Characters come from one of four Origins: Veterans, Outlaws, Machinists, or Survivalists.[] Veterans are a group of soldiers who survived The Pale Wars, a massive conflict between humans and aliens. Outlaws are criminals who raid and destroy for fortunes. Machinists are scavengers, who recover alien technology to make profits and a living from it. Survivalists are humans or aliens who attempt to survive in the newly formed, hostile world. Besides initial starter equipment and also costume - this choice, similar to Race (Human, Irathient, and Castithan) has no consequence in the later game, with all equipment, abilities and costumes being equally accessible to all players beyond the tutorial area.
Players can choose to be either a Human or an "Irathient" (a humanoid alien species who are similar to humans), or the Castithan race if they have particular downloadable content available.
The Ark Hunters are injected with an EGO (Environmental Guardian Online), a symbiotic, neuro-muscular bionetic implant developed by Von Bach Industries, which helps players navigate the Bay Area and gives them access to unique abilities.
- The game takes place in the , 15 years after the devastating Pale Wars between Earth and a loose alliance of extraterrestrial races known as .
- The Votans came to Earth seeking a new home after the destruction of their solar system, unaware that the planet was already inhabited
- Friction between the new arrivals and Humanity led to war, during which the Votan's technology was unleashed
- The Earth's surface was drastically altered as a result, introducing radical changes in topography, the extinction of plant and animal species, and the emergence of new species
