Cold Iron is bringing the sequel to PC and consoles in late August. You can look forward to a new Specialist endgame, cross-play, and larger squads.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is set to release on August 25, 2026.
The first details about an unannounced sequel to Aliens: Fireteam Elite surfaced as early as July 2024. At that time, a pitch deck describing a “new chapter in the series” leaked online. At that time, fans were still expecting a release in the third quarter of 2025.
In May 2026, the developers finally made the game official, though with a new release window set for the third quarter of 2026.
Teaser Trailer and Expanded Co-op Mode
In an extremely short, action-packed, and thoroughly gory teaser, Cold Iron has now revealed the exact date. The team also promises us “new perks, abilities, weapons, Xenomorphs, and more.”
Who’s behind Cold Iron Studios?
Cold Iron, a development studio based in San Jose, California, was founded in 2015 by MMO veterans (including those from Cryptic Studios). After scoring a surprise hit in 2021 with the first “Aliens: Fireteam Elite,” they are now significantly expanding the co-op franchise.
Revamped Game Modes, Cross-Play, and Platforms
In case you missed it: The sequel expands the co-op mode from three to four players. You can also expect “deeper tactics and smoother coordination with your squad.” On top of that, there’s “a variety of new classes and weapons, each bringing their own unique playstyles and tactical options to the battlefield.”
Other features include a revamped Horde mode, five unique classes, and “deadlier threats.” On top of that, there’s a new Specialist endgame class that lets you fully customize your Marines. Thanks to cross-play and built-in voice chat, you can also team up across platforms. The shooter is coming to PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store) as well as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The Major Leap to 4 Players
The upgrade from three to four squad members is a fundamental change for the sequel. While the first game (similar to Destiny) was still strictly balanced for teams of three, Part 2 now follows the classic genre standard à la Left 4 Dead, which enables entirely new tactics.
