15 years ago, gamers and horror fans alike were able to witness the greatest battle between the universe’s deadliest species in the form of Sega and Rebellion Developments’ Aliens vs. Predator. For over 35 years, the epic battle between the merciless Xenomorphs, the honorable Yautja, and often oblivious humans has intrigued readers, gamers, and film audiences alike. From the simple but explosive origins as a late 80s Dark Horse Comics series, Aliens vs. Predator has gone on to become the definitive crossover concept, going on to appear in dozens of other comics, video games, and two theatrical films. However, 2010’s Aliens vs. Predator has remained the major AVP game. With the two properties’ recent resurgence in popularity, Disney should strive to produce more high quality AVP games.
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Alien vs Predator – Who Would Win & Why?
In the multiple times the Xenomorph and the Predator have gone up against each other there hasn’t exactly been a clear winner. But I think that determining who wins when it comes between Alien vs Predator comes own to the environment and numbers at the time. If there are more Xenomorphs than Predators, there’s not much they could do to prevent being overwhelmed. But in a one-on-one fight between a lone fully matured Xenomorph and a lone adult, trained Predator, I think the Predator would win nine times out of ten.
They have a way more advanced approach to combat with better tech, and their entire culture is based on ruthless hunting discipline – while Xenomorphs are more like feral animals. Feral animals with acid blood and plenty of ways to hone in on and quickly kill prey, but the Predators’ technology and ability to strategize and learn from targets to more efficiently take them out is what makes them the victor here.
Let us know in the comments below who you think would win and w
The History of Aliens vs. Predator Video Games
When Dark Horse first published its first Aliens vs. Predator comic series, it was an instant success in terms of art, writing, and profitability. Crossing over 20th Century Fox’s most intriguing and violent aliens was a match made in heaven and both Fox and Dark Horse were quick to build on that concept. Most audiences were first widely introduced to this concept in 1990’s Predator 2, released one year after Dark Horse’s first AVP comic issue, wherein Michael Harrigan discovers a Xenomorph skull aboard a Predator’s ship. Based on the positive response to the prospect of Aliens and Predators crossing over from Predator 2, Fox immediately strove to produce an AVP film, but that project wouldn’t see the light of day until 2004.
In the meantime, Aliens and Predators began duking it out on video game platforms, beginning with 1993’s beat ’em up Alien vs Predator for the SNES. This game received mixed reviews, and so AVP wouldn’t begin its dominance in video games until the release of Capcom’s three player arcade beat ’em up, 1994’s Alien vs. Predator. Based on a rejected script for the AVP film, 1994’s Alien vs. Predator saw the return of Predator 1’s Dutch Schaefer as he and fellow cyborg Linn Kurosawa join two Predators in fighting off hordes of Xenomorphs on Earth. 1994’s Alien vs. Predator was well received, often regarded as one of the best arcade beat ’em ups ever produced, but it wasn’t the only successful AVP game to release in 1994.
Rebellion’s Celebrated History With Aliens vs. Predator
Released a few months after Capcom’s AVP, Rebellion Developments debuted their first entry in the AVP franchise with the first-person survival horror game Alien vs Predator in October 1994 for the Atari Jaguar. Here, Rebellion created the definitive formula for AVP games, featuring three unique campaigns where gamers play as a colonial marine, a Predator, and a Xenomorph. While it barely had a story, it was widely praised for its gameplay and atmosphere. Rebellion improved 1994’s AVP in nearly every way with the release of 1999’s Aliens Versus Predator for PC. Still featuring three distinct campaigns, 1999’s AVP features a simple yet intriguing story and more robust gameplay, such as Aliens being able to crawl on walls, and Predators being able to play more stealthily.
The Gameplay, Narrative, and Legacy of 2010’s Aliens vs. Predator
While Aliens Versus Predator received a direct sequel in the form of 2001’s Aliens Versus Predator 2, this game was developed by Monolith Productions and Rebellion wouldn’t begin developing another AVP game until 2008. In response to the renewed popularity of the AVP franchise from the widely panned 2004 Alien vs. Predator and 2007 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem films, Sega collaborated with Rebellion to develop a new AVP game as a part of their deal with Fox to produce a set of new Alien-themed games. Just like their two prior games, Aliens vs. Predator 2010 featured three distinct campaigns as well as fun multiplayer with PVE and PVP modes.
