By Tencent Games and developer Grey State Studio are not transporting players to Hell in their forthcoming title, Rules of Engagement: The Grey State. However, this free-to-play tactical-horror action-RPG shooter could be adjacent to Hell, owing to its horrific realm filled with creatures and other unspeakable entities.
The Grey State refers to a volatile dimension that is too perilous for humanity, yet it also harbors extraterrestrial relics that are priceless. To endure in this nightmare, players take on the role of Striders who remotely control their bio-engineered suits from the comfort of their own reality. Grey State Studios characterizes The Grey State as a “graveyard of nightmares” and a “Horrorverse” that features Lovecraftian entities, along with monsters inspired by films, literature, and even creepypasta online stories.
The gameplay offers a PvEvP loop, presenting players with a restricted timeframe to enter The Grey State. Striders will need to scavenge for equipment within the terrifying dimension and ultimately decide between opting for an early extraction for minor rewards or aiming for greater gains if they can outpace their fellow competitors to seize an alien artifact.
Grey State Studios is preparing an alpha trial for Rules of Engagement that will showcase four classes of Striders for players to select. The fourth option is currently concealed, but the other three are detailed below.
- Sledge, an indomitable juggernaut that clears a way with shield and hammer
- Pyro, a frenzied lunatic that dominates the battlefield with flames and gas
- Phantom, a quick assassin that strikes from the shadows with pinpoint accuracy
The studio emphasizes that players who exhibit skill in buildcrafting and tactics will be rewarded in this game. They also mentioned that “Rules of Engagement was developed with the future in mind, and we intend to support the game for years ahead with content updates, meta alterations, and a player-friendly free-to-play model backed by a cosmetics-only in-game store.”
Rules of Engagement: The Grey State is set to launch on PC in 2026, and it can be experienced as a single-player adventure or with up to three additional players. Further seasonal content is anticipated post-launch to delve into other elements of the game’s Horrorverse.
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