The Culling (video game)

The Culling was a battle royale-style first-person shooter video game developed by Xaviant. It was initially released in early access on Steam in March 2016 and later officially launched in October 2017.

The core gameplay involved sixteen players being dropped onto an island arena and tasked with eliminating each other to be the last one standing. Players could scavenge for resources, craft weapons and items, set traps, and utilize the environment to their advantage. A key feature was the emphasis on tactical combat, which rewarded skillful use of melee weapons, bows, and crafted explosives rather than relying solely on gunplay.

A unique aspect of The Culling was its in-game announcer, who provided commentary on the unfolding events and added a layer of entertainment. Players could also earn "Funnies" (in-game currency) by performing well, which could then be spent on airdrops containing powerful weapons and items.

The game initially garnered significant attention and a dedicated player base. However, its popularity waned over time due to issues such as balance problems, a shrinking player population, and controversial design decisions.

In 2018, Xaviant released The Culling 2, a sequel that attempted to address some of the original's issues. However, The Culling 2 was widely criticized and quickly shut down due to overwhelmingly negative reception.

Following the failure of the sequel, Xaviant attempted to revive the original The Culling by re-releasing it under a free-to-play model in 2019. However, this effort was also unsuccessful, and the game was eventually shut down completely in May 2020.