Menu

«Previous post | Next post»

Press release:
DALLAS — Oct. 15, 2022.
“Exocide“, the combo-fueled cinematic invasion shooter from Hellforge Studios and published by Apogee Entertainment, stands against the insect legions in 2023 on Steam for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Wield up to four (yes, 4!) firearms at once as humanity’s last hope—the enigmatic Handler-128—and his excitable, colorful A.I. partner, G.E.N.N.I. Every bullet counts in mankind’s last stand against an army of genetically modified insects. These once-loyal superbugs, faced with global food shortages, have now pledged allegiance to their survival, not their creators. But even as swarms of super-powered spiders and drones bear down on the last human stronghold, who says you can’t slay with style?

String together brutal, cool-as-hell combos in lightning-fast, score-based gunplay. Strike from the air with the trusty Power Axe to stagger foes for follow-ups, nail back-to-back headshots with precision rifles, and jettison from ramps in the environment to keep your killer combo running. Build speed with Handler-128’s jet boots and rack up style points by wall-riding between quarter pipes, grinding handrails, or charge-dashing into the fray. Enter a flow state and create a glorious symphony of destruction to run up the scoreboard.

Higher point totals unlock Handler-128’s full arsenal of creative weaponry, including combat augmentations for Genni. Her mechanical robot arms extend outward over Handler’s shoulders. Pull explosive barrels into her clutches and toss them for area-of-effect damage.

Take aim with dual SMGs while the Handler himself dual-wields shotguns, pistols, or something more bombastic. Fill each level with weapon mods of your choice or utterly devastate the bug legions by picking mounted turrets off the ground with Genni’s unbeatable strength.

Return to older stages with these new unlocks to extend combos even further, or press ahead in a breakneck narrative campaign. Through trials and despair, across a 20-year theater of war, Handler-128 and Genni have fought together and forged a bond between human and AI unlike any before. See their journey to its dramatic, unforgettable conclusion, uncovering the wider lore of Exocide’s alternate timeline through their intimate story and connection.

“Exocide serves up a sci-fi tale to remember, inspired by classic invasion cinema of the ‘50s, but it also respects your time,” said Niko, creator and lead developer of Exocide.

“Gunning down giant bugs feels like a constant highlight reel, and you can chase a high score in just a couple minutes.”

“I absolutely love getting rewarded for landing trick shots and chaining together combos,” said Scott Miller, Founder of Apogee Entertainment.

“Niko understands great gameplay, and we can’t wait for Exocide to stand alongside Apogee’s legendary shooters and their 100% pure, distilled fun.”

Exocide invades Steam for PC, PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and Nintendo Switch in 2023. Prepare for war with Hellforge Studios and Apogee Entertainment, follow the studio and Apogee on Twitter, and keep up with the OG indie publisher on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Discord.

About Hellforge Studios
Hellforge Studios is a collective of like-minded game developers united by the desire to create the best games possible. Exocide joins the likes of Selaco, Age of Hell, and Hellslinger as an evolution of and homage to some of the greatest FPS games of all time.

About Apogee Entertainment
The “Apogee Model,” as described in the new book, Shareware Heroes (Aug. 2022 release), was the starting point for talented indie developers to bypass retail and sell their games using online distribution in 1990. Apogee founder Scott Miller created this new model and soon funded, mentored, and published many indie upstarts and released a legendary string of global success stories, like Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, Shadow Warrior, Max Payne and Prey, earning over a billion dollars commercially. Miller also created the 3D Realms label for Apogee, which was sold to Embracer Group in 2021.

The new Apogee Entertainment, with founder Scott Miller and longtime partner Terry Nagy at the helm, will empower today’s incredibly talented indie developers, paving the way for their global success with innovative ideas, cutting-edge marketing, and the same fearlessness that changed the industry.