Rebellion Announces Alien Deathstorm, New Action Horror FPS

Rebellion Developments, the studio behind the long-running Sniper Elite series and the recent post-apocalyptic survival game Atomfall, has unveiled its latest project: Alien Deathstorm. This new first-person action horror title shifts the developer away from grounded military settings and British countryside mysteries into a raw, visceral sci-fi nightmare.

Announcement and Setting#

Announced during the March 2026 Xbox Partner Preview, Alien Deathstorm places players on a remote off-world colony devastated by a cataclysmic mega-storm and overrun by swarms of bloodthirsty alien creatures. What begins as a routine rescue mission as a highly trained Combat Engineer quickly spirals into a desperate fight for survival amid otherworldly weather phenomena and relentless extraterrestrial threats.

The game blends high-octane shooting with horror atmosphere, creating a true hybrid experience. Players must balance aggressive combat against environmental hazards while maintaining the tension that Rebellion has mastered in previous titles. Unlike pure survival horror that strips players of resources and power, Alien Deathstorm leans into action horror territory, giving players tools to fight back while still delivering dread through dynamic storms and adaptive alien behavior.

Rebellion's Horror Evolution#

This marks a natural evolution for Rebellion rather than a complete departure. The studio previously explored darker themes through its work on the Aliens vs. Predator franchise and the undead hordes of Zombie Army. With Alien Deathstorm, it commits fully to an original IP that pushes those horror elements to the forefront, supported by the same attention to systemic detail and atmospheric world-building that defines its games.

Rebellion's track record suggests strong potential here. Sniper Elite built its reputation on precise, tense gameplay and satisfying ballistics, while Atomfall demonstrated the studio's willingness to experiment with exploration, choice, and oppressive environments. Applying that methodical, systems-driven approach to alien swarms and reality-bending weather could produce compelling emergent moments. Imagine weighing cover from enemy fire against shelter from an incoming acid storm, or turning hazardous conditions into weapons against the horde.

Atomfall Success Provides Strong Foundation#

Atomfall, which launched on March 27, 2025, across multiple platforms including last-gen consoles, became Rebellion's biggest launch ever with over 1.5 million players shortly after release. It earned mixed-to-positive reviews and received ongoing post-launch support. That commercial success and continued franchise momentum with Sniper Elite give the studio a solid foundation to develop this ambitious new direction without rushing.

Release Details#

Release details are now confirmed and promising. Alien Deathstorm is scheduled for a 2027 launch and will arrive day one on Xbox Game Pass. It will also be available on Xbox Series X|S (as an Xbox Play Anywhere title), PC via Steam, Xbox Cloud, and PlayStation 5. No last-gen versions have been mentioned, which could allow for more advanced weather simulation and environmental destruction on current hardware.

With its chunky, analogue-inspired aesthetic drawing from 1980s sci-fi and Lovecraftian influences, Alien Deathstorm looks poised to stand out in the action horror space. The combination of tactical shooting, unpredictable environmental threats, and genuine horror atmosphere feels fresh, especially in a genre often dominated by either pure jump-scare experiences or straightforward alien shooters.

Rebellion has a history of delivering meaningful depth in its mechanics, from X-ray kill cams to stealth systems and ballistics modeling. If the team can translate that precision into dynamic weather interactions, sound-driven alien AI, and a careful balance between empowerment and vulnerability, Alien Deathstorm could carve out its own niche.

The 2027 window gives the studio time to refine these systems after the strong foundation laid by Atomfall. Early signs point to an exciting swing that plays to Rebellion's strengths while expanding its scope.

What do you think? Does this feel like the right move for the studio, or are you hoping for more details on how the weather mechanics will actually play out in combat?