Shooter News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

There’s a teaser image on the wall. We stare at it and we think that’s the whole multiplayer shooter set in the Control franchise. Then, Remedy sneak a second teaser image alongside some tantalising lore snippets into their latest investor report (Thanks, resetera!) Also there’s an air fryer that turns nuggets into miniature black holes, or something. I’m not sure because, honestly, I never learned to appreciate Control’s wonderful architecture and lore because the combat made me want to gnaw my fingers off. Good news, then, for everyone except me specifically. We’ve got a few more scraps of info about its (presumably) almost entirely combat focused spin-off title, currently known as ‘Condor’.

GTA 6 is facing development troubles, leaving leadership “nervous” that the hotly anticipated open world crime-athon could be “falling behind’ expected schedules. That’s according to Kotaku, who were told by an anonymous source that studio heads are “worried” that the game could miss 2025 completely and not see release until 2026. Kotaku were told that the studio is still “aiming” for a Spring 2025 release date, but sources feel Fall of the same year is more plausible. However, the title could be delayed until 2026 as a “fallback plan.”

Phantom Gamelabs, a game studio funded by Supercell, just rolled out a new looter shooter title, Riftbusters. But it isn’t a full-fledged launch; it’s a limited open beta exclusively for Android users in select regions.

Days Gone is that zombie x motorbike open world game (except they were at pains to point out that Freakers weren't zombies) that Sony did for PS4 in 2019, and ported to PC in 2021 - both years after people were done with Sons Of Anarchy as a thing. As alluded to in The Maw this week, there hasn't been much news out of Bend Studios since then, but they're now hiring for a lead project manager for "crafting our next high-profile AAA title." Another clue? The successful applicant must have experience "with an emphasis on live operations" and "in leadership roles shipping AAA live service games". Hmmm.

Bend Studios' next game will be a «AAA live service» game.

Resident Evil 9 is reportedly being developed as an open-world game.

GTA 6's development has reportedly fallen so far behind, the eagerly-anticipated game may miss its 2025 release window.

While 2019 feels like a lifetime ago to me now, thanks to a time-warping pandemic, I still vividly remember playing Void Bastards for the first time. I had learned about the unique shooter a few months after it launched and was instantly drawn in by its graphic novel art style and eye-catching name. I’d buy it on a hot holiday weekend in July. It was the perfect time to go outside and get some air, but I couldn’t unglue myself from my computer. I chewed it up in a few sittings, obsessing over its sci-fi setting, roguelite systems, and slick shooting.

Shadows of the Damned, the unexpected collaboration between No More Heroes, Killer7 and Lollipop Chainsaw creator Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, will finally see a PC release with a new remake later this year - over a decade after it first hit consoles.

Roguelike rhythm first-person shooter ROBOBEAT will launch for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on May 16, publisher Kwalee and developer Inzanity announced.

A new rogue-lite FPS is hitting the scene, and like Bullets Per Minute and Hi-Fi Rush before it, Robobeat charges you with jumping, sliding, and shooting in time with its music. Marching to the beat of its own drum though, this upcoming game from Kwalee utilizes rogue-lite levels that are always changing and even lets you control the music you fight to.

Publisher Headup Games and developer Bleakmill have announced INDUSTRIA II, a sequel to the narrative first-person shooter INDUSTRIA set in an alternate dimension dominated by a malevolent artificial intelligence. It will launch for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store in 2025.

The upcoming, vibrant, Bio-Punk FPS from PlayFusion is holding its first closed beta, and you can sign up now to give the world's first "Adaptation Shooter" a go.

Slave Zero X serves as prequel to the cult hit Dreamcast game Slave Zero, but while their stories and universe are connected, they couldn't be more different. Set five years before the third-person shooter original, this new title is a 2.5D beat-'em-up, in which you don a biomechanical super suit as the vengeful warrior Shou is out to kill the city's corrupt leader.

Dead Island 2‘s second story expansion “SoLA” will launch across all platforms on April 17, publisher Deep Silver and developer Dambuster Studios announced.

YouTube has removed a seven-year-old YouTube video that featured Pokémon modded into Call of Duty: Zombies, at the request of The Pokémon Company.

The hacker who disrupted the North American Apex Legends Global Series finals has said he did it «just for fun».

The dino-loaded Ark: The Animated Series has secured a release date, and if you are over the pond, it's now.

