How the 2D sand shooter AlphaLink went from local to online during a pandemic

AlphaLink is a 2D multiplayer arena shooter complete with XP, progression, and cosmetics. It not only features a local multiplayer, but also an online component. However, it did not always go in that direction. In early 2020, AlphaLink It started as a strictly local affair that sought to provide a multiplayer experience with a group of friends on the same couch. This made sense in an age when we took things like gaming events, esports, and just being in person with friends and family for granted.

In fact, AlphaLink’s His first debut was at a Valhalla Lounge esports bar, located in Austin, TX. An independent game competition was showcased where customers could vote for their favorite title. When AlphaLink won the best show of the night, it seemed he was on the right track. The address seemed validated.

Fast forward a month and the pandemic hit hard and fast. Everything was canceled or delayed; including the same game events AlphaLink was scheduled to show up at. For a title to grow that relied on continuous in-person feedback at these events, a major change was about to take place.

The team knew that going online would be a big undertaking, but it turned out to be even bigger than originally planned. Now, a complete back-end was required to track every movement and interaction seen on the screen and sync it in real time for everyone. This can be challenging in 2D because everyone sees the same thing at the same time. However, the team went ahead and not only made it work, but in the process created a back-end inventory system to take advantage of, using PlayFab.

With this new functionality in place, the team came up with designs for a progression system: XP, in-game currency, and cosmetics. They didn’t stop there. AlphaLink It also has a global leaderboard that pits the three opposing factions against each other in a non-stop tug of war to see who can stay on top. Some other features they spawned were an arcade-like simulator mode, bots, and a central hub, aptly named The Meatgrinder, that players use as a starting point for everything in the game. This even includes back-end tied NPCs who can have up-to-date dialogue to develop the rich sci-fi lore that AlphaLink is based on.

But do not worry. If you are simply looking for something to play locally, AlphaLink supports four players on one console; but you will have to bring the sandwiches. AlphaLink Now Available for Purchase in the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S.