Bounty Star: A Charming and Cozy Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler

As I was steering my clunky Desert Raptor MKII mech through this dusty, winding canyon—a bit like driving a hunk of metal in an old scrapyard, but with style—I had this feeling. Like, maybe Bounty Star is onto something really cool here. My mech, a mishmash of parts that look like they’ve seen better days, was taking down these rocket-happy hover bots and bandits with a mix of punches and blasts. Took a couple of tries (okay, maybe more), but when I finally got it, I was hooked. Can’t wait for the full game to drop on Xbox Series X|S.

So, you play as Clem, yeah? She’s this badass fighter and mech pilot with a not-so-easy past—a war vet trying to do better now. It all kicks off in what’s called the Red Expanse. Think of an apocalyptic version of the American Southwest. Kind of makes you wonder how they thought of this setting.

Speaking of settings, here’s a nugget: Creative Director Benjamin Ruiz was chilling in Sedona, Arizona—you know, all those red rocks and desert vibes. Perfect for dreaming up a game landscape. He said, “The desert was beautiful, man, just got me thinking.” —or something like that. Apparently, that was like five years ago. Crazy how ideas stick around until they’re, well, real.

Ruiz always wanted to make a Western, but not just a cowboy showdown—more like a mix of robots and rough terrain. It’s a lighter spin on those Armored Core games. Oh, and there’s this part where you live life as a bounty hunter. Cooking, building your home base, raising chickens… yeah, chickens. Forget the day job, right?

I was poking around Clem’s shabby garage. Wires hanging everywhere, a little kitchen for cooking up meals that can somehow make you fight better. Firefly vibes, if you know what I mean. Not much to work with, but you make it home.

Customization’s big here. Like, make your mech your own. Heavy armor, fast and nimble—it’s your call, as long as you can scrape together the parts. Ruiz was telling me more about this. Seems you can tweak a bunch of things and choose your weapons. Some testers even skip healing—just pure speed and power. Sounds wild.

Apart from blowing stuff up, there’s a few key folks to chat with—like the Marshall who hands out bounties and is an old buddy. And a shady gear merchant. Small crew, but memorable, according to Ruiz. Keeping it cozy, you know?

Now, the bounties—they’re gonna keep you busy. Different missions every day. Some hardcore fights, some precision required. Optional challenges too, for those who love a good replay. Bounty Star’s got this arena vibe—kind of like being stuck inside a giant, chaotic sandbox of action.

Much like Clem’s pad, Bounty Star’s brimming with “what ifs” and “could be” moments. Looking forward to when it all drops, later this year on Xbox Series X|S. Could be epic, honestly.