There is something immediately familiar about EMPULSE. A fast-paced shooter built around wallrunning, grappling hooks, vertical maps and the sudden arrival of a hulking mech in the middle of a firefight? It is hard not to get a few Titanfall vibes.
Now, players can find out whether 1047 Games can make that high-mobility formula its own, as EMPULSE launches through Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access. It is available now for £16.74 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, complete with Xbox Play Anywhere support.
Just do not mistake this for a finished product – EMPULSE is very much a work in progress, with the developers making clear that systems, content and the overall experience may change during development.
At A Glance
- EMPULSE is now available in Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access
- Costs £16.74 on Xbox Series X|S and PC
- Features fast-paced 6v6 movement shooter action
- Includes Xbox Play Anywhere support
- Not available through Game Pass
Movement Is The Main Weapon
EMPULSE drops players into Freehold, a post-utopian city where every street, rooftop and wall is designed to become part of the fight.
The core of the game is movement. Players can wallrun in either direction, use a grapple hook to swing through the map, launch themselves from Holojumps and use P.A.I.N.T. bombs to alter surfaces for tactical advantage. The aim is to keep moving, maintain momentum and find routes that allow you to outmanoeuvre opponents before they can pin you down. It is the kind of shooter where standing still is likely to be the quickest route back to the respawn screen.
Freehold’s different districts are built around verticality and traversal opportunities, encouraging players to experiment with routes and chain abilities together as they chase that all-important flowstate.
Claim A Mech And Change The Match
EMPULSE is not just about the pilots.
Player-controllable mechs will spawn around the map during matches, giving teams the chance to seize control of heavy weaponry, unique abilities and a huge health pool. Getting hold of one should offer a serious advantage, but it will also paint a sizeable target on the pilot’s back.
If the opposing team claims a mech first, the focus quickly shifts. Players will need to work together, bring it down and try to swing the momentum of the match back in their favour.
That push and pull between fast-moving infantry combat and larger mech encounters could give EMPULSE its own identity, even if its movement systems will inevitably draw comparisons with Respawn’s classic shooter series.
Early Access Means Expectations Should Be Set
EMPULSE is launching as an unfinished game, rather than a full release.
That means players jumping in through Xbox Game Preview or Steam Early Access should expect the experience to evolve over time. Features may change, new content may arrive and the final version could look quite different from what is available today.
For those happy to get involved early, the £16.74 asking price provides access on both Xbox Series X|S and PC through Xbox Play Anywhere, via the Xbox Store. Buy it once through the Xbox ecosystem and you will be able to play across console and PC, with your progress and achievements following you between platforms.
EMPULSE is also available through Steam Early Access for PC players.
A New Shooter Looking To Find Its Flow
1047 Games has previously made a name for itself in the competitive shooter space with Splitgate, and EMPULSE looks to be taking a more movement-heavy route with its next project.
Whether it can build a community around its 6v6 action remains to be seen, especially while it is still in development. But for players who miss the speed, verticality and mech-fuelled mayhem of Titanfall, EMPULSE could be worth keeping an eye on.
EMPULSE is available now through Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Steam Early Access also live. It costs £16.74 and is not included with Game Pass.