PocketPair's Palworld — a game that the internet dubbed 'Pokemon with guns' ahead of its early access release in January — has been a huge success for both the developer and Xbox.

Twin-stick shooter Blackout Protocol will leave Early Access and launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam next winter, developer Ocean Drive Studio announced. It also announced a shift in direction, from a “hardcore multiplayer shooter that treats single-player as an afterthought,” to a “dedicated single-player experience where multiplayer is optional.”

Dragon's Dogma 2's director has revealed his personal setup for the RPG sequel and advised newcomers on which Vocation to choose.

High on Life is one of the most memorably absurd first-person shooters to come along in years, and it's a game that's practically tailor-made to work in other media. Thankfully, that's just what's happening, as Squanch Games and Titan Comics join forces for a new High on Life comic book series.

Bungie’s reboot of their nineties pre-Halo debut shooter Marathon seems to be slowing down its pace a little in order to get across the finish line, with a change in director and a delay meaning the multiplayer-only loot-shooter reimagining of the FPS is now expected to arrive next year - or potentially even after that, according to recent reports.

After channelling the atmosphere and gory terror of Dead Space (though alas, not its reception) in 2022’s sci-fi horror shooter, The Callisto Protocol is apparently now looking to the likes of Hades to inspire a new roguelike spin-off set in its universe, currently codenamed Project Birdseye.

Helldivers 2 fans are blown away by the game's physics, which, according to the game's creative director, results from "simulating everything and just accepting the outcome."

Alan Wake and Control developer Remedy Entertainment has seen its revenue drop by 22.2 percent for the year.

The PC version of Alpha Protocol is now available for purchase, digital rights management-free, via GOG for $19.99, the distribution platform announced in partnership with SEGA and Obsidian Entertainment. It is available at a 10 percent-off discount launch prince of $17.99 until April 3.

Obsidian's espionage RPG Alpha Protocol is today making a grand return to PC on the GOG store, 14 years after its debut.

The Callisto Protocol developer Striking Distance Studios has announced a spin-off to its sci-fi horror game is in the works.

Rockstar Games has issued a fresh update for Red Dead Redemption 2 — the game's first meaningful patch in 18 months. But, to the disappointment of fans, there's sadly no new content and no sign of any visual upgrades for players on newer console hardware.

In what's quite the shake up for Overwatch 2, Blizzard have announced that starting with Season 10, all of its heroes will be unlocked for all players. And this includes all new heroes going forwards, too, so the next hero Venture will unlock immediately for everyone when the latest season drops. Otherwise, there's changes to unlocking premium skins, earning premium coins, and some tidbits on what we can expect from Season 11.

It's deeply frustrating and disappointing when games get pulled from store shelves due to licenses expiring, and too few ever return. So it's great news that almost four years after Sega stopped selling Obisidian's fascinating spy thriller RPG Alpha Protocol on Steam due to music rights expiring, it has returned to sale on GOG. I'm always surprised that Alpha Protocol hasn't reached serious cult classic status because, as much as parts are distinctly wonky, the globetrotting sneak-o-shooter fizzes with ideas for intense dialogue, branching plot, and reputation systems with consequences. You do feel like a spy going up against the world, backed up only by shifty allies and a ridiculous pair of giant sunglasses.

Ubisoft's online tactical shooter, , has recently seen a surge in players, reaching an all-time peak of over 201,000 concurrent players on Steam as it enters its ninth year. With this recent surge in popularity, what makes the title worth revisiting in 2024?

Developer Respawn has addressed the recent Apex Legends hacks.

Bungie is reportedly in the midst of a creative leadership shakeup that has resulted in the studio replacing game directors on its PvP reimagining of classic 90s shooter series Marathon, with former Valorant game director Joe Ziegler now confirmed to be in the role.

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released another patch for the PC and PlayStation 5 co-op shooter, this time nerfing the recently added planet hazards.

Bungie have announced a change in director on their upcoming revival of their classic shooter Marathon, amid reports the studio is once again shaking up its creative leadership. Former Valorant director Joe Ziegler confirmed his appointment on Xwitter last night, replacing long-time Bungie designer Christopher Barrett in the role.

Is that Ellie from The Last of Us we see in this trailer for mobile zombie shooter Doomsday: Last Survivors? No, on closer inspection, this is a character called Peggy – who’s basically Ellie. In fact, pretty much all of the game’s characters look agonisingly similar to someone more popular; Cynthia Calamity is effectively Jill Valentine from Resident Evil and Catherine Calamity looks a lot like Juliet Starling from Lollipop Chainsaw.

