Ark hunters,

I have some much heavier news than my usual bluster. I am moving on to another project, and it is with a heavy heart that I leave Defiance. The New Frontier has been my home for four years now, longer than it has been called “Defiance” or even “The New Frontier.” I’ve seen it grow from a bleak post-apocalyptic hell to a world of hope and diversity overcoming the forces of oppression. It has been my most fulfilling project, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

I’m sad in particular to be leaving with Alcatraz and its Expeditions so close to release. Expeditions are something we’ve been developing since before the release of Arktech Revolution. They are, by far, the most engaging content in Defiance, and they are only going to grow better over time. In particular, they will be phenomenal on the shoulders of our new Creative Lead: Carble Cheung.

Carble has been a quiet influence on Defiance since he joined the project near the release of Arkbreaker back in 2013. He lacks my bombast, but his skill and know-how are unparalleled. His work can be seen in many of the best encounters in the game, and he will carry his stellar design sense into every corner of the content for Season 3 and beyond.

Don’t take it from me, however – take it from the man himself. Allow me to say my adieu by introducing Carble Cheung.

Good hunting,

Trick Dempsey

Ark Hunter, Defiance

***

Hi there fellow ark hunters,

My name is Carble Cheung. Some of you may know me via the forums or PMs as “LoCarb” – yup, the guy in the orange hoodie who popped up in the last live stream. Before I continue, though, I’d like to first thank Trick for all of his contributions to the Defiance project – the amount of knowledge and creativity he has shared with the team has been truly inspiring.

Now let’s talk Defiance! I first heard about the project in 2008 while working with the RIFT team – it piqued my interest then and has held it ever since. As with many of you, my imagination ran wild with the possibilities of what Defiance would become. For a few years, though, I could only dream about what I could contribute during my brief encounters with the game and show.

Then in the fall of 2013 I was given the privilege of joining the Defiance team. Since then, we have released 5 DLCs and tons of additional content that keeps improving the game. You’ll find most of my recent contributions in our live Holiday Events – everything from “Hulker Hell” to our current pre-Alcatraz event, “Colony Courtship.”

With the release of our free Alcatraz update, we plan on refreshing the player base (and rewarding you grizzled vets) with challenging new content called Expeditions and a new inventory chase called Cyber Rigs. These are by far the crown jewels of the upper-tier chase you’ve been asking for. With Expeditions, the challenge is real – as are the rewards – and we look forward to their initial release along with the many new Expeditions planned to launch in the near future.

Speaking of the future: “YES!” we are planning for Season 3 and beyond. This includes updates to arkfalls, sieges, Expeditions, and more. Beyond that, a new enemy type is in the works, and we’re discussing ways to spread some love to our PvP players … along with the possibility of a non-instanced roaming Warmaster. It’s a lot to talk about, so stay tuned – I’ll be back with updates as we narrow down more details and specifics!

It’s an exciting age for the Defiance team and our players. I look forward to spending more time with you on the forums, the live stream, and future community events (*hint* next one is in Boston). On behalf of the rest of the team, thank you for being a part of game and welcome to the future of Defiance.

See you there,

Carble “LoCarb” Cheung

Creative Lead, Defiance

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