Aliens: Dark Descent has been announced, coming 2023 to PS4/5, XSX/S, XBO and PC! Just moments ago, the brand new Aliens game called Aliens: Dark Descent has just been announced on SummerGameFest. It’s coming from Focus Entertainment and Tindalos Interactive. It is a single player squad-based action game set within the Alien franchise. Players will lead a squad of marines in combat against Xenomorphs.
Romain Clavier, CEO at Tindalos Interactive, said “The entire team at Tindalos is dedicated to delivering a gaming experience faithful to the spirit of the Alien franchise, and adding its own, never-seen-before elements to this iconic universe. The gameplay we have developed is unique, inspired from our favorite tactical and CRPG games and packaged in nerve-wracking, real-time action. Translating from film to our game the sheer terror caused by the deadliest species known to man was quite a challenge, but I’m confident most of you will end up in strung-out shape – as Hicks himself would say.”
You can watch the 2 minute, 40 seconds action-packed trailer below:
The cinematic trailer sees a group of Colonial Marines explore a compound called Tantalus Base in 2198 before they are overrun by Xenomorphs. There is a few seconds of gameplay footage right at the very end of the trailer.
The official information describes the game as an “enthralling single player squad-based action game” where gamers “lead a squad of marines in real-time combat.” The official FAQ further elaborates that:
In Aliens: Dark Descent, you control a squad of 4 Colonial Marines, issuing orders in real time. You will infiltrate large open levels filled with wonders from the Alien franchise, while annihilating enemies with your squad. Strategically plan out your raids to complete as many objectives as possible in each run before extracting your team to return back to your base. Slow down time with the press of a button to make strategic decisions during combat. Extract your Marines safely at the end of long missions and watch them gain experience and level up, unlocking precious advanced skills and specialties. Make sure to monitor your Marines’ health and stress levels on the field however, because death is permanent in the game and losing your units forever, a real possibility.
The Otago ship, which has suffered serious damage after crashing on Moon Lethe, acts like your base of operations. Over the course of the game, you will rescue specialists and salvage repair materials, unlocking many perks and improvements that will directly impact the performance of your marines. Expand the armory to unlock weapons, the medbay for faster recovery times between missions, the workshop to unlock specializations and perks and more.
The game is being developed by independent French studio Tindalos Interactive and published by the French game publisher Focus Entertainment. They did publish Aliens: Fireteam Elite in Europe last year. Aliens: Dark Descent will be hitting PC and consoles in 2023.
Here’s some screenshots:
Here’s the full game synopsis:
In Aliens: Dark Descent, command a squad of hardened Colonial Marines to stop a terrifying Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe. Lead your soldiers in real-time combat against iconic Xenomorphs, rogue operatives from the insatiable Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and a host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise.
You are the commander. They are your weapon.
Infiltrate large open levels and annihilate enemies with your squad, dispatching orders strategically and intuitively at the touch of a button. Tread carefully, as death is permanent and your foes will adapt their tactics to your actions while hunting you down. Forge unique paths for survival, uncovering shortcuts, creating safe zones, and setting up motion trackers in a persistent world where your actions impact levels forever.
Customize your squad with a selection of different classes. Level up and specialize your soldiers with unique abilities and an arsenal of weapons, armor, and perks, for high stakes missions in treacherous territory. Develop your base to research new tech and improve your squad even further.
Manage your resources wisely and take calculated risks to outsmart the deadliest creature mankind has ever faced. Can you and your squad stop the outbreak before it’s too late?
- Face off in a gripping original Alien story against iconic Xenomorph creatures ranging from Facehuggers to Praetorians, Alien Queens and many more, including rogue human commandos and a brand-new threat unique to this Alien storyline
- Lead strategically and change squad tactics from mission to mission, carefully managing your soldiers’ health, resources, and sanity, to avoid permanent team losses and mental breakdowns
- Forge unique paths for survival in a persistent world, uncovering shortcuts, creating safe zones and setting up motion trackers to stay one step ahead of these creatures
- Assemble and level up squads composed of 5 starting Marines classes, with dozens of specializations, unique abilities and weapons.
