Switch Galaxy dev Atomicom and JCB team up to take diggers to Mars

Atomicom, the British developer behind Switch Galaxy and Big Bang Racing, has partnered with construction specialist JCB to create a sci-fi survival game based on the firm’s vehicles.

The Liverpool-based studio is developing JCB Pioneer: Mars, an exploration and construction (shock!) game set on the Red Planet. Set to be published by GamesCo, the free-to-play title will hit PC later this year.

Unsurprisingly, players will have the ability to drive a number of the titular company’s construction and mining automobiles in order to try and survive, or they can instead choose to hop out and traverse the environment by foot – although they run the risk of apparently running into “deadly radiation, meteor strikes, dust clouds and electrical storms”.

A base-building element will also be included, with users gathering resources and working with other players online in a multiplayer mode to learn new tech and expand their base.

The game is being built in Unreal Engine 4 and is touted as featuring accurate simulation of the Martian landscape and weather.

“JCB Pioneer: Mars represents the first time that our vehicles have appeared in a sci-fi video game, which is why we were incredibly excited when GamesCo and Atomicom first approached us to collaborate on a Mars exploration title” said Michael Plummer, GM of worldwide marketing at JCB.

“JCB Pioneer: Mars takes the JCB brand in a fresh direction and helps us reach a new audience of gamers. We have a growing fan base of young followers, who we believe will be excited by this new game. JCB Pioneer: Mars will deliver players a truly immersive and exciting JCB experience by bringing futuristic versions of our construction vehicles to life.”