Gamescom Opening Night Live brought some big surprises this year — and one of the biggest was our first real look at John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Saber Interactive’s over-the-top action-horror shooter that feels straight out of a VHS fever dream.
Arriving in early 2026, Toxic Commando throws players into a monster-infested apocalypse where teamwork, big guns, and even bigger vehicles are the only way to survive.
A Slime-Covered World Gone Wrong
The setup is pure B-movie gold: an experiment to harness Earth’s core energy goes horribly wrong, transforming the planet’s soil into sludge and unleashing hordes of twisted undead. The scientist behind the mess wants to clean it up — but instead of hiring elite mercenaries (too expensive), he settles for… well, The Toxic Commando.
Co-op Carnage, Carpenter Style
This isn’t your standard shooter. Toxic Commando leans hard into its inspirations with:
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4-player co-op with full crossplay across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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Buddy-movie vibes mixed with John Carpenter’s signature humor and horror.
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First-person gunfights blended with off-road driving through slime-soaked wastelands.
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A mix of guns, grenades, special abilities, and even katanas to keep the monster hordes in check.
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Upgrade systems, escalating challenges, and boss fights against abominations straight out of Carpenter’s nightmares.
Powered by Saber’s Swarm Engine (the tech behind World War Z: Aftermath and Space Marine 2), expect screen-filling hordes of enemies and plenty of chaos.
Saving the World — With Style
It’s campy, it’s bloody, it’s hilarious, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from something stamped with John Carpenter’s name. If you’re a fan of co-op shooters, ’80s horror flicks, or just want to mow down sludge monsters with friends, this one’s going to be worth keeping on your radar.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando launches in early 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Epic & Steam). Wishlist it now before the Sludge God gets you.