A new contender is entering the gritty, neon-drenched world of cyberpunk shooters, and it’s bringing the heavy metal thunder. Defect, the upcoming squad-based immersive objective shooter from new studio emptyvessel, has confirmed that the legendary composer Mick Gordon—best known for his explosive and visceral work on the DOOM and Wolfenstein reboots—will be creating its full original soundtrack.
For fans of his signature ‘future-metal’ sound, this announcement is monumental. It marks Gordon’s first full game soundtrack since 2020’s DOOM Eternal, and he’s already promised to push the boundaries of distortion and aggression to match the game’s chaotic, dystopian setting.
What is Defect?
Defect is a first-person shooter set in the last remaining megacity of mankind, a world ruled with an iron fist by an authoritarian AI known as The System. Beneath The System’s terrifyingly efficient police force, rogue gang factions fight a chaotic turf war.
Developed by emptyvessel, a studio comprising veterans who worked on heavy-hitting AAA franchises like DOOM, Call of Duty, and The Last of Us, the game is being built on Unreal Engine 5 and promises a mix of game modes:
- Single-player and Co-op: Offering a deeper, offline experience and tactical team-based PvE.
- 4v4v4v4 PvP: Tense, multi-squad objective-based battles where four teams compete to complete dynamic goals like assassinations, smuggling, or arrests, all while fighting for control in a city on the brink.
The gameplay is described as a “gritty, grounded tech” take on cyberpunk, focusing on cold steel, dirty tactics, and advanced gadgets like wall-piercing scanners and stealth walls, all set within a cityscape reminiscent of Judge Dredd. A key feature is the destructible environment, allowing players to blast walls and carve new paths mid-fight for a significant tactical advantage.
A truly innovative feature that sets Defect apart is its dynamic approach to squad recovery and tactical hacking. When a squad member falls in battle, they are not out of the fight permanently. Players can utilize an advanced hacking ability to target and exploit living enemies.
Successfully hacking an opponent allows a recently deceased teammate to respawn instantly and seize control of that enemy’s body, essentially ‘recruiting’ them into your squad.
This mechanic transforms death from a penalty into a strategic opportunity. It forces teams to prioritize targets that are valuable for hijacking and creates intense moments of risk and reward as players attempt the vulnerable hacking process under fire to bring a downed ally back into the fray in a new, hostile body. This unique twist on respawning promises to keep the pace fast and the tactical decisions flowing.
The collaboration between emptyvessel’s pedigree and Mick Gordon’s musical vision is a match made in dystopian heaven. Gordon is renowned for his propulsive, industrial, and heavy-metal-infused scores that dynamically react to player action—a style often referred to as “Argent Metal.”
While Defect currently has a To Be Announced release date, players can wishlist the title right now.
