First launching for PC in 2019, Novarama’s twin stick shooter Killsquad has attracted its fair share of fans on the platform over the years, even if it hasn’t set the world on fire, and four years on from its original launch, the game also recently became available for PlayStation audiences. Recently, we also had the chance to send across some of our questions about Killsquad’s PS4 version, and were able to ask game director Daniel Sanchez-Crespo about the improvements made to the game’s visuals and gameplay experience with its PlayStation release, the behind-the-scenes process of bringing the game to new platforms so long after its original launch, what the future holds for Novarama, and more. You can read our full interview below.
"We are fans of the classic Helldivers on PlayStation, and we felt this genre could work very well, that is what brings us here."
Killsquad has been available on the PC for a while. For new players, can you tell us what Killsquad is about?
Killsquad is a 4 player co-op twin stick top down action shooter game about bounty hunters who raid planets seeking fame and fortune. We took the classic Gauntlet formula and gave it a spin, with new character classes, unique skill trees, and tons of character customization options. Killsquad allows players to traverse five worlds and forty missions, leaving no-one alive along the way. It’s frantic fun you can enjoy solo or in co-op, on PlayStation or using cross-play with Steam.
Killsquad was primarily built with PC players in mind. What kind of changes are you making to the base experience so that console players can jump right into it?
Of course, we did a complete review of the game with the console in mind: controls, UI, etc. Playing Killsquad on DualShock 4 or DualSense is a joy, especially in the most intense battles. However, the experience remains largely untouched. We are fans of the classic Helldivers on PlayStation, and we felt this genre could work very well, that is what brings us here!
Was there a specific reason to bring it to PlayStation, four years after the game’s early access release?
Our past is as a Sony developer, working on PSP, PS Vita, and PS3 games. So, we always wanted to bring Killsquad to Sony platforms. However, like many other games, Killsquad was affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, which took a bit longer than we would have desired. As a positive consequence, PlayStation players will get the full package, which includes the core game and the 15+ updates we released on Steam, as part of their PlayStation game from Day One. Also, we’re including cross-play between PlayStation and PC at launch.
The PC version was largely received positively but the game had glaring issues in the form of excessive grinding and mission design issues. Have you addressed these concerns for the console launch?
PlayStation players receive the final version of Killsquad, which went through more than fifteen updates on its PC form since its Early Access release. Along those updates, new content was added (maps, deeper progression, etc.), but also a lot of feedback from the community was addressed as well, in terms of new enemies, new mission types, to reduce grinding and increase fun and mayhem. In a way, it’s the difference between enjoying a game in constant evolution, and enjoying the final, finished product. We hope players enjoy it!
"PlayStation players receive the final version of Killsquad, which went through more than fifteen updates on its PC form since its Early Access release."
One of the most praised aspects of the original release was its exciting skill-based combat and boss fights. What can PlayStation players expect in this regard? Are you making them better by any chance?
Thank you! Yes, we iterated our boss fights a lot on PC, and made sure the same cool experience comes to PlayStation, especially in terms of sheer audiovisual spectacle and frame rate.
Do you have a roadmap for post launch support for PlayStation players? If yes, can you tell us about it?
At this moment, we are focusing on the launch, any future plans belong… to the future! But for now, our development efforts are put into United 1944, our newest game. We’re incredibly enthusiastic about the potential of this project, as we really believe it is an innovative approach to multiplayer shooters, with original gameplay mechanics based on strategy, building and crafting, and a compelling world building. Our aim is to provide gamers with an immersive and exhilarating journey, and we can’t wait to engage with the community to shape the future of United 1944.
Can you tell us why you are skipping Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One releases?
Our studio has worked 10 years as a Sony exclusive studio, so for us doing a PlayStation version was a natural thing.
Are you using the PS5’s SSD in any way to improve the experience for console players?
Of course! With SSD, players can enjoy faster load times which, on a graphically intense game like Killsquad, with lots of characters on screen, is very noticeable. SSD means more fun and less wait!
What resolution and fps does the game run on the PS5?
The game runs at a natively full HD resolution of 1920×1080 and flat 60 FPS. So yeah, it looks really nice and intense on a big TV, the way it’s meant to be played.
Do you see Killsquad evolving into a franchise at some point? If not, what can we expect from the development team in the future?
We hope! But for now, we’re fully focused on the development of United 1944, our new multiplayer shooter that is in beta phase. And that’s our plan for the near future.
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