Prime Matter and Smilegate are teaming up for a new franchise, Crossfire: Legion, a futuristic, action-packed, modern take on classic RTS from Canadian-based RTS specialist studio, Blackbird Interactive.

Crossfire: Legion is a real time strategy game featuring tactical action in furious battles across a shattered version of the near future. Raise and customize your army to engage in intense online combat and carve your own path as you rise through the ranks.

It’s a new generation of warfare.

The world is in conflict. Black List and Global Risk are in a perpetual fight for the domination of their ideologies; but all is shaken up with the arrival of a new faction on the battlefield.

Lead your customized army to victory on the proving grounds of a not too distant futuristic world consumed by corporate conflict. Crossfire: Legion is the ultimate fast-paced real time strategy game.

Crossfire: Legion game will be coming out of Steam Early Access and into stores on December 8, 2022. The full v1.0 launch will bring a full suite of gameplay modes, a raft of features, new units and commanders as well as the final act of the campaign.

The game will also launch with a ‘Free Weekend’ so players can discover the game for themselves on 8-11 December.

Here’s the full list of everything and everything going into the final version:

• Campaign Act IV added
• Operation Northside Coop mode added
• New Game Mode Brawl
• New Skirmish Map: Labyrinth (3v3)
• New PayLoad Map: Tongren Facility (3v3)   
• 12 new units, 4 for each faction:
• 3 additional commanders:
  • Warden: A defensive specialist who can quickly deploy fortification to protect his troops. When it is time to counter attack, Warden can call in a massive artillery building that also deploys weapons on nearby fortifications.
  • Stalker: He is able to deploy mercenaries to any location, but they leave the battlefield soon after the fighting is done. He can also drop a Shadow Operative behind enemy lines, whose lightning fast attacks can damage all enemies in the target area.
  • Cipher: Controls all of New Horizon’s orbital satellites. She can use her surveillance satellites to track enemies or orbital lasers to fire massive energy beams at enemy targets.
• A.I. creation for Battle Lines, Payload, Brawl and Standard Game modes

Crossfire: Legion has grown hugely since entering early access in May this year. This period has proved immensely valuable, working closely with the passions and expertise of RTS communities taught us what today's fans of classic RTS want to see, they moulded the game.

For example, the original meta-progression system - involving soft currency to unlock units and commanders in a confusingly presented “store” - was removed due to players fears we might introduce micro-transactions for gameplay-affecting items. It also broke the immediacy of the classic RTS experience, whereby the whole army toolbox is accessible from the start.

The developers listened to the community, ditching the progression system, doubling down on adding content, adding balance tweaks etc. The game has come a long way with now plenty of game modes, maps, units - and a map-making tool – all of which we offers the generous content and feel of classic RTS of yore.

"Rightly, a massive thanks goes to those who have stuck with us for the early access ride. Your patience and support has been rewarded. By way of thanks and so that you can play with your friends who have been patiently waiting by the side-line, we will launch with a Free Weekend!"

Final Contents: 

• Total units: 66 
• Total commanders: 9 
• Modes and maps
• PvP and PvE Classic, 5 maps: Predator (3vs3), Mountainside(1vs1), Typhoon(2v2), Frostbite (1v1), Labyrinth (3v3) 
• PvP and PvE Payload mode, 7 maps: Tongren Facility (3v3), Snowbase (2v2), Refinery (3v3), Badland (2v2), Blacksite (3v3), Domination(3v3), Railyard (2v2) 
• Co-op Defense v AI mode, Operation Thunderstrike
• Co-op Attack vs AI mode, Operation Northside 
• Arcade Mode: Brawl, Battle Lines
• Campaign Acts I - IV, 15 missions in total. 
• Map Maker with Steam Workshop

Whether you are looking for a highly competitive experience or prefer a slightly more relaxed approach, Crossfire: Legion has something in store for you.

Prove your abilities in the online versus modes as you manage resources, consolidate a base and send your army to annihilate the enemies. Prepare yourself, on the field of battle, hesitation is your worst enemy.

Unit control and tactics are core elements of Crossfire: Legion but success in battle starts before the first shots are fired.

In Multiplayer, you are in full control over the composition of your army. Choose between three factions and customize your roster by selecting your troops, infantry, vehicles and air units that will guarantee victory.

All armies are led by a Commander; choose yours wisely as they bring special commander abilities to the battlefield which just may turn the tide in critical situations.

Crossfire: Legion also comes choke-full of exciting multiplayer modes that will test the full gamut of your abilities as a commander, from strategist to tactician - and have you realize that not all enemies are terrible foes.

Key Features:

• Narrative Driven Campaign: Society is crumbling in the near future of the Crossfire universe. Fight atop skyscrapers, dig into a bayou, or infiltrate heavily defended military bases as you get to know the main characters and goals of all three rival factions; the world is yours to conquer in this narrative-driven campaign.
• Built For Competitive Play: Climb the multiplayer leaderboards through a “season-based progression system.” Improve your tactics by reviewing your last battles using the built-in replay system.
• Co-op Scenarios: Team-up with friends to vanquish the AI in Operations. Be ready to assault enemy positions or to defend your own.

Blackbird Interactive was founded in 2010 by Rob Cunningham, a former art director of Homeworld 1 and 2 and formed with a group of industry professionals who participated many hit games, such as Gears of War and Company of Heroes.

Currently available through Steam Early Access, Crossfire: Legion is coming to PC (Steam) on December 8, 2022, followed by PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later time.