Remember that Alien game that was supposedly cancelled a few years back? Turns out it’s not dead after all. According to Insider Gaming, the project that started development around 2020 under the codename Marathon (no relation to Bungie’s game) is back in active development at Eidos Montreal. The budget has jumped from $30 million to over $75 million, it features Ripley 8 as a playable character, and it’s targeting a 2028 release across all major platforms. This is separate from Alien Isolation 2, meaning we’re potentially getting multiple high-quality Alien games in the coming years. Finally, the franchise is getting the video game treatment it deserves.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider But With Xenomorphs
Sources describe the game as a single-player arcade survival horror experience where you navigate a deteriorating space station while avoiding both xenomorphs and special operations units. The comparison being thrown around is “Shadow of the Tomb Raider but with xenomorphs,” which makes perfect sense given that Eidos Montreal developed Shadow of the Tomb Raider. They know how to blend combat, platforming, stealth, and environmental puzzles into cohesive action-adventure experiences.
The gameplay loop involves stealth mechanics, resource management, equipment repair, and message decoding. You’ll be solving puzzles while trying not to get torn apart by aliens or shot by spec ops teams. The AI is designed to be adaptive, responding intelligently to player tactics rather than just charging mindlessly. This suggests enemies will learn from your behavior and force you to constantly adapt your approach, which could create genuinely tense encounters.
Who Is Ripley 8?
If you’re not deep into Alien lore, Ripley 8 is the cloned version of Ellen Ripley from Alien: Resurrection, the fourth film in the franchise. She’s a genetic hybrid containing both human and xenomorph DNA, created 200 years after the original Ripley’s death. This gives her superhuman strength, acid blood, and an unsettling connection to the xenomorphs. She’s basically what you get when you combine humanity’s greatest survivor with alien biology.
Including Ripley 8 is a bold choice because Alien: Resurrection is divisive among fans. Some love its weird body horror and dark humor. Others consider it the franchise’s low point. But from a gameplay perspective, Ripley 8 offers unique opportunities. Her hybrid nature could translate into interesting mechanics where she has advantages against xenomorphs but is hunted by humans who see her as a threat. That dynamic tension between multiple enemy types with different motivations could be really compelling.
Two Other Characters
Besides Ripley 8, documents mention two other characters: main protagonist Aubrey and potential villain Ryuzo. This suggests Ripley 8 might not be the sole playable character or that the story involves multiple perspectives. Aubrey being described as the “main protagonist” implies she’s the primary character you’ll control, with Ripley 8 potentially appearing as an NPC, secondary playable character, or showing up at specific story beats.
Ryuzo as a “potential villain” raises questions. Is he leading the special operations units hunting you? Is he a Weyland-Yutani executive orchestrating experiments? Or could he be morally ambiguous rather than purely antagonistic? The best Alien stories don’t have simple villains. They have people making terrible decisions for understandable reasons, usually involving corporate greed and scientific hubris.
The Development Hell Journey
This project has apparently been through multiple developers and was considered cancelled or shelved for several years. It started around 2020 under various codenames including “Marathon” and others that remain confidential. Insider Gaming first mentioned it back in November 2022, but after that, the trail went cold. Fans assumed it had joined the graveyard of cancelled Alien games alongside Colonial Marines’ original vision and whatever Ridley Scott was supposedly working on.
Now Eidos Montreal is confirmed as the current developer, and more importantly, the budget has more than doubled from its initial $30 million to over $75 million. That kind of budget increase doesn’t happen for projects that management doesn’t believe in. Someone high up at Embracer Group (Eidos Montreal’s parent company) or the Alien IP holders clearly sees potential here and is willing to invest serious resources to make it happen.
Why Eidos Montreal Makes Sense
Eidos Montreal has proven they can handle licensed properties and deliver quality experiences. Beyond Shadow of the Tomb Raider, they developed Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, both excellent immersive sims with strong stealth mechanics and player choice. They also made the 2014 Thief reboot, which had mixed reception but showcased their ability to build atmospheric environments where sound design and shadows matter.
Those skills translate perfectly to survival horror in the Alien universe. The xenomorph is fundamentally a stealth predator that uses vents, shadows, and intelligence to hunt. Creating AI that feels genuinely threatening requires the kind of systems-driven design that Eidos Montreal excels at. Their experience with first-person stealth in Deus Ex and Thief, combined with the third-person action-adventure structure of Tomb Raider, could produce something special.
Adaptive AI That Learns
One of the most promising details is that enemy AI is designed to be adaptive, learning from player tactics rather than following scripted patterns. This was revolutionary in Alien: Isolation, where the xenomorph’s AI made it feel like you were being actively hunted by an intelligent creature. If Eidos Montreal can capture even a fraction of that tension while adding combat against human enemies with their own AI behaviors, the gameplay could be incredibly dynamic.
Adaptive AI creates emergent gameplay moments where no two encounters play out the same way. If you rely too heavily on hiding in lockers, enemies might start checking them. If you favor loud weapons, the xenomorphs will converge on your position. This forces players to constantly vary their approach and stay creative rather than exploiting safe strategies. It’s also terrifying, which is exactly what an Alien game should be.
