Based on a year end financial report from Enad Global 7, the parent company for Daybreak Games (which is the parent company for Cold Iron Studios), Cold Iron Studios’ new game is scheduled for release in 2025.
Their new game hasn’t been officially announced as an Alien title, but we are very confident this is a follow up to their debut 2021 title Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Though we didn’t report on it at the time, leaks from a Disney hack last year revealed in development information about the project. This along with the wording from their announcement of development on a new title as something for “fans to sink their teeth into“, as well as our own internal sources, serve as further confirmation of what’s in store. The “later this year” wording also aligns with the target date of the leaked design document, which was Q3 of 2025.
Though it’s been radio silence from Cold Iron Studios for a while, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for an announcement soon, perhaps this upcoming Alien Day at the end of April.
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Same here
If they had the budget and resources, I wouldn't mind them remaking AFE as a more grounded hardcore FPS. With it no longer a ridiculous amount of Aliens, but the ones that show up are more dangerous and intelligent. Similar to Isolation's Aliens.
I've been recently started playing AFE again on insane (level 75) and thought came to mind again what if those guys had more resources on their hands. The clearly understand the Alien language. Hopefully the supposed sequel will improve on the formula.
Really looking forward to this.
I did enjoy the OG Fireteam Elite very much, but I do agree in that I preferred Dark Descent. It's just so much more Aliens in feel and tone. And what I read of the leaks don't leave me too much enthusiasm for Fireteam 2, but we'll see. Hopefully, that changed and they went for something a little more Alien feeling.
Same, I think they would as its sort of been normalized as the standard nowadays.
100% on the money with this comment - that's exactly how I feel about it. Game for me actually started and really opened up after the initial campaign and I started playing on the Insane difficulty.
I agree there, but the potential for multiplayer in this sequel is something to look forward to as well. Lets just hope the matchmaking isn't awful at the start like it was for AFTE. I hope they come out with crossplay right away this time.
P. S. I am excited to be getting a new Alien game for mainstream platforms!
I like the sound of that. So the latest news of Cold Iron Studios next game releasing in 2025 very well seems to be the sequel to Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/disney-hack-data-breach-1236072729
The hack did happen and nothing in the document would suggest it's AI generated.
In any case, we know that the original Aliens: Fireteam Elite deviated wildly from its original plans. Could be the case here as well. Only time will tell.
Even disregarding the leak we've had our own source letting us know it is indeed an Alien game, and a recent job posting of theirs for an animator specified human/creature animations.
https://hitmarker.net/jobs/cold-iron-studios-senior-animator-2877705
Another job listing said "a new sci-fi third-person action game."
http://hitmarker.net/jobs/cold-iron-studios-senior-environment-artist-2505279
So I mean, come on.
I did like the lore dumps in AFE. Easily my favourite part of the game.
That being said, with FE I would have enjoyed some more story and cutscenes, it felt dry and lazy imo. Only really revealing itself through Npc dialogue.
Contrary to Descent, which had a rich and developed story, even though I didn't really care for the second half of it - with the cult and all that.
I want descents lore and story but with fireteam's gameplay with first person
As an example of what the axe could be (if it's in the game), is something A:FE did in creating different ways to stun some of the larger and stronger enemies in order to create windows of time for the Fireteam to focus their fire on them.
I.e. Hitting an alien with a remote grenade would stun them, fireteam would shoot the stunned alien, once the alien is moving again, you the detonate the remote grenade creating another moment where the alien is stunned and therefore creating another window of time to shoot it.
I could see something like that with the axe. I do want to add I'm not a fan of the idea of melee type weapons when it comes to Alien but I'll reserve my judgements until I see the game.
Tbh, throwing axes are probably the only bladed weapon a human could use on an Alien (effectively) without outright pissing me off, although it still comes with a bunch of caveats.
I'm actually very excited to see what they have been working on, I throughly enjoyed Fireteam Elite once I started playing on the hardest difficulties and linked up with a good team - Was a lot of fun working together and approaching things tactically.
I know the early leaks show a different type of game but I'm going to keep the faith until proven otherwise.