New Steam Shooter is an Exciting Take on Capture the Flag
After years of Apex Legends fans begging for a dedicated Capture The Flag mode, their prayers may be getting answered, but not in the way they may have expected. While Apex itself is still showing no signs of adding the beloved game mode popularized by Halo and other classic FPS titles, the upcoming arena shooter Ascendant fully blends the visuals and gameplay of Apex Legends with Capture The Flag objectives and an additional unexpected twist. Ascendant has already passed through multiple rounds of beta testing, making adjustments along the way to resolve player concerns, and is presently slated to launch for PC via Steam in 2026.
Players are likely familiar with a number of games with Capture The Flag modes, with Halo ranking among the most iconic, though Call of Duty, Titanfall 2, and even Team Fortress 2 have earned dedicated followings thanks to their CTF offerings. The subsequent rise in popularity of arena shooters like Apex Legends and Overwatch has helped to draw more fans into the ever-evolving genre of FPS games. Despite Apex Legends remaining among the top arena shooters, fans have long been asking for a permanent CTF mode, and Ascendant is readying itself to answer the call for a new competitive multiplayer FPS.
Games With Great PvE Multiplayer
Players searching for a great multiplayer game with strong PvE content have a lot of options to choose from. These are the best out now.
Ascendant Finally Gives Apex Legends Fans the Capture the Flag Mode They’ve Been Begging For
Ascendant touts itself as a high-stakes, high-chaos capture-the-flag shooter “on crack.” Players awaken from a thousand-year cryogenic sleep and are forced to battle against rival squads for biocores filled with amber that are needed to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. In addition to the PvP gameplay, Ascendant adds an unexpected PvE twist with monstrous creatures roaming about the map. Players will have to engage in full-on PvPvE combat to be successful, pushing teams to actively work together in terms of both communication and gun fights. Fans of games like Hunt Showdown are likely familiar with this format, though it has not been too commonly seen in bigger arena shooters in recent years. Players also share a collective pool for power upgrades for unlocking weapons, boosting gear, and buying traps, so teams will need to be careful about how they strategize against each threat.
Gunplay and tactics become extra challenging in Ascendant with tanks and other vehicles adding even more chaos into the mix. Dynamic events are also present, with sudden airstrikes and mutated “mega beasts” popping up on a whim, making sure every round is unique. With over 3 million weapon mod combinations, customizable character abilities and perks, and a special PvP-only Thunderdome mode a la hit battle royale games, Ascendant has plenty to offer both veteran and first-time players within the FPS genre.
As always, it remains to be seen if Ascendant will be able to live up to the legacy and standards of other FPS arena shooter games, particularly as the market has been criticized over the years for becoming oversaturated without enough innovation. Perhaps Ascendant‘s inclusion of a PvE element will be just the ticket to help it stand out from the crowd, though such a polarizing inclusion could hinder as much as it could help. Those curious about the evolution of Ascendant ahead of launch can stay tuned for any updates about potential changes leading up to its planned release in 2026.
- Released
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February 4, 2019
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Blood, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts