John Carpenter, celebrated for his cult classic films such as Halloween, The Thing, and Escape From New York, is also a well-known enthusiast of video games. While Toxic Commando carries his name, its development and publication are primarily credited to Saber Interactive. After an initial playthrough of this apocalyptic co-op first-person shooter at Gamescom 2025, it`s clear that Carpenter`s influence runs deep, suggesting more than a mere marketing tie-in.
Saber`s chief creative officer, Tim Willits, explained their intention to evoke the spirit of `80s horror and exaggerated action movies, citing films like Big Trouble in Little China. Upon contacting Carpenter, he readily embraced the project. Willits noted that Carpenter has actively participated in playing the game, contributed to conceptual ideas, and provided valuable guidance on narrative direction.
Carpenter`s involvement is best characterized as a consulting role rather than direct development. However, his contributions extend to a more hands-on capacity, particularly in music. Known for composing iconic scores for his own films, he has also penned original music specifically for Toxic Commando.
Although it avoids overt references to Carpenter`s past films, Toxic Commando`s plot — where a corporation`s quest for boundless energy unleashes a malevolent entity known as the `Sludge God` — perfectly embodies the B-movie sensibilities characteristic of Carpenter`s prime filmmaking era.
Our four-player gameplay session at Gamescom primarily emphasized the action rather than the narrative. For players keen on delving into the lore, Willits suggested consulting the comic book prequels developed by Saber in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics.
Willits described the game`s story as “fun and quirky” but noted it doesn`t impede the action. Players desiring a deeper narrative immersion can choose to play solo with AI-controlled teammates, which enhances the appreciation of the banter among the diverse commando squad: the easygoing Walter, the cynical Ruby, the compassionate Cato, and the decisive leader Astrid. Each character is portrayed by small-screen actors whose appearances are accurately replicated in the game.
While players cannot duplicate characters, the game avoids rigid class roles often found in hero shooters. Instead, each player customizes their unique journey through distinct loadouts and classes, primarily centered around `mutant abilities.` These powers, activated by a chest-mounted device preventing Sludge God infection, typically involve deploying area-of-effect fields that boost allies` defense or offense, crucial for combating undead hordes. The system allows for complete party flexibility, even enabling an entire team to focus on support roles without penalty.
Though a co-op zombie FPS naturally brings Left 4 Dead to mind, our demo mission evoked a different comparison: Halo. This connection isn`t coincidental, given Saber`s involvement in Halo`s anniversary remaster. The sprawling sandbox maps in Toxic Commando are not only rich with optional exploration points but also feature randomized vehicles. Players might discover anything from a pickup truck to an armored vehicle, complete with a gun turret for a co-driver, offering a similar thrill to cruising in a Halo Warthog with friends.
Vehicle usage in Toxic Commando comes with strategic considerations: fuel is essential, turrets have finite ammunition, and terrain can affect maneuverability. The game remarkably integrates technology from Saber`s Mudrunner and Snowrunner off-road simulations, granting vehicles distinct capabilities for various scenarios. Armored vehicles stand out for their robust performance and equipped winches, which are invaluable for removing obstacles.
The technological centerpiece of Toxic Commando is undoubtedly Saber`s proprietary Swarm Engine. Initially developed for the massive zombie legions in World War Z and later adapted for the Tyranid swarms in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, Tim Willits confirmed that the engine has been further enhanced for Toxic Commando, reaching new levels of capability.
Willits detailed that the game features significantly larger environments than World War Z, enabling zombie swarms to emerge from diverse directions. Additionally, players will encounter a greater variety of “super creatures” and special monsters. Echoing the upgrade systems of World War Z and Space Marine 2, Toxic Commando offers various classes and comprehensive options to enhance abilities, loadouts, and passive skills.
This robust engine guarantees constant engagement. During an objective to dismantle tendril nodes en route to a church, we faced an onslaught of undead. Even during free exploration, the map remains consistently populated with enemies, ensuring perpetual combat and challenges while players search for loot and replenish supplies.
The incessant onslaught can be genuinely overwhelming. For instance, the climax of a mission involved defending a church against undead swarms from every direction. Willits acknowledged Toxic Commando as potentially the studio`s most challenging game in years, with difficulty dynamically managed by the Swarm Engine`s AI director. This system is designed to create a constant sense of being outnumbered, enhancing the thrill of last-second victories.
He elaborated that the AI director monitors player engagement and dynamically adjusts difficulty. Willits stated, “When you`re playing and feel like, `My god, I`m not going to survive,` and then you just pull through at the last second, a lot of that is the AI director.” This system ensures a finely tuned, challenging experience.
John Carpenter`s Toxic Commando is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.