Serious Sam: Shatterverse — Everything You Need to Know

The next chapter in the iconic boomer-shooter series is taking a sharp turn into the multiverse. Serious Sam: Shatterverse is a co-op roguelite FPS developed by Behaviour Interactive (best known for Dead by Daylight) and published by Devolver Digital. Here is everything you need to know about its launch, gameplay, and the open playtest running right now.

Launch Date and Platforms

Serious Sam: Shatterverse will launch on August 31, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store . The game was first revealed in March 2026 during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase .

Developer and Publisher

This marks a notable shift for the franchise. Development is led by Behaviour Interactive Inc., the studio behind Dead by Daylight, rather than the original series creator Croteam . Devolver Digital is publishing the title .

Gameplay: Roguelite Meets Co-op FPS

Shatterverse blends the fast-paced first-person shooting the series is known for with roguelite progression. Here are the core features:

• 1–5 player online co-op — You can play solo or team up with up to four friends .
• Five distinct Sams — Each run lets you play as one of five alternate-dimension versions of Sam "Serious" Stone, each with their own visual style .
• Roguelite runs — Battles take place across shifting, procedurally generated universes. You collect stackable boons (perks and buffs) and encounter run modifiers that change the rules of each playthrough .
• Classic weapons and new toys — Familiar Serious Sam arsenal returns, alongside new weapons exclusive to the Shatterverse .
• The villain Mental — The core loop involves hunting the forces of Sam's arch-nemesis, Mental, across multiversal environments .

The game is wave-based, with procedurally generated runs encouraging repeated playthroughs as you unlock and stack upgrades .

Open Playtest on Steam

As of August 7–8, 2026, an open playtest is live on Steam. Anyone can join immediately through the Steam page without needing an invite key or special code . The playtest build is approximately 7 GB .

To join, visit the game's Steam page and click the "Request Access" button. The playtest remains open ahead of the August 31 launch .

A New Direction for Serious Sam

Shatterverse represents a significant departure from traditional Serious Sam games. By introducing roguelite mechanics and a heavy focus on cooperative play, Behaviour Interactive is aiming to create a replayable, multiplayer-focused experience that still retains the over-the-top action the series is known for . Whether this multiversal shake-up resonates with long-time fans remains to be seen, but the open playtest gives everyone a chance to judge for themselves before launch.