At E3 2019 we announced that Crossfire, one of the most played FPS games in Asia for over a decade, would come exclusively to console for the first time in 2020 as CrossfireX, only on Xbox One. Since then fans have been asking us when they would get their opportunity to play – that time is now. The CrossfireX Open Beta begins today and runs through 9 p.m. PT on June 28. So jump in, claim your exclusive beta weapon skin, the X-B.C. Axe, and have fun. This is just a small taste of what’s to come when the full game launches later this year.
But before you join the ranks of Global Risk or Black List mercenaries and battle it out across the beta’s three maps and modes, we thought it might be a good idea to share some tips and tricks to get you ready for battle. Let’s start with a look at the modes and maps.
Know Your Modes
As I mentioned above, the CrossfireX beta will feature three modes: Team Match, Point Capture, and Spectre. In Team Match, two teams of 8 players will race to eliminate all of their enemies or plant (or defuse) the C4 explosive to achieve victory before switching sides. Point Capture finds two teams of 8 battling it out to reach a threshold of 150 eliminations, while simultaneously capturing points. Finally, there’s Spectre mode, in which one side is cloaked by stealth suits and sports melee weapons, while the other sports regular loadouts and tries to stop their invisible enemies from planting a bomb.
Kicking it Old School
For those of us that have been playing first-person shooters for a long time, the Team Match mode on Black Widow is a breath of fresh air. It’s part of the Classic playlist, which means that it harkens back to a time when shooters were simpler, but in many ways more fun. In this game type, there is no ADS (outside of the sniper rifles) and no sprinting, just straight up running and gunning. There’s still plenty of strategy since you’ll need to guard (or attack, depending on which side you’re on) two different points, but the actual gameplay will remind you of the good old days
Explore the Maps
The modes will take place on three different maps, each of which is suited to different types of playstyles. The Laboratory map in Spectre mode features a good deal of close-quarters combat thanks to some narrow corridors and crawlspaces, as well as a verticality that makes it perfect for getting the drop on your foes. Team Match takes place on Black Widow, which features some long alleyways and open sightlines that play to the strengths of long- and mid-range weapons. Finally, there is GR Tower, a skyscraper with multiple levels and wide-open areas, allowing for a wide range of playstyles. There’s even a zipline that opens up toward the end of the match!
Now let’s get a bit more specific about how to gain an advantage over your opponents:
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
In Spectre Mode, one of the two teams will be nearly invisible and will be tasked with either planting a bomb or eliminating their uncloaked enemies (using only melee weapons). When you’re cloaked, standing still for a few moments will make you even harder to see, making it easier to get the jump on an unsuspecting foe. When do you finally attack, it’s worth noting that the left trigger will perform a heavier (but slower) stab and the right trigger will let you slash at your foe. Finally, it pays to stick together as a group, as it can be tough for an enemy to get his bearing when there are multiple transparent baddies moving around him.
Every Breath They Take
When you’re on the defending team and have to deal with a bunch of nearly-invisible foes, you’ll need all the help you can get. The best tip for ensuring you don’t give up the ghost to a ghost is to move slowly and keep your ears open. If an invisible enemy is nearby or sneaking up on you, you’ll be able to hear their heavy breathing from a not insignificant distance, allowing you to prepare for their attack. Personally, I found the shotgun loadout to come in particularly handy in this mode, as the cloaked team needs to get up close and personal for their melee-only eliminations.
Embrace a Growth Mindset
The Point Capture mode on GR Tower is part of the Modern playlist, meaning it features a lot of trappings found in modern shooters. The most notable of these is the ability to sprint and aim down sights (ADS) with every weapon. But there’s one more mechanic that’s important to embrace: Tactical Growth. Four times during the match, you’ll gain the ability to improve your soldier with a rightward press of the D-pad, which allows you to put points into Defense, Offense, Recovery, or Speed. So, whether you want to sport a tactical shield in combat, fire your weapon faster, heal with every kill, move faster, or some combination of those attributes, you’ll be able to.
Have It Your Way
As you play through the CrossfireX open beta, you’ll earn points and progress through a number of ranks. When you’re in the main menu, you can use the right bumper to move over to the Profile tab, where you’ll be able to put points into three categories (Offense, Defense, Speed) and find a neat triangular tool that allows you to see what sort of balance your soldier has. While the points you earn are permanent, the way you distribute them can be changed at any time depending on what mode or map you’re playing. You’ll also notice a tab for your Loadout, which allows you to set multiple combinations of loadouts for each of the two mercenary groups.
That’s about it for our tips and tricks, hopefully they’ll help you dominate the battlefield in the CrossfireX open beta. You’ll be able to play the beta from now through 9 p.m. PT on June 28, so get out there and get fighting!