Rules of Engagement: The Grey State vs Borderlands 2

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Online Co-op & PvP (1-4 Player Squads)
• Setting: The 'Horrorverse' / The Grey State
• Platforms: PC (Future console release TBD)
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique blend of a tactical extraction shooter with a deep, permanent, Path of Exile-inspired RPG skill tree, set in a Lovecraftian horror universe.

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: 4-Player Online Co-op
• Setting: Planet Pandora
• Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Unique Feature: A genre-defining looter-shooter experience with a massive, procedurally generated arsenal of guns and a highly-acclaimed story driven by one of gaming's most memorable villains.

• Co-op Teammates: The game is built from the ground up for four-player co-op. Teammates can revive each other, combine their Action Skills for devastating effects, and trade loot.
  Human (Player)
• Deathtrap (Gaige's Action Skill): Gaige the Mechromancer can summon her robot companion, Deathtrap, to fight alongside her. Deathtrap can be upgraded through her skill trees to have a variety of powerful attacks and abilities.
  Robot

• Alien Artifacts: The primary objective item in The Grey State. Successfully extracting these is the main goal of any run.
• Resources: Scavenged from the environment and smaller monsters, these are used for in-match crafting and progression.
• Gear (In-Match): Better weapons and armor looted during an expedition. This gear is lost on death.

• ECHO Recorders: Audio logs found throughout the world that provide backstory, lore, and humorous side-stories from the inhabitants of Pandora.
• Vault Symbols: Hidden symbols of the Vault Cult painted in hard-to-reach places. Finding them all completes in-game challenges.
• SHiFT Keys: Golden Keys, often given out through 'SHiFT codes' on social media, used to open a special chest in the city of Sanctuary that contains high-quality, level-appropriate purple loot.

• Tactical Shooter
• Extraction
• Horror
• Cosmic Horror
• PvPvE
• Action RPG
• Sci-Fi

• Sci-Fi
• Looter-Shooter
• Action RPG
• Dark Humor
• Co-op
• Space Western
• Procedural Generation
• Cel-Shading

• Firearms: Varies (Shotguns, Rifles, etc.)
  A mix of realistic and experimental firearms used for fast-paced, tactical combat. The Sledge class, for example, can unlock talents for a shotgun and a recoilless rifle.
• Flamethrower: Heavy Weapon
  The signature weapon of the Pyro class, used to incinerate enemies and control areas.
• Melee Weapons: Varies (Sledgehammer, etc.)
  Close-quarters weapons, such as the Sledge's sledgehammer, used for brutal takedowns.

• Procedurally Generated Guns: Varies (Pistols, SMGs, Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Rocket Launchers)
  The heart of the series. Players will find millions of guns with randomized stats, parts, and elemental effects (incendiary, shock, corrosive, explosive, slag) from manufacturers like Jakobs, Maliwan, Tediore, and Dahl.
• Action Skills: Character Abilities
  Each of the six playable Vault Hunters has a unique, powerful, cooldown-based Action Skill that defines their combat role, such as Axton's Sabre Turret or Maya's Phaselock.
• Grenade Mods: Throwable
  Lootable mods that alter the behavior of grenades, creating effects like singularities, bouncing projectiles, homing capabilities, or splitting into multiple smaller grenades.

• Shields: A key piece of defensive gear. Shields provide a regenerating layer of health and come with a wide variety of special effects, such as nova blasts on depletion, damage boosters when full, or elemental resistances.
• Class Mods: Class-specific items that grant bonus points to skills in the Vault Hunter's skill trees, allowing them to exceed the normal skill point limit. They also provide powerful passive stat bonuses.
• Relics: Equippable items that provide a variety of passive bonuses, such as increased health, cooldown reduction, or enhanced damage with specific weapon types.

• Cosmetic Customization: A deep customization system allows players to unlock and equip a wide variety of heads and body skins for their Vault Hunters to personalize their appearance. These are found as rare loot drops or earned from challenges.

The game features a deep, permanent RPG progression system with no forced wipes. Players choose from four classes (Sledge, Pyro, Phantom, and one unrevealed) and customize them via an extensive, Path of Exile-inspired skill tree with over 100 talents. These talents are mechanics-based (e.g., faster looting, new weapon options like a shotgun for Sledge) rather than raw stat increases, ensuring a level playing field. Progression is persistent, but all players spawn into a match with a basic, blank-slate loadout.

