More than a decade ago,Left 4 Deadscratched an itch that a lot of fans didn’t even know they had. Its four-person multiplayer pitting a charming cast against overwhelming hordes of zombies clicked for a lot of players. Lately, some developers have been trying to capture that concept; Turtle Rock Studios just came forward withBack 4 Bloodfor instance, telling a similar zombie-driven narrative in a new setting.The Anacrusis, an upcoming title from Stray Bombay that releases next year, also falls under the umbrella ofLeft 4 Deadsuccessors.
Stray Bombay is a new studio founded in-part by Chet Faliszek, a Valve veteran who wrote for both installations in theLeft 4 Deadseries, as well asPortalandHalf-Life.It’s clear Faliszek hasn’t forgotten his time working onLeft 4 DeadbecauseThe Anacrusisappears to borrow its core concept, although it’s full of original ideas. Set in the distant future, four humans aboard a huge spaceship with a retro aesthetic have to fight off waves of alien invaders as they navigate the vessel.While the co-op FPS coming to Xbox Game Passlooks like it has a lot of theLeft 4 Deadspirit, it could be the successor that truly captures the hearts of fans.
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The Anacrusis' Selling Points
There’s a lot of reasonsLeft 4 Deadfans should keep an eye onThe Anacrusis.Faliszek’s involvement is one of the most obvious, asLeft 4 Dead’s acclaim comes partially from its entertaining dialogue and compelling character design.With Faliszek headingThe Anacrusis, fans can be optimistic that it may capture the same kind of magic, creating a setting worth exploring and characters whose relationships shine through. Early looks at the spaceship and the protagonists' interactions inspire some hope.
The Anacrusisalso looks strong thanks to its innovations.Back 4 Bloodaimed to replicate Valve’s gameclosely, butThe Anacrusisfocuses on advancements. For instance, the AI Driver inThe Anacrusisincreases its replay value by adjusting the game on the fly. What’s more,The Anacrusishas elaborate sci-fi weapons and perks to offer players that will mix up the gameplay. Between the AI Driver organizing enemies differently and a plethora of weapons,The Anacrusislooks like it’ll offer refreshing combat.
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Fans ofLeft 4 Deadwill also appreciate Stray Bombay’s stance on moddingThe Anacrusis.It proclaimsa love of modsonThe Anacrusis’Steam page and encourages fans to join the game’s community Discord. What’s more,The Anacrusiswill launch with support for certain community created mods. Anyone interested in tweaking and customizing games should giveThe Anacrusisa try considering how eager Stray Bombay is to apparently collaborate with players.
Overall,The Anacrusislooks like it has a lot to offer. While it’s clearly a love letter toLeft 4 Deadin the same vein asBack 4 Blood,it’s aiming to be something unique with a colorful sci-fi setting. Stray Bombay’s long-term plan is to make more cooperative games likeThe Anacrusis,and while it’s unlikely all of them willborrow theLeft 4 Deadgameplay loop, doing so for Stray Bombay’s first game is a perfect way to draw in players. HopefullyThe Anacrusismanages to deliverLeft 4 Deadnostalgia and compelling innovations.
The Anacrusisreleases Jun 20, 2025 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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