Horrorverse: Rules of Engagement – Free-to-Play Tactical Shooter Announced
▼ Summary
– Tencent Games subsidiary Grey State Studio announced Rules of Engagement: The Grey State, a free-to-play horror FPS/tactical RPG launching in 2026 on PC platforms.
– Players are elite operatives called Striders who must retrieve a valuable artifact called The Vertex from a dangerous dimension filled with monsters and rival squads.
– The game features a Horrorverse setting that incorporates iconic monsters from various horror media, creating a universe of combined horror stories.
– Gameplay involves a PvEvP loop where squads deploy with basic gear, scavenge for equipment while fighting creatures, and must decide between early extraction or competing for the main objective.
– The free-to-play model is supported only by cosmetics, with no pay-to-win elements, and three distinct character classes (Sledge, Pyro, Phantom) will be available at launch.
Grey State Studio, a developer under Tencent Games, has officially revealed its upcoming project: Rules of Engagement: The Grey State. This free-to-play tactical first-person shooter and RPG hybrid is scheduled to launch in 2026 across PC platforms including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and WeGame in China.
Players step into the boots of a Strider, an elite mercenary employed by a shadowy organization. Their objective is to infiltrate The Grey State, a volatile dimension teeming with nightmarish creatures and powerful artifacts. The primary goal is not to save humanity but to secure a priceless relic known as The Vertex. This mission unfolds within a lawless frontier where rival squads compete for the same prize, creating a high-stakes environment of survival and confrontation.
The Grey State represents a perilous gold rush, but with a terrifying twist, it’s a “Horrorverse” inhabited by every manner of iconic monster from films, literature, and urban legends. This setting merges countless horror narratives into one treacherous landscape, where anything you’ve ever feared could be lying in wait.
Gameplay revolves around a tense player-versus-environment-versus-player loop. Each match begins with all squads equipped only with basic gear, sparking a frantic dash to hunt grotesque monsters and scavenge superior equipment before time expires. As the match nears its end, teams face a critical decision: evacuate early using a personal extraction point for a smaller, guaranteed reward, or risk everything by pursuing The Vertex and fighting for a spot on a heavily contested helicopter.
Character customization and strategic team composition play vital roles. The initial Alpha Playtest will introduce three distinct classes, each with extensive talent trees that encourage deep, creative build strategies. The Sledge class acts as an unstoppable frontline tank, wielding shield and hammer. Pyro specialists control the battlefield through fire and gas, creating chaos. Phantom operatives are swift assassins who eliminate targets with deadly precision from the shadows. Success in Rules of Engagement depends more on intelligent builds and team coordination than on raw mechanical skill alone.
The developers have committed to a fair-to-play model where the game is entirely free and supported solely by cosmetic purchases. All gear and player power must be earned through gameplay, either by skill or luck, ensuring a balanced experience where victory cannot be bought.
Community involvement is a cornerstone of the game’s development. Grey State Studio encourages players to join their Discord server, participate in upcoming playtests, and provide feedback to help shape the game’s evolution.
Announcement trailers and the first official screenshots are now available, offering a glimpse into the horrifying and competitive world awaiting players.
(Source: Genatsu)