"Torchlight 3" Introduces New Forts System And Player Houses Customization

From being called “Torchlight Frontiers,” “Torchlight III” has turned into the spiritual successor to “Torchlight II” that everyone’s been dreaming of. The game is set for release sometime this year and focuses on growing a character’s class power.

Gamespot reported that the in-game Forts are completely player-made and customizable, with upgrades suited to a particular player’s taste. It is also where a player can improve equipment and can be designed to adapt to any theme the player prefers. A Fort can also be filled with different items and equipment that the player receives throughout the game.

The developer’s Twitter account introduced the new feature in a video. The tweet teased the possibility of creating a mage-class Fort or a warrior’s fortress. The video is full of details and serves to inform players what to expect once the game rolls out.

PC Gamer revealed that player interaction with Forts in "Torchlight III" is also playable in an MMO setting, other players will be able to receive the benefits of a player’s Fort. The sequel retains the shared world charm its earlier versions have. A player can also acquire access to other players' Fort during an encounter.

New characters won’t necessarily have to create another Fort either. Forts are account-wide, however, it can only be designed by a single player at a time character. Meanwhile, other players can hunt for decorations instead to match a single theme.

The "Torchlight" series was originally developed by the now-defunct Runic Games. The sequel is under a new developer Echtra games, but it still looks very much like the original. "Torchlight" aimed to distance itself from being “gloomy” like the "Diablo" series and other ARPGs out in the market. It’s reassuring to see how Echtra chose to stick with the overall cartoon style of the original series.

"Torchlight III" is due to launch this year, although that remains to be seen with the current COVID-19 situation.