Today we are excited to celebrate developer Digital Cybercherries’ announcement that Hypercharge: Unpackedthe fast-paced shooter, has sold over 100,000 copies on Xbox consoles.
Published just a month ago, Hypercharge: Unpacked is a chaotic first- and third-person shooter that puts you in a world filled with sentient children’s toys brought to life by the ancient power of the Hypercore. Your task is to save the Hypercore from total destruction by taking down the waves of rogue toys that are meant to destroy it.
In conversation with Xbox Wire Hypercharge: Unpacked Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay & Marketing Director, shares that they are “overwhelmed with emotion” by the response to the game on Xbox. “It feels almost surreal – like living in a dream. Sometimes I wake up and wonder if this is all real!”
“It is incredibly fulfilling to have put our heart and soul into this project and to see how our players have embraced it so warmly.”
Henson shares that reaching this milestone on Xbox was a transformative experience for the small, six-person studio team. The success has not only changed their lives, but also the momentum of their indie studio and what it can focus on next.
“We now have the ability to allocate a decent budget to marketing and invest in areas of the game that we couldn’t afford to improve before,” says Henson. “Plus, the support from Xbox has been phenomenal in helping us get the game out to as many players as possible. Their support has been invaluable and we’re really grateful for it.”
Hypercharge: Unpacked itself is reminiscent of the simple shooters of the past, and Henson cites both Halo and Goldeneye as examples of similar games with easy-to-learn but very addictive game mechanics. It is these qualities that Hypercharge: Unpacked feel incredibly at home on Xbox and for Digital Cybercherries the decision to bring their exciting new shooter to the platform was a no-brainer.
“This type of nostalgic gameplay resonates very well with Xbox players, and the ability to play split-screen adds to the old-school feel,” adds Henson.
Thinking in other directions
The idea of Hypercharge: Unpacked was born out of a simple but compelling curiosity – what would the world look like from a miniature perspective? Inspired by groundbreaking films of the ’80s and ’90s like Toy Story, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and – most importantly for the team – Small Soldiers, the studio was excited by the idea of bringing those nostalgic childhood memories to life.
“While brainstorming ideas for our first game, someone mentioned ‘Small Soldiers’ and it was a light bulb moment,” says Henson. “We couldn’t believe we had almost forgotten such an important film from our childhood! We immediately watched it and were fascinated by the animation, the quirky story and the way it brought the action figures to life.”
Many of us share the same nostalgic memories, and Henson believes that’s why Hypercharge: Unboxed’s setting feels truly unique.
“Hypercharge is not just a game; it’s an experience that strengthens bonds and lasts across generations,” says Henson. “For parents who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, it’s a trip down memory lane – a chance to relive the excitement of their childhood. But more importantly, it allows them to share that joy with their children.”
With multiple multiplayer modes – including 1-4 player online and local co-op – and an offline PvE story campaign, there are countless ways for friends and families to come together and relive the nostalgia that flows through the game. Hypercharge: Unpacked together.
And the game has only just launched on Xbox. While the small team is working hard to ensure the smoothest possible experience on Xbox consoles, Henson tells us they’re also testing an “endless game mode” – where you can test your mettle against endless waves of enemies. There’s no building, just pure plastic mayhem to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s early days for the idea, but the studio is extremely excited about the potential.
“The Xbox community has given us a wealth of positive feedback that has been invaluable,” adds Henson. “We already have our next update planned, but who knows, with the excitement and support we’ve received, there might even be a Hypercharge 2 in the future!”
Hypercharge: Unpacked is now available for Xbox Series X|S.
HYPERCHARGE unpacked
Digital Cybercherries Limited
29,99 $
HELP SGT. MAX AMMO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE! There was once an ancient line of action figures that created a magical energy source that allowed people to retain their favorite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient energy source is known as the Hypercore. The Hypercore is where the beloved memories of our favorite toys reside. If Major Evil destroys it, those memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you have, or watch our beloved toys turn into lost treasures of the past! Hypercharge is a first and third person shooter action figure game you’ve always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete quests, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign! PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDS Work together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break open your toy’s packaging, and get ready to battle waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets. SINGLE-PLAYER OFFLINE GAMEPLAY Not everyone likes to play online. Hypercharge supports offline, split-screen, and local play. You can progress in the game and unlock everything while playing alone. PLAYER BOTS Don’t have a team to play with? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, even as a single player. Player bots will obey your commands, gather resources, and even help build defenses. UNLOCK ACTION FIGURES There are hundreds of unlocks available in Hypercharge, all of which can be earned directly in-game with no microtransactions. PLAYER VS. PLAYER MODES Go head-to-head against other action figures and fight to be at the top of the leaderboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection and King of the Hill.
