A new game, titled Exterminauts, is poised to capture the enthusiasm of players who enjoy the cooperative shooter genre, particularly those who have been captivated by the phenomenal success of Helldivers 2. With its blend of frantic action, strategic depth, and dark humor, Exterminauts offers a familiar yet fresh experience. This title introduces a unique narrative where players assume the roles of corporate mercenaries, deployed to hostile alien worlds not for planetary defense, but for the ruthless extraction of valuable resources, battling hordes of diverse extraterrestrial creatures in the process. The game promises a robust gameplay loop, echoing the elements that made its predecessor a hit while carving out its own distinct identity through its corporate-dystopian setting and varied mission objectives.
Helldivers 2, launched in 2024, quickly soared in popularity, amassing a significant player base with its compelling third-person shooter mechanics, dynamic physics, relentless enemy waves, and sharply satirical tone. Its continued appeal is evident, with recent updates like "Devoid of Liberty" propelling its peak concurrent players on platforms like SteamDB to approximately 80,000. This enduring success highlights a strong demand for games that offer engaging cooperative combat against overwhelming odds, often infused with a sense of chaotic fun. The game's formula of deploying expendable soldiers against alien threats, all under the guise of a grander, often comically exaggerated, galactic struggle, has resonated deeply with its audience.
It was perhaps inevitable that other developers would seek to emulate such a triumph. Exterminauts steps into this arena, openly embracing the proven blueprint of Helldivers 2 while infusing it with its own distinctive elements. Instead of Super Earth, the setting revolves around mega-corporations, for whom players undertake contracts. The "Exterminauts" are not conventional soldiers but corporate employees, described during a confidential presentation at Gamescom 2026 as a hybrid of exterminator, repair technician, and first responder. Their primary objective diverges from defending humanity; instead, it centers on mining polymorphic plasma on the planet Tian, a resource whose harvesting has enraged the native alien life. The mega-corps, rather than ceasing operations, simply relocated their command centers off-world, dispatching these disposable agents to manage the escalating aggression.
During a hands-on preview at Gamescom, which included a developer from Behaviour Interactive and another journalist, the game proved to be an exhilarating experience. Players navigated through objectives, confronting and eliminating an array of imaginatively designed alien creatures using a diverse arsenal of weapons and special abilities. One notable ability featured a grenade that created a black hole, drawing in nearby enemies, while a powerful overdrive weapon, fueled by polymorphic plasma, could unleash devastating energy blasts – albeit with the risk of backfiring if overcharged. The developers characterized the gameplay as "controlled chaos," a paradox that aptly describes the feeling of managing an seemingly uncontrollable situation while adhering to a strategic plan, a sentiment familiar to fans of Helldivers 2. This comparison, far from suggesting a mere imitation, underscores the game's ability to capture a similar spirit while offering its own unique flavor.
Exterminauts is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. While a specific release date has not yet been announced, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting addition to the co-op shooter landscape, demonstrating that creative inspiration can lead to compelling new experiences.
