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| (Image Source: Fulcrum eSports) |
Farlight 84 is a fast-paced hero battle royale game that is starting to rise in popularity due to its unapologetic design philosophy that encourages fun through chaotic means. The game has over 30 million registered users worldwide with more than one million daily active players in the Philippines and is poised to expand and evolve which is shared by key executives of game developer Farlight Games at the Farlight 84 Philippines Summit held last August 24, 2023 at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon City. The summit aims to showcase how much the game matters in the Philippines and players, content creators, influencers and industry leaders were gathered to see not only the game's expansion plans but also its dedication and support towards the Filipino gaming community.
Farlight Games Senior Director for Global Publishing Nelson Woon kicked off the Summit with an plans on how Farlight 84 will be evolving in the coming years through an exciting lineup of game updates and what will they mean for Filipino players. Over 200 developers across Shanghai, Singapore, and the United States are dedicated to making sure that Farlight 84 receives consistent game updates. Every month, Farlight 84 will be releasing new hero updates (which can include brand new characters or revamping existing ones), new seasons, and battle pass skins. Players can also expect the arrival of a brand-new map, weapons, modes, and vehicles every six months. Farlight 84 is set to reach new heights as it will come to the Nintendo Switch within the remainder of the year with PlayStation and Xbox consoles to follow suit in 2024 -- a proof of the team’s goal to make the game a seamless experience for everyone, regardless of their platform.
Farlight 84 takes pride in embracing a user-oriented development process. The ultimate goal is to make sure that players are given a voice that will be by the developers. Player feedback is key for the game’s improvement. “As a team, we continually strive for excellence, curating engaging and localized gaming experiences that resonate deeply with players. Our collaborations have brought fruitful and meaningful results, amplifying our mission to take gaming to new heights,” says Woon. Through its own line of beefed-up anti-cheat systems which can involve matchmaking isolation, device ban, and IP ban considerations, the game was able to detect and deal with over 40,000 cheaters in 2023 alone, making fair play in Farlight 84 a big deal. In October 2023, Farlight 84 is adding a new Filipino Hero, inspired by a local Pinay celebrity, who channels the energy of a rock star, adding a vibrant twist to the game and showing some major love for Filipino culture. And if that wasn’t awesome enough, Farlight 84 is also rolling out an exclusive hero skin that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Philippines. This special skin is designed with Filipino fans in mind, capturing the colorful aspects of local heritage and making that bond with the Filipino gaming community even stronger.
On top of all the in-game updates coming to Farlight 84, the studio has set its sights on expanding its offline presence in the Philippines, aiming to create an even stronger bond with its Filipino player base and bring the thrill of the game into the hands and hearts of fans across the country. As explained and announced by Marketing Director Adrian Alpin, Filipino actress Ella Cruz has collaborated with Farlight Games to become Farlight 84's official Philippine ambassador where Filipino players can expect an in-game battle emote and dance featuring the said actress. Moreover, Farlight 84’s collaboration with the Filipino P-Pop group SB19 brings together gaming and music, introducing the game’s very first music single inspired by the group. SB19’s influence also translates into in-game emotes and dances, inspired by the distinct styles of SB19’s Josh and Justin. Aside from entertainment, Farlight Games is also tapping into the educational sector in the Philippines. Farlight 84 will be partnering with select Philippine universities to launch a collegiate program. This initiative serves as a bridge between academia and the rapidly evolving eSports industry. Currently, over 40+ colleges have been contacted with over 2,000 students competing in 10 tournaments. And that’s only the beginning. Farlight 84 also seeks to bring back the good old days of spending hours in an internet cafe with friends through its game’s partnership with over 600 cybercafes across different parts of the country, ensuring widespread access. Collaborating with TNC, Farlight 84 is organizing top-tier tournaments for cybercafe gamers, creating a prestigious platform for showcasing skills and promoting both competition and camaraderie.
Farlight 84 is going above and beyond by launching a distinctive program aimed at empowering local gaming leaders. By doing so, they’re actively fostering greater participation and revitalizing the gaming scene from the grassroots level upward. According to Community Manager Chance Chen, Farlight Games is making a powerful commitment to supporting Filipino content creators in the upcoming three years with a substantial investment of US$10M. This dedicated fund not only includes cash rewards and regular events but also offers content tutorials and a generous supply of in-game diamonds. The studio firmly believes in the unique potential of the Filipino creator community and is determined to nurture its growth. At the heart of this initiative lies the vision to provide each creator with a personalized growth strategy within the Farlight 84 universe. Finally, with the continuing growth of the global competitive gaming stage and the influx of potentially dedicated and talented but untapped gamers in the country, Farlight 84 seeks to break new ground in eSports with the Farlight Philippines Championship (FPC), an all-embracing series of tournaments open to everyone, regardless of skill or rank. The pioneering FPC point system guarantees fair advancement, ensuring a level playing field. Notably, participants have a chance to compete for US$1M with opportunities to clinch cash prizes in numerous tournaments happening nearly every other day. This will be the highest prize pool for a shooter game tournament in the Philippines with notably the first-ever shooter game tournament system designed exclusively for the Filipino community. A fresh approach features automated tournaments boasting real-time ranking displays, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted gaming experience. Looking ahead, Farlight 84 hints at the exciting possibility of a 2024 World Cup where top-tier players will go head-to-head for the ultimate title on the global stage. Through a huge US$20M investment, Director of Global eSports Stanley Peng assures that the Philippine eSports scene will continue to thrive and be on the verge of breaking even in the foreseeable future.
With Farlight 84's slate of updates and changes that will eventually benefit Filipino gamers and Farlight Games' unwavering dedication to grow the landscape of Philippine professional gaming, it would seem that the local gaming scene is riding the wave towards the right direction and it will only be a matter of time for the Philippines to be recognized and acknowledged in the global gaming and eSports scene in today's evolving and changing world. Farlight 84 may not be the pioneer of how Philippine gaming and eSports will fare well, but is poised to be a catalyst in its own right.
