Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 preview: a flashy co-op shooter that's hard to put down

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, developed by Daybreak Game Company, looks like a substantial upgrade over the 2021 original — and this time it's arriving in a much friendlier climate for action-heavy Alien content.

The core loop is straightforward: fight waves of Xenomorphs, hit light objectives like activating terminals, and keep moving. It's not survival horror — enemies go down consistently if you play smart — but the combat has enough texture to stay engaging. A standout new feature is the ammo type system: slotting in fire or plasma rounds and unleashing them on a Xenomorph horde apparently doesn't get old. There's also a new specialist class that lets players mix and match abilities and perks from other classes to build a custom loadout, though the preview demo didn't include access to it. Beyond standard Xenomorphs, rogue synths show up as enemy variety.

The original Fireteam Elite was somewhat underrated at launch in 2021, largely because fans were hungry for horror-focused Alien content and a pure action shooter felt like the wrong answer. That context has shifted: Alien: Isolation 2 is now announced and on the way, which gives Fireteam Elite 2 room to own the action side of the franchise without apology. Polygon notes that knowing Isolation 2 exists makes it easier to appreciate what Fireteam Elite 2 is actually going for.

Early impressions are positive enough that the sequel looks like a genuine contender for one of the next big co-op games. A full verdict will have to wait for the complete release, but the foundation seems solid.