MENACE vs Cinder City

• Perspective: Isometric / Top-Down
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Sci-Fi (Wayback System)
• Platforms: PC, Xbox
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A deep turn-based tactical game featuring a high-stakes, persistent campaign with permanent losses, drawing inspiration from Battle Brothers and XCOM.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
• Setting: Post-Apocalyptic Seoul
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, GeForce NOW
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A seamless, open-world MMO that blends tactical third-person shooting and survival horror with large-scale, cooperative PvE raids against titanic bosses in a visually stunning, post-apocalyptic Seoul.

• Squads: The player commands multiple squads, each consisting of a leader and up to nine 'squatties'. Squads act as a single unit in combat, relying on synergy and discipline.
  Marines, Mercenaries, Criminals

• Promotion Points: Earned by completing missions and used to customize Squad Leader perk trees.
• Strategic Assets: Temporary benefits gained during operations (e.g., mortar base, intelligence network) that provide tactical advantages on the battlefield.

• Hidden Lore: Found through exploration in the ruins of Seoul. These items piece together the story of the apocalyptic 'Event' and the various factions.
• Crafting & Upgrade Materials: Scavenged from the world and from defeated enemies. Essential for improving weapons, armor, and vehicles.

• Sci-Fi
• Tactical RPG
• Turn-Based Strategy
• Squad Management
• Permanent Loss
• Military Simulation

• Post-Apocalyptic
• Sci-Fi
• MMO
• Tactical Shooter
• Open World
• Survival Horror
• Korean Setting
• Cyberpunk

• Infantry Weapon (Primary): Assault Rifles, etc.
  The main weapon used by all squatties. Weapon selection is crucial as damage, penetration, and suppression capacity vary. The R14 A2 ARC Assault Rifle is an example.
• Infantry Special Weapon: Heavy Weapons
  Specialist weapons like RPGs, Sniper Rifles, Flamethrowers, and EMP Cannons. They can only be used when the squad is Deployed (crouched).
• Vehicle Weapons: Modular Weapons
  Heavy weapons like MMGs, light flamethrowers, or plasma rifles that are mounted on vehicles and chosen via modular weapon slots.

• Conventional Firearms: Varies (Handguns, Rifles, Shotguns, Snipers)
  A vast arsenal of realistic 21st-century firearms with weighty handling and deep customization.
• Futuristic Gadgets: Utility
  A range of high-tech tools including drones for reconnaissance, cloaking devices for stealth, EMPs for disabling synthetics, and deployable turrets.

• Infantry Armor: Armor determines the squad's Armor Value. Different classes have different armor ratings (Class 2 for shrapnel, Class 3 for SMG calibers, Class 6 for heavy protection). Armor has durability and can be repaired during missions.

• Customizable Armor Sets: Players can find, craft, and upgrade a variety of armor sets. Customization includes color palettes, insignias, and cybernetic augmentations. Gear provides both cosmetic and gameplay-affecting stat bonuses.

• Uniforms and Armor Variants: Customization is functional and aesthetic, with various armor types and accessories that can be equipped, influencing tactical performance (e.g., reducing suppression intake or increasing mobility).

• Functional & Cosmetic Armor: Players can fully customize their character's appearance by equipping different armor pieces. The system allows for deep cosmetic personalization with various colors and insignias, while also providing crucial gameplay stats and perks.

Progression is persistent and tied to the campaign's strategic layer. Players upgrade the mobile HQ (TCRN Impetus) to gain benefits like Intel Components (for seeing enemy positions). Squad Leaders gain promotion points from missions to customize their unique perk trees. The entire strike force benefits from acquired equipment (spoils of war, black market buys) and temporary 'Strategic Assets' (e.g., mortar base, auxiliary infantry) gained during Operations.

Progression is based on a multi-class system, allowing players to swap between different loadouts of weapons, gadgets, and support tools. Enhancement revolves around scavenging, crafting, and upgrading equipment. A deep skill tree and perk system allow for further customization of the player's futuristic knight.

The game features multiple planets with different biomes, each containing complex 'Operations'. Operations are mini-campaigns with 3–5 procedural missions and branching paths on a single planet. The maps are detailed, tactical, and feature environmental factors like varying terrain, dynamic weather, and night cycles that limit visibility and line of sight.

