Gearbox Announces 'Battleborn:' 'Hero Shooter' Combines FPS and MOBA-like Gameplay

Gearbox Software announced its next big game title: Battleborn, and it will feature what they are calling an "ambitious fusion of [game] genres" which aims to incorporate elements of traditional first-person shooters with cooperative elements of a MOBA title.

While some critics are comparing this sort of hybrid-genre game to the Borderlands titles, however, 2K Games is claiming Battleborn is different than anything we've ever seen.

PC Gamer detailed a press release from Gearbox President, Randy Pitchford, in which he described the game as a "hero-shooter," and a "genre-fused hobby-grade, co-operative and competitive FPS." Wow. That's a lot of hyphens. 

According to GameInformer, Battleborn should be a combination of "minion smashing and fast leveling" often found in MOBAs and "injects it into an intergalactic first-person battle arena."

The action is reported to center around the "Battleborn heroes," including a samurai, and a "minigun-wielding giant" who will battle against each other in various settings throughout their rendered universe, all while "robotic NPC minions" fight in the background.

PC Gamer reports that every match will feature "up to 20 experience levels" that allow you to unlock different abilities that facilitate different styles of play. All of which does sound MOBA-esque, which is probably what prompted Game Informer to compare elements of Battleborn to League of Legends and Dota 2. 

2K was quick to clarify in a statement to VentureBeat, however, and says that Battleborn is not a true MOBA: "As the term 'hero-shooter' implies, Battleborn is first and foremost a first-person shooter," though they went on to say it is "heavily inspired by lots of genres," which doesn't clear things up too much. But oh well.

There is an announcement trailer which features all game play, though it doesn't really explain too much about the game itself. Battleborn is pegged for release "prior to the end of Take-Two's 2016 fiscal year" reports PC Gamer. That would mean it should launch sometime before March of 2016.

Until then, you can check out the official website for any updates.