Rules of Engagement: The Grey State marks the ambitious debut of Grey State Studio, a newly formed subsidiary under Tencent, set to plunge players into a bleak and terrifying future. Scheduled for release on PC in 2026, this free-to-play horror extraction shooter aims to fuse competitive multiplayer with relentless atmospheric dread, creating a new subgenre that merges PvPvE chaos with cosmic horror. 
The game’s premise is simple on the surface but hides unsettling depths. Players assume the role of Strider, an enigmatic operative whose mission is to retrieve an artifact known as The Vertex from within The Grey State – a nightmarish alternate dimension filled with grotesque monstrosities and the broken remnants of human ambition. Every incursion into this corrupted world is both a raid and a survival test, as players not only fight swarming horrors but must also contend with rival human squads vying for the same prize.
Grey State Studio unveiled two debut trailers that quickly drew attention. The cinematic trailer immerses viewers in the oppressive, fog-choked landscapes of the Horrorverse, where reality bends and screams echo in the dark. The gameplay trailer, while clearly marked as alpha footage, presents a surprisingly robust foundation – fluid gunplay, claustrophobic environments, and a gritty art direction that evokes titles like Escape from Tarkov blended with Resident Evil’s grotesque imagination.
Players can select from multiple classes, each equipped with distinct abilities and weapons designed for both survival and aggression. Cooperative tactics seem essential – though trust may be fleeting in a realm where betrayal can happen faster than a creature’s shriek in the dark. While some mechanics appear familiar to fans of other extraction shooters, The Grey State sets itself apart through its moody horror aesthetic and potential to expand into a shared universe of monsters inspired by classic horror icons.
For now, Rules of Engagement: The Grey State is officially announced for PC only, with no confirmed console release. However, given Tencent’s scale and resources, an eventual PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launch seems likely. If Grey State Studio can refine its tension-filled concept into polished execution, this could be one of 2026’s most intriguing horror shooters – a chilling experiment in fear, survival, and human desperation.
3 comments
ngl, horror extraction shooter sounds sick if they nail the tension
graphics look insane but that cinematic trailer gave me nightmares 😂
tried watching the trailer, had to turn off the lights just to get the full vibe, 10/10 atmosphere