In Exterminauts, developer Behaviour Interactive aims to subvert the typical heroic fantasy, instead casting players as ordinary workers tasked with alien pest control. The game emphasizes a "working man" mentality, where players clad in utilitarian orange suits must cooperate to complete objectives on alien worlds for interstellar megacorporations. This grounded approach, which has been in development for about five years, was a core identity pillar for the team.
During a preview session at Gamescom, players took on three-player PvE contracts. While character customization, weapon mods, and passive abilities will be available in the full game, the demo featured pre-built characters. The visual style is described as bright, vivid, and colorful, presenting alien environments and creatures with a sense of otherworldliness. Enemies encountered included flying "air jellyfish" and a bug-like creature with large pincers. Creative Director Vincent Regimbald explained the design philosophy behind the creatures, aiming for a contrast between tough exteriors and vulnerable weak spots, citing the "wrecking slug" as an example.
Gameplay involves not only combat but also performing "job" tasks such as turning valves, fixing electrical shorts, and welding metal on massive structures. Traversing these environments often requires ziplines or careful navigation of gorges and cliffs. Some tasks demand coordinated efforts from multiple players, like simultaneously operating valves while fending off enemies, or faster completion by sacrificing backpack power for immediate repairs. The design of these jobs draws inspiration from typical blue-collar work site activities.
Combat features a variety of roles and weapons. The previewer's character focused on a support role with a machine gun for smaller threats and a deployable turret. A rocket launcher provided explosive power, with the ability to be overcharged using a backpack for increased strength. Exterminauts encourages strategic use of these abilities, though friendly fire is a risk, as demonstrated when the rocket launcher accidentally downed teammates, leading to a potential contract failure if lives are depleted.
The game intentionally cultivates chaos and tension. The experience is characterized by constant decision-making, unexpected events, and the need to react on the fly, whether dealing with environmental hazards, accidental team kills, or emergent gameplay situations. This chaotic element was highlighted as a particularly enjoyable aspect during the preview.
Upon completing objectives and successfully defending against waves of enemies while awaiting extraction, players "clock out" to return to base. The preview concluded with anticipation for future work as an Exterminaut, with particular interest in unlockable mods like an ice effect for freezing and shattering enemies. The game is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.