John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando may have what it takes to bring the next great zombie co-op experience to audiences, but it has also been quite secretive lately. Originally announced in June 2023, Toxic Commando was expected to arrive sometime in 2024. However, with the year quickly coming and going, the release date of this zombie slaying title has yet to be revealed, raising plenty of questions about its status.
Both horror fans and co-op lovers have been awaiting the next big update from Toxic Commando, hoping for a new co-op game to shake up the horde shooter genre popularized by Left 4 Dead. While the wait continues, there is at least excitement in knowing that Saber Interactive is the developer tasked with bringing the project to life. The developer has proven its ability to craft a fun-filled zombie co-op before with its World War Z game, but that also gives Toxic Commando a high bar to reach regarding player expectations.
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John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando Has to Continue World War Z’s Legacy
World War Z Sets Daunting Expectations
It’s indeed promising that Saber Interactive is leading Toxic Commando‘s development, but it may also prove to be difficult to capture lightning in a bottle twice. World War Z continues to bring players a heart-pounding co-op experience, and that longevity can sometimes be difficult to replicate. Since 2019, World War Z has been a go-to game in the continuously growing horde shooter genre, and Toxic Commando can hopefully stand equal to its Saber Interactive predecessor.
Iconic horror director John Carpenter has a long-running love for video games. Some of his favorite titles include Borderlands, Horizon Forbidden West, and Fallout 76.
Toxic Commando Faces a Saturated Genre
Horde shooters and zombie games have been a hot topic for years now, and surprisingly, this only continues to grow. Some of the biggest games of the 21st century have been zombie-focused. From indie games like Project Zomboid to major releases like the Resident Evil 4 remake and Dead Island 2, the undead continues to prove itself a fascinating subject for gamers.
Not only is the zombie genre a big pool to have to stick out in, but particularly co-op zombie games are a massive subgenre within the community. Titles that promise players a chance at hacking and slashing away at zombies alongside friends are even more enticing at times, so not only does Toxic Commando have to live up to the expectations that World War Z set, but it also has to be unique in comparison to the many other co-op options. Although Toxic Commando faces a sea of competition as intimidating as an oncoming zombie horde, Saber Interactive’s involvement is still more promising than worrisome.
Recent Zombie Titles That Feature Co-Op
- No More Room in Hell 2
- Dying Light 2
- Dead Island 2
- Back 4 Blood
Saber Interactive’s Direction is Ultimately Good News
Of course, Saber Interactive is responsible for crafting a great co-op title that could be hard to recapture, but there is also the chance that the developer improves upon World War Z‘s mechanics. Saber Interactive has proven that it can nail zombie co-op, so it’s highly possible that it can do so again. Toxic Commando will have to show itself soon to reignite excitement, but the long wait could also be due to developers ensuring that the next update can showcase as strong of a product as possible.
Toxic Commando is planned to launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The world of co-op zombie games is vast, and Toxic Commando‘s teased lean into hardcore B-movie action could be the right recipe for a standout title. As 2025 continues, it will be exciting to see if Toxic Commando brings its next update, and if it does, seeing how it compares to World War Z may be fascinating.
- Publisher(s)
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Focus Entertainment
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
- ESRB
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