Hands-On With Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2: A Co-op Bug Hunt Worth Taking
The sequel to the co-op shooter captures the look, sound, and tension of the 1986 film. Players join an elite squad investigating a missing team on a Weyland-Yutani colony overrun by Xenomorphs. The new Specialist class allows custom class assembly, and the story receives greater emphasis than in the original.
The preview details a narrative set on LV-558, a Weyland-Yutani mining colony, where the player's marine is tasked with locating the missing elite Fireteam Banshee. Supporting characters include the dropship pilot Raptor and the mechanic Wrench, with the mission overseen by General Shipp.
A notable gameplay shift is the transition to four-member squads. When playing solo, the player is accompanied by three helpful android allies from Alien: Isolation, one of whom sports a cowboy hat. The previewer selected the Duelist class, which pairs a pulse rifle with a shotgun, and highlighted the game's faithful audio-visual cues like motion tracker pings.
This sequel's emphasis on narrative and a customizable Specialist class could broaden its appeal beyond hardcore co-op enthusiasts, potentially drawing in fans of the 1986 film who value atmosphere. The shift to four-player squads may also strengthen its social draw, though its long-term impact depends on whether the tension and AI companions sustain engagement across the full campaign.