The next year is jam-packed full of cooperative multiplayer shooters including Back 4 Blood, Rainbow Six Extraction, and the recently renamed Aliens: Fireteam Elite. With a little over a month until launch, there's still a lot of unknown's for Fireteam Elite: In terms of the four unique story campaigns, plans for post-launch support and DLC, 20 new enemy types including new variations of the infamous Xenomorph, and the five playable character classes that players will be able to choose from.
Unlike the 2014 survival-horror Alien: Isolation, in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Cold Iron Studios aspires to give players an experience that lives up to the "Cameron-Esque" action-adventure fantasy of the classic film. At least one way to do that is to give players a fun and unique arsenal of weaponry to blast hordes of Xenomorphs with. Back in March, Cold Iron gave in-depth looks at two of the playable classes in Aliens: Fireteam Elite: Here's everything known about the Gunner and Technician classes so far.
Everything You Need to Know About the 'Gunner' Class
Described by Cold Iron Studios combat designer Chris Matz as the "classic Colonial Marine," the Gunner class appears to be the standard third-person shooter class and will likely be the most familiar to fans of the genre, as well as most beginner-friendly in Aliens: Fireteam Elite. The Gunner class is built around intense firepower and versatility, equipped with strong Assualt Rifles, a close-quarters secondary such as the pump-action shotgun, and perks which include various types of grenades. Gunners can also utilize an overclock ability for an extra kick of strength when things start to get a little bit too intense.
In terms of levelling and progression, the Gunner's perk system allows players to choose between two main abilities, and make improvements based on their playstyle. Advancing the Gunner's "Overclock" ability in Fireteam Elite will offer additional benefits, such as the ability for all players in the fireteam to shoot faster for a limited time. In terms of the Grenade, one example given described an incendiary grenade type, that would replace the default frag grenade, and let out a burst of flame. Gunners can also utilize remote detonator bombs to target a particular spot when activated.
Everything You Need to Know About the 'Technician' Class
The Technician character class in Aliens: Fireteam Elite is all about taking control of advantageous locations and bunkering down for a fight with the worst of the Xenomorph army. Equipped with a Hand Gun primary weapon and a close-quarters weapon like a submachine gun or shotgun, the Technician gameplay is really built around its turret ability. The turret can be picked up and moved around the map to defend different locations, and charge coils can be used as a boobie-trap, letting out an electric burst of energy and stuns enemies when they get too close. Combine these abilities together and the turret can watch the players flank while they take down a wave of stunned enemies with a shotgun.
Each ability works on a cooldown, and as players level up the class, they'll gain access to new modifiers which are used to improve the ability in a variety of ways including unique variations or reducing cooldown. For example, the default turret can be upgraded to the Heavy Turret which "deals massive damage at a reduced fire rate." The Incinerator Turret sprays "flames in an area in front of it," and also gains increased durability. Fireteams can also be built with any class combination in mind, so while Aliens: Fireteam Elite is designed to make every class as versatile as possible and synchronize together, three Technicians and three turrets is certainly an option.
What Other Classes Does Aliens: Fireteam Elite Have?
While Cold Iron Studios hasn't gone into intricate detail about the remaining three playable classes in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, the names of each class has been confirmed: Demolisher, Doc, and Recon. Each character class will be leveled up individually, and as players level up a class, they'll gain access to new perks and abilities to improve and customize their character in new ways. There's also a focus on character customization in terms of cosmetics, both unlocked through gameplay and paid DLC seasons, including skins, weapon skins, helmet accessories, emotes, and more.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is scheduled to release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.