The inspiration for Fragpunk emerged from a frustratingly common mishap we’ve probably all experienced: a smashed phone screen.
That cracked display, with its blurred rainbow of colors under the glass, perfectly mirrors the rebellious yet dystopian vibe that Fragpunk strives to present. But there’s more to it than just a visual metaphor. In our tech-driven lives, a shattered screen reflects a fractured world, offering dissimilar yet parallel glimpses of the same reality.
Fragpunk’s story unfolds in the Shardverse, a fragmented universe transformed by an enigmatic substance known as Glunite. This material granted ordinary folks from alternate realities extraordinary powers but bound them to the supernatural mineral for survival. These individuals, now mercenaries known as Lancers, skirmish across various Shards, scavenging Glunite wherever they can.
In each round of Fragpunk, players receive Shard Cards, which Lancers use strategically to either aid their team or hinder adversaries. These cards range from humorous effects like enabling a big head mode for enemies to dramatic shifts such as opening portals to parallel dimensions, effectively doubling the battleground in a single move.
The aspect of the multiverse in Fragpunk isn’t just for visual flair; it has a tangible impact on the gameplay.
Fu Wenhe, the game’s narrative director at Bad Guitar studio, shares, “What sets our experience apart is that no two rounds are ever the same. We’ve achieved this by sticking to our core principle of challenging conventions. This innovation permeates our art, narrative, and gameplay design.”
“Our design ambition from day one was to ensure the game resonated globally, drawing inspiration from mainstream media worldwide,” Fu continues. “Our art style, for example, with its blend of 2D and 3D, draws from the Spider-Verse movies.”
But Fragpunk’s nod to the Spider-Verse extends beyond mere looks. Although characters come from varied alternate worlds, they maintain a harmony with the universe around them, much like the Spider-Verse characters who feels both familiar and distinct.
By taking a narrative-first approach to every character, Fragpunk hopes to forge a world that’s instantly recognizable yet offers a cast that feels both familiar and unique.
Li Yiming, Fragpunk’s art director, explains, “We strive to avoid focusing on a single character. Our design philosophy ensures all characters adhere to consistent logic and style in their appearance, animations, and effects.”
“While our lore was established at the game’s inception, it naturally evolves during development,” Fu adds. “The narrative team crafts the character concepts, while the art team designs unique elements and provides feedback. This collaboration refines which prototypes advance.”
The game’s maps and environments, often the most tangible expressions of the Shardverse, play an equally vital role as the characters. Although Fragpunk is fundamentally a competitive shooter, its map designs, like transport depots and ancient temples, all reflect a distinct narrative within the Shardverse.
“Our mapping process runs parallel to design,” Fu reveals. “[The narrative team] provides a thematic framework, and the designers conceptualize the map, from player routes to strategic sites, within the given backdrop.”
“When the design team completes a map, it returns to us for final touches like callouts and decorations to enhance player navigation,” Huang Jingsi, a narrative designer, elaborates. “We ensure callouts are lore-consistent and intuitive for players to communicate.”
Such detailed mapping is not only clear for players but aligns with the immersive narrative Bad Guitar aims to create.
Within the live service and hero shooter genre, where audiences expect fresh characters, maps, and seasons over several years, Fragpunk’s multiverse setting offers both narrative advantages and practical solutions.
Bad Guitar acknowledges this reality, seeing the Shardverse as a vibrant stage for Fragpunk’s action to unfold, offering a polished medium to explore diverse styles and story arcs without succumbing to the chaotic amalgam seen in other live games.
“When envisioning the Shardverse, we embraced the diversity required for a punk-style shooter,” Fu explains. “Punk art thrives on variety, so we created a welcoming lore and worldview conducive to expansive design and development.”
“For our character skins, we envisioned a tier system where lower tiers have subtle changes, while higher tiers offer transformative experiences reflecting moments in a character’s story,” Li clarifies.
Beyond cosmetic value, Bad Guitar’s ambitions with Fragpunk extend to enriching the game’s lore across various media forms, including digital graphic novels and animations, alongside in-game storytelling.
“We embrace diverse media to explore our game’s lore,” Fu states. “From in-game text and voice lines to comics and animated trailers, we use every medium to weave our story.”
To dive deeper into Fragpunk’s gameplay and experience its unique shooter dynamics, read our preview and insights from Bad Guitar’s creative director, Xin Chang.
Fragpunk will make its debut on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 6th. Unfortunately, the PlayStation and Xbox versions are postponed and will arrive later.
