Talking H1Z1 for PS4 With Tony Morton, Lead Combat and Systems Designer

Daybreak Games has announced that its battle royale title H1Z1 will be making its way onto the Playstation 4 (PS4) as a free to play title. With a Closed Beta this month and many more revamped features designed specifically for the console, there is a good deal for PS4 players to be excited about regarding the latest battle royale title to be added to the console's extensive library of games. 

Twin Galaxies was able to sit down get a deeper look into the PS4 version of H1Z1 with lead combat and systems designer Tony Morton. 

Twin Galaxies: How will the gameplay changes, such as the vaccum equipment pick up system, affect gameplay?

"It speeds up gameplay in general. It streamlines it. You get in and are able to do what you need to do. The interesting thing is since it is new to PS4, there are not things like muscle memory we need to contend with, so for everybody it will feel natural, and it is going to become what they come to expect very quickly. I think it will help in engagements feeling better, more streamlined. The ability to directly pick the weapon you want to pick rather than cycling through something should help make it feel like a more seamless experience."

Twin Galaxies: Will we ever see the redesigned systems for the PS4 version make their way into the PC version?

"Anything H1 is community driven, so if the PC community sees anything in the console build that makes them them say 'Oh we need that' then we may consider bringing things over. The console build was designed with the controller in mind, with that experience in mind. However, if the PC crowd wants the loot system for example then we will definitely take a look at it. It is all about building a game with your community and making sure we give people the ability to try out things they want to try out."

Twin Galaxies: Will skins be a major part of the PS4 version of H1Z1 as they are in the PC version? Will there be a possibility of retired skins making a comeback?

"Skins are very interesting because for a very long time the history of H1Z1 was all about skins. There are old skins like the Green Dawn that everyone wants us to bring back, but we can't because its retired. However, with PS4 being a brand new audience there is alot of opportunity there. What makes the PS4 version different is that there is not a trading system like there is on PC, so it is a totally different dynamic. I think skins are still going to be very big. I think things like event skins are going to be huge because it gives them that exclusivity."

Twin Galaxies: How will the new scoring system that has been implemented for the H1Z1 Pro League affect the meta for the professional players compared to the everyday casual players?

"In Season 1 we went out with new scoring for the PC. Season 2 we will be having some changes coming in. Things that incentivize playing more games with a little less impact on placement and more of a focus on kills again, so that stuff is always changing. The nice part about the pro league is the ability for us to get multiple scoring models out there and get feedback, instead of only having one and that's it. With console as well, we might be able to try a third scoring mode, so now we have three avenues to test scoring models versus the one we used to have. At the end of the day, it is just really exciting."

Twin Galaxies: What is one area of the experience that the PS4 version provides that players should be excited about?

"One of the exciting parts is definitely unboxing the LMG and being able to use it, as it just unleashes hell. Outside of that, some of the further refinements we made internally is when you open caches or loot players there are more effects and audio that make the experience more rewarding and polished." 

Players can currently register for the May 22nd Closed Beta for the PS4 version of H1Z1 on the game's website.

(cover photo courtesy of Daybreak Games)