Is FragPunk free to play? 

FragPunk is an upcoming 5v5 hero-based FPS title by NetEase. This game's official release date is yet to be announced but fans can expect a 2025 launch. Alpha tests began on June 27, 2024, and ended today, on July 1, 2024. FragPunk was announced during the Xbox Game Showcase 2024 and has quickly gained traction among fans of similar titles like Valorant and Overwatch 2.

From its trailer, the game looks like a high-octane first-person shooter and fortunately for fans, FragPunk is a free-to-play game. This article will explore the upcoming title.

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FragPunk: An upcoming sci-fi hero shooter

FragPunk promises to change the rules by allowing players to manipulate the game's world. The trailer shows multiple playable characters who can use cards to effectively alter the gameplay.

From growing fields of grass on the map to inflating your opponents' heads for better headshots, it seems like FragPunk will put a spin on the whole idea of characters having abilities. Similar to Riot Games' Valorant, it appears that this game also has characters who have specific abilities that go on a cooldown before they can be redeployed after use.

Like many classic FPS games, this title from NetEase has zones that can be attacked or defended depending on what side you are on. While characters have abilities of their own, they can also use power-up cards received at the end of a round.

These cards create special rules for the round they are used in. For instance, one team can use a card to flip over the terrain and make it upside down. The structures on the map will then remain upside down for the remaining round. It is not yet clear if these cards only transform a part of the map or the whole map. Other card abilities include providing bullets with a health-draining effect or causing a chain reaction of deaths.

FragPunk Boom Broom (Image via Steam)

All of these power-up card uses can be seen in the trailer, which shows a rather fast-paced gameplay where activating cards can become game-changing. The game also seemingly makes use of several different kinds of weapons. The trailer showcases SMGs, handguns, assault rifles as well as sniper rifles. In terms of the shooting style portrayed in the clip, it looks a little similar to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.

Furthermore, the movement in the game seems more akin to games like Overwatch 2. Players can be seen jumping while shooting and still hitting targets all the same. Perhaps the game will have a high skill ceiling for regular players of popular FPS titles such as CS2 and Valorant since movement in these games is completely different.

Regardless, FragPunk looks like a colorful feast of an FPS title. You can now wishlist the game from the game's official Steam page.