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 is now available through Steam Early Access.

In addition to a strong narrative campaign that will evolve throughout Early Access, Crossfire: Legion will test players’ competitive and strategic skills through an expanded roster of units and Commanders. Armed with unique abilities, each Commander can help turn the tide of a battle. Knowing how to make the most of these abilities and how to counter them will be essential to prevailing in Crossfire: Legion’s many multiplayer modes. 

User-generated-content tools and ESL-backed competitive tournaments will also be introduced at a later date in development and are expected to play a key role in energizing Crossfire: Legion‘s community.

"Crossfire: Legion is a classically inspired real-time-strategy game at its heart. What makes it stand out are the magic touches of macro-strategy with army, map, and game customization,” said Maurice Grela, Game Designer at Blackbird Interactive. “We are excited to finally bring Crossfire: Legion to Early Access and can’t wait to hear what players who grew up on RTS titles, or are just discovering the genre, think of it. As players we missed those kinds of RTS games and designed Crossfire: Legion with those players in mind.”

Crossfire: Legion is giving players even more choice of strategic play and potential battleground dominance with the addition of a massive 24 units and three unique commanders to the battle roster, amounting to a grand total of 45 units and six Commanders available for Early Access launch.

From unique infantry and agile vehicles to defense specialists, transport units, air support, and more - these further units bolster any side and provide even more depth and variety to ultimately deliver unique battle combinations.

Completing the substantial unit increase are three brand new faction commanders - Eclipse (Global Risk), Freefall (Black List), and Viper (New Horizon) - each bringing their own flavor to the battleground and a set of unique skills that can make all the difference in a fight.

Notable Game Features (more modes to be revealed):

• Intense multiplayer combat (Payload Mode, Versus Mode)
• A.I. skirmishes
• Intense co-op
• A globally-scoped single-player campaign
• ACT 1 available at Early Access Launch
• ACT 2, Act 3 and Act 4 will follow during Early Access (launch dates TBC)
• Ascend the multiplayer leader boards and claim your rightful place as No. 1

Coming Later in Early Access:

• Improve your tactics by reviewing your last battles using the built-in replay system
• Create and share your own maps and modes using the level editor tool
• Find unique community-made challenges via the 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.

Crossfire: Legion has a launch window of 2022.