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Wanted: Dead — Everything We Know

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The makers of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are back at the helm once again for another swing at the throne with Wanted: Dead, an all-new hybrid that boasts a unique blend of slasher mayhem and riveting third-person combat. A lot of talk for any studio—particularly one that specializes in fighting games, no less—yet we're all the more curious to see it alive and kicking the moment it drops on consoles and PC later this month.

So, what do we actually know about the upcoming hack-and-slash game? Well, a fair amount actually, thanks to Soleil letting slip a whole lot of gameplay reveals, special features and what have you. Curious to hear more about it? Here's everything we've been able to scrape together on it since it first came to light back in late 2021.

What Is Wanted: Dead?

Wanted: Dead is an upcoming third-person hack-and-slash game by Soleil, a company best known for games including Valkyrie Elysium and Ninjala. According to the game's official handle, players can expect to delve into a Ninja Gaiden-meets-Cyberpunk scenario, one that centers both its narrative and its gameplay around a zombified alternate version of Hong Kong.

Based around the Zombie Unit, an elite Hong Kong police firm, you play as Lt. Hannah Stone as she works to uncover a thread of conspiracies that threaten the very balance on which the cyberpunk metropolis thrives. Think a unique blend of Ninja Gaiden, Remnant: From the Ashes, and Cyberpunk 2077, and you'll be, more or less, on the money.

Story

As it goes, there isn't a whole lot of details on the game's actual plotline. Or at least, nothing particularly in-depth, anyway. But from what we have gathered on the subject, we do know that players take on the role of a Lt. Hannah Stone of the merciless Zombie Unit, a police squadron made up of only the most elite officers in Hong Kong. While playing as Stone, you will be tasked with uncovering a conspiracy that runs deep through the roots of the cyberpunk city.

“The game follows a week in life of the Zombie Unit, an elite Hong Kong police squad on a mission to uncover a major corporate conspiracy,” the blurb reads in part. “Play as Lt. Hannah Stone, a hardboiled Hong Kong cop, and plow through mercenaries, gang members and private military contractors in a spectacular cyberpunk adventure.”

Gameplay

Wanted: Dead claims to be a new hybrid of two genres, labelling itself as a “slasher/shooter” game. To this extent, we know for certain that there'll be plenty of high-octane gunplay and more wall-to-wall third-person action than anything else in the pot. And of course, this is bound to be wrapped up in a lot of semi-open world exploration and explosive theatrics.

According to the description, players will have the choice of utilizing either melee weapons, ranged weapons, or projectiles. Armed to the teeth, you can either throw down the gauntlet the good old fashioned way (á la beat 'em up style), or with a steel arsenal of cyberpunk gadgets and gizmos. Bottom line is this: expect plenty of adrenaline-fueled bullet storms, cyberpunk-themed tech, and brutal executions.

Development

Soleil is the studio that will pilot the upcoming game, a firm perhaps best known for its various contributions to the action-adventure category. First announced back in 2021, Wanted: Dead was planning to release as a next-gen exclusive on an undisclosed date in 2022. This was, of course, changed to 2023 a little further down the line when publisher 110 Industries announced that it would no longer meet its initial Q4 2022 window.

Something else that is worth noting down here is Soleil's spiritual connection with Team Ninja; funnily enough, it's actually the latter's former members that are working to build Wanted: Dead. And so, if you have a clear understanding of how Team Ninja's action-packed titles operate, then you'll no doubt have a vague idea of what to expect from Wanted: Dead come launch day.

Trailer

Wanted: Dead - Tokyo Game Show Official Trailer

Yes, there is a trailer for Wanted: Dead. Originally posted back in October 2021, the game itself was planning to launch at some point in 2022 for next-gen hardware. Since the announcement, Soleil has brought a wide range of gameplay and feature trailers to the table, mostly highlighting the setting itself and a number of its playable characters. You can catch one of the main reveal trailers up above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Wanted: Dead will be coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam on February 14, 2023. It hasn't been said whether or not it will be arriving on Switch just yet, though there is reason to believe that it could shed its home console and PC exclusivity by 2024. This should be taken with a grain of salt, though, as Soleil hasn't given sufficient evidence to support the rumors.

Unfortunately for Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscribers, Wanted: Dead won't be coming to either catalog anytime soon. This isn't to say that it won't ever arrive on either platform, though. As it stands, however, it appears the only way you can get your hands on a copy is via the Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, or Steam.

Along with the normal launch edition that will be coming to both consoles and PC, Wanted: Dead will also come with a special Collector's Edition. Here's what you can expect to find bundled in with the base game:

  • 116-page Hardcover Design Works Artbook
  • Wanted: Dead Steelbook
  • Official Soundtrack CD
  • Zombie Unit Magnet
  • Set of 3 Postcards
  • Collector's Edition Box

For more information on the Wanted: Dead release, be sure to follow the official social handle here. If anything new pops up in the meantime, we'll be sure to let you know all the details right here on gaming.net.

 

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Wanted: Dead when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.