The game features a massive, seamless open world. Players can freely roam the city across its overground (ruined streets, skyscrapers), underground (subways, sewers), and sky, with no loading screens. Player actions can dynamically change which factions control different city districts.

• TCRN Impetus: Mobile Headquarters
  The player's central base of operations, used for managing budgets, recruiting troops, upgrading components, and providing orbital support to ground troops.
• AATV / Troop Carriers / MLRS: Ground Vehicles
  Various vehicles used by squad leaders, including All-Terrain Attack Vehicles and Troop Carriers. They are immune to suppression and provide transport and heavy fire support.

• Bikes: Ground Vehicle
  Fast and agile vehicles for navigating the ruined streets of Seoul.
• Mechs: Heavy Armor / Combat Vehicle
  Powerful, player-piloted mechanical suits used in large-scale combat and raids. They can be customized and upgraded.
• Aerial Vehicles: Air Vehicle
  Includes helicopters and advanced drones for aerial traversal and combat engagements across the city's vertical landscape.

• The Commander: Player Character
  The player, who commands the TCRN Impetus strike cruiser and all ground operations.
• Squad Leaders: Squad Commander
  Unique, handwritten characters (e.g., Edwin Pike, Jean Sai) who lead the infantry, vehicles, and mechs. They have unique perks and promotion paths.
• Squatties: Infantry
  The un-named, standard squad members. They are a finite resource, and their permanent loss in combat significantly reduces squad effectiveness.

• Operations (Mini-Campaigns)
  A series of 3–5 procedural missions on a single planet with branching paths. The goal is to complete all objectives to earn high rewards. Losses carry over between missions.
• Mission Prep
  The phase before deployment. Players review intel, position squads, and adjust loadouts based on the mission's logistics limit.

• Main Campaign
  A branching, emotionally resonant story following the player's quest to find their missing daughter, where choices can affect the world state and narrative outcomes.
• World Boss Raids
  Large-scale, cooperative endgame encounters where teams of players use vehicles and mechs to take down titanic bosses that can appear in both instanced and open-world areas.
• Dynamic World Events
  Randomly occurring events such as horde attacks or legendary adversary spawns that require players in the area to team up to overcome.

• Q: What is MENACE?
  A: MENACE is a deep, single-player turn-based tactical RPG with permanent losses, drawing inspiration from Battle Brothers and XCOM. Players command a strike cruiser and lead squads in tactical sci-fi battles.
• Q: Does it have permadeath?
  A: Yes. If a Squad Leader or any of their infantry members ('squatties') dies in combat, they are permanently removed from the manpower pool, emphasizing the high stakes of every mission.
• Q: What is the 'Per-Faction Turn Order'?
  A: It is a unique turn structure where every faction on the map (including enemies) takes a turn to move one unit. If the enemy outnumbers the player, they may move several units in a row, creating massive pressure and forcing careful positioning.
• Q: Is there a multiplayer mode?
  A: No, the game is a strictly single-player experience with a focus on a deep campaign and strategic management.

• Q: What is Cinder City?
  A: Cinder City is an open-world MMO tactical shooter set in a post-apocalyptic version of Seoul, Korea. It combines a deep, single-player style narrative with large-scale cooperative multiplayer.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: The game is scheduled for release in 2026.
• Q: Is it a single-player or multiplayer game?
  A: It is both. It has a full, cinematic main story campaign that can be played solo or with a squad, and is set within a persistent massively multiplayer online world with large-scale raids and events.
• Q: What engine does the game use?
  A: Cinder City is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 and supports advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS 4.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The game is highly accessible and supports a wide range of hardware.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be excellent on all modern gaming hardware. Good cooling is essential for long sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.
• Game Name: MENACE

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation MMO built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle advanced features like real-time ray tracing and the massive scale of MMO raids.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and high entity count will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the large number of players, AI enemies, physics, and ensuring a smooth experience in large-scale battles.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a tactical shooter.
• Game Name: Cinder City

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle advanced features like real-time ray tracing and the massive scale of MMO raids.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and high entity count will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the large number of players, AI enemies, physics, and ensuring a smooth experience in large-scale battles.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a tactical shooter.