The development team wants to stay consistent with the series’ lore while capturing “the essence of the first two films.”

Nacon Studio Milan has offered new details on its upcoming open-world survival action game Terminator: Survivors, launching later this year for PC. A new FAQ explained the choice of setting based on the franchise’s Judgment Day occurring in 2005 since Sarah Connor averted it in 1997.

As fans are aware, Skynet gained sentience, caused an all-out nuclear war and left the planet in ruins. The survivors are left without long-range communication and must fight over resources and territory. Meanwhile, Skynet also has a T-800 out there, hunting players. The developer clarified that there’s only one due to lore consistency and to “capture the essence of the first two films.”

“The game unfolds in 2009, shortly after the cataclysmic Judgment Day, during a period when Skynet’s production capabilities hadn’t yet reached their peak. The T-800, an infiltration unit, serves as a reminder of Skynet’s relentless pursuit across time. The T-800 encountered by players is one of these units, sent by Skynet in its desperate attempts to rewrite history and secure victory in the Future War.

“We aimed to capture the essence of the first two films, where the looming threat of an unstoppable machine instilled a sense of dread and urgency. By featuring a lone T-800 as the relentless antagonist, players are immersed in an atmosphere of constant peril and tension. Much like the protagonists in the movies, players will experience the harrowing sensation of being hunted by an adversary that knows no mercy and cannot be reasoned with.” Of course, you’ll also have to battle rival human factions.

Terminator: Survivors launches on October 24th for PC via Steam Early Access, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions coming later. It offers support for up to three players in co-op, with base-building and material gathering.