Exterminauts, the upcoming live-service third-person shooter from Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive, will allow players to unlock its seasonal Battle Passes entirely through gameplay. The game, which blends the cooperative chaos of Starship Troopers with the spectral containment theme of Ghostbusters, is set to launch in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Creative director Vincent Regimbald stated at Gamescom that the game's live content, including its Battle Passes, will begin rolling out about a month after the initial launch. These "Warbond-like Battle Passes" will be approximately six weeks long, ensuring a consistent stream of new content. Payment for these passes is described as purely optional, with in-game currency earnable through daily and weekly objectives. This approach mirrors systems seen in other live-service titles, such as Helldivers 2, where premium currency can be found within game maps, though it often requires significant playtime to accumulate.
These Battle Passes will feature new cosmetics and weapons, though Regimbald indicated that the majority of these items will be obtainable through regular play. Beyond standard unlocks, Exterminauts will also feature a mod system for weapons. These mods can alter a weapon's performance, offering effects like elemental damage, instant reloads, or increased critical hit damage. Regimbald suggested that players can combine these mods to significantly customize their playstyle.
Further customization will come through passive abilities known as "emblems and badges." These function similarly to character classes, allowing players to focus on specific playstyles such as gadget specialization, enhanced healing, or ice-based damage. For instance, an ice-focused emblem could cause enemies to explode for area-of-effect damage when frozen and shot, enabling combo-driven gameplay when paired with weapon mods.
During hands-on experience with Exterminauts, the mod system was noted as a compelling reason for players to continue engaging with the game. While not groundbreaking, the game's lighthearted combat and cooperative potential present it as a title worth monitoring as its 2027 release approaches.