H1Z1 might have helped popularize open-world, survival gameplay as a pseudo-successor to DayZ, but it's fallen far from grace today, partly due to time, partly due to a long development time, and partly thanks to the monster success of battle royale games like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. That doesn't mean it isn't still kicking though and the developers have taken a new tack to try and make H1Z1 relevant again: turn it into a battle royale game.
Although that is certainly a bit of bandwagon jumping, H1Z1 would be far from the first game to do so and by all reports, the new battle royale mode is actually quite good.
Part of that is because of the new game mode's simplicity on console. With a new PS4 debut, H1Z1 is said to feel fresh, streamlined and a much faster gameplay experience than it does on PC, according to Eurogamer. Scavenging and choosing weapons is quick and simple. There are no building mechanics and no attachment system -- guns come pre-equipped. While that makes the game less versatile than some of its contemporaries, it means that the battle royale system is distilled down to its basics and for some at least, that makes for a better game.
This ultimately results in matches lasting around 15 minutes, which compared to some of the lengthier games that take place in PubG or Fortnite, makes for a much more accessible quick-play title that doesn't demand hours of your time just to get a few games in.
Better yet, the beta seems relatively bug free, which means when H1Z1's Auto Royale and main game experience are officially launched on the PS4 in the near future, it should be a complete experience, unlike some other battle royale games.