Combat, Platforming, and Puzzles
The game is expected to blend multiple gameplay pillars: combat, platforming, puzzle-solving, stealth, resource management, equipment repair, and message decoding. That’s a lot of systems to balance, but it fits the survival horror genre where variety keeps tension high. You’re not just running from monsters or shooting everything. You’re navigating a complex, failing space station where every system you need to survive is breaking down.
Equipment repair and resource management suggest crafting or at least scarcity-driven gameplay where ammunition and health items are precious. Message decoding implies narrative delivery through environmental storytelling and found documents, which is perfect for gradually revealing what went wrong on this station. Platforming elements mean you’ll be traversing dangerous environments, possibly while being chased, which naturally creates cinematic moments of panic.
The Space Station Setting
A deteriorating space station is prime Alien territory. It’s isolated, claustrophobic, and full of places for xenomorphs to hide. As systems fail, sections decompress, power flickers, and airlocks malfunction. The environment becomes as dangerous as the creatures hunting you. Eidos Montreal’s work on Deus Ex proved they can create layered environments with multiple traversal paths and secrets to discover.
Having both xenomorphs and special operations units as threats creates interesting encounter design possibilities. Xenomorphs are stealth predators that move through vents and strike from shadows. Spec ops teams use tactics, cover, and overwhelming firepower. You might be able to lead enemies into each other, letting humans and aliens fight while you escape. Or you might find yourself caught between two threats with different behaviors, forcing desperate choices about which danger to prioritize.
Early Development Means Everything Could Change
The report emphasizes that the game is still in “early development,” which means the 2028 release date and all gameplay details are subject to change. Early development for a project of this scope typically means they have core systems prototyped and are building out content, but major design decisions can still shift. The fact that it’s been in development since around 2020 and is still considered early development suggests significant reboots or direction changes during its troubled history.
That caveat is important because video game leaks and reports often describe aspirational goals rather than final products. Developers pitch ambitious systems that sound amazing on paper but prove impractical during production. Budget increases can mean either genuine belief in the project or an attempt to salvage a troubled development. Without official confirmation from Eidos Montreal or Embracer, everything should be taken with skepticism.
The Alien Game Renaissance
We’re potentially entering a golden age for Alien games. Alien Isolation 2 was officially announced and is in development at Creative Assembly. Alien: Rogue Incursion Part 2 is planned. A sequel to Aliens: Fireteam Elite has been mentioned. And now this Eidos Montreal project has resurrected. After years of drought following Isolation’s cult success and Colonial Marines’ disaster, the franchise is getting multiple high-quality adaptations simultaneously.
This makes sense given the success of Alien: Romulus in theaters and the upcoming Alien: Earth series. When the IP is hot in other media, game publishers are more willing to invest in adaptations. The challenge is ensuring these games are distinct enough to justify their existence. Isolation 2 will presumably continue the stealth horror survival formula. This Eidos Montreal game leans more toward action-adventure with horror elements. Different approaches to the same universe can coexist if they’re all well-made.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new Alien game release?
Currently targeting 2028 across all major platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox). However, it’s in early development, so this date could change significantly.
Who is developing the new Alien game?
Eidos Montreal, the studio behind Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
Is this Alien Isolation 2?
No. This is a separate project from Alien Isolation 2, which was officially announced and is being developed by Creative Assembly.
Who is Ripley 8?
Ripley 8 is the cloned version of Ellen Ripley from Alien: Resurrection. She’s a human-xenomorph hybrid with superhuman abilities, acid blood, and a connection to the aliens. She appears as a character in this game.
What kind of game is it?
Single-player arcade survival horror with combat, stealth, platforming, and puzzle-solving. Described as similar to Shadow of the Tomb Raider but with xenomorphs and spec ops enemies hunting you on a deteriorating space station.
Who are the other characters?
Besides Ripley 8, the game features main protagonist Aubrey and potential villain Ryuzo. Details about their roles remain unclear.
Why was it cancelled before?
The project changed developers multiple times and was believed shelved for years. It’s now back in active development with more than double its original budget (over $75 million vs initial $30 million).
Has Eidos Montreal or Embracer confirmed this?
No. Neither company has officially commented on the report. Everything comes from anonymous sources speaking to Insider Gaming.
Worth Getting Excited About?
On paper, this sounds fantastic. Eidos Montreal has the technical skills and experience with stealth, action, and atmosphere to deliver a quality Alien experience. The premise of navigating a failing space station while hunted by both xenomorphs and human enemies creates natural gameplay variety. Ripley 8 as a character offers unique mechanical and narrative possibilities. And a $75 million budget suggests serious investment in production values.
But there are reasons for caution. The troubled development history with multiple studio changes doesn’t inspire confidence. Early development status means we could be waiting four or more years, and anything can happen during that time. Embracer Group has been going through financial restructuring and studio closures, which adds uncertainty. And including Ripley 8 might alienate fans who don’t consider Alien: Resurrection canon.
Still, the Alien franchise deserves great games, and having multiple teams working on different approaches increases the odds that at least some will be excellent. If Eidos Montreal can capture even a fraction of Isolation’s tension while adding the traversal and combat variety they’ve proven capable of in Tomb Raider and Deus Ex, this could be special. We’ll just have to wait until 2028 to find out. Or longer, if development takes unexpected turns. Such is the nature of following games through their entire production cycle rather than just getting surprised by finished products.