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What would have made your excitement go up?
Not that I hate the kind of game it'll be, just that the first 95% of the trailer got me hyped enough that I was expecting more.
It keeps the chestbursters dormant.
Honestly, it shouldn't be expected at all...
I'm very curious about these guys. Aesthetically speaking, they don't excite me too much, but functionally speaking I'm very content with Colonial Marines' Bugmen, or Pathogen mutants, so I'm curious to see what they're doing here and whether they work or not.
Loved the voice acting in the trailer! The aliens don't look perfect, but aren't bad at all. At least they're the correct scale. Brave of them to make this a single player game but it means we're getting an actual story this time! I want to see more of this. They need to keep the horror and hopelessness of the vibe going.
I'm very doubtful that 30 hours wont be padded out, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The human mutant enemies with the chest Stark reactor don't really feel like they fit in well with the EU, but if they get some nice story exploration, why not?
That's Mass Effect length, if it's got not much fat, very impressive.
I guess Dark Descent is the closest we've come to something similar to AvP Extinction, at least the Colonial Marines part of it and managing them.
I am bit a disappointed though. They seem to be just focussing on these small budget games. I know you guys like Hunting Grounds and Fireteam but I want a good singleplayer campaign like Isolation.
God I had a blast with that one in 2003.
I don't think they have much intention of going after anything pertaining to The Mouse or its holdings, given that they never said a word about various Marvel comics using GW weapon designs or even poorly ripped game assets from Dawn of War, and indeed went on to give Marvel the license for the current 40k comics.
Reminds me of the game tiles from Prodos' AvP, honestly.
Some nice moody visuals, but aside from slowing down time (which I'm assuming has limited uses), I'm calling this what it is: The description sounds like a rip of 'Space Hulk', right down to these "rogue commandos" basically being reskins of Chaos/Nurgle Space Marine encounters. Games Workshop's notoriously litigious legal department might be watching closely.
Except that game's most recent incarnation at least had a play-as-Tyranids mode. Without one for the Aliens, this could well suffer from being a bit too same-y.
The actual visuals and lighting strongly reminded me of the recent remake of the 'Alien Breed' games. Wonder if it could be the same engine.
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Full Kenner full Kenner full Kenner full Kenner!!
*traumatic flashbacks*
Damn
The official information describes the game as an "enthralling single player squad-based action game" where gamers "lead a squad of marines in real-time combat."
So I've been reading through the official FAQ and there's a lot more in here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AliensDarkDescent/comments/v8nd3e/aliens_dark_descent_faq/
Just some select ones from it.
Some sites state it's RTS, or like XCOM, others say it's action...
I hope it's action, but you can give orders to your squad and switch between the soldiers.
What is that ? A nuanced opinion ?
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We maybe seeing more than just the Bug Men. I just hope they don't go full Kenner. A little Kenner is fine, but you never go full Kenner.
This actually sounds really in-depth!!
Unit sanity is something to worry about in this too! This sounds really fascinating! Is that a mechanic in any other game like this? Can anyone think of something analogous to this? X-com?
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I absolutely loved when the door closed. That gave me a grin and a shock.
My first reaction was "must be one of those cheap Isometric shooters," which don't get me wrong, I'd have been okay with. I actually really enjoyed Halo's. But I'm really intrigued by this. "Single player, squad-based action experience." I think this could be really fun!
Definitely has the atmospheric look so far. And it's a nice new genre switch. It is a shame we're not seeing it on Switch though. Seems like something that'd work really well on the handheld mode.
Yeah, I'm not seeing much commentary on this! I wonder who/what they were supposed to be?!
This is also set towards the end of the 2100s. That puts it a good 20 or so years after the events of Alien 3.
Based on it being a single player squad strategy game, I imagine it'll be like Gears Tactics, maybe with some Alien Swarm mixed in.
I'm sure they're someone's cup of tea, but I never finished either game.
Cool trailer though.