The last time the Aliens franchise had a shooter offering all to itself it’s certainly fair to say that it didn’t turn out especially well. However, it’s now 2021 and thanks to the folks at Cold Iron Studios we just got Aliens: Fireteam Elite, an all-new third-person shooter set in the Aliens universe which blends the series iconic setting with Left 4 Dead style cooperative shooter gameplay. It’s time to heft your pulse rifle and check your grenades, because we’ve got everything you need to know about Aliens: Fireteam Elite right here.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Crossplay
Aliens: Fireteam Elite doesn’t support crossplay between different competing platforms at launch, it does however support crossgen play between common platforms. This means that PS5 owners can play with PS4 players and Xbox Series X/S players can get stuck in with Xbox One players. Nice.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Single Player, Multiplayer Modes
Yes, Aliens: Fireteam Elite does support both single-player and multiplayer game types. Though you’ll be put into a group of three Colonial Marines, the game will fill any vacant spots with AI buddies, always ensuring that you’ll be able to play the game without having to worry about the social calendars of others. Also, Aliens: Fireteam Elite permits solo play across the entirety of its four story driven campaigns, too. At launch, Aliens: Fireteam Elite only supports online multiplayer with no local co-op option initially available.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Classes
Keeping things nice and varied, Aliens: Fireteam Elite has five character classes – Demolisher, Doc, Gunner, Recon and Technician for players to choose from, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and unique perks. The Demolisher can unleash mini-rockets, flamethrower, Smart Gun and a devastating grenade launcher, while the Doc is a healing class that can create a Trauma Station to reinvigorate any nearby allies. The Gunner meanwhile is a great all-rounder beginner class with a snappy Pulse Rifle and quick movement, the Recon class possesses an extremely powerful sniper rifle and support bot, while finally the Technician is all about setting up turrets and traps to keep foes at bay. It’s worth noting that the Recon class only becomes available as soon as you’ve beaten the Aliens: Fireteam Elite campaign for the first time.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite – What’s The Story?
Taking place some 23 years after the gruesome events chronicled in Alien 3, Aliens: Fireteam Elite stuffs players into the boots of an armed-to-the-teeth Colonial Marine stationed aboard the USS Endeavour as they fight against an expansive and seemingly endless Xenomorph incursion across outer rim worlds, abandoned corporate labs and mysterious alien ruins. Aliens: Fireteam Elite boasts four story campaigns with three missions each that can be tackled in single-player with AI controlled bots or online in cooperatively flavoured multiplayer.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Who Are The Enemies?
With around twenty different enemy types it’s fair to say that you’re not going to run out of bad folks to blast apart anytime soon. In addition to the ‘regular’ Xenomorph that we all know and fear, Aliens: Fireteam Elite has your merry band of Colonial Marines tangling with Face Huggers, synthetic soldiers and the pant-fillingly powerful elite Praetorian Xenomorphs. Much more than just an avalanche of Giger inspired horror, the Xenomorph threat will employ a wide range of stratagems to tear your unit apart including flanking tactics, focusing on lonely players (just… Stay with your group) and the use of walls, ceilings and vents to get the job done.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Challenge Card System – What Is It?
From Left 4 Dead to the more recent World War Z, cooperative horde based shooters have always had a number of mechanics to keep things fresh and to ensure that replay value is maintained over the longer term. In Aliens: Fireteam Elite the Challenge Card system fills this role, allowing players to choose from a range of different cards that each have a positive or negative effect on the mission you’re about to play. For example, you might choose one card that creates fewer elite level foes, but another player might pick out a card that prevents you from being healed until your health hits 50%, making each playthrough feel keenly different from the last as a result.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Release Date
Aliens: Fireteam Elite has just released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 24, 2021. Quite simply, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is available on basically everything which, you know, is nice.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Microtransactions, Lootboxes & DLC
Happily I can report that Aliens: Fireteam Elite does not include any microtransactions or stinky loot boxes. In terms of post launch DLC, developer Cold Iron Studios has said that it intends to release a whole bunch of the stuff but has yet to provide specifics. For me? Give me the Fiorina “Fury” 161 penal colony from Alien 3 as an extra map though and I’ll be happy.
