Rebellion says Alien Deathstorm draws on 90s cassette futurism and an engineer protagonist

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, producer Martin Willingham and head of design Ben Fisher discussed the influences behind the game. Fisher said the team was inspired by the iconic Alien movies but also looked at the broader influence of “90s cassette futurism” to create “that gritty, grounded sci-fi atmosphere.” He added that “a lot of the tone came from our own 2008 comic series as well,” describing it as “that kind of broad, pulpy, accessible sci-fi storytelling.”

Willingham explained why Deathstorm’s protagonist is an engineer rather than a typical soldier. He said the studio wanted to find an interesting character that matched “interesting mechanics,” and an engineer “felt like a natural fit.” The perspective also enabled Rebellion to “explore the elements of the sandbox gameplay,” with an engineer working to diagnose problems in a dangerous environment surrounded by monsters.

Fisher said part of the motive was making the player feel immersed in the experience and exposed. He said an engineer trying to survive in that situation is less trained than a space marine or some kind of future soldier, so the player feels more threatened. That amplifies the feeling of being isolated and doing the best in a difficult situation, he said.

Fisher also said the engineer role adds “moments of anticipation.” He said players have to slow down and observe the space rather than rush to the next objective, which immerses them in the experience. When they hear the roar of a distant alien, the split of attention builds up anticipation and fear, he added.

Alien Deathstorm is set to launch in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.