Xeragame

Xeragame (XERA: Survival) is a free-to-play, open-world multiplayer survival shooter for PC, developed by Spotted Kiwi Interactive, an independent studio based in the south of New Zealand with team members distributed internationally. The game is a PvPvE looter-shooter set after a prototype combat robot developed by the fictional XERA Corporation becomes self-aware and replicates at industrial scale; players take the role of operatives scavenging former XERA facilities from two opposing forward operating bases, or Safe Zones, on either side of a contested forest.

Core systems include scavenging for weapons, ammunition, food, water and medical supplies; crafting; base building with wood, stone, metal and reinforced metal upgrade tiers, turrets and traps; raiding of other players' bases; character customisation covering body type, facial features and clothing; and a dynamic day/night and weather cycle that alters both enemy behaviour and combat tactics. Survival mechanics cover hunger, thirst and radiation. Progression is driven by experience earned from looting, missions, world events and killing the game's robotic XOID enemies, with a maximum level of 100, expanded stash space at higher levels, and Season Pass rewards. Randomly spawning world events include supply drops, crashed helicopters, civilian bunkers, radio towers and compound and nuclear compound events, and keycards crafted from looted credential data unlock a high-tier-loot XERA facility inside a radioactive zone.

Technically, the game runs a 64 sq km map with a server population cap of 45-50 players, helicopter transport between safe settlements, ATV, buggy and AMV vehicles limited to 18 per server, groups of up to six players and clans of 10 (15 for premium clans). A server-side global inventory lets players carry stashed gear between PvP servers, though it is disabled on PvE-only servers. Seasons end with a full wipe of items, currency, bases, levels, missions and global inventory, with skins, skin crates and X-Coin carried over.

Founding story

Press coverage of the 2018 Kickstarter campaign identifies Joshua Harrington as the lead on the project and reports that his interest in gaming and his fascination with artificial intelligence and its rapid recent growth informed the concept for Xera, which was built with multiplayer in mind from the outset.

Business model

The studio operates XERA: Survival as a free-to-play live service on PC, monetised through in-game transactions for cosmetic items rather than gameplay-affecting purchases; the developer states it does not sell ammunition or use punitive monetisation, and that cosmetic upgrades can also be earned in game. Additional monetisation elements include a Season Pass that grants level-based rewards, double global stash space and access to double XP events, an X-Coin in-game currency that persists across seasonal wipes, and planned rental of private servers via the company's website. Earlier in development the game was sold as a paid title, and buyers prior to the free-to-play transition were granted a Founders Pack described as worth more than the original selling price.

Revenue comes from in-game transactions for cosmetic items, a Season Pass, and previously from paid pre-order packages and the game's original purchase price before the shift to free-to-play; the studio has also stated plans to offer private server rentals through its website, and coverage of the Kickstarter described in-game purchase of player-owned, customisable servers.

Traction

The game is live on Steam as a free-to-play title and has progressed through at least eight content seasons, with Season 8 beginning 19 December 2024. It is localised into ten languages, supports up to 45-50 players per server, and maintains an official Discord, forums and a structured content-creator program. A startup directory lists the company at seed stage with one disclosed backer.

Latest developments

Season 8 of XERA: Survival began on 19 December 2024 with a planned two-month run. Recent development documented by the studio includes the release of base building, the clan system introduced in Season 5 with premium clan tag customisation, a revamped mission system for Season 7, and continued work on translations and on expanding clan permissions and member slots.