As Concord prepares to shut down in just a few days, we have been blessed with more good news as Shroud’s much-anticipated Spectre Divide is now available for free on Steam. Developed by Mountaintop Studios, the game has garnered praise from players with backgrounds in VALORANT and Counter-Strike, thanks to its impressive closed and open betas.

However, the official launch hasn’t been without its hiccups. Despite a player count hovering around 30,000, many users have struggled to find matches, according to PC Gamer. Another common issue is the inability to cancel matchmaking queues without closing the game entirely. Mountaintop Studios acknowledged these problems and temporarily took the servers down this morning at 8:00 AM (GMT+8) / 5:00 PM (PT) for maintenance. Although the downtime lasted just over an hour, some players, including myself, are still experiencing difficulties.

Adding to the frustration are the steep prices for in-game skins and cosmetics. A US$90 skin bundle sparked outrage on platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). I mean, I can’t blame them. When you’re a gamer in Southeast Asia, you’re used to seeing big numbers like RM200 for bundles. But US$90?! I’m too scared to do the calculations if I’m being frank. Thankfully, Mountaintop Studios responded to the backlash and slashed the prices by about half. While still on the pricey side, it’s a step in the right direction—after all, a free game needs to sustain itself somehow.

??Store Pricing Reductions??

?We've heard your feedback and we're making changes.
?Weapons & Outfits will be permanently decreasing in price by 17-25%.
?Players who purchased store items before the change will get a 30% SP refund.

See more here: https://t.co/kcDcN8T8Ax

— Spectre Divide (@SpectreDivide) September 4, 2024

I had the chance to try out Spectre Divide during its recent playtest, and I have to admit, it’s addictive. The game’s duality system and movement accuracy while aiming down sights bring a refreshing twist to a genre that’s been feeling increasingly stale. Despite its rocky start, Spectre Divide has the potential to make a lasting impact on the tactical shooter landscape. I’m just excited to see how the esports scene develops.