RIFTSTORM officially enters Early Access: A supernatural co-op PvE shooter

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Today, August 11, 2026, RIFTSTORM officially entered Early Access on Steam. The game combines cooperative PvE shooting with action and gear-looting mechanics. Players can go solo or form a team of up to three players to complete missions, fight waves of monsters, gather resources, and extract safely with their loot.

RIFTSTORM (Image source: Steam)
RIFTSTORM (Image source: Steam)

The world of RIFTSTORM and the Mythic Protocol

The world of RIFTSTORM is filled with strange phenomena beyond human understanding. Mythical entities, mysterious creatures, and gateways leading to countless other dimensions have always existed around us. To prevent potential disasters, the secret organization Mythic Protocol was established with a single mission: contain these threats before they become a danger to the entire world.

In the game, players take on the role of Weavers, elite operatives working for Mythic Protocol. Their mission is to infiltrate unstable combat zones, seal dimensional rifts, and use advanced technology combined with supernatural energy to confront dangerous entities.

Core gameplay: Investigate, contain, and eliminate

Each deployment in RIFTSTORM follows three core operational procedures established by Mythic Protocol:

  • Investigate: Identify and assess the abnormal activity taking place in dangerous areas.
  • Contain: Prevent dimensional rifts from spreading and keep their effects under control.
  • Eliminate: Completely eliminate mythical threats before they spiral out of control.
Investigating and identifying abnormal activity. (Image source: Steam)
Investigating and identifying abnormal activity. (Image source: Steam)

During each deployment, the team must complete assigned objectives while searching the battlefield for weapons, gear, and useful items. Once the mission is complete, players face an important decision: extract early to secure what they have collected, or push deeper into the danger zone in search of more valuable rewards.

Character customization and the Lythogram upgrade system

Each Weaver has a distinct set of abilities, roles, and combat styles. Players can equip a variety of experimental weapons while harnessing energy from the rifts to gain an advantage in battle.

One of RIFTSTORM's notable gameplay features is the Lythogram upgrade system, which can be used during each run. The system allows players to combine different effects and stat bonuses to create a variety of builds. Choosing and combining the right upgrades enables players to adapt their playstyle to the circumstances of each mission.

Character customization. (Image source: Steam)
Character customization. (Image source: Steam)

Challenges in Rift Exposure Zones

Rift Exposure Zones are areas severely transformed by energy released from dimensional rifts. These regions are extremely dangerous, but they also offer some of the game's most valuable rewards.

Fighting waves of monsters and gathering resources. (Image source: Steam)
Fighting waves of monsters and gathering resources. (Image source: Steam)

As players venture deeper into these zones, the level of environmental corruption continues to increase, bringing more dangerous entities into the area. Players and their teammates must carefully weigh the choice between extracting early to protect the items they have collected and taking the risk of pushing farther in search of valuable gear.

Failure penalty: Weapon Scarring System

Unlike many extraction-based games with relatively punishing loss mechanics, RIFTSTORM is designed around fast-paced combat and the satisfaction of taking down enemies. However, the game still maintains a degree of challenge through its Weapon Scarring System.

If a deployment ends in failure, players lose all items collected during that run. At the same time, the weapons they brought with them enter a damaged state:

  • Equipped weapons are not lost permanently but will suffer some form of damage.
  • One of the weapon's upgrades may be randomly replaced with a detrimental effect.
  • Players can continue using damaged weapons and work to restore and upgrade them in subsequent runs.

RIFTSTORM is now officially available in Early Access on Steam. Players can visit the game's store page to learn more about the game, its current features, and the content planned for future updates.