Aliens: Dark Descent Release Date, Details

Old horror franchise games are a dime a dozen these days. Now though, we’re getting another game from one of the originals. That’s right: Aliens is back, with Aliens: Dark Descent

What is Aliens: Dark Descent?

The Alien franchise has an interesting history when it comes to video game adaptations. The more recent ones that stick in our mind are Aliens: Fireteam Elite, a co-operative shooter, and Alien: Isolation, a horror themed Alien game with an INCREDIBLY sophisticated AI. The Xenomorph in the former is more of a punching bag, whereas the Xenomorph in the latter is a relentless monster, something that you cannot kill, that you cannot beat, and that will find you at any cost. Aliens: Dark Descent however is trying something different than these two releases. It’s a squad-based, single-player real-time action game. You have to lead your soldiers in real-time throughout a Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe, through an original Alien Story.

There’s Facehuggers, Praetorians, Alien Queens and more to face off against, with a brand-new yet to be revealed threat also in direct opposition for you. You’ll lost team members permanently if you’re not careful, so every move you make has to be careful and calculated to a fault. As the Steam page puts it:

“Infiltrate large open levels and annihilate enemies with your squad, dispatching orders strategically and intuitively at the touch of a button. Tread carefully, as your foes will adapt their tactics to your actions while hunting you down because death is permanent. 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.“

That’s all we really know about the game so far, especially given how it was only recently revealed at Summer Game Fest 2022. With multiple other conferences this year such as Gamescom and the glorified reveal-fest that is The Game Awards, we might see more of this game later in this year, or it could wait until early next year before it reveals the full hand it holds.

When Will The Game Release & On What?

So the game is due for release in 2023, but it’s currently unclear exactly when in 2023 we’ll be getting the game. The game is currently planned for release on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC. With the current existence of Alien: Isolation and Aliens: Fireteam Elite on Xbox Game Pass, it’ll be interesting to see if this game also comes to Game Pass or if those two games were the result of a single, one-time deal between Microsoft and the current Alien licence holders and you’ll have to buy Aliens: Dark Descent for full price upon release on Xbox systems.