Deadzone: Rogue

Following a successful demo, Deadzone: Rogue, developed by Prophecy Games, has been launched in Early Access. Over 150,000 copies were sold in the first two weeks, with almost 400,000 users having added the game to their wishlist. So what makes this shooter so special?

Deadzone: Rogue is a roguelite shooter set in space. Its room and upgrade systems are comparable to those of Hades and other roguelite games. It can be played alone or in co-op mode, with difficulty levels ranging from 'Adventure' to 'Nightmare'. Up to three players can team up to battle hordes of enemies aboard a space station filled with deadly machinery. Each level of Deadzone: Rogue begins with players in stealth mode, where they can scout out their targets and find the best angle from which to attack the enemy machines. Once the firefight is over and the room is secure, players can access upgrades, new weapons and enhancements that allow them to adapt their playstyle to increasingly challenging levels. Then players move on to the next room ... There are currently two zones available for Deadzone: Rogue, each of which features multiple missions. A third zone is currently in development. Thanks to the semi-randomised augment system and variety of weapon types, players will find a level of replayability similar to that of other roguelite games.

The Early Access release includes over 30 unique weapons, each of which can be modified with elemental affixes and upgrades. There are also over 100 items and augments, as well as multiple elements (fire/burn, chain-lightning and ice) that can be mixed to create new builds for each run. "Transform your combat approach through dozens of augments, perks, and items. Dominate from afar, strike from the shadows with stealth, or get close with enhanced melee. Your choices offer a unique experience against the mechanical onslaught," the devs said. Each zone contains a main storyline mission, as well as multiple side missions. One example is 'Close Quarters', in which players blast zombies with shotguns. There are dozens of enemy types and several bosses to defeat, as well as a variety of environments to explore. Players can also obtain permanent upgrades to boost things like shields or amplify elemental chaos, which makes them stronger with each run.

One of the most important requests from the Early Access phase - an offline single-player mode - has already been implemented. However, the co-op mode still requires an internet connection.

The game is being developed by Prophecy Games. The US studio was founded in late 2019 as part of Hi-Rez Studios. It officially split from Hi-Rez as an independent studio in the first few months of 2020. They have also worked on Tribes 3: Rivals, which has been available on Early Access since March 2024 and has received mixed reviews from users. Deadzone: Rogue is Prophecy Games' second game. Regarding the decision to release the game in Early Access, the developers said: "We want to build on the success of Deadzone Rogue together, which quickly reached a 9/10 review score with over 1,000 reviews in the demo! Entering early access will help us create the best FPS roguelite game possible for you, since we'll have more feedback from players to guide the game's development." Before its launch, the game had amassed over 150,000 wishlists.

Deadzone: Rogue has been available via Early Access on PC since 29 April 2025. It is still unclear exactly when this phase will end. The developers write: "We're currently planning to be in early access until Chapter 3 is completed, along with any gameplay improvements and bug fixes. Our goal is to have that work done in the next few months, and launch the 1.0 version shortly after."

Conclusion

Deadzone: Rogue is a motivating roguelite shooter that thrives thanks to its diverse range of weapons and upgrades. The game will continue to grow during the Early Access period.