We’ve done it. We’ve survived another E3. And, boyo, was it a good one. Some monolithic games were announced. Some were sequels to titles we tune into yearly. Some were perpetual no-shows that we were convinced had gone up into a cloud of vaporware (The Last Guardian is alive and well! Peace and prosperity can return to the kingdom).

But it was the brand new IP’s cresting on the horizon that have us crazy with anticipation. One of our guys has been watching E3 trailers while holding his controller at the screen, ineffectually pressing buttons (it’s super sad yet I somehow respect it).

Today’s Gaming Spotlight focuses on one new IP in particular that you might’ve missed hearing about since the dull roar chanting “FFVII REMAKE” has permanently damaged our hearing.

Today, we’re talking about Battleborn, one of the freshest takes on the co-op shooter since Borderlands. And wouldn’t’cha know it? It’s made by the same clever folks. Here’s a lowdown:

So What is It?

Battleborn is a first-person shooter set in a colorful sci-fi/fantasy universe that incorporates components from the MOBA genre.

Huh?

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. It’s another popular genre typically found on PC. League of Legends and Dota 2 are the most famous examples of a MOBA. You see, where Borderlands was a fusion of FPS and RPG, Battleborn seeks to merge fast first-person shooting action with the frenetic match-based combat of MOBA’s. The devs are labelling the game a “Hero Shooter.” And, yes, there will be tons of heroes to play as.

Who’s Making It?

Gearbox Software is developing the game. These fine Texas natives have amassed years of experience in the industry, from their early days crafting Half-Life expansions for Valve to building critically acclaimed franchises like Brothers in Arms. Oh, and they made Borderlands. You might’ve heard of it.

What’s Battleborn About?

A cataclysmic event has torn the universe asunder. Okay, that sounds like the plot of Thor 3 or something. Basically, the universe was ripped apart; stars have blinked out and planets have been blown to chunks. It sucks to be in space and not just because it’s a vacuum.

The surviving species, humanoid and otherwise, are fleeing to the last bastion in all the cosmos – a planet called Solus. Unfortunately, our interstellar refugees run into the jerks that started the calamity to begin with: the Varelsi.

Enter the Battleborn, the war tested champions of their respective factions. They’re a diverse, even eclectic, group of heroes that range anywhere from an Arnold-sized marine lugging an even bigger gatling gun to a lithe elven archer that always hits her mark. It’s like Gearbox took every gaming hero archetype they could find and poured them into a kickass run n’ gun cocktail.

Did You Say Co-Op?

Yeah, buddy. Let’s play the numbers game real quick:

• 1-5 Players can lay waste to their enemies in glorious online co-op.
• 2 Player split-screen allows couch co-op at its butt-groovin’ finest (online or off).
• 5v5 competitive multiplayer lets players prove who is truly battleborn across 3 unique mode.
• There’s 25 characters to choose from. Twenty-five.

If safety in numbers isn’t your style, you can go solo in the Story Mode (but come on, dude, everything’s better with friends -- especially slaughtering foes). But no matter what mode you choose to wreak cartoony devastation upon, points accrued go toward your character’s rank. Conquer responsibly.

Sounds Cool but What’s It Look Like in Action?

It looks awesome:

When Can I Get It?(??!!?)

February 9th, 2016. Obviously, any amount of time longer than "RIGHT NOW, THIS INSTANT" is unbearable. We know your pain well.

You can pre-order yourself a copy hereabouts!