Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition, the definitive release of the cult classic FPS by original developer and publisher Apogee Entertainment, the maniacal minds at New Blood Interactive, and the gaming treasure hunters at Nightdive Studios, launches on Steam for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in early 2023. At PAX West 2022, we got to go hands-on with the title, and man, it was fun. As revealed at Realms Deep 2022, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is built to be accessible to newcomers and existing fans alike with ‘90s shooter action. You’ll get to enjoy visuals flawlessly presented by Nightdive Studios’ proprietary KEX engine in 4K with no-fuss support for 60FPS and higher frame rates, increased FOV, cloud saves, achievements, and more. Updated HUD and UI elements give a clean look at a stone-cold classic campaign plus restored cut content and a new, original story episode in the Rise of the Triad (ROTT) universe.
“This is the remaster that ROTT deserves and New Blood is proud to be a part of it,” added Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive.
Rejoin the HUNT, an elite five-member task force, on a dangerous island occupied by fanatical cultists. Experience ROTT’s many innovations rendered better than ever, from its five playable heroes—each with different hit points, speed, and accuracy—to its deadly traps, elevated, multilayered stages and unhinged power-ups. Blast straight to the dark heart of a conspiracy aiming to destroy Los Angeles, armed with a legendary arsenal of dual pistols, heat-seeking missiles, bone-charring walls of flame, and an enchanted baseball bat. While playing a demo of the game, we got the chance to move fast and shoot faster while exploring the world preserved and remastered in really cool ways. From triggers on the floor to reveal secret passage ways to the ability to input old cheat codes (like the glorious dog mode), it all hits that nostalgia bone in the best of ways.
“From its fateful beginnings as a sequel in the Wolfenstein 3D franchise, Rise of the Triad still retains many Wolf-ish ideas, like the art style and run-n-gun gameplay,” said Scott Miller, founder of Apogee Entertainment and original project manager of Rise of the Triad circa 1995. “It’s some kind of miracle to see a game Apogee made in the mid-’90s finding new life a generation later, in its best form yet. Nightdive used the Excalibat to knock this outta the park!”
Plus, you can take the action online with gibtastic multiplayer COMMbatt deathmatch supporting up to 11 players—no dial-up screeching required. See where pioneering game modes began with Capture the Triad, the first capture-the-flag mode in FPS history, and Hunter, in which a sole “prey” player faces off against a whole team of hunters. Even the industry-changing level editor returns for PC players, now easier to use and boasting Steam Workshop support.
Made for ROTT fans, by ROTT fans, plus its original creators, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition worships at the altar of this legendary adventure. Nightdive Studios puts the exact original sprites and textures on loving display at modern resolutions, while the FPS OGs at Apogee Entertainment and New Blood Interactive supervise the creation of this definitive version of a beloved cult classic.
“This collaboration between Apogee, New Blood, and Nightdive is a match made in retro boomer-shooter heaven,” said Larry Kuperman, Director of Business Development at Nightdive Studios. “Rise of the Triad is one of those iconic ‘90s shooters that maintain a place in our hearts and minds here at Nightdive, and we’re ecstatic about giving it the KEX engine treatment. Because, at the end of the day, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition epitomizes what we strive to achieve in the name of classic games preservation.”
You can wishlist Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition now. The game is set to come early 2023 to Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and GOG for $19.99 USD. Nightdive Studios will also be partnering up with Limited Run Games for the physical versions of Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition. A Standard and Collector’s Edition are in the works and will be available across multiple platforms. Stay tuned for more details and a Collector’s Edition reveal in the future. Check out the Limited Run store to pick up Nightdive Studios merch today.
For more information, hit up the official websites for Apogee Entertainment, New Blood Interactive, and Nightdive Studios, plus follow @Apogee_Ent, @NewBlood, and @NightdiveStudio on Twitter.
