Aliens: Fireteam Elite is an upcoming cooperative third-person shooter that allows players to team up and battle the relentless xenomorph hordes. Eschewing the survival-horror genre that many Alien games utilize, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is focused on delivering a high-octane action experience. Multiplayer shooters are more prevalent than ever, and many of the common mechanics players are familiar with are present in Fireteam Elite: unique class loadouts, a cover mechanic, and synergy between classes being key to success. One common mechanic in modern gaming that is divisive among fans won't be making an appearance in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, though.
Moving away from horror with Aliens: Fireteam Elite was already a strong choice to make for a series deeply rooted in fear. That being said, many of the Alien movies have done the same, including the game's namesake Aliens. While that film moved more toward action, it created different kinds of horror with the overwhelming numbers of xenomorphs that Ripley and others encountered. This seems to be the motif that Fireteam Elite is banking on, and it could work well. However, entering the multiplayer shooter arena without microtransactions could end up being Aliens: Fireteam Elite's biggest strength.
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Microtransactions are one of the most divisive mechanics to become prevalent in modern gaming. When done well it can be a nice addition for players with some extra cash to adorn their avatars in unique skins, or help players that maybe don't have as much time to grind out and enjoy a game's story - like what was done with Devil May Cry 5. At its worst, microtransactions can simulate gambling, hinder a game's meta as "pay-to-win" mechanics arise, and alienate players who have already made a hefty purchase with the base game. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is opting instead to focus on its gameplay without an environment of dangling rewards tied to real-world money.
This could prove to be a great move for Aliens: Fireteam Elite. In the modern landscape, it's rare to find a shooter of any kind without microtransactions. Players will be able to battle xenomorphs in Aliens: Fireteam Elite on equal footing as any other players. Depending on how large the playerbase becomes, this could help improve the overall meta of the game as skill and experience will be the dominating factor in success. While cooperative shooters are less prone to microtransactions, this could still be a determining factor in the game's success.
Choosing to eschew a common modern practice is something very common to the Aliens franchise. The first few Alien films were classics that blended genres in new ways and pioneered set design philosophies. While a bit of a hyperbole, Aliens: Fireteam Elite could make waves in the shooter space by doing something similar. Microtransactions are so prevalent in modern multiplayer games that seeing a game release without them is surprising and refreshing.
While it could help boost the success of Aliens: Fireteam Elite, it will also make the overall gameplay loop more important in order to maintain long-term player engagement. Either way, avoiding microtransactions could prove to be Aliens: Fireteam Elite's biggest strength.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite releases August 24, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.