Sega’s sci-fi first-person shooter HYENAS lets players steal pop culture artifacts, like a Sonic the Hedgehog keychain, from Mars’ upper class.
HYENAS, a new multiplayer shooter from Alien: Isolation developer Creative Assembly and Sega, lets players steal Sonic the Hedgehog keychains from Mars’ upper class. Alongside the sci-fi survival horror game, the developer is also well-known for creating turn-based strategy and real-time tactics games like Total War and Halo Wars 2. A sci-fi FPS from the Alien: Isolation developer was previously mentioned, but now HYENAS has been officially announced.
While Creative Assembly is known for its strategy games, Alien: Isolation saw the developer cut its teeth on first-person sci-fi action. The beloved 2014 title returned to the roots of the long-running Alien franchise by serving as a survival horror game instead of a first-person shooter. Players face off against only a single Xenomorph, but they are in control of engineer Amanda Ripley rather than a well-armed squad of space marines. In Alien: Isolation players must use caution and quick thinking to survive, because their otherworldly foe can easily kill Ripley if it gets close. While many fans want to see an Alien: Isolation 2 survival game, Creative Assembly has instead unveiled an entirely original sci-fi shooter.
A lengthy announcement stream, hosted by IGN on YouTube, has revealed Sega and Creative Assembly’s new game HYENAS. The stylish sci-fi shooter will pit five teams of three players against each other in high-stakes combat as they fight to steal pop culture artifacts from Mars’ upper class. Loot in HYENAS includes comical items like Sonic the Hedgehog keychains, Rubik’s Cubes and plush teddy bears. Creative Assembly’s new title will also focus on environmental effects, with zero-gravity battles making for truly hectic squad-based showdowns. The multiplayer multi-team robbery game is set to launch in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.
While gamers will need to wait until 2023 before they get their hands on the full experience, those interested can sign up for a free HYENAS alpha test now. The test, currently only available for Steam users in Europe and North America, will let gamers give feedback on the title’s zero-G combat and team-based cooperative gameplay. In order to be eligible, prospective players must link a Creative Assembly account to their Steam account and sign a non-disclosure agreement. According to Creative Assembly, this alpha test will be available on other platforms at a later date.
HYENAS sees Creative Assembly return to the world of first-person sci-fi, but the game will trade the dark corridors of Alien: Isolation for fast-paced combat and pop culture references. By pitting five trios of players against each other in an otherworldly environment, the game promises to deliver hectic heists and daring escapes. Sega and Creative Assembly are even offering a free alpha test, so lucky players can get their hands on HYENAS very soon.
HYENAS will release in 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: IGN/YouTube, HYENAS
Thomas McNulty is an avid reader, writer, game player and movie watcher from New Jersey. Movies, TV shows, video games, books and pop culture are personal passions, and he is thrilled to be writing about those topics that are so near and dear. If someone has a story to tell, they should be able to tell it. He is committed to delivering accuracy with every article and staying true to his voice.
