Starship Troopers: Extermination
| Starship Troopers: Extermination | |
|---|---|
 Early access cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Offworld |
| Publisher(s) | Offworld |
| Composer(s) | Scott Tobin |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Xbox Series X/S PlayStation 5 |
| Release | May 17, 2023 (early access) October 11, 2024 (planned) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Starship Troopers: Extermination is a first-person sci-fi action shooter, part of the larger Starship Troopers franchise and developed and published by Offworld Industries.
Development
[edit]Announced in November 2022,[1] the game is developed and published by Canadian studio Offworld Industries, previously known for developing the 2020 video game Squad.[2][3][4]
Part of the Starship Troopers media franchise, the game draws from elements found in the Starship Troopers films and takes place thirty years after it.[4][5]
Although Extermination was originally expected to support up to 12-player action,[6] this number was later increased to include 16-player player versus environment (PvE).[7] The game entered its early access phase on May 17, 2023.[8] In June 2024, it was announced Extermination plans to leave early access on October 11, concurrently extending the release to consoles by publisher Knights Peak Interactive. At the same media event, Offworld revealed that Casper Van Dien has provided voice-over work for the upcoming single-player component of the game.[9]
Gameplay
[edit]Multiplayer
[edit]The game features cooperative (co-op) gameplay, in which players assume the role of a Trooper. There are six Trooper classes: Sniper, Ranger, Demolisher, Guardian, Engineer, and Medic.[10] Meanwhile, there are numerous types of "Bugs," including Drone, Warrior, Gunner, Plasma Grenadier, and Tiger Elite.[3] More Bug enemies are added as development continues. There is also a ping system similar to the ones included in Apex Legends and Halo Infinite, to assist with player-to-player communication in-game.[6]
Each match will see the players deploy on one of multiple planets, such as Valaka and Agni-Prime, from a dropship, with a task to explore it. Players will need to complete missions and gather resources with the goal of creating a base defendable from the Bugs. Ultimately, the players will attempt to reach the extraction point.[4]
With "The New Vanguard" update, player progression was revamped to introduce classes that possess unique equipment and roles. Players gain experience points to level up classes and ranks at the end of a session, unlocking new weapons, tools, and cosmetic items.[11]
A June 2024 update introduced the "Carnage system".[12] Previously, when a player killed a Bug enemy, the corpse would disappear. The Carnage system instead keeps Bug corpses on the battlefield, creating new terrain and obstacles, while the Bugs update their navigation accordingly. This can lead to enemies finding new paths and reaching previously inaccessible areas, including player bases. The update also introduced blood splatters that stain the environment for the remainder of the match.
Single-player
[edit]
Aside from the training scenario to accustom players to the cooperative mode, a single-player component is expected to release with 25 unique missions based in different environments, with possible future content to follow. The mode will feature General Rico, played by Casper Van Dien who reprises his role from various Starship Troopers media. Players assume the role as elite operations group members within the Mobile Infantry.[13]
A veteran of the Bug War, the older General Rico has matured into a wise and empathetic figure, watchful over the younger troopers and considering their lives a priority above the mission and his own duties. Offworld has stated that Rico's depiction in Extermination is canon to the franchise.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ Van Allen, Eric (November 28, 2022). "Starship Troopers: Extermination is a co-op bug shooter from Squad devs". Destructoid. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Shankar, Bradly (June 15, 2024). "Vancouver's Offworld and Casper Van Dien team up on Starship Troopers: Extermination". MobileSyrup. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (May 3, 2023). "Starship Troopers: Extermination gets early access release date". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c Brown, Andy (May 3, 2023). "Co-op shooter 'Starship Troopers: Extermination' launches in Early Access this May". NME. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Fillari, Alessandro (May 10, 2023). "Starship Troopers: Extermination – Early Access Preview". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b McCaffrey (November 28, 2022). "Starship Troopers: Extermination Announced". IGN. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Romano, Sal (May 3, 2023). "Starship Troopers: Extermination launches in Early Access on May 17". Gematsu. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Janca, Ben (May 17, 2023). "Starship Troopers: Extermination - Early Access Launch Trailer". GameSpot. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Zollner, Amelia (June 8, 2024). "Starship Troopers: Extermination Gets October Release Date, Single-Player Campaign With Casper Van Dien". IGN. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Starship Troopers: Extermination - The New Vanguard: Class Name Reveal - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. January 12, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Announcing Update 0.7.0: The New Vanguard". www.starshiptroopersextermination.com. Offworld. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "Starship Troopers: Extermination - Steam News Hub". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Palumbo, Alessio (June 9, 2024). "Starship Troopers: Extermination 1.0 Launches on October 11, Adding Single Player Mode and More". Wccftech. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Joshua Wolens (June 8, 2024). "The official Starship Troopers co-op shooter has a full release date, Casper Van Dien, and a miraculous-sounding corpse pile-up system: 'No other game has been able to achieve persistent death at the scale we're doing'". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 15, 2024.