FX. Steel Rain has never looked so good.

Read the patch notes for more!

With this update also comes graphical improvements, new accessibility options, metagame changes, quality of life updates, bug fixes, implant revisions, infantry and vehicle balance adjustments, and much more.

The details of this latest update can be found in the full PC patch notes here: https://forums.daybreakgames.com/ps2/index.php?threads/sept-15-2021-a-new-player-experience.257362/#post-3572464

We want to hear what you think! What is your favorite part of this update? Drop us a comment on our forum thread here!