The inception of Fragpunk springs from an experience many can relate to: the dreaded cracked phone screen. This seemingly mundane mishap, however, touches on something deeper. That shattered glass isn’t merely a frustration; it stands as a symbol of a fragmented world—one where what appears whole is often fractured beneath the surface. The rainbow streaks of light scattering over the screen capture both the rebellious and dystopian vibe that Fragpunk embodies.
Set in the Shardverse, Fragpunk’s narrative unfolds in a universe fractured by a mysterious substance known as Glunite. This element grants ordinary folks extraordinary powers, anchoring them to its supernatural allure. These individuals, known as Lancers, operate as mercenaries, battling across different Shards for their share of Glunite.
Adding a twist to the typical shooter formula, players draw Shard Cards between rounds. Lancers use these cards to manipulate their surroundings to gain an edge. Whether it’s a humorous effect like giving the enemy team oversized heads or a thrilling mechanic like ripping open a portal to a parallel map, Fragpunk brings a multiverse to life visually and functionally in gameplay.
“There’s a unique charm in how every round feels unlike the last,” remarks Fu Wenhe, Fragpunk’s narrative director at Bad Guitar studio. “Our mission has always been to defy norms and bend the rules, visible in our art, narrative, and gameplay designs.” This global accessibility in design, inspired by mainstream media such as the Spider-Verse, speaks to their ambition for universal appeal.
Fragpunk draws more than visual inspiration from the Spider-Verse. It seeks to replicate how diverse characters from various universes can feel coherent within a shared world. Achieving this balance, where characters seem both familiar and fresh, is a challenge the developers meet with a narrative-first approach.
Art Director Li Yiming emphasizes, “We ensure that every character reflects unified design principles, covering everything from style and color to skill effects.” This collective equilibrium allows individual traits to shine without breaking the cohesive art style.
The game’s expansive lore has been an ongoing project from the start. While the narrative team builds the foundation, the art team offers diverse designs and influences, leading to collaborative decision-making on character prototypes and their universe.
Beyond characters, Fragpunk’s maps and environments are dynamic showcases of the Shardverse concept. At its core, Fragpunk is a competitive shooter, but its maps draw from traditional archetypes, such as intricate transport depots and temple ruins. The narrative team sets the thematic backdrop, while the map designers craft the functional play areas within this framework.
Narrative designer Huang Jingsi shares, “While the narrative holds the setting, we ensure players can easily identify and communicate different map locations through clear callouts.” The emphasis on integrating lore with playability is paramount.
Beyond aesthetic enjoyment, the parallel universe narrative serves practical purposes too. There’s a strategic layer in how new themes, maps, and characters can emerge naturally over time without feeling contrived or disconnected.
Fu further adds, “Our Shardverse enables us to explore various styles and elements within our punk aesthetic, offering vast design possibilities.” Skins illustrate this diversity, ranging from simple color changes to elaborately storytelling moments of a character’s past or future.
Not merely content with cosmetic storytelling, Bad Guitar aims to deepen Fragpunk’s lore through multiple media forms—be it animated trailers, digital comics, or in-game narratives. “We’re exploring every medium to enrich our storytelling,” Fu asserts, highlighting efforts to fuse textual, visual, and auditory elements into a compelling narrative experience.
For those eager for more insights into Fragpunk’s gameplay experience that feels like every shooter merged into one, don’t miss our detailed preview and interview with Bad Guitar’s creative director, Xin Chang.
Fans can look forward to Fragpunk’s PC release on Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 6th, with console versions for PlayStation and Xbox delayed to arrive later.
