CrossFire Ventures Into Survival Horror with "Rainbow"
South Korean developer Smilegate continues to push the boundaries of its successful CrossFire franchise, now venturing into the unexpected realm of survival horror. The company recently unveiled the debut gameplay trailer for CrossFire: Rainbow, marking a significant genre shift for the beloved series.
The CrossFire journey began as a free-to-play tactical first-person shooter that achieved monumental success, particularly in its home country and China. It quickly became one of the most popular games globally, boasting over a billion registered accounts and a peak concurrent player count of six million in 2020, according to Smilegate's own data.
Despite its massive Eastern popularity, Smilegate has historically struggled to replicate that success in Western markets. Previous attempts, such as the story-driven CrossfireX developed by Remedy Entertainment and the strategy game Crossfire: Legion, both faced critical and commercial disappointment. This new foray into the horror genre with CrossFire: Rainbow appears to be Smilegate's latest strategy to capture a broader international audience.
While details remain scarce, the initial trailer for CrossFire: Rainbow suggests gameplay reminiscent of recent entries in the Resident Evil series. The game is also confirmed to feature both multiplayer PvP (player-versus-player) and PvE (player-versus-environment) modes. Development is being handled by Team Jade, a Tencent subsidiary that gained recognition last year for its work on the new Delta Force title.
CrossFire: Rainbow is currently in development on Unreal Engine 5 and is slated for release on both PC and mobile devices. A specific release date has not yet been announced. Notably, the first trailer's music was composed by Ludvig Forssell, acclaimed for his work on games like Death Stranding, adding a layer of intrigue to the project.
This move into survival horror represents a bold new direction for the CrossFire franchise. After previous struggles to connect with Western players, Smilegate is clearly experimenting with different genres to expand its reach. For fans of the CrossFire universe and horror enthusiasts alike, CrossFire: Rainbow offers a fresh, dark take on a familiar name, promising an experience far removed from its tactical shooter origins.
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