John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment have unveiled gameplay footage for John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando at gamescom’s Opening Night Live, showcasing their upcoming co-op shooter that blends visceral FPS action with off-road driving mechanics. Set for release in early 2026, this title draws inspiration from 1980s action-horror cinema with direct involvement from the legendary filmmaker himself.

Post-Apocalyptic Premise with Budget Constraints

The narrative centres on an experimental disaster involving Earth’s core that transforms soil into toxic sludge and converts the living into undead monsters. When the experiment’s creator seeks to hire elite mercenaries to rectify the situation, budget limitations force him to settle for “THE TOXIC COMMANDO” instead.

This setup immediately establishes the game’s tongue-in-cheek approach to its apocalyptic scenario, suggesting that players shouldn’t expect grim seriousness but rather the over-the-top humour characteristic of 1980s B-movie cinema.

Swarm Engine Technology

The gameplay utilises Saber’s Swarm Engine, the same technology powering World War Z: Aftermath and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. This should enable the massive enemy hordes that the developers promise, creating scenarios where players face overwhelming numbers of corrupted creatures across expansive post-apocalyptic environments.

The engine’s proven capability with large-scale enemy encounters suggests that Toxic Commando will deliver the kind of frantic, horde-based combat that has become Saber’s specialty.

Cross-Platform Cooperative Focus

Up to four players can team together with full cross-platform support across PC and consoles, allowing friends to coordinate regardless of their preferred gaming platform. The character class system promises different playstyles to suit various approaches to the toxic wasteland survival challenge.

Combat options range from conventional firearms and grenades to more unconventional choices including katanas, suggesting weapon variety that matches the game’s irreverent tone whilst providing tactical flexibility during encounters.

Dual Gameplay Mechanics

The combination of first-person shooting with off-road driving across slime-corrupted terrain creates a distinctive gameplay loop. Players can engage enemies both on foot and behind the wheel, adapting their approach based on environmental conditions and enemy positioning.

The massive post-apocalyptic environments should provide sufficient space for vehicular combat whilst accommodating the large-scale encounters that the Swarm Engine enables.

Carpenter’s Creative Influence

John Carpenter’s involvement extends beyond simple licensing, with the legendary director contributing to the creative direction. This collaboration could prove significant given Carpenter’s expertise in crafting atmospheric tension and memorable characters within budget-conscious productions.

The “buddy-movie vibes” and deliberate embrace of 1980s action-horror aesthetics suggest that Toxic Commando aims to capture the spirit of that era’s entertainment rather than simply borrowing surface elements.

With its early 2026 release window, Toxic Commando has time to refine its blend of cooperative shooting, vehicular combat, and horror-comedy tone before launch.