Point Park Esports Scores a Landmark Achievement with "Victory’s Grave: Outflank" Playtest Thursday, December 11, 2025
Esports players test "Victory's Grave: Outflank," while Anthony “Tone” Backowski, Old Glory Studio’s community manager and associate creative director, looks on. Photo by Saif Greco
By Teresa P. Carstetter, Point Park University Esports Reporting
On Oct. 23, 2025, the Point Park esports team scored a historical landmark first-ever in its dynamically active history: Point Park Esports was specially selected in the first-ever pre-alpha playtest of "Victory’s Grave: Outflank."
The yet-to-be-released game is a tactical, objective-based team shooter developed by Old Glory Studios. The playtest itself marks a red-letter milestone, not only for Point Park but also for collegiate esports as a whole, bridging the gap between early game development and competitive player-focused testing.
"I enjoyed being able to see how games start out before they're polished," said Caleb Knox, senior sports communication major and captain of the Rocket League team. "You hear stories and watch videos of games before they reach the shelves, and being able to play one before that feels like you're witnessing a sapling grow before it becomes a great tree."
Founded in late 2023 by military veterans and industry professionals from Ubisoft ("The Division," "Ghost Recon," "Rainbow Six Siege" and "Dying Light 2"), Old Glory Studios brings immersive gaming that unifies the precision of tactical realism with the intensity and fluidity of esports competition. The studio’s founders, Matt Patak (creative director) and Lewis Manalo (executive producer), draw from their real-world military experience and expertise to craft a game that rewards teamwork, communication and strategic adaptation under pressure.
A New Era of Collegiate Playtesting
The prestige that comes with being elected for this inaugural playtest marks an emerging partnership between development studios and collegiate esports athletes. Point Park esports athletes’ roles in the groundbreaking playtest went beyond players. They also proved their expertise as testers, analysts and collaborators, providing feedback that could shape the future of "Victory’s Grave: Outflank."
Old Glory Studios took special care and consideration in facilitating the playtest collaboration with Point Park esports.
“I felt as though it was a great chance to have college students who love videogames and may take game development courses, get the opportunity to be involved in a project that is still in its early developmental stages,” said Anthony “Tone” Backowski, Old Glory Studio’s community manager and associate creative director.
Backowski attended the playtest in person, providing feedback and instruction. Founders Matt Patak and Lewis Manalo joined via Discord and provided critical insight and a specially created tutorial to ensure optimal understanding of the game mechanics among the esports athletes.
"I love watching competitive players in our game,” said Manalo. ”When we ourselves are in the playtests, we always play the maps and mechanics how they're ‘supposed’ to be played, but when outside playtesters get their hands on a game, they always approach the strategy in ways that we don't anticipate. Players are the people who make a game what it is, and whether it's something they love or something that frustrates them, I love to hear their opinions."
Patak agreed: “A highlight I'll never forget was seeing everyone cheering and having fun between rounds. It really felt great and tells me I'm on the right track! A benefit for me was getting the perspective of esports players who don't play the Mil-Sim [military-simulator] shooter genre. Their feedback sheds light on areas I would probably never see.”
Esports: Future in Innovation and Collaboration
Point Park’s collaboration with Old Glory Studio goes beyond the playtest. It signals the beginning of a landmark partnership, setting a precedent for the future that reinforces the university’s role as a competitive hub for innovation in esports education.
Participating in the pre-alpha playtest demonstrates the hands-on, experiential opportunity that Point Park esports is known for: experience and opportunity that prepares its athletes and crew for careers in casting, game design, production and competitive play.
As "Victory’s Grave: Outflank" progresses toward beta, Point Park’s dynamic team can proudly claim its integral role in shaping the early evolution of a successful title in military-simulator gaming and tactical esports itself.
