Square Enix’s foam party shooter FOAMSTARS to release February 6, with new modes and seasonal updates planned 

Square Enix has announced the launch date for FOAMSTARS, their foam-themed third-person online shooter. Foamstars will be released on February 6 for the PS5 and PS4 at the price of $29.99, but will also be available for free as part of the February 2024 PS Plus lineup. Along with the release date, new game modes have been unveiled. 

Foamstars is a 4v4 third-person shooter. The game’s development is being led by Tokyo-based developer Toylogic, which has previously worked on titles such as Warlander. In Foamstars, you play as a Foamstar, using foam to deal damage to your opponents and create slippery terrain over which you can surf at high speeds. Foam can even be used to build walls and vantage points. 

We had the opportunity to participate in a pre-release demo session held for the media and try out the new additions made to the game. Read on for the latest information provided by Square Enix as well as our impressions of the demo. 

A new mode with a different objective 

Up until recently, there had been two known game mods in Foamstars – Smash the Star and Happy Bath Survival. In Smash the Star, the goal is to defeat the opposing team’s Star Player, who is chosen after seven team members have been knocked out. Happy Bath Survival is played with four team members, with two being positioned inside the arena and two out of the arena. The goal is to defeat the opposing team’s two members positioned in the arena. 

This time around, a new game mode called Rubber Duck Party has been announced. While the two modes previously mentioned are both centered around knocking out the opposing team, Rubber Duck Party has a different objective. In the center of the game field, there is a Rubber Duck, and victory is secured by successfully leading the Rubber Duck into the opponent’s field. 

To control the Rubber Duck, you need to occupy the stage above its head for a certain period of time. Therefore, offense and defense throughout the match will revolve around the Rubber Duck. 

Additionally, you can dance on top of the stage while you are in possession of the Rubber Duck. Dancing makes the Rubber Duck accelerate, but also leaves you defenseless. Therefore, you will have to make strategic decisions about what to prioritize: getting the Duck into the enemy’s area or keeping the opposing team members in check. 

Missions that allow both solo play and team action 

Another new game mode revealed is the Mission mode. This is a PvE mode in which players go up against Bubble Beasties. According to the development team, this mode is intended for players who lack experience with shooters, serving as a preparatory stage for PvP matches. Basically, it is designed to introduce novices to the game. As someone who is accustomed to shooters, this is perhaps why the demo version of this mode did not feel challenging. 

There will be six playable characters available for the mission mode at the time of release, allowing you to get used to the Foamstars’ skills and weapons, as well as introducing their personalities and quirks through dialogue. 

In addition to the solo play Foamstar Missions, there will be a co-op option called Squad Missions that can be played by a maximum of 4 players. The Squad Missions are like a tower defense-style mode in which enemies come in waves, and you and your team aim for a high score as you fight them off. 

Seasonal updates throughout the year 

Foamstars will have a seasonal system, with updates planned throughout the year. New seasons will bring season passes (some of which can be unlocked for free), along with new maps, characters, and skins for each character. The first season pass, that will be available on the day of release, will have the character Mel T as an unlockable reward. 

Foamstars will also have Challenges, through which players can obtain rewards by fulfilling certain conditions. The character “The Baristador” will be unlockable as a reward for leveling up in the game. 

With the addition of new modes and seasonal updates planned for the year, we can expect a lot of fresh content from Foamstars. We will be staying tuned for further details about the first Foamstars season. 

FOAMSTARS is scheduled to release on February 6 for the PS5/PS4 and will also be available in the free PS Plus February lineup, so subscribers will be able to download the game free of charge until March 4.