X1 Games unveils co-op extraction shooter Plague Keepers

X1 Games has announced Plague Keepers, a co-op PvE extraction shooter set in a quarantined plague zone where players must complete dangerous contracts and escape before the fog closes in. The game is headed to Steam, with a gameplay trailer and wishlist page now live.

Why it matters: - X1 Games is moving beyond psychological horror into co-op action, but keeps the studio’s dark, atmospheric style intact. - Plague Keepers blends extraction-shooter pressure with environmental interaction, team play and survival choices that can change each run. - The game centers on risk and reward, with players deciding whether to extract quickly or push deeper for better loot.

What happened: - X1 Games announced Plague Keepers, a co-op PvE extraction shooter. - The studio is based in Hong Kong. - X1 Games described the game as a new direction after Emotionless: The Last Ticket. - A gameplay trailer is available here. - Players can wishlist the game on Steam here.

The details: - Players take on the role of an Inquisitor entering a quarantined zone to complete a dangerous contract. - The game supports solo play or squads of up to four players total. - Missions include destroying plague sources, recovering relics, investigating plague sites and defending key positions. - Players must manage ammunition, health and time during each contract. - The world is filled with grotesque plague creatures, including former humans twisted by infection. - Once inside the gate, players have limited time to finish the mission and extract before the infected fog arrives. - The fog makes the environment more hostile and increases the danger level. - Environmental systems can be used tactically, including creating new paths, restoring generators and activating massive bells to stun enemies. - Combat uses period-inspired firearms, melee attacks and close-range finishing moves. - Players can choose to stay longer after completing a contract for greater rewards, but the zone becomes more dangerous.

Between the lines: - Ivan Madunić, Game and Art Director at X1 Games, said the team wanted to combine Emotionless: The Last Ticket’s atmosphere and world-building with action and co-op gameplay. - The quote also signals that Plague Keepers is meant to reach players who want horror imagery with more active combat. - The extraction format gives the studio a familiar loop of tension, but the environment itself appears designed to be part of the combat rather than just a backdrop.

What's next: - X1 Games has not announced a release date in the release. - The Steam page suggests the game is now in public reveal mode and gathering wishlists ahead of launch. - The gameplay trailer gives the first look at the game’s loop, combat and setting.

The bottom line: - Plague Keepers aims to fuse horror atmosphere, squad-based combat and extraction-shooter tension into a new franchise direction for X1 Games.