Aliens: Fireteam Eliteis an upcoming cooperative third-person shooter that allows players to team up and battle the relentless xenomorph hordes. Eschewing the survival-horror genre that manyAliengames utilize,Aliens: Fireteam Eliteis focused on delivering a high-octane action experience. Multiplayer shooters are more prevalent than ever, and many of the common mechanics players are familiar with are present inFireteam Elite: unique class loadouts, a cover mechanic, and synergy between classes being key to success. One common mechanic in modern gaming that is divisive among fans won’t be making an appearance inAliens: Fireteam Elite,though.
Movingaway from horror withAliens: Fireteam Elitewas already a strong choice to make for a series deeply rooted in fear. That being said, many of theAlienmovies have done the same, including the game’s namesakeAliens. While that film moved more toward action, it created different kinds of horror with the overwhelming numbers of xenomorphs that Ripley and others encountered. This seems to be the motif thatFireteam Eliteis banking on, and it could work well. However, entering the multiplayer shooter arena without microtransactions could end up beingAliens: Fireteam Elite’sbiggest strength.
RELATED:Aliens: Fireteam Game Getting a Prequel Novel
Breaking Modern Tradition in Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Microtransactions are one of the most divisive mechanics to become prevalent in modern gaming. When done well it can be a nice addition for players with some extra cash to adorn their avatars in unique skins, or help players that maybe don’t have as much time to grind out and enjoy a game’s story - like what was done withDevil May Cry 5. At its worst, microtransactions can simulate gambling, hinder a game’s meta as “pay-to-win” mechanics arise, and alienate players who have already made a hefty purchase with the base game.Aliens: Fireteam Eliteis opting instead to focus on its gameplaywithout an environment of dangling rewards tied to real-world money.
This could prove to be a great move forAliens: Fireteam Elite. In the modern landscape, it’s rare to find a shooter of any kind without microtransactions. Players will be able to battlexenomorphs inAliens: Fireteam Eliteon equal footing as any other players. Depending on how large the playerbase becomes, this could help improve the overall meta of the game as skill and experience will be the dominating factor in success. While cooperative shooters are less prone to microtransactions, this could still be a determining factor in the game’s success.
Choosing to eschew a common modern practice is something very common to theAliensfranchise. The firstfewAlienfilms were classicsthat blended genres in new ways and pioneered set design philosophies. While a bit of a hyperbole,Aliens: Fireteam Elitecould make waves in the shooter space by doing something similar. Microtransactions are so prevalent in modern multiplayer games that seeing a game release without them is surprising and refreshing.
While it could help boost the success ofAliens: Fireteam Elite, it will also make the overall gameplay loop more important to maintain long-term player engagement. Either way, avoiding microtransactions could prove to beAliens: Fireteam Elite’sbiggest strength.
Aliens: Fireteam Elitereleases July 22, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Aliens: Fireteam Elite Changed Its Name, But Why?
