Developer Rebellion, known for titles like Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, is preparing to launch Alien Deathstorm, a new sci-fi horror first-person shooter. A hands-on preview at Gamescom 2026 revealed a game that emphasizes fast-paced action while incorporating elements of player choice and environmental interaction.
The premise of Alien Deathstorm drops players into a ravaged off-world colony grappling with a severe alien infestation. The objective is to uncover the fate of the outpost, rescue any survivors, and escape a relentless alien threat, all while contending with a ferocious storm. This differs from Rebellion's previous work, which often featured more tactical or RPG-like approaches. Alien Deathstorm aims for a more action-driven experience.
During a half-hour demo, players utilized an SMG with noticeable lack of recoil, enabling satisfyingly rapid clearing of alien threats. The presented mission, set later in the game, involved navigating the reactor area to bring it back online. Producer Martin Willingham stated that the final game is expected to run for approximately 8-10 hours, a runtime that may seem short given features like crafting and weapon upgrades.
Rebellion is drawing from its established design principles. "Certainly from Sniper [Elite] we took a lot of the level design fundamentals and principles with the approach to Alien Deathstorm," Willingham explained. The game moves away from linear corridor shooting, offering more open environments that allow players to plan their routes and make navigational choices. Inspiration from Atomfall is also evident, with an emphasis on player-driven problem-solving rather than immediate answers.
Player actions influence enemy behavior, though some scripted events, like encounters during power restoration, are unavoidable. The demo showcased how an aggressive, "all-guns blazing" approach could trigger larger, more dangerous enemy spawns. Conversely, a more methodical or stealthy playstyle could lead to an experience akin to survival horror, where tense encounters with lurking aliens offer the choice to evade or engage, potentially at the cost of attracting more attention.
Alien Deathstorm is slated for release in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
