Players can enlist in the Mobile Infantry in Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! and battle the Arachnid menace in this retro first-person shooter, set in the Starship Troopers universe, from Auroch Digital and Dotemu. Would you like to know more?
There’s no question that Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 film Starship Troopers, based on Robert A. Heinlein’s novel, is a cult classic. In the boomer shooter Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! by British retro shooter experts Auroch Digital (Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun) and French indie publisher Dotemu, part of Pullup Entertainment, this cult status is acknowledged once more with the adoption of a retro-contemporary look.
The single-player campaign centres on Major Samantha Dietz (Charlotta Mohlin, Immortality). To emphasize the cinematic feel, General Johnny Rico can also be seen and heard - actor Casper Van Dien is reprising his role in full, high-quality FMV and introducing new Major Samantha Dietz. Players can experience Dietz's wartime adventures first-hand, accompanying the young recruit as she hunts the Assassin Bug during the First Bug War, as depicted in the film. Dietz's story spans action-packed missions, hordes of bugs, and devotion to the Federation. The game features open-area missions that allow players to choose their own path through the battlefield and explore their surroundings to discover secrets. They can wield an arsenal of 14 weapons (including the iconic Morita rifle), eleven tactical support drops, and the M7 Razorback mechanical biped in a gory, 3D pixelated combat experience.
In addition, there is a 'Bug Mode' in which players can control the arachnids themselves for 'study purposes'. The focus is on the recently discovered Assassin Bug, a species that can switch between three forms: the agile Warrior Form, which uses melee attacks; the flying Hopper Form, which scouts enemies from the air; and the Tanker Form, which is highly resilient and can attack with flames. In Bug Mode, players can conquer Terror Zones, attack Federation outposts and command other bugs into battle using pheromones across four large environments. Completing missions in the human campaign unlocks additional bug experiences. Overall, however, the playtime of less than ten hours is a bit short.
The game was developed by Auroch Digital and published by Dotemu. Founded in 2010, Auroch Digital is a Bristol-based, remote-first studio comprising around 100 developers from across the UK. The studio develops its own IP games, such as Brewmaster and Mars Horizon, while also collaborating with licensing partners on projects like Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and its sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (2026). The studio also publishes console ports, such as Democracy 4 and Wildermyth, and undertakes co-development work-for-hire projects, including Sea of Thieves and V Rising.
Dotemu, which is part of Pullup Entertainment, is a French publisher and developer specialising in revitalising iconic pop culture franchises across video games, TV and cinema, through the release of original PC and console games. They have published and developed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, as well as Absolum - their first original IP - which was also a highly successful launch. Dotemu's development and publishing work has also supported the releases of Metal Slug Tactics, Windjammers 1 and 2, Pharaoh: A New Era, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and many more. The company is currently working on Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, as well as other projects planned for 2026 and beyond.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! © Auroch Digital & Dotemu & Sony Pictures Consumer Products
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! was released on 16 March 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as a digital download. Physical boxed versions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 will follow later.
A retro shooter with gory pixels based on Starship Troopers? It’s a perfect fit!
