Natural Selection 2is a game we haven’t really covered before in any official capacity. I don’t have a good reason as to why that is, but I’m here to make amends. This real-time strategy/first-person shooter hybrid has always been on my radar under the “fascinating yet far off” category.

“I’ll cover it when the time comes.” Well, the time has come. Or, itwill come, in a little under two weeks. On Monday, July 26, access to the alpha build ofNatural Selection 2will be granted to those with apre-order of the Special Edition. Worth noting: you can’t buy this $39.95 version after that point.

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Also after July 26, the Standard Edition ofNS2— now set at a very reasonable $19.95 — will get a price increase. I know that might seem like a lot to ask up front, but developer Unknown Worlds is all about community input, and as a seven-person operation, you kind of have to go this route to get there.

IfLeft 4 Dead,Aliens vs. Predator, and (I’m told) evenSingularityhave taught us anything, it’s that having humans fighting not-humans in an all-player-controlled environment is a fun setup.NS2seems to be taking this concept to the next logical level. I’m sold. Also, the camera angle shown above isso good.

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.