Aliens vs Predator

Aliens vs. Predator on PC is a first-person sci-fi horror shooter built around three radically different playable species: the vulnerable Colonial Marine, the stealth-focused Alien, and the technologically superior Predator. The current Steam listing keeps the name Aliens vs. Predator; it is separate from the earlier Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000, not a rebrand of that edition.

Three Species, Three FPS Playstyles

The single-player structure is the game's defining feature. Instead of giving every character the same weapons and movement, Rebellion shapes each campaign around a different fantasy and combat rhythm. The Colonial Marine relies on firearms, squad support, darkness, and a motion tracker that turns every unexplained signal into a threat.

The Alien campaign reverses that power balance. You move through vents, walls, ceilings, and narrow spaces with exceptional speed, using climbing mobility, stealth, claws, tail attacks, and close-range executions to isolate prey. The Predator sits between the two extremes, combining ranged technology with hunting tools, cloaking, vision modes, and trophy kills that reward getting close rather than simply firing from cover.

These are not interchangeable loadouts. Each species changes how you read a room, approach an encounter, and judge risk. Marines need visibility and ammunition; Aliens need angles and momentum; Predators need patience, target selection, and control over the engagement distance.

Atmosphere, Combat, and Signature Systems

The Marine sections are the clearest survival-horror expression of the game. Lighting is limited, corridors are difficult to read, and the tracker creates pressure even when nothing is visible. The result is a shooter where information matters as much as aim. Listening for movement, checking ceilings, and preserving ammunition are often more valuable than rushing forward.

Alien gameplay is built around speed and verticality. Wall-crawling lets you attack from directions that conventional shooters rarely support, while the creature's dark vision and melee focus encourage ambushes instead of firefights. The movement model takes practice, but it gives the Alien a genuine identity rather than treating it as a fast human with different animations.

Predator missions emphasize cloaking, long-range tracking, and equipment management. Its vision modes help identify different species, while tools such as the shoulder cannon and wrist blades support both harassment and direct executions. The Predator is powerful, but the campaign still expects you to choose targets carefully and avoid unnecessary exposure.

Players looking for a more traditional atmospheric science-fiction horror experience may also appreciate slow-burn first-person horror like SOMA, although Aliens vs. Predator is much more combat-oriented and gives the player substantially more offensive power.

Campaign Structure and Storytelling

The three campaigns overlap within one broader conflict, but they are presented as distinct perspectives rather than one continuous character journey. The Colonial Marine story focuses on containment and survival, the Alien story follows the creature's rise from captive specimen to active threat, and the Predator story frames the setting as a hunting ground governed by ritual and honor.

That structure gives the game useful narrative contrast. The same general crisis feels different depending on whether you are trying to escape it, exploit it, or control it. It also makes the campaign order a matter of preference: starting with the Marine offers the strongest horror introduction, while beginning with the Alien or Predator immediately foregrounds the game's asymmetric design.

Multiplayer Modes and Cooperative Play

PC multiplayer expands the species rivalry beyond the campaigns with seven online modes. The lineup includes conventional deathmatch and team-based variants, alongside modes built specifically around the license's unequal combat roles.

• Survivor is cooperative play for up to four Marines defending against progressively stronger Alien waves.
• Infestation begins with one Alien hunting Marines; eliminated players join the Alien side.
• Predator Hunt turns one Predator into the target while Marines compete to bring it down.
• Species Deathmatch places Marine, Alien, and Predator teams into a three-way contest.
• Additional deathmatch and team modes provide more conventional competitive matches for the three species.

The important distinction is that this is not ordinary team-shooter balance. Aliens attack through speed and close-range pressure, Predators use concealment and specialist equipment, and Marines depend on firearms, formation, and awareness. Players who enjoy asymmetrical combat and wave defense may find more relevant overlap with cooperative horror FPS action such as Sker Ritual, though AvP's defining appeal is its three-sided species design rather than class progression.

Content Model and PC Edition

The Steam release is a paid base game with three complete single-player campaigns, competitive multiplayer, cooperative Survivor play, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud support, statistics, leaderboards, and Family Sharing. The listing also offers two separate multiplayer map add-ons: the Swarm Map Pack and Bughunt Map Pack. These add multiplayer content rather than expanding the three campaign stories.

There is no modern live-service progression system, seasonal battle pass, or character-building economy. The long-term loop is built around replaying campaigns from different perspectives, learning species-specific movement and combat, improving multiplayer performance, and completing the achievement set.

PC Features, Input, and Localization

The PC version uses Steam as its storefront and launcher, with Steam Cloud storing game statistics and skill information used by the matchmaking system. Steam also lists 50 achievements, leaderboards, and native online functionality. The game supports mouse-and-keyboard play and includes an in-game gamepad option, although controller behavior can depend on the input device and configuration.

The current storefront lists interface support for English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. Full audio is not listed for those languages, so players should treat the localization as interface support rather than assuming dubbed voice tracks. No official mod-support feature is advertised on the current store page.

For players comparing the game with horde-focused shooters, wave-based first-person co-op like Killing Floor 2 offers a more conventional team structure, while AvP is the better fit when switching between predator, prey, and hunter roles is the main attraction.

Who Should Play Aliens vs. Predator?

This is a strong match for players who want a licensed horror shooter with three genuinely different campaigns, close-range executions, vertical Alien movement, Predator gadgets, and an unusually asymmetric multiplayer concept. It is also a useful choice for fans of the Alien and Predator universes who want to experience both sides of the conflict instead of following only a human protagonist.

It is less suitable if you want a long character-progression system, a modern competitive population guarantee, extensive co-op campaign support, or a pure stealth game. The Marine, Alien, and Predator campaigns are separate experiences with different strengths, and the multiplayer's value depends heavily on finding opponents or arranging sessions with other players.

Aliens vs. Predator FAQ

Is Aliens vs. Predator the same as Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000?

No. The current Steam game called Aliens vs. Predator is a separate Rebellion-developed release from the earlier Steam title Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000. The two games share the three-species concept but are distinct products.

How many single-player campaigns are included?

Three campaigns are included: Colonial Marine, Alien, and Predator. Each uses different movement, weapons, abilities, and encounter logic.

Does Aliens vs. Predator have co-op?

Yes. Survivor mode supports up to four Marine players cooperating against escalating Alien waves. The three main story campaigns are not presented as cooperative campaign missions.

Which multiplayer modes are available?

The PC version includes seven multiplayer modes, including Survivor, Infestation, Predator Hunt, Species Deathmatch, and other deathmatch or team-based variants.

Does the PC version support controllers?

Yes. The game includes a gamepad setting in its controls menu, alongside standard mouse-and-keyboard support. Some modern controllers may require additional Steam input configuration.

What languages does the PC version support?

The current Steam listing identifies English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish interface support. Full voice localization is not listed.