Devolver Digital and Behaviour Interactive have announced a new entry in the long-running first-person shooter franchise titled Serious Sam: Shatterverse. Developed by the studio behind Dead by Daylight, this upcoming title shifts the series into a five-player cooperative roguelite format. The project arrives as the franchise celebrates the 25th anniversary of its debut title, Serious Sam: The First Encounter, which originally launched in 2001.
The game’s premise involves a multiversal fracture caused by the series’ recurring antagonist, Mental. This event allows players to take control of different versions of Sam “Serious” Stone from across various dimensions. Teams of five must work together to navigate shifting universes, defeat five of Mental’s lieutenants, and repair the damaged Shatterverse. The gameplay aims to retain the high-pressure, run-and-gun combat typical of the series but introduces procedural elements across hand-crafted arenas in previously unexplored worlds.
Progression in Serious Sam: Shatterverse relies on a mix of temporary boons and run modifiers collected during individual sessions and permanent upgrades that expand a player’s capabilities over time. Players will encounter unstable anomalies and hidden portals that offer the chance to significantly power up a current run at the risk of an immediate failure. The available arsenal features a combination of classic weaponry from the series’ history and new items unique to this title.
The game will feature massive hordes of enemies, including both returning monsters and new entities under Mental’s control. Serious Sam: Shatterverse is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S during 2026.
Davor Hunski, a co-creator of the Serious Sam franchise at Croteam, provided a statement regarding the involvement of a new development team in the series:
Seeing Shatterverse come to life is a really big moment for us. It’s very exciting to see another talented team step in and create something bold, fresh, and different within the universe we cherished for so long. I can’t wait for both the old and new fans to experience this new interpretation of the series!
Nic Duchesne of Behaviour Interactive commented on the developer’s intent to honour the history of the property while introducing modern features:
Our main goal was to respect Serious Sam’s rich legacy while presenting it in a fresh, contemporary way unlike anything seen before in the series. Working with Devolver has been an incredible, enriching experience for our team. The folks there are real renegades of the video game publishing world: they always put the game first and aren’t afraid to carve their own path.
