Source: EXBO

EXBO announced that it officially launched its self-developed and serviced open-world extraction MMOFPS, 'STALZONE,' in South Korea on the 23rd.

'STALZONE' is an open world extraction MMOFPS that combines FPS combat with the progression, competition, and cooperation of a MMORPG. Players must survive in the 'Zone,' a fictional Chernobyl exclusion zone filled with anomalies and mutants, while tracking the secrets of artifacts and engaging in factional competition and large-scale battles.

The game is set in an alternate reality where the laws of physics were distorted by the 'Noosphere Rift' in 2010. Following the incident, anomalies, mutants, and various infections spread throughout the 'Zone.' Players take on the role of the 'Blessed,' who are drawn to the Zone by mysterious artifacts that appear in their dreams, and set out to trace their origins. Along the way, they confront the 'Orderly,' a radical faction that views the Blessed as dangerous fanatics, and uncover the secrets hidden within the world.

Upon starting the game, players choose between two starting factions: 'Stalker' or 'Bandit.' They then explore the region to acquire resources from key locations and enemies, and must successfully extract these resources to a safe zone. Players can develop their character and equipment by completing main and side quests. Upon reaching the northern regions, they can choose one of four factions—Mercenaries, Frontier, Rise, or Covenant—to enjoy faction-specific quests and gameplay experiences.

A unique visual style blending post-apocalyptic, military sci-fi, and heavy industrial design is a hallmark of 'STALZONE.' Built on a persistent open world without extraction timers or global resets, the game allows players to engage in tense combat over loot while retaining their existing equipment and progression. In the open world PVP, where there is no 'peace mode,' movement, marksmanship, and tactical judgment determine victory. Players constantly interact with others through competition, cooperation, trading, and resource exchange. Additionally, various PvE and research content, such as investigating anomalies, collecting artifacts, exploring infected areas, and completing quests, are available.

To mark the official Korean launch, the starting area, early quests, and tutorial have been completely overhauled. New guidebooks, quality-of-life features, and PVP balance adjustments have also been implemented. Furthermore, new face models, emotes, dialogue lip-syncing, and a light-based lighting system have been introduced to enhance immersion.

To ensure a stable and comfortable experience for Korean players, EXBO provides official Korean text support and an optimized environment based on a dedicated Korean server (NEA). The company also plans to operate an official Korean community to provide prompt updates and game information, while continuously expanding touchpoints for players to share feedback and communicate with the development and operations teams.

EXBO intends to go beyond simple localization by actively incorporating the feedback and experiences of Korean players into service improvements. By closely monitoring community feedback and consistently refining game content and operations, the company aims to build trust with the local community and foster long-term engagement and relationships with players.

In the new summer storyline, military factions based in the U.S. and Korea enter the 'Zone,' sparking new conflicts. Players can fight against new enemies and perform various in-game missions, such as gathering intelligence and transporting supplies throughout the northern Zone.

"An EXBO representative stated, "The official launch of STALZONE in Korea is a meaningful milestone as we begin a new journey with domestic players. We will actively reflect the opinions of our Korean players while delivering the fun of combat, progression, competition, and cooperation within our persistent open world.""

Meanwhile, 'STALZONE' is hosting a Korean-exclusive challenge event, 'Departure and Return to the Zone,' for new and returning players until September 2. Participants can complete challenges organized into four groups to earn 'Traveler's Marks,' which can be exchanged for in-game items and progression materials at the event shop. The collective progress of all participants contributes to server-wide goals, which, when met, unlock additional rewards and special cosmetic items.

'STALZONE' is available to play for free on PC via Steam. Detailed information about the game can be found on the official website and the official STALZONE Steam page.