Rebellion's upcoming shooter Alien Deathstorm surprised a Push Square previewer at Gamescom by offering a far more atmospheric, exploration-driven experience than the linear sci-fi shooter they expected, blending combat with genuine horror elements. During a 20-minute hands-on demo, the writer was left to navigate a storm-battered station with only a vague compass marker for guidance, an approach reportedly inspired by Rebellion's earlier title Atomfall, while unscripted alien encounters and jump scares kept tension high throughout.

The demo saw the player fend off spider-like creatures with an SMG before being ambushed by a nine-foot alien, with developers claiming 90% of alien encounters are dynamic rather than scripted, triggered by how much noise or attention the player draws. Features highlighted included a weapon customisation workbench for the shotgun, SMG and pistol, a wipeable visor mechanic when coated in alien secretions, and horror flourishes like a "terror broom" jump scare, though the writer felt the weapons, particularly the shotgun, lacked sufficient weight and impact.