FragPunk: NetEase Reveals Second Hero Shooter, Offers Free Bonuses After Sudden Console Delay

A Deckbuilding Twist on Hero Shooters

FragPunk is a first-person hero shooter that brings deckbuilding card mechanics into the mix, letting you boost or offset your character’s strengths and weaknesses. Developed by NetEase, the same studio behind Marvel Rivals, this free-to-play title is launching this week—except on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, where it was unexpectedly delayed just 24 hours before release.

The Last-Minute Console Delay

In a statement published last night, the FragPunk team explained that “unexpected technical challenges in optimization and adaption” arose during console compliance testing. Rather than push out a subpar console experience, they opted to delay the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launch to ensure players on those platforms get an experience on par with PC.

Compensation for Console Players

There’s currently no new release date for the console versions, though the PC edition is still on track for March 6. To soften the blow, the developers will reward console players with all the in-game currencies, cosmetics, experience points, and other perks they would’ve earned during Season 1—no grinding necessary. On top of that, anyone who pre-ordered on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S will get an extra $10 in in-game currency when FragPunk finally goes live on those platforms. Hopefully, the game’s community will still be going strong by then.

A Colorful, Card-Based FPS

For those wondering what exactly FragPunk is, it’s a vibrant and visually impressive multiplayer PvP FPS first showcased at Microsoft’s summer event last year. Between rounds, you collect cards that drastically affect your gameplay. These can boost jump height, switch attacker and defender roles, turn your bullets into chain lightning, or even resurrect you and your teammates mid-match—according to the official Steam description.

Facing Fierce Competition

FragPunk might look promising, but it’s diving into a crowded field filled with titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Valorant, and The Finals. It’s also up against NetEase’s own Marvel Rivals, another free-to-play hero shooter released just three months ago. Whether FragPunk was meant as a backup plan or just another exciting IP from the publisher, it’ll need to carve out its own space in a fiercely competitive arena—ideally long enough for console players to join the fun once the delayed versions finally launch.