Transformers: Reactivate — Everything We Know

Splash Damage, the creator behind the likes of Gears Tactics and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, has been at the drawing board chalking up a new online game for the Transformers IP. Aptly titled Transformers: Reactivate, the forthcoming extension to the mech-based saga will look to invite players to embark on an all-new adventure featuring none other than the legendary Autobots and a new utterly terrifying, world-changing threat to dispose of.

“Growing up with G1 TRANSFORMERS in the ’80s means it’ll always hold a special place in my heart, it’s both an honour and a privilege to work with such a beloved franchise,” said CEO of Splash Damage Richard Jolly in a press release. “We know fans have been waiting a long time for a new TRANSFORMERS game on consoles and PC, and we’re going to give them the experience they deserve.” About time too, what with the last Transformers game launching way back in 2015 on double ex-gen consoles.

Cryptic press release set aside, what more do we actually know about the upcoming online game? More importantly, when are we likely to see it retrieved from the rubble and up for grabs on consoles and PC? Well, here’s everything we know about it at present, right down to its post-apocalyptic setting. Transformers: Reactivate — what is it, and why on earth has it taken almost a decade to revive the IP for modern hardware?

What Is Transformers: Reactivate?

To put you in the picture, Transformers: Reactivate isn’t a traditional single-player experience, but more a multiplayer mech game suited for up to four players. As for what type of multiplayer game it’ll be remains a mystery, though, what with the devs being rather coy on the matter since bringing it to light back at The Game Awards 2022. Needless to say that it’ll be a combat-centric adventure with all the same elements as a typical Transformers video game adaptation. More or less, anyway.

According to the devs, “Transformers: Reactivate is a 1-4 player online action game, developed by Splash Damage, coming to PC & consoles. With the Closed Beta planned for 2023, players, press, and content creators can sign up at the links below for future updates.” Speaking of which, you can get your hands on all the latest updates via the official newsletter here. Alternatively, you can check in with the team via their official social feed here.

Story

Annoyingly, this is right around the time the trail goes cold, what with Splash Damage and Hasbro keeping the bulk of the narrative on ice until further notice. For what it’s worth, though, we do know that the story will revolve around a new type of threat—a force known as Legion that has supposedly taken full control of earth and its economy. The good news is, for every cloud there’s a silver lining — and that just so happens to be the Autobots that wallow beneath the dirt. Best get digging them up, then!

“The gravest threat to humanity has arrived,” Splash Damage teases in a press release. “And it’s already won. Earth is no longer ours; it belongs to them. All we have left is our hope for the Autobots, as we salvage them from the rubble left behind.”

Gameplay

Again, not too much to go on as far as gameplay details go. That said, if we was to take a leaf out of its announcement trailer and the screenshots provided to date, then we’d be right in saying that it’ll be a first-person shooter at its core. It’ll also feature a slew of microtransactions, too, according to a select number of sources. But as for how much of an impact these in-game purchases will have on the experience itself remains to be clarified. Whatever the case, here’s hoping it isn’t entirely play-to-win, so to speak.

Development

It’s been a long time coming — a new addition to the Transformers world. Yet, it was only in December of 2022 that Splash Damage announced its collaboration with Hasbro that the proposed online multiplayer concept came to light. And since then, well, let’s just say it’s been a pretty quiet 2023 for the team and its efforts to breathe new life into the IP. There will be a closed Beta at some stage later this year though, which is something.

“Fans have been eagerly awaiting a new game that immerses them into our iconic TRANSFORMERS universe,” Eugene Evans, SVP of Business Development & Digital Licensing at Hasbro added. “We’re thrilled to share a first look on one of gaming’s biggest nights. Splash Damage has an amazing track record with some of the world’s most famous IP’s and have a strong creative passion for the TRANSFORMERS brand. We’re confident that TRANSFORMERS: REACTIVATE will be hugely popular with the TRANSFORMERS community and continues the Hasbro Blueprint 2.0 strategy of creating first-class branded entertainment across diverse categories and platforms including video games.”

Trailer

Thanks to The Game Awards, which aired back in December 2022, we do have some footage of the upcoming game. Care to have a peek? You can catch a glimpse of what’s to come in Reactivate in the trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

While we can’t say for certain whether or not Transformers: Reactivate will even make its planned 2024 launch, we can say that it’ll be heading to consoles and PC. And when we say consoles, we’re mostly putting our faith in both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. But who knows? Perhaps there’ll be an ex-gen port to reinforce its arrival?

Wherever it is you stand on the project, you can find all the latest updates on Transformers: Reactivate over on Splash Damage’s social handle here. If anything noteworthy should pop up at any point in 2023, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be booting up a copy of Transformers: Reactivate when it’s finally removed from the rubble? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.