How Aliens: Fireteam Elite emphasizes intense action over creeping horror

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Aliens: Fireteam Elite is the sort of cooperative survival shooter that Aliens, not Alien, seems made for. Players buddy up with two others—either AI-controlled synthetics or player marines—and then slowly, carefully, and tactically fight their way through the game’s four-chapter campaigns. What could feel like an abbreviated experience is given more life with game-changing challenge cards that can do everything from forcing gun jams to requiring headshots. The difficulty settings also make for massive changes in gameplay by not just making enemies more difficult to kill, but also more difficult to spot.

We chatted with Craig Zinkievich, CEO & founder of Cold Iron Studios, about the team’s approach to designing the game, how Unreal helped with iteration, and how the game will continue to evolve with post-launch support.

To read the rest of this story, which first ran on Nov. 22, 2021, visit UnrealEngine.com.