If you grew up hearing the iconic hiss of a motion tracker or the spine-chilling screech of a Xenomorph in a dark room, you probably have Rebellion to thank for at least a few of those nightmares. The studio that basically defined the gold standard for sci-fi horror with the original Aliens versus Predator in 1999 (and the 1994 Jaguar classic!) is finally returning to its roots. During the recent Xbox Partner Preview, they blew the doors off their next project: Alien: Deathstorm. This isn’t just another shooter; it’s a raw, visceral first-person action horror game that looks like it stepped straight out of a grimey, 1980s VHS tape.
In Alien: Deathstorm, you aren’t playing as a super-soldier or a space marine with a death wish. Instead, you step into the boots of a Combat Engineer—a high-stakes first responder sent to a remote off-world colony that’s gone completely dark. By the time you land, things have gone from “bad” to “apocalyptic.” The colony is being torn apart by a Deathstorm, a planet-wide cataclysmic weather event with winds strong enough to shred buildings. But the wind isn’t your only problem; the storm has brought out unknown alien horrors that are more Lovecraftian than your typical bug-hunt.
The vibe of this game is absolutely awe-inspiring. Rebellion is lean-heavy into a 1980s aesthetic, featuring chunky analog technology, mechanical keyboards, and a lived-in, “used universe” feel that captures the spirit of the original films. It’s a true hybrid of high-octane shooting and tense survival-horror. One minute you’re navigating through hurricane-force winds looking for shelter, and the next you’re in a “Vasquez-style” corridor shootout where every bullet counts. It’s designed to keep you constantly uncomfortable, blending the “one-man-army” feel of their Sniper Elite expertise with the sheer terror of their AvP legacy.
While we’ll have to wait a bit to actually play it, Alien: Deathstorm is officially slated for a 2027 release. The good news is that it’s coming to almost everything: PC (Steam and Xbox), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Even better, if you’re a subscriber, it’s a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass. Rebellion has promised more updates soon, but for now, we know we’re getting a “space-STALKER” vibe with better lighting and much scarier monsters. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a developer this seasoned tackle the genre, and if anyone can make us afraid of the dark again, it’s these guys.
