Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
The 4-player co-op xenomorph shooter from Cold Iron Studios, out now — August 25, 2026 — on Steam, Epic, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with crossplay from day one. A squad of four marines against the swarm, 15 campaign missions, and a Switch 2 version coming in Fall 2026. It's live right now.
What is Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2?
It's the sequel to 2021's Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and the headline change is the squad size: three marines become four. Same co-op loop — clear rooms, hold doors, survive the swarm — but the whole game was rebuilt around the bigger fireteam, which Cold Iron says was a bigger engineering lift than it sounds.
Developed by Cold Iron Studios, published by Daybreak Game Company. It launched August 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A Switch 2 version lands Fall 2026.
What's new and how it plays
- Four-player squads. Up from three in the original — roles and enemy pressure have been rebalanced around a full team of marines.
- Day-one crossplay. Steam, Epic, PS5 and Xbox all share one matchmaking pool from launch. No staged rollout. The original shipped without crossplay and added it later; this starts with everyone together.
- 15 campaign missions. Confirmed by the devs in a live Q&A hours before launch.
- Class system. Gunner and Recon are back, with the end-game Specialist class confirmed via the ongoing IGN First coverage. Full roster is on the Steam page.
- Bigger swarms. The pitch is simple: xenomorphs in overwhelming numbers, every room could be your last.
Release date and price
Out now — launched worldwide August 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC. The standard edition is $49.99 on Steam with no launch discount. There's no pre-order bonus drama to worry about: the devs confirmed no preorders and no roadmap before release — what you see at launch is what you get, with post-launch content presumably to follow the original's seasonal pattern.
Standard edition price on Steam as of Aug 25, 2026 — no launch discount. Not on Game Pass at launch. Price on PS5 and Xbox matches $49.99.
Worth a look if
- You played the 2021 original and want the bigger-squad version
- You have two or three friends — 4-player co-op is the whole point, and crossplay means platform doesn't matter
- You want an Aliens game that's more Left 4 Dead than survival horror — it's about holding lines and ammo math, not hiding
Hold off if you're a solo player — it's designed as a team game, and while you can run with AI teammates, the first game's bots were a common complaint. Scored reviews were still pending at launch, so early impressions are the only signal.
Quick facts & FAQ
- When does it come out? August 25, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC — it's out now.
- Is there crossplay? Yes, day one across Steam, Epic, Xbox and PS5. Switch 2 (Fall 2026) crossplay pool unconfirmed.
- How many players? Four-player co-op, up from three in the first game.
- What platforms? PC (Steam + Epic), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 in Fall 2026.
- Is it on Game Pass? Not at launch — it's a straight $49.99 purchase.
- Do I need to play the first game? No — standalone story, though the class and weapon basics carry over.
Watch it
The official reveal trailer (IGN First coverage): Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 – Official Reveal Trailer. More gameplay clips live on the Steam page.