Deep Rock Galactic inspires players to pursue new missions

Key Takeaways

• Playing Deep Rock Galactic inspired one fan to become an explosive miner.
• Three years later, he credits this choice with helping him change his life completely.
• Becoming a real miner gave players a deeper understanding of Deep Rock Galactic's inspiration.

One Deep Rock Galactic fans shared incredible stories about how he was motivated to continue mining. Years later, the actor still looks back fondly on that decision, giving credit Deep Rock Galactic for helping him change his life completely.

Developed by Denmark-based Ghost Ship Games, Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative shooter for four players. Since its release in 2020, the game has been a huge success, with PlayTracker and Gamalytic estimating that lifetime sales on Steam alone are in the ballpark of seven million units. end of 2024.

Among the millions who bought Deep Rock Galactic For years Reddit user Bulk-Detonator, also known as Mat. His game experience is unusual as they come, not least because Deep Rock Galactic inspired him to become a real miner. It happened in 2021, when Mat said he was at a low point in his life, stuck in a “dead last job” and suffering from low self-esteem. That's when he saw Deep Rock Galacticwhich was intended as an escape. Months later, he found a job listing for training in rock drills and explosive mining, prompting him to ponder, “Wouldn't it be fun to play video games IRL,” as he recalled on a recent Reddit post. It turned out to be a life-changing decision that helped her make more money, lose a lot of weight, and be happier overall.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Mat revealed that his team's daily duties boil down to digging dozens or hundreds of holes throughout the mine, flooding them with semi-liquid explosives, covering them those on the rocks, and blow them when everyone is gone. The purpose is to make gravel by breaking down the rock, thus providing material for use in asphalt, cement, or drainage, among other applications. Mat is currently only a trainee driller, but hopes to progress to a full driller position in the near future. “I just came out of this blind, and it ended up not only being a really good job for me, but it really loved me,” he said.

Real mining has inspired many of Deep Rock Galactic

Mat's new job made him realize that the world of Deep Rock Galactic borrow much more from real mining than they originally thought. For example, the Glyphid Bulk Detonator monster seems to be named after the bulk explosives used in mining. Similarly, the spiders that are attracted to the stone are very real in real life, although they are not as big as the wonders seen during the Ghost Ship co-op game.

I just walked into this blind, and it ended up not only being a great job for me, but it really loved me.

As for his playing habits, Mat is still playing DRG whenever he can, estimating that he has logged over 900 hours into the game. Even though all classes have been played a lot at this point, it tends to go there Deep Rock GalacticThe Driller—a seemingly natural choice for his current career, which he believes has changed his life forever.