- Games
- Exterminauts
Exterminauts
A co-op shooter for three, where you clear bugs from alien worksites and keep the machinery running.
Online co-op for up to 3 players, with crossplay.
- 3 online
- Crossplay, platforms unclear
Store pages
Playing together
- Online co-op3 players
- Local co-opNot confirmed
- YesThe listing shows Xbox cross-platform co-op. It names no other platforms and the game is not out, so this is an announced promise.Friends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckNot testedValve has not rated it yet
About the game
You and two friends work as contractors sent to an alien planet to clear out bugs. Each job takes place at a worksite where machines are breaking down. You fix them with short minigames while the swarm keeps coming.
The game is built for a crew of three. While one of you works on a machine, the others cover them, and that gets harder when bigger creatures show up. Your guns are power tools, with loadouts built around things like ice, electricity and foam. Friendly fire is on, so a careless special attack can hit your own crew.
A mission takes about 20 to 30 minutes and ends with a run to the pickup point and one last swarm. The players who take out the most enemies there earn a bonus, which pays for upgrades. The game is not out yet, and these details come from an early build.
How it feels
Kind of game
A team takes on missions or runs full of enemies. You pick gear, cover each other and pick each other up.
- At its heart
- Now and then
- Story
- Time to hang out
- Rivalry in the group
- Exploring
- Puzzles and figuring out
- Planning ahead
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Everyday work, Bug swarms, Alien planets
Rated on our own feel scale. 4 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Exterminauts
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Why it scores 83%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Alien planets
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 3 players
How Aliens: Fireteam Elite differs
- Calmer and less chaotic than Exterminauts
- 3 online
- Crossplay
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about strange alien worlds. Both have a lot of fighting side by side.
But calmer and less chaotic than Exterminauts.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Why it scores 83%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Bug swarms
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 3 players
How Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 differs
- Calmer and less chaotic than Exterminauts
- 3 online
- Crossplay
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about swarms of alien bugs. Both play in runs or missions you repeat.
But calmer and less chaotic than Exterminauts.
HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition
Why it scores 82%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Bug swarms and Alien planets
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op
How HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition differs
- More chaotic than Exterminauts
- 4 online
- 4 shared-screen
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about swarms of alien bugs and strange alien worlds. Both get loud and silly when plans go wrong.
But more chaotic than Exterminauts.
All co-op facts
Last checked 28 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Local co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- Not confirmed
- Confirmed free setups
- Not confirmed
- Crossplay
- Yes
The listing shows Xbox cross-platform co-op. It names no other platforms and the game is not out, so this is an announced promise.
- 81011
- Crossplay between
- Not confirmed
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
11 pages
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Kind of game, About, Laughter and chaos, Tension and danger, Working in sync, Time to hang out, Fighting, Getting better.
- Most players online: Store text is built around a 3-player crew.
- Kind of game: Tags include Team-Based, PvE and Looter Shooter. The text tells you to cover your crewmates.
- About: The text is about blue-collar pest control against alien bugs on the planet Tian.
- Laughter and chaos: The text calls the fights a chaotic slugfest, and a user tag is Comedy.
- Tension and danger: Tags include Difficult, and the text says to survive your shift together.
- Working in sync: The text says the team must keep communicating, repositioning and changing tactics.
- Time to hang out: Talk stays on the fight in front of you, since the crew must keep communicating to survive.
- Fighting: Tags include Third-Person Shooter and Shooter, and the text centers on gunplay with power tools.
- Getting better: User tags include Difficult.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 28 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Online co-op, Release status.
- Online co-op: Categories include Online Co-op and Co-op.
- Release status: Steam shows Coming soon with no date.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 28 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve's report shows no rating yet, so the game is untested.
wikidata.orgWikidata, read 28 October 2026
Backs Wikidata item, Genres, Release date.
- Genres: P136 is third-person shooter.
- Release date: P577 is 2027 with year precision.
press.levelinfinite.comOfficial news, read 28 October 2026
Backs Release status, Release date, Genres, About, Exploring, Tension and danger, Working in sync, Laughter and chaos, Fighting, Unlocks and progress.
- Release status: Press release of 2026-08-25 says the game is set to launch in 2027.
- Release date: The release is given only as 2027, with no month or day.
- Genres: Calls it a third-person co-op PvE shooter.
- About: Players are field technicians who clear alien infestations and repair infrastructure on the planet Tian.
- Exploring: Mentions exploring a colorful alien world with many kinds of creatures.
- Tension and danger: Describes high-pressure objectives and extracting before encounters spiral out of control.
- Working in sync: Says teamwork is essential to getting the job done.
- Laughter and chaos: A publisher quote describes the gameplay as chaotic and highly cooperative.
- Fighting: Describes a combat system built on power-tool guns and special abilities.
- Unlocks and progress: Each finished work order gives resources to improve equipment and upgrade tools.
steamcommunity.comOfficial news, read 28 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Genres.
- Most players online: Post of 2026-08-25 calls it a three-player co-op third-person shooter.
- Genres: The same post calls it a co-op third-person shooter.
steamcommunity.comOfficial news, read 28 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Working in sync, Planning ahead.
- Most players online: Post of 2026-10-22 says the game is built around a three-player crew.
- Working in sync: Says the beta will watch how loadouts fit together and how crews respond to threats.
- Planning ahead: Says each weapon handles its Overdrive state differently, so equipment choice matters.
xbox.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Crossplay.
- Online co-op: The listing shows online co-op for 2 to 3 players.
- Most players online: The online co-op range on the listing tops out at 3.
- Crossplay: The listing shows Xbox cross-platform co-op. It names no other platforms and the game is not out, so this is an announced promise.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online.
- Online co-op: The listing says online play is required.
- Most players online: The listing shows 3 network players.
store.epicgames.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Crossplay.
- Crossplay: Features list Co-op and Cross Platform. No platforms are named and the game is not out, so this is an announced promise.
shacknews.comPress, read 28 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Kind of game, Sessions, About, Laughter and chaos, Tension and danger, Story, Working in sync, Rivalry in the group, Fighting, Puzzles and figuring out, Unlocks and progress, Planning ahead, Getting better.
- Crossplay: Preview of 2026-09-01 says cross-platform play is available at launch in 2027. This is an announced promise.
- Kind of game: Compares the premise to HELLDIVERS 2. One player repairs while the others cover them.
- Sessions: Missions run 20 to 30 minutes with the same loop, and bonuses buy upgrades.
- About: Describes contractors fixing facilities on the planet Tian and fighting off bugs.
- Laughter and chaos: Friendly fire is on, so special attacks can hit your own teammates.
- Tension and danger: Bigger enemies make covering a repairer hard, and one last swarm comes at extraction.
- Story: Seasonal updates will tell the backstory of the companies on Tian.
- Working in sync: Players must watch their surroundings so whoever is repairing stays covered.
- Rivalry in the group: Players who take out the most enemies at extraction get a pay bonus.
- Fighting: Players fight with power-tool weapons across several loadouts.
- Puzzles and figuring out: Repairs use short minigames.
- Unlocks and progress: Pay bonuses buy upgrades, and a first season of new content is planned.
- Planning ahead: Loadouts combine ranged weapons, mods and a special ability.
- Getting better: Says bigger enemies add challenge and the weapons invite experimenting.