John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando Launch Guide – Release Date, Editions, Price, Platforms

If you’ve been craving that old-school co-op zombie shooter energy, Saber Interactive is bringing it back with a bloody, campy twist.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando | Image: Saber Interactive

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is officially set to launch on March 12, 2026, infesting PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The announcement came during The Game Awards 2025, alongside a new trailer packed with gore, humor, and plenty of undead chaos.

Developed by Saber Interactive (the team behind World War Z) and published by Focus Entertainment, the game is infused with John Carpenter’s unmistakable ’80s action-horror flair. Carpenter himself contributed as writer and composer, ensuring the project carries the same buddy-movie humor and over-the-top horror vibes that defined classics like The Thing and Escape from New York.

The story takes place in a near-future setting where an experiment to harness the Earth’s core goes horribly wrong. The disaster unleashes the Sludge God, an eldritch monstrosity that transforms soil into toxic sludge and humans into grotesque undead. Players step into the boots of ragtag mercenaries known as the Toxic Commandos, tasked with cleaning up the mess.

Gameplay revolves around 4-player squads, either online co-op or with AI bots, tearing through semi-open maps filled with hordes of enemies. Thanks to Saber’s Swarm Engine, expect massive waves of monsters, customizable vehicles armed with firepower, and a mix of weapons ranging from assault rifles to grenades, katanas, and special abilities. Teamwork is essential—reviving allies, sharing ammo, and coordinating attacks are the only way to survive when the sludge creatures swarm from every direction.

Editions and Price

Standard Edition – $39.99 / £34.99

• Base game

• Leon’s Secret Stash DLC (includes ACW-20 assault rifle, Wakizashi katana, avatar, and special title)

Blood Edition – $49.99 / £44.99

• Base game

• Leon’s Secret Stash DLC

• Bloody Pass (first two post-launch DLCs)

  • 30 skins for characters, vehicles, and weapons

  • Gold cosmetic weapon pack with charm and character skin

Both editions are available for pre-order now across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Physical copies will also be sold via retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Full cross-play support across PC and consoles.