UPDATE: Gearbox has officially confirmed that (playable) female characters will be available for use in both Aliens: Colonial Marines’ campaign and its multiplayer modes. The game’s development team decided to add them in after hearing word of a petition that had been signed by over four thousand people, all of whom were angry after they heard that the game, which is based on a series that is known for featuring strong female characters, would not include any members of the fairer sex.
In order to showcase their altered stance and prove that women will, in fact, appear in the upcoming shooter, Randy Pitchford and company introduced those in attendance to a playable co-op character named Jennifer Running.
During this weekend’s PAX Prime convention, Gearbox Software unveiled a brand new multiplayer mode for its much-anticipated Xenomorphic licensed shooter, Aliens: Colonial Marines. Known simply as Escape, the four-on-four gameplay variant forces a team of soldiers to escape from a team of blood-thirsty aliens. Actually, in many ways, it’s a lot like certain parts of the film series.
Below, you’ll find the mode’s debut trailer and its announcement press release. Pay close attention to the former item on that list, though, because it shows more than just footage of a good-looking game mode. In fact, it looks to feature the game’s first female multiplayer character, which is worth pointing out because Gearbox previously stated that it would not be including a playable avatar from that gender pool.
Aliens: Colonial Marines will spook Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC owners on February 12, 2013. A release date has yet to be announced for its Wii U version.
SEGA AND GEARBOX ANnounce NEW multiplayer mode for Aliens: Colonial Marines
Escape Mode to Debut at PAX Prime 2012 in Seattle
SAN FRANCISCO (August 30, 2012) – SEGA® of America, Inc. and Gearbox Software today announced Escape mode, a new competitive multiplayer mode, for its highly anticipated blockbuster Aliens: Colonial Marines™ video game, launching February 12, 2013 worldwide. With a competitive death match game mode already revealed earlier in the year, Escape mode is the second in a number of competitive multiplayer modes for Aliens: Colonial Marines and will challenge players in an intense scenario against the universe’s deadliest killers, the Xenomorph. Escape mode will debut at PAX Prime 2012, August 31 – September 2, in Seattle. SEGA’s booth covers numbers 242 and 252 on the show floor.
An exhilarating experience for fans of the ALIENS universe, Escape mode puts the four-person US Colonial Marines team on the offensive against a four-player Xenomorph team. The Colonial Marines must blast their way through the fast-paced map in order to escape the attacking Xenomorphs, who in return will try to eliminate their prey as quickly as possible. Under the pressure and limited in time, players will have to work together as a team, utilizing each faction’s unique skills, and identifying their opponents’ weak spots to either reach the safety of the escape point or to eliminate their targets.
In addition to a host of stations with the brand new Escape mode playable at SEGA’s PAX booth (number 242 and 252), fans can experience the threat of the aliens firsthand and climb inside SEGA’s custom-made 16 foot powerloader statue with an attacking Xenomorph on it and have their picture taken. Players up for the challenge can also compete in daily Team Deathmatch competitions against the team from Gearbox Software for the chance to win Aliens: Colonial Marines prize packs. Competitions will be held at Alienware’s PAX booth, number 3636. See http://www.alienwarearena.com/news/768/alienware-pax-prime-2012 for details.
In partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and developed by critically acclaimed studio Gearbox Software, Aliens: Colonial Marines will bring new levels of bone-chilling suspense and adrenaline-filled action to the renowned franchise. As the authentic addition to the ALIENS franchise canon, the game’s stunning visuals and adrenaline pumping action will deliver a breathtakingly immersive four-player drop-in drop-out cooperative campaign and expansive competitive multiplayer mode. Providing for an innovative asymmetrical competitive multiplayer experience, Aliens: Colonial Marines lets players fight in first person as the ultimate badasses – the United States Colonial Marines, or in third person as the universe’s deadliest killers – the Xenomorphs. Plunging into familiar and new environments from the iconic film franchise, players will have to fight the fear and face the true horrors of the ALIENS universe.
Aliens: Colonial Marines will be available in stores across the globe on February 12, 2013 on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. A release date for the announced Wii U™ version will be revealed at a later time.