One of Bungie’s defining first-person shooter projects is coming to Steam in the form of Classic Marathon.

It's a great day for free-to-play Overwatch 2 players, but not so much for those who've been spending money on the first-person shooter to get access to new heroes as soon as possible. Blizzard has confirmed that from Season 10 onwards, new playable characters will be distributed to everyone instantly, preventing paying players from accessing new heroes faster than free-to-play users.

Former Overwatch 2 developers have reportedly claimed that story missions were meant to be released every 18 months, and they aren't holding out hope that any more will see the light of day.

Blizzard is finally making it easier to unlock new heroes in Overwatch 2. This is big news, as players regularly complain about how difficult it is to obtain new characters in the live-service shooter. Currently, people get new heroes by paying for and grinding through a battle pass, buying them outright or waiting until they become available as a reward for winning a certain number of games. That changes with the forthcoming season 10, as the company will make new and old heroes available for free to all players.

Here's something to tide you over until Bungie releases its rebooted Marathon: there's a freeware fan revival for the 1994 FPS known as Classic Marathon, and it's coming to Steam «soon».

Valve's online shooter Counter-Strike 2 has reclaimed the top spot on Steam.

Want a deal that will blow your mind on an exciting space shooter game? Craving a side of mystery with your pew-pew action? Hold onto your spaceships because Endurance: Dead Space Premium might be your next mobile obsession. This game blends retro vibes with RPG elements, all wrapped in a spooky spaceship setting.

Physics-based grapple hook Metroidvania game Rusted Moss will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Switch on June 20. Pre-orders for PlayStation 5 and Switch physical editions are now available in Japan for 4,400 yen at retailers such as Amazon and Biccamera.

On Sunday, two competitive esports players appeared to get hacked during a live streamed game, prompting the organizers to postpone the tournament.

Dark and Darker is heading to Epic Games Store, having previously been removed from Steam, and following a drawn out legal dispute with Nexon.

Gotham Knights studio WB Games Montreal is supporting development on the forthcoming Wonder Woman game.

A hacking incident during the Apex Legends Global Series last night has caused wider concerns over Easy Anti-Cheat and whether it's safe to play games it's used in.

Helldivers 2's opening cinematic is iconic, and does an incredible job of setting up the third-person shooter's humorous satirical tone. In under two minutes, the in-universe recruitment ad tells you everything you need to know about the fight for sweet liberty and the camaraderie of Super Earth citizens, complete with dramatics that are so bad they're good. 

Star Citizen is pushing towards the «finish line».

Wales Interactive's co-op zombie survival game, Sker Ritual, is finally coming out of early access on 18th April 2024.

Oh, look – Steam's gone and broken its own concurrent record. Again.

A modder who believes their uncredited work was included in Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection says the whole experience has been a «gut-punch».

Keep your head down, Helldiver, blue sniper beams (that may or may not exist) are rampant. Helldivers 2 players have been sharing footage of what seems like a new unfriendly faction in the game, though the shooter's director is determined to suppress such anti-democratic lies. 

Helldivers 2 has sold over 8 million copies.

Marcus Lehto – co-creator of the Halo universe and former lead of the recently shuttered Ridgeline Games – says he doesn't have «anything positive to say about EA».

Ion Fury sequel Phantom Fury will launch for PC via Steam and GOG on April 23, publisher 3D Realms and developer Slipgate Ironworks announced.

Hybrid strategy and first-person shooter game Wild Bastards will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Switch alongside its previously announced PC (Steam) version in 2024, publisher Modus Games and developer Blue Manchu announced.

Palworld developer Pocketpair will remain a small studio, despite the success of its «Pokémon with guns» survival game.

A Helldivers 2 streamer claims to have set the game's highest score for the in-game Stratagem Hero minigame, and who are we to disagree?

Pocketpair have popped up a trailer for Palworld's first new raid battle boss, Bellanoir, who is "coming soon" to the monster-catching survival game in a big old Palworld update that will also include some fixes and additional anti-cheating measures. First impressions: it's an evil Goth girl with a jellyfish where her legs should be.

Two decades on from its original launch, Star Wars Battlefront is suffering a disaster of a re-release. Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, a compilation featuring the first two games in the series, is a messier than a Jawa that swallowed a thermal detonator thanks to server problems, bugs, and more. What was at first a highly-anticipated re-release has become the target of overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam.

