D3 Publisher and Yuke’s have announced that Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain will be released exclusively for the PS4 on April 11. The action game will only be available to download through the PlayStation Store, but EDF fans still get to blast a new set of bugs with “a new cast of characters” and “advanced gear, tech, and weaponry.”
Like 2011’s Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, Iron Rain is a more serious-minded spinoff of the main series that takes place in the United States. But in a first for the franchise, the game has also been built from the ground up using Epic’s Unreal Engine 4:
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Features
- Master Four Soldier Classes: Thanks to advances in “PA-Gear” technology, the EDF is on more equal footing with the “Aggressors.” These powered exoskeleton suits can be customized with hundreds of weapon, armament, and item loadout combinations with four unique soldier classes, each with their own critical Over Drive ability to change the tide of battle, including the Trooper, Jet Lifter, Heavy Striker, and most notably, the brand-new Prowl Rider.
- Multiplayer: Staying true to the series’ roots in arcade action, both online and local multiplayer split-screen modes are available. Online supports up to six player co-op – and the new Mercenary mode, which finds teams competing for Energy Gems hosts up to 8 players.
- Character Customization: For the first time in the series, players will step into the boots of Closer, a decorated war hero who awakens from a seven year coma. Players can customize his or her appearances before diving into the game’s character driven campaign.
You can get a closer glimpse at Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain’s new look in the new trailer embedded above, and be sure to check out an in-depth conversation with Series Producer Nobuyuki Okajima about what makes the spinoff unique at the PlayStation Blog.
