Underneath a foggy New England lighthouse, players of Meet Your Maker will find the next chapter of their post-apocalyptic world’s secrets. The new Meet Your Maker expansion, Dreadshore, invites its builders and raiders to drift away from the Red Sands to a new, moody land.
Meet Your Maker is set long after an apocalypse has largely ended human life. Among the ashes, players build bases to protect genetic material and raid the bases of others to hoard more for themselves, while dungeons are grueling challenges constructed by the creative and often devious minds of other players. And with the game’s first content expansion, Meet Your Maker builds out the lore of its dark future even further, with Game ZXC sitting down with creative director Ash Pannell to talk all things Dreadshore.
Meet Your Maker looks to New England for a spooky, unnerving atmosphere. Along the Dreadshore of New England, the atmospheric horror the region is known for in works ranging from H.P. Lovecraft to Stephen King become a part of Meet Your Maker’s jealously hoarded DNA, explains Pannell.
“The inspirations for the new Dreadshore environment draw from various sources. We looked to classic New England architecture and coastal landscapes for inspiration. Additionally, the eerie tales of maritime legends played a significant role in shaping the unique and haunting atmosphere of Dreadshore . We wanted to take the player to a completely different vibe and feeling. Dreadshore’s driving rain and dark and moody aesthetic are completely different to that of the Red Sands. The changes to the lighting and atmosphere change the mood for Raiders and give Builders a totally new narrative tool to set their levels.”
The new environment brings a totally different vibe from the Red Sands which players have become familiar with since Meet Your Maker's release in April, drawing from the classic American horror atmosphere for the new Sector by emulating the weather, geography, and folklore of coastal New England. That can add an air of suspense to what often is a frenetic game of breaking into the Outposts of other players’ designs, and the narrative unfolding in Dreadshore adds to that suspenseful, horror vibe, Pannell explained.
One way this vibe is expressed is through the story of one of the prisoners of the Dreadshore lighthouse, Nautilus. As Prisoner 617, Nautilus adopted the persona of an old urban legend of maritime horror and escaped the dark experiments that took place beneath the lighthouse before his diving-suit-clad Custodian found his way into players’ hands.
“Dreadshore is the location of an abandoned Sanctuary housed beneath a lighthouse. Within, Advisors were constantly cloned so cruel experiments could be performed upon them. One person escaped, killing the out-of-control Custodian and Chimera on their way out … He was just another clone for the operating table, a disposable body that would end up like the rest. Until that time, his captors tasked him with routine Sanctuary duties. But when he tinkered with the computer stations, he found out what they could really do. In secret, he crafted a suit that could enhance his athletic abilities and a weapon that could eviscerate anyone who stood in his way. ​He made his escape through a labyrinth of lasers, the sound of explosions leading the battle charge. But he wasn’t leaving just yet, not without the blood of his captors on his hands.”
Of course, that kind of death-defying escape is exactly what Meet Your Maker’s raiders are looking to emulate, and Nautilus is a useful asset in that respect. Survivability is his expertise, Pannell explained, focusing heavily on the use of defensive weapons with his perks greatly buffing the Arc Barrier. Add to that the New England decopacks and Dreadshore helps players take a breath of salty air and revel in the moody suspense.
“With Dreadshore , we hope players will particularly gel with the atmospheric and immersive elements of the environment. The blend of coastal themes, rainy harbors, and the rich lore surrounding the region will captivate those seeking a renewed experience. Additionally, the introduction of unique traps, guards, and gear will offer players new strategies and opportunities for creative base building and raiding.”
Meet Your Maker also boasts an expansive free trial for those who find the Dreadshore alluring, Pannell said. The trial includes the base game and Dreadshore content, and progress can carry over to the full game.
Meet Your Maker is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