PlayStation 5 owners should always be on the lookout for PS5 game deals, even if you already have a backlog of titles to play. If you’ve got some gaming money to spend, head on over to Amazon where there are discounts on more than 450 PS5 games, with prices starting as low as $10. Feel free to browse through everything that’s available, but if that seems overwhelming, read on to get our recommendations on what to buy from the sale. Either way, you need to hurry — we’re not sure how long these bargains will stick, so if you want to enjoy savings while building your PS5 library, you need to make your purchases as soon as possible.

Helldivers 2 is a game that revolves around co-op across various levels of difficulty, some really hard. The PC and PlayStation 5 shooter is designed to be played with teammates who join forces to complete missions set on planets infested with alien bugs or overrun by terrifying robots. Helldivers 2 is always wonderful fun, but it can also be a brutal experience. That’s where Skull Admiral .atasu comes in.

There are tons of challenges to tackle in Hogwarts Legacy, but few are as time-consuming as unlocking the Finishing Touches achievement. This wild achievement forces you to use very specific attacks on very specific enemies, meaning you’ll need to travel all around Hogwarts to find these beasts and go up against them in battle.

Saber Interactive chief operating officer Tim Willits has taken to social media to confirm a «number of titles» remain in development at the publisher — including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 — following today's Embracer Group sale.

The Epic Games Store's spring sale is underway, from today until March 28th. That makes it twice as long as Steam's spring sale, which also started today. I'm not sure if that makes it twice as exciting, but here's what does: Deus Ex Mankind Divided is free to keep for the next week.

Steam isn’t the only PC storefront that kicked off an annual spring sale. The Epic Games Store is offering exclusive discounts on a number of excellent titles through March 28, several of which aren’t available on Steam. Alan Wake 2, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ultros, and hundreds of other games are on sale, and we’ve highlighted some of our top picks below.

Apex Legends developer Respawn is the latest studio to be affected by EA layoffs.

The first thing that’s sure to grab you about Ascendant Infinity is just how 80s everything feels. This is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the end of the world didn’t happen now in our time of rapidly advancing AI and robotics, but rather saw the last vestiges of mankind put into a cultural stasis in the era of cheesy sitcom title music, ludicrously big hair, synths and bumbags. Also, wildly advance biotech

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, the official title of the June 2023-announced Shadows of the Damned remaster, will be playable at PAX East 2024, which will run from March 21 to 24 in Boston, Massachusetts, Grasshopper Manufacture announced.

Helldivers 2's Cutting Edge Premium warbond, aka DLC battle pass, is now available to buy in-game, and it is chock-full of oddball gadgetry such as lightning shotguns, burst-fire laser rifles and experimental armour. As with the Arc Thrower stratagem, the lightning shotgun fires arcs of electricity that conduct between players and enemies alike, but there's a fresh armour perk, Electrical Conduit, which reduces arc damage by 95%, allowing close-knit teams of Helldivers to roll around the battlefield frazzling themselves without much penalty.

Publisher Super Rare Originals and developer Lateralis Heavy Industries will release top-down shooter OTXO for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch on March 28 for $14.99 / £11.99 / €14.99, the companies announced. It will be available at a 20 percent-off launch discount price.

Embracer Group confirmed it is selling Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive on Thursday morning, following rumors of a sale last month. Saber Interactive is a massive company that not only develops games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game but also owns several studios.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection has received negative reception thanks to numerous bugs and severe lack of preparation for online multiplayer.

Helldivers 2’s new premium Warbond, dubbed Cutting Edge, is out now and has added a number of new weapons, gear, and armor to the game, as well as cosmetic items such as emotes. But while many players of Arrowhead’s co-op shooter are getting stuck in, some are debating whether the premium Warbond strays into pay-to-win territory.

Great news for fans of sci-fi violence; third-person co-op shooter Helldivers 2 has introduced a brand new Major Order, representing the next stage in the massive online co-operative campaign. 

Palworld developers Pocketpair have announced a new Palworld Testing program that asks players of the wildly popular monster-catching survival game to help test future updates and provide feedback on the game, ahead of new content drops being released to the general public. Players can sign-up via a Google Form now if they wish, though Pocketpair stress that "the testing branch is not intended for free play or experiencing new content early, so we hope that only those of you genuinely interested in bug hunting and testing will apply." And presumably, those genuinely interested in also not being paid for their free QA support.