This is some achievement from a 12-person studio, which in just nine months has assembled an intriguing, survival-focused Battle Royale – albeit one whose unveiling was spoiled somewhat by an overexcited shoutcaster on Microsoft’s E3 stage. The Darwin Project is the latest in an increasingly long line of no-respawn deathmatches, and ticks the requisite genre boxes. However, it looks to stand out by putting survival mechanics, not just combat, at its core. The first thing you’ll need to do, for instance, is light a fire, lest you freeze to death. There’s an immediate tension, however, since doing so risks alerting other players to your location. After that comes scavenging and crafting, though there’s a twist: characters have powers, such as cloaking abilities and wall hacks. Viewers do too, and are…
