What is Breakaway?

At its core, Breakaway is a 4v4 team-based competitive action game where two teams face off to control a central object called the Relic. The objective is to carry the Relic into the enemy team’s goal zone while fighting off defenders, building structures, and coordinating strategies.

Think of it as a mix between Rocket League, Overwatch, and League of Legends — with the strategic depth of MOBAs, the action intensity of shooters, and the objective-driven goals of sports games.

Core Gameplay Overview

• Objective

Each team of four players competes to score by either:

• Carrying the Relic into the opponent’s goal, or
• Eliminating the entire enemy team (a secondary win condition).

Matches are played over several rounds, and the team that wins the most rounds (usually best-of-seven) is crowned the victor.

• The Relic

The Relic is the centerpiece of every match. It’s similar to a ball in a sports game. Players can:

• Carry the Relic
• Pass it to teammates
• Throw it across the battlefield
• Dodge or use abilities while carrying

Players cannot use some abilities while holding the Relic, creating trade-offs between mobility and firepower.

• Playable Heroes

Breakaway featured a diverse roster of unique characters, each with their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. These heroes fall into archetypes like:

• Tank: High health, good for soaking damage (e.g., Spartacus)
• DPS (Damage Dealers): Fragile but deadly with high output (e.g., Rawlins)
• Support: Can heal or buff teammates (e.g., Alona)
• Specialists: Focused on utility or strategic advantage (e.g., Argus)

Each hero has a set of abilities and a buildable structure, allowing for both aggressive and defensive playstyles.

Structures and Builds

A standout feature in Breakaway is the ability to build structures on the battlefield, adding a layer of strategy. These structures include:

• Healing shrines
• Walls and barricades
• Jump pads
• Traps

Players place these structures to control space, protect allies, or hinder enemies. Each structure can change the flow of battle and allows for creative team tactics.

Combat Mechanics

Combat in Breakaway is real-time and skill-based. Key elements include:

• Dodging: Players can evade attacks with quick dodges.
• Cooldown Management: Like MOBAs, each skill has a cooldown. Smart timing is key.
• Ultimate Abilities: Charged over time or by actions, ultimates can turn the tide of battle.
• Team Coordination: Positioning, timing, and comboing abilities are essential.

The combat feels fast and fluid, often compared to Smite or Battlerite in terms of pace and feel.

Game Modes and Match Flow

Each match typically follows this format:

1. Pre-match Planning: Choose your hero and customize builds.
2. Rounds Begin: Both teams race for the Relic in the center.
3. Objective Phase: Players battle to score the Relic or eliminate the enemy team.
4. Victory Conditions:
   • Score the Relic in the enemy goal
   • Team wipe (eliminate all 4 players of the enemy team)
5. Next Round Begins: Structures remain unless destroyed.

A full match is played across multiple rounds, and each round feels like a fast-paced mini-game of its own.

How to Play Breakaway: Beginner’s Guide

• 1. Pick the Right Hero

Choose a character that suits your playstyle:

• Love tanking damage? Try Spartacus.
• Prefer support? Go with Alona.
• Want high risk/high reward? Rawlins is your guy.

• 2. Coordinate With Your Team

Breakaway rewards communication. Use pings or voice chat to:

• Time attacks
• Set up structures
• Pass the Relic
• Combo ultimates

• 3. Learn the Map

Positioning is everything. Learn:

• Where to build structures
• Best paths to goal zones
• Where enemies like to ambush

• 4. Master the Relic

Don’t always rush it. Pass, throw, and fake-out the enemy. A well-timed pass can break enemy lines.

• 5. Use Your Structure Wisely

Place healing stations in defensive zones or launch pads for surprise attacks. Creative structure use wins games.

Advanced Strategies

• Bait and Switch: Use a fake push with the Relic while another teammate flanks.
• Stack Structures: Combine defensive walls with healing zones to hold territory.
• Control Zones: Don’t just chase kills. Own the center and goal areas.
• Relic Juggling: Throw the Relic ahead and chase it down, keeping mobility intact.

What Made Breakaway Unique

Breakaway tried something different by combining brawler-style combat, objective scoring, and strategic building — a rare combination in multiplayer games. It also embraced streamer integration features, allowing Twitch broadcasters to influence games through viewer interaction (like adding power-ups or game modifiers).

Why Breakaway Was Put on Hold

Despite its promise, Breakaway was officially shelved by Amazon Game Studios in 2018. Reasons included:

• Balancing issues
• Lack of player retention
• Unclear identity (MOBA or action brawler?)
• Strong competition in the genre

Still, it remains a fascinating glimpse into where multiplayer games can go — and its DNA continues to influence other projects.

Conclusion

Breakaway was a bold experiment that merged sports, action, and arena combat into a fast, strategic package. Though the game didn’t achieve mainstream success, it was ahead of its time in many ways. The mix of team tactics, building mechanics, and real-time skill shots made every match unpredictable and thrilling.

If you ever get a chance to play a prototype or watch old footage, you’ll quickly see how much passion and innovation went into Breakaway. Whether you’re a casual gamer, aspiring esports player, or game dev, there’s a lot to learn from what Breakaway brought to the table.

Who knows? One day, a spiritual successor might rise and carry the Relic forward.