Heir to Fallout Has Rough Start, Mixed Beginning for Post-Apocalyptic RPG

Fans of Fallout or the post-apocalyptic genre in general were excited for the arrival of PIONER back in December.

However, now three weeks on from its initial early access release, it seems as though the title – which was claimed to be the ‘heir to Fallout‘ for many – is not living up to the beloved Bethesda franchise.

Developed by GFAGAMES, PIONER is a MMO FPS title offering both PvP and PvE combat in a vast, grim world. With survival hinging on exploration, players will have to manage resources, craft, and scavenge in order to gain the upper hand in an “alternative-reality world where Soviet-era structures lie abandoned on a desolate, post-apocalyptic island.”

Released via early access back on 16 December last year, PIONER was shaping up to be another epic inclusion in the genre thanks to its immersive environments, dedication to realism, and a sprawling map reaching over 50+ square kilometers. With story quests and faction missions to undertake, there is hours of content to be enjoyed in PIONER.

“As an MMO, PIONER emphasizes player-driven storytelling and social interaction, offering both PvE and PvP experiences,” the official Steam synopsis reads.

“Players can engage in story-driven quests or faction missions, where building loyalty with various groups unlocks rewards and additional narrative content.

Combat against other players is intense, with special areas designated for these confrontations within the “Shadowlands.””

Should I Play Pioner?

However, now that players have had time to explore the world of PIONER, it seems as though it may feature more style than substance with the MMO FPS already sitting at a ‘Mixed’ rating on Steam from more than 1,700 reviews.

A lot of the criticism comes down to the condition of the game, with some claiming its far away from what you expect at early access.

“What state is this game even in? Early Access? Nah, this feels more like a pre alpha test build that somehow escaped into the wild,” one negative review reads.

“I played the beta, and anyone who did knew straight away this wasn’t even close to being ready. The amount of bugs is unreal, and not the funny kind, the frustrating, progress breaking kind.”

They also go on to criticise its poor game design choices, forced PvP content, and server issues that make the game barely functional despite being marketed as an MMO.

“Maybe one day it’ll get there. But in its current state, this game shouldn’t have been released at all,” they concluded.

With the majority of negative reviews pointing out the same issues, especially the littering of bugs and glitches, it seems as though PIONER has a long way to go until it reaches Fallout status.