Aliens: Fireteam Elite may primarily draw on Aliens, but it's next DLC, Pathogen, focuses on a far less-utilized film: Prometheus. Cold Iron Studios' 2021 third-person co-op shooter takes place two decades after the original trilogy of Alien films on planet LV-895, a location uniquely crafted for this title. The upcoming Pathogen expansion reveals a startling new development - the alien species known as Engineers once had a significant presence on the planet, and as a result players now face even more horrifying foes.
Unfortunately, Alien games can't seem to catch a break. Game-breaking typos in Alien games aside, it seems that the action-oriented sequel should be a perfect property to adapt to a video game. Where the original Alien was a slow, suspenseful experience that used its titular creature incredibly frugally, Aliens is much more a traditional action film where heroes kill xenomorph after xenomorph. The latter, with its action set pieces and faster pacing, seems the better choice for today's trends, but the past decade has proven exactly the opposite. 2014's Alien: Isolation is indisputably the best Alien game to date, and it's just as slow - if not slower - than the film it's based on. The previous year's Colonial Marines co-op horde shooter was immensely broken at launch, but even fixed the game was middling. Repeatedly, developers want to recapture what Left 4 Dead had, and successes have been rare.
Most recently, Aliens: Fireteam Elite tried its hand; numerous outlets noted the similarity in gameplay. Unfortunately, Fireteam Elite may already be dead, as demonstrated by a dismal player count since launch. Still, Cold Iron Studios has continued to support the title, and new content almost always brings some players back in. Releasing at the end of August, Pathogen will bring numerous updates to the game, including a new three-mission campaign that strongly ties into the events of Prometheus.
How Does The Aliens: Fireteam Elite Pathogen Expansion Connect To Prometheus?
In a franchise that already lacks a coherent genre and tone, Prometheus is an even further departure from Alien - the film doesn't even feature the iconic xenomorph, save for a brief appearance at the end. The film also leans into body horror more than previous films; while it has always been present as a result of the xenomorph's means of reproduction, the black goo bioweapon central to Prometheus causes all kinds of rapid horrific mutations. This is almost certainly the namesake of the Pathogen expansion.
On the Alien timeline, Fireteam Elite takes place long after Prometheus, and Engineers are now less of an unknown variable. The progenitor of humanity and masters of biological manipulation, Engineers have actually been present since the original Alien - the so-called "space jockey" found on the derelict alien ship is the first appearance of the species. The presence of Engineers on LV-895 opens the door for tons of new dangers in Fireteam Elite, from expanding the game's already sizable roster of enemies to presenting a new narrative threat. Players may even have to contend with the bioweapon directly, though new mechanics may be unlikely.
Overall, Pathogen seems to bring a lot to the table. In addition to the new foes and missions, players will also have access to new perks, cosmetic customization options, and a slew of new weapons to Fireteam Elite's sizeable array of weapons and parts. Alongside Pathogen, Cold Iron Studio is also releasing a free update that introduces Hardcore Mode, an optional gameplay variant that sees players making new colonial marines that don't come back from death - bringing the new challenge of permadeath and a new rewards model for the mode. Fans of Prometheus or players seeking a challenge should look to the Pathogen expansion for Aliens: Fireteam Elite on August 30.