Soulmask, an innovative open-world survival and simulation game, has been making waves in the gaming community since its early access release on May 30, 2024. Developed by CampFire Studio and published by Qooland Games, Soulmask offers players a unique experience where they navigate a primitive, tribalistic world using mysterious masks that grant special abilities.
Available on Steam and other major platforms, the game has quickly gained attention for its engaging sandbox environment, intriguing narrative, and robust multiplayer options. As the official server host for Soulmask, GPORTAL has been integral to ensuring a smooth and stable launch for this ambitious title.
Following the game’s successful debut, we had the opportunity to sit down with the development team at CampFire Studio to discuss the journey of Soulmask, from its conception to its promising early access phase.
1. How has the player reception been so far? Are there any particular aspects of the game that players seem to be especially excited about?
We’re thrilled to see so many players enjoying Soulmask! Players have really embraced the tribesmen system, which adds a unique twist to the survival gameplay, as well as the mysterious Mask system.
Since our Early Access launch, we’ve been rolling out weekly updates. Our first major update, Evolution of Masks, introduced new combat mechanics with the tribal army and more player-friendly gameplay, which has really excited our players. We sincerely thank everyone for their continued support!
2. The mysterious mask mechanic is a unique feature of Soulmask. Can you tell us more about how this idea evolved during development?
From the beginning, our goal was to create a unique survival-building game. Producer ZIMA has long been fascinated by exploring profound themes like the meaning of life and the potential evolution of intelligent civilizations inside a video game. One concept we found particularly intriguing was consciousness uploading.
We understand that consciousness and the soul are deeply connected. Uploading consciousness suggests a separation of the soul from the body. But if your consciousness leaves your physical form, are you still truly ‘you’? In a similar way, masks—one of humanity’s oldest creations—allow the wearer to take on the roles of gods or other beings. So, what if you could upload your consciousness into a mask? This idea became the foundation of our game, and everything grew from that central theme, always revolving around the masks.
In Soulmask, the main character stumbles upon ancient ruins and discovers a mysterious mask. Upon wearing it, their consciousness is uploaded, granting them the mask’s ancient knowledge and powers. A key gameplay feature is the ability to recruit tribesmen and control their bodies through masks, offering a unique and immersive experience. We’ve designed a variety of masks, each with special abilities for players to discover, unlocking ancient powers and unraveling the secrets of the game.
3. Multiplayer is a significant part of Soulmask. How do you see the balance between single-player and multiplayer experiences evolving as the game develops? Did you plan using private servers and multiplayer when the development started?
Multiplayer gameplay has been at the heart of Soulmask from the very beginning. We believe it’s the best way to showcase the fun our game offers, which is why, during Early Access, we introduced LAN play, private servers, and official PvE and PvP servers. We offer a wide range of multiplayer options to suit different player preferences, especially for those who enjoy playing with others.
Since the Early Access release, we’ve continued to refine multiplayer based on player feedback. We’ve improved online features, added custom options for private servers, and continuously optimized official servers to ensure a fair and enjoyable multiplayer environment by addressing issues like cheating.
Looking ahead, we have many exciting plans for multiplayer modes. We’ll be adding more customization options for private servers, supporting mods, further enhancing official server performance, and experimenting with new official server modes.
4. We’ve heard positive feedback from the community about server performance and the launch of Soulmask has been notably smooth and stable. How did your partnership with GPORTAL contribute to this successful launch?
We’re thrilled with the strong support we’ve received for private servers through our collaboration with GPORTAL. This partnership enables us to offer Soulmask players more customizable and convenient private server setup options, giving them greater flexibility beyond the official servers.
5. Given the complexity of hosting an open-world multiplayer game, how did GPORTAL’s expertise help anticipate and mitigate potential issues during the launch? Were there any specific challenges that our collaboration helped overcome?
GPORTAL has been a huge help in overcoming some of the challenges we faced with private server setups during Soulmask’s Early Access release. We’re mainly talking about Performance and Scalability, Security and Support.
Open-world multiplayer games like Soulmask need to handle lots of players at once, which can put a serious strain on servers. GPORTAL’s experience with scalable hardware ensures smooth performance, even during peak times. We’re also often targets for DDoS attacks and GPORTAL mitigates this with top-tier DDoS protection that sends out early warnings to either prevent or reduce the impact of attacks, keeping the servers stable. Finally, technical issues can pop up unexpectedly, especially during a game launch. GPORTAL’s support team has been quick to step in, helping us resolve problems efficiently and minimizing downtime for players.
6. As the official server host, we’re curious about player engagement. What are some of the most interesting ways you’ve seen players interact with the game’s sandbox environment?
Our players never cease to amaze us with their creativity and dedication! For example, one player constructed a multi-kilometre bridge connecting the camp to the dungeon on the official server. We never anticipated something like that!
https://x.com/Soulmask_/status/1790774113122091491
Also, our community photograph events have been a tremendous success, with players sharing breathtaking in-game screenshots. Without a doubt, they are the most creative and engaging group in Soulmask.
7. Community-driven development is a key aspect of Soulmask. How are you planning to incorporate player feedback during the early access phase?
We place a high value on community feedback and make it a top priority in improving Soulmask. Every day, we gather suggestions and input from all our community channels, and our developers use this feedback to plan weekly updates, ensuring the game keeps evolving.
We also regularly address the most common player questions through quick FAQ sessions, and from the feedback we’ve received, it seems our community really appreciates these efforts!
8. Are there any upcoming features or content updates that you’re particularly excited about and can share with us?
If I had to pick the most exciting upcoming feature, it would definitely be modding! Our community has consistently asked for more user-created content, and we’re just as excited about it. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that we’ll soon be releasing Soulmask developer tools and integrating with Steam Workshop, allowing everyone to create their own unique Soulmask worlds!
We’ve also kept private server owners in mind, including those using GPORTAL’s services. The game will fully support custom mod content on private servers, so players can automatically download and dive into these unique worlds with ease.
We know how important community events are for private server owners too. That’s why we’re making all future official server events available as data packs/commands, so private server owners can run their own events whenever and wherever they want!
9. How has the launch of Soulmask impacted Qooland Games? Has this success opened up new opportunities or changed your plans for the future?
I have to say, the success of Soulmask has exceeded all of our expectations at Qooland Games, especially when it comes to the positive reviews. We’re thrilled that so many players are enjoying what we’ve created. That said, our focus remains the same: as an Early Access game, our top priority is completing Soulmask. We won’t be discussing any future plans until we reach that goal.
10. Looking ahead, how do you envision the partnership between Qooland Games and GPORTAL growing as Soulmask continues to evolve?
Without a doubt, GPORTAL is one of our most important and valued partners. As Soulmask continues to evolve—especially with the upcoming Steam Workshop integration—we expect the demand for a variety of private server options to grow. We’re confident that GPORTAL will continue to provide exceptional service to our players, and we’re excited for what’s to come.
For those who haven’t yet experienced the mysterious world of Soulmask, we encourage you to dive in and discover its unique blend of survival, strategy, and storytelling. As the official server host, we’re working closely with Qooland Games to ensure smooth gameplay experiences for all players.
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments ─ The mask awaits, and your journey is just about to begin!