Set after Alien 3, Aliens vs. Predator sees Karl Bishop Weyland, played by Lance Henriksen from the Alien and AVP films, open a Yautja pyramid to recover an Alien Queen, harvest her eggs, and begin producing Xenomorphs as weapons. However, an EMP frees the Xenomorphs and sends the planet into chaos. As Xenomorph Specimen 6, players hunt down humans, free the Queen, and subdue a Predator with a facehugger. Meanwhile, an unnamed rookie Marine is sent to quell the Xenomorph threat but is left having to uncover Weyland-Yutani’s true intentions on the planet as he fights Xenomorphs, Predators, and combat androids alike. Simultaneously, a Predator called Dark is dispatched to respond to Predator distress calls, destroy the pyramid, and eliminate Specimen 6’s Predalien hybrid.
2010’s Aliens vs. Predator Unanswered Future
All three campaigns in 2010’s Aliens vs. Predator intertwine with one another, with Specimen 6 leading the Alien infestation and producing the Predalien, the Marine using a wide arsenal of firearms to fight threats such as Praetorian Xenomorphs and Weyland himself, and Dark stopping the outbreak overall. The game ends with the Marine and a few survivors being “rescued” by Weyland-Yutani as the real Weyland travels to the Xenomorph homeworld often depicted in Dark Horse Comics. Meanwhile, Specimen 6 was recovered and begins a new outbreak as a full-grown Queen on the same ship and Dark journeys to the Xenomorph homeworld as well, after recovering an ancient Predator mask. Despite these cliffhangers, Aliens vs. Predator never received a sequel and became the last major AVP game released.
After 2010’s Aliens vs. Predator, two other AVP games were released, 2013’s AVP: Evolution and 2016’s Aliens vs. Pinball, before Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019.
The Potential of New Alien vs. Predator Games
Under Disney’s ownership, both the Alien and Predator franchises have received newfound critical and financial success, especially from 2022’s Prey and 2024’s Alien: Romulus. However, despite Disney owning both the Alien and Predator properties for nearly six years, virtually no AVP content has been produced save for Xenomorphs and Predators appearing simultaneously in some video games, such as Fortnite. Aliens and Predators have begun crossing over with Marvel Comics’ heroes such as the Avengers and Wolverine, but not with each other yet. Disney is seemingly aware of the two species’ long celebrated relationship with one another, as both received new comic runs under Marvel’s 20th Century Studios imprint, but has yet to combine the two again for some unknown reason.
However, amid the success of Alien: Romulus in 2024, Romulus’ director Fede Álvarez expressed interest in co-directing an Alien vs. Predator film with Prey’s director Dan Trachtenberg. 20th Century Studios President Steve Asbell later announced that a new AVP film will “probably” be made. This is not currently an official project, but both Álvarez and Trachtenberg are working on sequels for their respective Alien and Predator films. The prospect of a new AVP film has caused fans to speculate on what a modern AVP story could be. With recent Alien and Predator games receiving positive reviews, such as Aliens: Dark Descent, Alien: Rogue Incursion, and Predator: Hunting Grounds, modern game features and long respect for AVP could lead to a truly spectacular AVP game in the near future.
A New Alien vs. Predator Game Story and Gameplay
Disney could potentially hire Rebellion to develop another Aliens vs. Predator game given their past success with the property. Depending on what the new AVP will be like, this game could be structured similarly to that film or feature a completely new story, such as one following the Queen from Aliens surviving her space exit, causing chaos on a new planet, and getting the attention of Predators. Instead of playing entirely in first person, Rebellion could have the Predator be played in third-person and feature stealth gameplay similar to their Sniper Elite series. Meanwhile, the colonial marine could still be played in first-person but feature a more survival horror-focused story and gameplay similar to Dead Space or even Alien: Isolation.
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February 16, 2010
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