Anyone who was on Twitch in 2020 probably remembers the part of the year where just about everyone was playingAmong Us.It was one of the defining games of the year, dominating Twitch viewership, kicking off an endless thread ofAmong Uscontent on YouTube, and bringing all kinds of streamers together to play the same game. It’s uncommon to see a game totally dominate streaming in the way thatAmong Usdid, but over the course of last year’s quarantine,Among Usmanaged to stand out. Hubbub around the game has cooled down a fair bit, but the new Airship map might boost its popularity again.
The Airship map is a really big deal forAmong Us.The game hasn’t received any update this major since it first released in 2018, asInnersloth’s work on this gamewent mostly unacknowledged until streamers discovered it. Before then, Innersloth was mostly known for theHenry Stickmingames, and it turns out that the Airship inAmong Usis actually a reference to a particular entry in theHenry Stickminseries. The Airship update will come with all sorts of cosmetics also referencing these games, but the Airship itself remains the most important part of the update by far. It introduces new mechanics that totally change the game and hint at exciting possibilities for futureAmong Usmaps.
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The Airship’s New Mechanics
There’s two crucialnew mechanics that the Airship introduces. One of them is that mobility isn’t just a matter of walking around the map anymore.Among Us' Airship features ladders and flying platforms that players will have to use to get up and down heights and to cross gaps respectively. Players will have to think carefully about when and how to use ladders and platforms, since they’re a convenient way of getting around, but they can also trap players with each other. The Airship’s trailer suggests that an Impostor sabotage can disable the flying platforms, soAmong Usfans should be careful who they travel with, or they’ll get trapped in a corner.
Another extremely important mechanic is players' option of where to start in the Airship after meetings. Players have three choices after meetings: the Engine Room, Records, or the Main Hall. Different starting positions completely overhauls theAmong Usplayer’s need to keep track of player positions. Knowing where people started the round and where they went from there is crucial to deducing who the Impostor is, but now it’s hard to know for sure where everyone is at the start of the round, and players might find it easier to be isolated in the late stages of the game. Because the Airship pushes players to think more critically about navigating the map and where everyone else is going, it ought to offera good challenge toAmong Usveterans.
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A Whole New Kind of Map
Lots of inherent qualities of the Airship set it apart from previous maps. An Innersloth developer tweeted last October that the Airship might turn out to be the biggest map in the game to date, which would pair well with the Airship’s multiple start locations. That size alone will offer a greater level of challenge toAmong Usplayers. Fans should also be aware that the Airship’s rooms are mostly unique. They’ll have a lot of new Crewmate tasks to learn that haven’t shown up inAmong Usbefore, like taking out trash bags and polishing a gemstone. These new tasks will add even more to the learning curve of this large map full of new mechanics. Still, it’ll bea big help toAmong Us' longevity.
The best thing Innersloth can do tokeepAmong Uspopularis to give fans more ways to enjoy the game. A new map is a way to do that, but it’s even better to seeAmong Usget a new map that changes the way the game is played. The new movement mechanics and tasks are just what Innersloth needed to come up with to keepAmong Usfeeling fresh. It remains to be seen just how popular this game can remain in the long term. It’s easy to pick up and available to all kinds of players, but many still worry that its gameplay loop is too simple to capture an audience for a long time. Regardless ofAmong Us' future, though, the Airship is a great thing forAmong Us' present. Fans should expect a second wave of Twitch streamers enjoyingAmong Usduring April.
Among Usis available now on Mobile, PC, and Switch. Xbox One and Xbox Series X versions will release in 2021.
