3v3v3 Shooter Nine To Five Explains Game Flow And Weapon Customization In Latest Dev Update

I've been curious about Redhill Games' Nine To Five for some time now, despite being a little in the dark about exactly how it plays, with its 3v3v3 multi-round format. I think Redhill might also be having a bit of trouble getting its message across, which is why today's dev update explains the system in detail while also announcing content that will be new in future tests.

Nine To Five is built around the concept of "game flows." In each stage of a round, the three teams will have an objective, such as determining the location of an item by hacking computer terminals. In the second round, it will be up to the team that figured out that location to find the item, while the other two teams try to get it for themselves. And then, in the final round, one team tries to extract with the item while the other two try to stop them.

The maps for each game flow are big enough that Redhill can mix up the locations of key objectives, so each match won't feel to same-y, and the dev blog mentions the addition of a new flow, Blockchain Bounty, to the rotation. It follows the format set out in the last paragraph; teams compete to find a cutter tool, which is then used to hack a safe, and then the race is on to extract from the location with the booty inside.

Weapon customization is also on its way to the game, so you can change the capabilities of your weapon without having to swap it out completely. Attachments can also change the appearance of your weapon, as well as its capabilities, like sound or flash suppression. Blueprint codes offer additional customization options, letting your tweak your weapon further.

Other aspects of the game that are under the microscope include movement, which is supposed to feel "weighty but fluid," as well as the general feel of firing and reloading weapons, in terms of both visuals and audio. The blog closed by talking about the new tutorial area that's in development.

All in all, the dev team said that things are coming along well enough that it's "focusing more on polishing instead of doing substantial changes to the core gameplay." There's still no launch date announced, or even an open beta, but there's plenty to look forward to the next time Redhill offers a limited-time test.