Microsoft demonstrated The Darwin Project with an extended trailer at its E3 2017 conference, detailing the game's Battle Royale-style gameplay, complete with influences from The Running Man and The Hunger Games. What really caught my eye about The Darwin Project is its planned integration with Mixer, which will allow viewers of the game on Microsoft's streaming service to potentially interfere directly with matches they're watching. During my hands-on session, I discovered a game that is already steeped with polish and great mechanics, despite only being in development for around nine months. This is one ID@Xbox game worth keeping your eye on. Here's why.

A dash of Hunger Games and a hint of Running Man The Darwin Project is essentially a third-person competitive action game, taking place in large arenas. For my demo, I found myself deep in a snowy forest wilderness, complete with deer to hunt, trees to cut down, and abandoned shacks to plunder. Best VPN providers 2020: Learn about ExpressVPN, NordVPN & more The Darwin Project takes place in the far north of Canada, in an apocalyptic world where society has broken down. In among the chaos, "The Darwin Project" emerges, aiming to examine the remaining humans' ability to survive the harsh wintry conditions while also serving as a twisted sort of live entertainment for those in charge.

It's every human for themselves in The Darwin Project, as players must fight to be the last man or woman standing in a violent game that both looks and feels incredibly promising. A pile of Darwinism The game's title refers to Charles Darwin, whose work on evolutionary theory changed the way we look at nature forever. The Darwin Project is all about survival of the fittest, but also the most cunning, and the luckiest. I called upon all of these gameplay aspects to win my match at E3 2017. Starting out, you'll essentially have nothing besides an ax, which serves as both a makeshift weapon and an essential wood-cutting tool. The Darwin Project is as much about violence as it is about crafting, and the best players will be the ones who build up their arsenals as fast as possible.

After cutting down a few trees, I was ready to fashion a bow. Feeling like Katniss from The Hunger Games, I began stalking the trees, hunting deer for leather to craft better armor, while listening to the carnage from other players murdering each other echo in the distance. I was impressed with how tight The Darwin Project's controls felt at this early, pre-release stage. I was impressed with how tight The Darwin Project's controls felt at this early, pre-release stage. Considering the game hasn't even completed its first year in development, it's a credit to Scavenger Studio at just how great the game already feels. The Darwin Project's arena is divided up into large hexagons, which over time become inhospitable zones. This is how the game forces players into closer quarters, preventing combatants from simply hiding in the forest and waiting out the whole match.

As the play area became smaller, I discovered a large beacon shining in an abandoned shack. Inside, I found some electronics, which serve as super powerups, giving you a game-changing edge. I used the electronics to unlock Predator-like heat vision, allowing me to detect other players through walls for a brief stint. Amelie Lamarche, cofounder of Scavengers Studio, informed me that balance was on-going for some of these abilities and could change, effectively hinting that this heat vision-style ability had been deemed overpowered. Indeed, I was able to use the heat vision to find and dispatch a wounded player using my bow and arrow while they stood around attempting to craft armor. I also used it to escape a second player who was creeping through the forest.