Aliens: Fireteam - What We Know So Far

The Alien movie saga is a staple in cinema history. With giant extraterrestrial creatures who are determined to kill any human they see, and facehuggers looking for victims in which to lay their eggs, it seems like an ideal premise for a survival game. Wandering around in dark, misty corridors waiting for an otherworldly beast to strike is enough to get any thrill-seeker's adrenaline pumping. The good news for fans of the Alien franchise is that a new survival shooter is on the horizon — Aliens: Fireteam. 

While there have been good games based on the Alien movies, some may recall the disaster that was Aliens: Colonial Marines, which is proof that not all game adaptations of this property will be great. For everyone who's excited to face off against the deadly Xenomorphs once again, there's bound to be some who are wondering if Aliens: Fireteam will truly be worth the purchase. 

Until reviews are in, fans may want to familiarize themselves with the information currently available. This is what you should know about Aliens: Fireteam.

Aliens: Fireteam is set to launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam this summer. An exact date has not yet been specified, but if everything stays on schedule, gamers will be able to get their hands on this title soon.

The project was first announced in early 2018 after FoxNext purchased developer Cold Iron Studios, and according to GamesIndustry.biz, the studio heads have impressive resumes. Those involved have previous experience working on titles such as Star Trek Online, City of Heroes, Champions Online, and more. Founded in 2015, the company has just over five years under its belt. When Aliens: Fireteam drops, it will be a major release for the young company.

Barring any significant delays, the summer 2021 release date will have put this game in a development period of approximately 3.5 years. Considering the experience of the company's founding members, one might expect that the project is in capable hands — and that it will launch as a fully realized game.

If you're eager to see what Aliens: Fireteam looks like, the game's official YouTube channel just released a trailer. It begins with three marines cautiously entering a dark, cavernous space, which the video classifies as the "Katanga Refinery, Orbit LV-895." The date reads "May 7, 2202," giving players a specific future setting for the action.

As these marines make their way through the building, they see more and more evidence of alien activity. One of the soldiers yells, "I've got movement! I've got movement!" Soon after, the three troops find themselves surrounded by menacing aliens who slowly move in on them.

From there, you see various shots of soldiers firing at swarms of rushing Xenomorphs, running down corridors, and showing off an impressive arsenal of weaponry, including a powerful flamethrower. Toward the end of the trailer when gamers are told to "Survive the hive," viewers may feel that they'll have their work cut out for them in Aliens: Fireteam.

The trailer offers gamers a basic idea of the pace and action to expect from Aliens: Fireteam, but what kind of gameplay can you look forward to? The game's website describes it as "a cooperative third-person survival shooter that drops your fireteam of hardened marines into a desperate fight to contain the Xenomorph threat." Players will encounter a large variety of hostile forces with more than 20 kinds of alien creatures, which all possess unique AI and attack patterns, creating a dynamic survival experience.

Aliens: Fireteam offers the player a choice between a gunner, a demolisher, a technician, a doctor, and a recon expert. The game will provide over 30 weapons, which can be customized to your liking from a selection of more than 70 mods and attachments.

According to Variety, you team up with two other players or, in the absence of human partners, computer-controlled soldiers. IGN's Ryan McCaffrey compares the game to Left 4 Dead and elaborates further on Fireteam's Challenge Card feature, which allows gamers to create specific challenges within missions. McCaffrey also notes that Fireteam includes various difficulty options like friendly fire and increased acid damage.