In the outer reaches of deep space, the Spiral Arm galaxy is under threat. The WarSwarm, a deadly AI hive mind, is seeking to destroy and conquer the known universe, and it’s up to the players to save the day. As the Federation’s most infamous outlaws, Raiders are enlisted to team up, using their guile, guts, and guns to protect the galaxy…and turn a tidy profit in the process.

Inspired by retro and arcade classics, RiftStar Raiders is a modern take on top-down space shoot’em ups and lets players shoot and loot their way through nine formidable story-based co-op missions against the galaxy's four most deadly factions, raiding solo or taking them on as a team of up to four players.

Be it against rival pirate gangs to the AI hive mind known as WarSwarm, pilots will maximize their profit by looting cash and perks from adversaries, using them to craft and upgrade their ship's systems, weapons, shields and boost engines. They can experiment with a wide variety of potential loadout combinations to modify and adapt their play style to each mission. From a tank that takes the hits to a spacecraft that focuses on team support or a damage dealer that goes first into the fight, players need to collaborate and strategize to create the ideal squad.

With a wide variety of loadout combinations available, players can adapt their play style to each mission: from a tank that takes the hits, to team support or a damage dealer that goes first into the fight.

Whether you are a team player or a lone trigger, defeating enemies is key to collecting a variety of loot in order to improve your spacecraft. Enemies commonly drop blue shield energy capsules and Starbux, the currency widely used across the Spiral Arm. Hull integrity’s red health capsules are less common and can save you from destruction, quite handy when in the heat of the action. But these are nothing next to Perk crates, their green containers are a lot rarer and contain one specific system part that can be used to customize and improve your spacecraft.

A Raider spacecraft is made of 3 core systems: weapons, shield and boost engine. Under each of these, a single sub-system archetype can be equipped at once, except weapons which allow for a primary and a secondary. Each offers a unique ability for a total of 9 archetypes shared across the various systems. Every single one of these can be upgraded and customized through their own tech tree. In this harsh corner of the Galaxy that is the Far Reach, everything comes at a price, which is why Starbux are of the utmost importance.

Purchase upgrades and attach looted perks to dedicated slots on your ship. The number of upgrades and perk slots that a build can receive varies depending on the system. Each and every perk is unique and offers a specific improvement or addition over the archetype’s default attributes. From freezing your enemies with the Iceberg perk to increasing the number of your bullets with the Cluster Projectiles perk, a high variety of combinations can be achieved.

It is possible to focus on a single perk and increase its efficiency level by equipping it several times per build. However, never forget that Perks are consumable items, you’ll need to loot the number you need.

The content of a Perk container may vary depending on the faction of the enemy that dropped it as well as the sector in which the fight happened. Some are rarer than others and identifying where and who drops what will be key to achieve the best loadouts.

Decide whether you want to deal damage, tank incoming projectiles, support your squad or even heal friendly units. Stuck on a mission? Change your strategy by experimenting with some new combinations. Or even invite some friends and form a squad! Focus on offense, defense, movement, or all of them at once, the choice is yours.

Mixing and matching perks with various upgrades can create for some unexpected and quite satisfying effects: what about some homing missiles that stun enemies upon impact with a chance of creating a black hole? Your teammates can be caught in the effect of your perks, like the attraction radius of a black hole for instance. But as the Raiders motto says “The less of us, the more for me”.

For this very reason playing with friends allows for better strategies and planning as anyone can take on a unique role and contribute towards the same objectives. Although, never forget just like you, they are racing for the most and best loot. So better work on your piloting skills and Grappler aim in order to be the first one to snatch every single piece of loot.

There’s still time to download the trial version of RiftStar Raiders before launch on the 23rd February. Wipe out hordes of enemies, and sink your teeth into the vast customisation and class building system in the game, and upgrade to the full version to keep all your gear from the trial.

Key Features:

• It’s all about the loot - Shooting and looting is core to craft and equip weapons, shields and boost engines to hit harder, move faster and play smarter
• Raid as a team - Teamwork is the key to success in this online co-op experience for up to four players. Co-operate with friends to complete objectives but compete to be the first to grab the loot
• Intense empowering combat - Players can utilize a huge range of gear and weapons to get the upper hand on their opponents in this fast-paced combat experience. Fight through waves of enemy unit types, each with their own unique challenge
• Progression every session - Raider spacecraft will evolve and improve with every mission. By collecting perks and loot pilots can customize their ship to face each new challenge. With a wide variety of possible combinations, no two runs will play out the same.

RiftStar Raiders will launch February 27 on PS4, and a day later (Feb. 28) to the Xbox One and PC (Steam) for $19.99 / €19.99 / £15.99.