Steam debut: Free-to-play multiplayer game launches into early access on Steam with nearly 400 "Mostly Positive" reviews in just 2 days

The hero shooter genre is generally centered around a set of distinctive characters, team-based combat, and either ranged or melee action. The latest free-to-play addition to this genre, Black Stigma, launched into early access on Steam on July 18, and has quickly accrued nearly 400 reviews, with the overall reception currently at "Mostly Positive" as of launch weekend. 

Developed by BoldPlay Games, Black Stigma throws players into the middle of syndicate wars, controlling "Masters" - each with unique backgrounds, melee and ranged skills, and upgradable weapons. The differentiating factor with Black Stigma is the dynamic exchange between gunfights and hand-to-hand combat: every playable master brings a mix of marksmanship, close-quarters abilities, and support tactics.

Key features at launch:

• Character Variety: A roster of 15 "Masters," with dedicated combat styles ranging from bow-wielding snipers to support-centric tacticians
• Combat: Both first- and third-person shooter elements, which encourages both ranged gunplay and fast, combo-driven melee takedowns.
• Weapon Customization: Players can modify their pistols with different sights, silencers, magazines, and cosmetic changes.
• Game Modes: Includes team deathmatch, objective-based missions, and a three-team "treasure" mode; early access highlights 6v6 and 3v3v3 formats.
• Maps: Variety of environments, such as abandoned subways, luxury rooftops, and secret hideouts.

Since its early access debut, Black Stigma has reached close to 400 Steam reviews, settling around a "Mostly Positive" aggregate. Early impressions from players commend the hybrid combat system and the diversity of playable characters. However, as with most early access shooters, there is a lot of feedback about occasional performance issues and balancing characters, which takes center stage as the major issue here. Additionally, some players complained about unnecessary nudity in the game as well.

While Black Stigma is launching into a competitive field - one where only a handful of hero shooters have enjoyed sustained popularity - it does introduce enough fresh elements to potentially carve out a niche. Future updates are also expected, with new masters, maps, and modes on the roadmap as the studio is responding to player feedback throughout early access. Also, it's worth noting that the game lists controller support in its Steam database configuration - however, players are still asking for a 'robust' controller configuration, which likely means that it needs some polishing. Check out the Gamesir G7 SE wired controller on Amazon. 

Black Stigma is available now for free on Steam, with the developers confirming that it will remain free-to-play both during early access and upon full release. At the time of writing, the game has 1,500 concurrent players - with a peak player count of 3,276 so far.