Torchlight: Infinite

Last updated
Torchlight: Infinite
Developer(s) XD Inc.
Publisher(s) XD Inc.
Series Torchlight
Engine Unreal Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseOpen beta
October 12, 2022
Global
May 9, 2023
Genre(s) Hack and slash, action role-playing
Mode(s) 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.

Contents

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. [1] [2]

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. [3]

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 ]

Customization

Cosmetics are acquired by completing in-game quests or with real money via the in-game gacha system. [4]

Seasons

SeasonPeriodDescription
Season 1 "Dark Surge"October 2022 – January 2023Announced concurrently with the open beta phase. [5]
Season 2 "Blacksail"January 2023 – May 2023Brings new map updates, enemies, and items. [6]
Season 3 "Cube of Rapacity"May 2023 – September 2023Concurrent with the global release and end of open beta. [7]
Season 4 "City of Aeterna"September 2023 – presentMonument 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. [8]

David Brevik, known primarily for his role in creating the Diablo series, is a consulting producer on the Torchlight: Infinite team. [9] Brevik, a self-described "big Torchlight fan", is involved with media and community outreach in the project. [10]

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. [11]

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. [12] The developers also concerned themselves with what similar games, such as Diablo Immortal, had found success with. [13]

Release

Torchlight: Infinite entered its first phase of closed beta on January 18, 2022, exclusively on mobile platforms. [14] 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. [15] [16]

The open beta phase began on October 12, 2022, concurrently with the beginning of the first in-game season. [17] [18]

In April 2023, Torchlight: Infinite was announced to be coming out of early access/open beta on May 9, 2023. [19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
GamezeboStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
Multiplayer.it7/10

The game was received with mixed reviews by critics. [20] It has drawn varying comparisons with similar mobile games, especially Diablo Immortal and Path of Exile. [21] One Torchlight fan and critic was unimpressed at launch, saying "Torchlight Infinite is not Torchlight." [22] Similar concessions were made even in more positive reviews, which focused on Torchlight Infinite's successful mechanics rather than franchise consistency. [23] [24]

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. [25] [26]

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References

  1. ↑ Leroux, Faith (2022-04-23). "Torchlight: Infinite beginner's guide — Getting started in the era of Ember Technology". Android Police. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. ↑ Garcia, Garrett Harley (2022-10-23). "Torchlight: Infinite - 6 Beginner Tips". TheGamer. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ↑ Wheeler, C. J. (2022-07-26). "Torchlight Infinite's open beta is heading to PC in October". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  4. ↑ Orr, Ed (2022-09-06). "Money, Power and the Gacha Grind in Torchlight Infinite". www.gamespace.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  5. ↑ Torchlight: Infinite [@torchlight_xd] (September 19, 2022). "Closed Beta has ended, but your adventures in Leptis have only just begun!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Orr, Ed (2023-01-11). "Torchlight Infinite Season 2 Begins Tomorrow With Blacksail". www.gamespace.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  7. ↑ Torchlight: Infinite [@torchlight_xd] (May 9, 2023). "The adventure begins on May 9th at 5pm PDT!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ Gonzalez, Christina (2023-03-03). "Torchlight: Infinite Devs Respond to Blacksail Season Issues and How They Plan to Improve". MMORPG.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  9. ↑ Cook, Paige (2022-09-23). "Diablo veteran David Brevik joins the Torchlight: Infinite team". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  10. ↑ Huang, Zheping (2022-11-04). "Diablo's Creator Explains Why He's Working for a Chinese Rival". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  11. ↑ Bergin, Lauren (2 November 2022). "Torchlight Infinite isn't about 'something new', it's about perfection". PCGamesN. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  12. ↑ Gregson-Wood, Stephen (2022-08-16). "Interview: Liu Heng, Producer on Torchlight: Infinite, discusses the team's approach to monetisation". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  13. ↑ Koch, Cameron (2022-07-26). "How Torchlight Infinite Looks To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Diablo Immortal". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  14. ↑ "Upcoming ARPG Torchlight: Infinite Enters Closed Beta". IGN. 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  15. ↑ Smith, Graham (2022-07-07). "Torchlight Infinite's PC version will be detailed later this month". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  16. ↑ Gutierrez, Luis Joshua (2022-08-31). "Torchlight: Infinite Closed Beta Begins September 5". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  17. ↑ Kit (2022-09-20). "Torchlight: Infinite Open Beta date announced, creator of Diablo joins their team". GamerBraves. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  18. ↑ Phillips, Tom (2022-09-05). "Torchlight: Infinite reimagines the series as a free-to-pay game for PC and mobiles". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  19. ↑ Blake, Vikki (23 April 2023). "Torchlight: Infinite is coming out of early access and has an official launch date". GamesRadar. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Torchlight: Infinite". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  21. ↑ "Torchlight Infinite vs Path of Exile: Comparing the two looter shooter titles". GamingonPhone. 2023-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  22. ↑ Fox, Glen (2022-10-13). "Torchlight Infinite Review - Look How They Keep Massacring My Boy". Gamezebo. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  23. ↑ Melani, Giorgio (2022-10-22). "Torchlight: Infinite, la recensione dell'action RPG mobile rivale di Diablo Immortal". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  24. ↑ Penzhorn, Sascha (2022-10-21). "Torchlight Infinite habe ich im Test zuerst gehasst, dann machte es Klick". GameStar (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  25. ↑ White, Lewis (2022-10-18). "New Torchlight Infinite class is locked behind a £12.99 season pass". Droid Gamers. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  26. ↑ White, Lewis (2022-09-06). "Torchlight: Infinite pay-to-win features uncovered before launch". Droid Gamers. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
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