Each of the four (later six) playable Vault Hunters has three unique skill trees that cater to different playstyles. Players earn skill points by leveling up to unlock powerful new abilities, including a signature 'Action Skill'. After completing the main story, players unlock 'Badass Rank,' a persistent, account-wide progression system that allows for small, incremental stat boosts.

The game features multiple, large-scale maps. Gameplay is session-based, with a limited time for each incursion. The environment is dynamic and reactive, with shifting weather, unstable geometry, and hazards. The world is populated by AI factions and hostile creatures, creating a dense PvPvE experience.

The game features a large, semi-open world divided into multiple distinct zones. Players explore diverse biomes on Pandora, including the arctic tundra of the Southern Shelf, the acidic Caustic Caverns, the urban metropolis of Opportunity, and the desolate dust bowl known as The Dust. Travel between major regions is done via a Fast Travel network.

• Outrunner: Light Assault Vehicle
  A fast and nimble four-wheeled buggy that can be equipped with a machine gun or rocket launcher turret. Can be spawned at Catch-A-Ride stations with various cosmetic skins.
• Bandit Technical: Light Assault Vehicle
  A rugged pickup truck used by bandits. It is slower but more durable than the Outrunner and can be equipped with different mounted weapons.

• Sledge: Playable Class (Heavy Assault)
  The 'juggernaut' class. Specializes in frontline combat, using a shield to block damage and talents for shotguns and recoilless rifles.
• Pyro: Playable Class (Battlefield Control)
  A 'chaotic madman' class. Uses a flamethrower, gas grenades, and incendiary bombs to control the battlefield.
• Phantom: Playable Class (Assassin)
  A 'swift assassin' class. Focuses on stealth, flanking, and executing 'flawless' one-shot backstabs and chain kills.
• The Hunger: Enemies
  The grotesque, infected abominations that serve as the primary PvE threat.

• Axton, the Commando: Playable Vault Hunter
  A soldier class who can deploy a versatile Sabre Turret as his Action Skill.
• Maya, the Siren: Playable Vault Hunter
  A mystical class who can suspend enemies in a bubble with her Phaselock Action Skill, providing crowd control and support.
• Salvador, the Gunzerker: Playable Vault Hunter
  A short and stocky brawler whose Action Skill, Gunzerking, allows him to dual-wield any two weapons in the game.
• Zer0, the Assassin: Playable Vault Hunter
  A stealthy assassin whose Action Skill, Decepti0n, allows him to turn invisible, deploy a decoy, and line up a devastating critical hit.
• Gaige, the Mechromancer (DLC): Playable Vault Hunter
  A punk-rock genius who can summon a powerful, customizable robot companion named Deathtrap as her Action Skill.
• Krieg, the Psycho (DLC): Playable Vault Hunter
  A high-risk, high-reward melee specialist whose Action Skill, Buzz Axe Rampage, sends him into a frenzy with a powerful buzz axe.

• Expeditions
  The main gameplay loop. Players deploy to a map (solo or in a squad) with a limited amount of time. The mission is divided into two phases: a PvE-focused gear-up phase, and a high-conflict second phase where players can opt for a safe, early extraction or fight for the high-value 'Vertex' prize.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows the new Vault Hunters' quest to stop Handsome Jack and the Hyperion corporation from taking control of Pandora.
• Side Quests
  A massive number of optional missions featuring the series' signature humor and eccentric characters. These provide XP, powerful loot, and world-building.
• Raid Bosses
  Extremely difficult, optional endgame bosses designed for a coordinated team of four max-level players. They drop some of the best and most unique loot in the game.

The game is a persistent online PvPvE extraction shooter. Players can queue for 'Expeditions' solo or in squads of up to four. The core loop is divided into two phases: a resource-gathering first phase and a high-conflict second phase where players can choose an early, safe extraction or fight for the final, high-value 'Vertex' prize at the main helicopter extraction.

The game was originally released with Standard and Deluxe editions. The most common version today is the 'Game of the Year Edition' or 'The Handsome Collection' (which also includes Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel), both of which bundle the base game with its major Season Pass DLCs.

Borderlands 2 is famous for its extensive post-launch support. This includes four major campaign DLCs (Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt, and the acclaimed Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep), two additional playable Vault Hunter classes (Gaige the Mechromancer and Krieg the Psycho), and numerous smaller content packs and headhunter missions.

