As expected, Battlerite Royale will be taking Battlerite's skillshot-based gameplay away from the cramped arenas and into the wide open world filled with unique abilities to acquire, players to ambush, and naturally, loot to steal. Originally Battlerite Royale was going to be a game mode within Battlerite itself, but according to a recent update its scope has expanded so much it's now going to be its very own (and paid) game.

So if you're a fan of Battlerite and you're intrigued by the concept, you might be interested to hear that Battlerite Royale will be heading to Steam Early Access this September 26th at a €20/$20 price tag. Here's a brief teaser trailer showing off what to expect:

While I have no doubts that the gameplay will be highly enjoyable given how solid its foundation are, I am slightly worried about the price tag Stunlock Studios have chosen for Battlerite Royale. It's not that I consider $20 to be too high of an asking price, but rather that it's a pretty sizable barrier for new players in a genre that lives and dies by its player count. I can only hope this will change by the time Battlerite Royale is ready to leave Early Access because in a world where Fortnite is available on everything short of a fridge, an indie game needs every advantage it can get.

If you would like to learn more about Battlerite Royale, as well as sign up for the upcoming beta, you should head on over to the official website. Good luck with your invite!