Developer Small Impact Games and publisher Team17 officially announced its new game, Marauders, complete with a trailer showing players what they can expect in the upcoming space-pirate-themed FPS loot-n-shoot coming to Steam Early Access later this year.

The new intellectual property from UK-based Small Impact Games is labeled as a "tactical first-person multiplayer shooter." The setting is an alternate 1990s where something known as "The Great War" never ended. In this alt-history universe, massive over industrialization has brought planet Earth to a crossroads, with many of its inhabitants already fleeing to the stars to seek refuge.

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Players take the role of space mercenaries known as Marauders zipping through space to explore, raid, loot... and try to escape intact. The "gritty diesel-punk" dystopian world allows players to choose a variety of different ways to let them live out their space pirate dreams. While exploring the depths of space, players will come across the standard assortment of colonies, factories, and space stations that can be raided for valuable loot.

But another option, one that seems to provide a much more scintillating experience, lets players actually attack and board other players' ships to plunder equipment and resources by force. Standard tactical close-quarter first-person combat scenarios aside, there's an added element that should keep the gameplay fast and furious. Every player involved in a board and capture is provided with a very limited oxygen supply that slowly dwindles over time. Players not only need to keep tabs on their six but make sure they don't suffocate before getting back to their ship.

Players will be able to fly solo or team up with up to three other players, encountering "realistic bullet simulations" against real-life enemy teams or AI opponents. The game also provides persistent gear and XP, so players will get to keep their best gear as they go from match to match and upgrade their favorite weapons with mods while also using XP to unlock new items.

One of the more intriguing aspects of the game is how ships are being handled. Not only can they be boarded and taken over by force, but players will be able to build new craft, upgrade them, and engage in one-on-one dogfights. Not detailed in the announcement is how big or small these player-built spacecraft can actually be. However, it is interesting to note that this game actually started off as a crowd-funded project back in 2020. According to details listed on the game page, back when it was called "Marauder" without the "s," players will be able to fly "massive ex-military space frigates" and even take on different roles like pilot and gunner.

Whether this actually makes it to the final product remains to be seen. Hopefully, getting this game to market won't be hindered by Team17's recent spate of negative press... because Marauders' game mechanics sound very ambitious and go far beyond the normal boots-on-the-ground FPS gameplay.

Marauders will be released for PC via Steam Early Access later in 2022 but can be added to player Wishlists now.

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Source: IGN