• Q: What is Rules of Engagement: The Grey State?
  A: It is a free-to-play, first-person tactical extraction shooter with deep, permanent RPG progression. Players, as 'Striders,' enter a surreal horror dimension to fight monsters and other players for valuable artifacts.
• Q: Is it 'pay-to-win'?
  A: No. The developers have confirmed the game is not pay-to-win. All players spawn into a match with a basic loadout, and all monetization is cosmetic-only.
• Q: How does progression work if everyone starts with the same gear?
  A: Progression is persistent and tied to a deep, Path of Exile-inspired skill tree. You don't bring in better gear, you bring in better *talents* and *abilities* that you have permanently unlocked, which define your playstyle (e.g., stealth, farming, or combat).
• Q: What is the 'Horrorverse'?
  A: It's the game's setting concept. 'The Grey State' is a dimension that acts as a 'graveyard of nightmares,' allowing the developers to pull in monsters from diverse sources, such as Lovecraftian lore, creepypastas, and global folklore (like from the upcoming Hong Kong map).

• Q: What is Borderlands 2?
  A: Borderlands 2 is a first-person shooter with deep action RPG elements, known as a 'looter-shooter'. The core gameplay is about completing quests and defeating enemies to find a near-infinite variety of procedurally generated guns.
• Q: Is Borderlands 2 a multiplayer game?
  A: Yes, the entire game can be played solo or with up to three other players in drop-in/drop-out online co-op. The game's difficulty and loot quality scale with the number of players.
• Q: Who is Handsome Jack?
  A: Handsome Jack is the main antagonist of Borderlands 2 and is widely considered one of the most charismatic, funny, and well-written villains in video game history.
• Q: What is the best version to play?
  A: The best way to experience the game today is through 'The Handsome Collection' (available on PC, PS4, Xbox One) or the 'Legendary Collection' (on Nintendo Switch), as these bundles include the base game and almost all of its extensive DLC content.

Borderlands 2 solidified the series' iconic 'concept art' visual style, which uses cel-shading to create a vibrant, comic-book-like look. This unique art direction helps the game's graphics hold up well over time. An optional Ultra HD Texture Pack is available for PC players.

The game features a memorable soundtrack that blends industrial, electronic, and western-style music. The voice acting is a major highlight, particularly the performance of Dameon Clarke as the charismatic and psychopathic villain, Handsome Jack.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications reflect the demands of a modern Unreal Engine 5 title.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. As a fast-paced shooter, maintaining a high and stable framerate is crucial.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat 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 complex AI of both monsters and human enemies, as well as the physics-based interactions.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive FPS.
• Game Name: Rules of Engagement: The Grey State

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Borderlands 2. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Gearbox Software, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As an older title, the requirements are very low by modern standards. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated for context and to show how modern hardware would perform.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance. Given the game's age, almost any modern gaming laptop will run Borderlands 2 at maximum settings and high framerates without any issues.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as even low-power modern GPUs will be more than sufficient.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems, but good thermals are always beneficial for system health.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game is not CPU-intensive by modern standards, and any recent mobile CPU will handle it easily.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: While not essential for this title, a MUX switch can help reduce system latency, which is a general benefit for gaming.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Borderlands 2 does not have official integrated support for modern upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. The game does feature NVIDIA PhysX for advanced particle effects, which can be demanding on the CPU or GPU.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like View Distance, PhysX Effects, and Ambient Occlusion. Disabling or lowering PhysX is the most effective way to improve framerates on non-NVIDIA or older hardware.
• Game Name: Borderlands 2

• Upscaling Tech: Borderlands 2 does not have official integrated support for modern upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. The game does feature NVIDIA PhysX for advanced particle effects, which can be demanding on the CPU or GPU.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance is most affected by settings like View Distance, PhysX Effects, and Ambient Occlusion. Disabling or lowering PhysX is the most effective way to improve framerates on non-NVIDIA or older hardware.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat 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 complex AI of both monsters and human enemies, as well as the physics-based interactions.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive FPS.

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as even low-power modern GPUs will be more than sufficient.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems, but good thermals are always beneficial for system health.
• C P U Power Limits: The game is not CPU-intensive by modern standards, and any recent mobile CPU will handle it easily.
• M U X Switch Optimus: While not essential for this title, a MUX switch can help reduce system latency, which is a general benefit for gaming.