The new Assault mode for Planetside 2 is going to require different playstyles for both attackers and defenders, according to the developers’ final missive of 2024, in which they introduce the new content coming next year.
Unlike most maps, Assault mode will ensure that defenders can’t take back objectives once attackers have claimed them; every victory won on the offensive remains in place. But there’s a major advantage for defenders, too, because attackers only get a limited number of respawns in the hopes of taking an objective. In other words, every kill, every advance, and every point you take will matter more than normal.
“The Assault Facility introduces a step-by-step capture system where attackers must seize control points in a specific sequence to win. Unlike traditional battles, defenders cannot recapture lost points—each victory pushes attackers closer to taking the facility. However, attackers must act strategically, as their resources (called “tickets”) are limited and deplete with every respawn. Attackers win by capturing all points in the sequence, while defenders win by draining the attackers’ tickets before they can reach the final point. The facility design encourages intense, tactical gameplay that evolves as the battle progresses.”
The first map used for the mode features three points to capture that will challenge players to take each objective over time, and each map requires tactical gameplay and careful deployment by both sides to win.
“In the future, this facility will pave the way for Archaeotech, a mysterious new element in the lore of Auraxis, discovered at the Assault Facility,” Daybreak/Toadman writes. “This is where the victors of the Assault Facility will be able to summon the long awaited Stryder.”
Check out the full preview if you’re eager to put your tactical acumen to the test when the full gameplay mode rolls out onto the test server. And there’s even the promise of this leading to more gameplay developments moving forward if it tickles your fancy.
