Active Matter Brings ARC Raiders, Call of Duty, and Death Stranding Ideas to PS5

Active Matter is set to launch on September 15, 2026, bringing its blend of extraction-shooter objectives, tactical first-person combat, and surreal science fiction to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Developed by Matter Team and published by Gaijin Network Ltd, the game is attracting attention because its design appears to sit between ARC Raiders, Call of Duty, and Death Stranding without belonging completely to any one of them.

What Happened With Active Matter?

Active Matter is built around an extraction-shooter loop. Players enter unstable zones, search for the namesake substance and other valuable loot, then contend with the dangers inside those areas. The game supports co-op play and includes dedicated player-versus-player and player-versus-environment modes, while some encounters combine both threats in a PvPvE format.

Its launch platforms are PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC through Steam. Optional cross-platform play is planned between PC and consoles. The game has also been available early through Gaijin Network Ltd's own website, but the publisher has said that players should not expect a global server wipe at launch.

A price of $29.99 has been associated with the early-access version sold through the publisher's website. That figure should be treated as a current indication rather than a confirmed universal launch price for every platform.

Why It Matters for Extraction-Shooter Fans

Active Matter's most obvious comparison is ARC Raiders, thanks to its emphasis on entering dangerous areas, collecting resources, and surviving encounters that can involve both human opponents and hostile creatures. Its shooting is more grounded than its setting, using real-world-inspired firearms and artillery to create a familiar tactical FPS feel. Unlockable operators further reinforce the comparison with military-focused Call of Duty campaigns and multiplayer modes.

The game's science-fiction identity comes from its fractured universe and colliding timelines. Unstable zones contain monstrous entities that visually recall the otherworldly threats associated with Death Stranding. Active Matter, meanwhile, centers on a substance said to influence time and space. Its effects include disruptions to gravity and connections between dimensions, allowing movement across walls and ceilings.

That contrast is the project's clearest hook: recognizable gunplay and operator design are placed inside a reality-bending world rather than a conventional military setting.

What to Watch Next

The immediate test will be whether Active Matter can turn its striking premise into a satisfying long-term extraction experience. Pre-release gameplay footage has presented polished visuals, and Gaijin Network Ltd's experience with War Thunder and Enlisted gives the project a publisher familiar with online games. However, strong presentation alone will not determine whether players stay after launch.

SteamDB data has placed Active Matter among Steam's 70 most-wishlisted games, offering an early sign of interest on PC. There is no equivalent reliable measure for anticipation on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, so console momentum remains an open question. The September 15 release will also clarify how the optional cross-platform system works in practice and whether the game's PvPvE encounters can distinguish it from the growing extraction-shooter field.

Key details for players

• Release date: September 15, 2026.
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
• Modes: Extraction shooter, FPS, co-op, PvP, PvE, and selected PvPvE content.
• Cross-platform play is optional between PC and consoles.
• No global server wipe is planned at launch.

Active Matter at a glance

Expert View

Active Matter has a credible opportunity to reach players who want extraction-shooter tension without giving up the immediacy of traditional FPS combat. Its strongest differentiator is not any single feature, but the collision between realistic weapons and a world built around broken timelines, gravity shifts, and hostile anomalies. If the launch delivers dependable online play and meaningful reasons to return to unstable zones, the game could establish a distinct identity rather than remain a collection of familiar influences.