World War II shooters have long revisited the same iconic battlefields — Normandy’s shores, Western Europe’s cities, and the deserts of North Africa. But the global conflict was far larger, and many of its most devastating chapters have rarely been explored in games.
That’s where The Defiant comes in.
Announced by publisher 4Divinity — a publishing label of GCL Global Holdings (NASDAQ: GCL) — and developer Hoothanes, The Defiant is a story-driven first-person shooter set in the Asian theatre of World War II, focusing on China’s War of Resistance against Japan. It’s a brutal, historically significant conflict that claimed countless lives, yet has remained largely absent from interactive storytelling.
The Defiant is currently in development for PC via Steam and consoles.
A Rarely Told Chapter of World War II
Rather than retreading familiar ground, The Defiant aims to reframe how WWII is portrayed in the FPS genre. Players are placed in the midst of occupied villages, frozen forests, fortified supply routes, and enemy-controlled urban zones — environments shaped by guerrilla warfare, survival, and resistance behind enemy lines.
According to Sebastian Toke, Group CEO of GCL, the game reflects 4Divinity’s broader mission to support bold, story-first experiences that challenge genre conventions. The newly released trailer offers an early look at the game’s tone, locations, and combat, emphasizing history and cultural identity as much as cinematic spectacle.
Cinematic Combat Without Clear Frontlines
Combat in The Defiant mirrors the chaos and unpredictability of the conflict itself. Missions shift seamlessly between stealth infiltration, close-quarters firefights, sniping, urban espionage, code-breaking, vehicular combat, and large-scale assaults. There are no clearly defined frontlines — only moments where patience, planning, and timing can be just as powerful as firepower.
Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game is being developed by a veteran team of filmmakers and game developers, with a strong focus on human-centered storytelling. The goal isn’t just to depict warfare, but to convey the emotional toll of resistance, survival, and fighting for one’s homeland.
Weapons as History, Not Just Tools
Weapons in The Defiant are treated as historical artefacts, grounded in China’s wartime history. Players will use firearms such as the Hanyang Type 88, Mauser C96, Bergmann submachine gun, and more — each recreated with care and contextual significance. These weapons aren’t just loadout choices; they’re reflections of the era and the people who wielded them.
A WWII FPS With Something New to Say
By exploring a rarely depicted battlefield and grounding its action in authenticity and narrative weight, The Defiant is positioning itself as a WWII shooter with a meaningful new perspective — one that prioritizes history, emotion, and cultural identity alongside cinematic gameplay.
The Defiant is coming to PC via Steam and consoles. You can wishlist the game on Steam now to stay updated as development continues.