H-Hour: World's Elite
Developer(s)SOF Studios
Publisher(s)SOF Studios
Composer(s)Penka Kouneva
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Release
  • Microsoft Windows
  • February 17, 2020
  • PlayStation 4
  • TBA
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Multiplayer

H-Hour: World's Elite is a tactical shooter video game, currently being developed by SOF Studios. The game released in early access for Microsoft Windows via Steam in May 2015. A version for the PlayStation 4 is planned to be released at a later date.[1]

Initial development was mostly funded by $252,500 from a successful Kickstarter campaign in July 2013.

Gameplay

H-Hour's gameplay takes heavy inspiration from the SOCOM series, to which the developers describe the game as a "spiritual successor". The game is intended to be best when played with a clan and organised teams, and aims to give players a realistic military combat experience.[2]

The game will initially be "8v8" only, with the possibility of testing and adding larger player-counts in the future.[3] Upon release the game will be multiplayer only.

H-Hour: World's Elite is planned to include six maps upon release and at least four gameplay modes. Additional community maps are planned to be supported.[4]

Development

H-Hour: World's Elite is being developed by SOF Studios, located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Its creative director, David Sears, was also the creative director of the SOCOM series, and H Hour is envisaged as a spiritual successor.[5] The game was announced alongside a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in July 2013 which aimed to raise $200,000, ultimately raising $252,662.[5] These funds were used to create a prototype which could then be used as a pitch for publisher funding.[4] In April 2014, Sears posted a blog about difficulties in funding the project,[6] later leaving his position as creative director at SOF Studios in October 2014.[7]

Initial development and assets were created using Unreal Engine 3 and later transitioned to Unreal Engine 4.[8] The game is being developed for Microsoft Windows, with plans to port the game to the PlayStation 4.[1] The game was entered into Steam Greenlight in March 2014, approved in April, and released onto Steam Early Access in May 2015.[1][9][10]

As of March 14, 2016, all development on H-Hour: World's Elite was ceased awaiting further capital investment.[11]

As of March 21, 2016, a group of industry professionals including former contract workers at SOF Studios stepped forward to volunteer their spare time to continuing the development of 'H-Hour: World's Elite. Between then and the end of June 2016, several improvements were completed.[12] The game entered a beta phase in March 2018, alongside an announcement that the PlayStation 4 version was under development.[13]

As of August 2023, the SOF Studios website is no longer online and no updates have been made to the game in several years.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Corriea, Alexa Ray (27 March 2014). "SOCOM spiritual successor launches on Steam Greenlight". Polygon. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Colin (4 July 2013). "How H-Hour aims to bring SOCOM back to life". Polygon. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  3. ↑ David Sears (2013-06-07). "H-Hour player count". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  4. 1 2 Takahashi, Dean (2 July 2013). "SOCOM creator crowdsources his next team-shooter game with H-Hour: World's Elite". VentureBeat. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  5. 1 2 Campbell, Colin (9 June 2013). "Former SOCOM developer unveils new shooter". Polygon. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Schreier, Jason (20 February 2015). "12 Successful Kickstarters That Never Delivered". Kotaku. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  7. ↑ Tom (2014-10-23). "David Sears moves to advisory role for H-Hour". SOF Studios. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  8. ↑ Hillier, Brenna (10 April 2014). "H-Hour: World's Elite built on Unreal Engine 4". VG24/7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. ↑ Papadopoulos, John (20 May 2015). "H-Hour: World's Elite – Spiritual Successor To SOCOM – Steam Early Access Now Available". DSO Gaming. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Cook, Dave (4 April 2014). "H-Hour: World's Elite Steam Greenlight campaign successful, new screens released". VG24/7. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  11. ↑ Tom (2016-03-14). "Weekly "Quick Look" - 14 March 2016". SOF Studios. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  12. ↑ Rosie (2016-07-01). "Consolidated Patch Notes". SOF Studios. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  13. ↑ Davies, Sean (26 March 2018). "PS4 Version of H-Hour: World's Elite Now In Progress As Game Enters Beta On PC". Finger guns. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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