A fierce war is raging on in Atlanta, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. Recently captured surveillance footage has revealed an unidentified group of individuals displaying exceptional combat skills and tactics in their fight against the machines. These skilled fighters pose a new threat to the machines and could be instrumental in turning the tide of the war.

Experience the post-apocalyptic future today. A demo of Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance, an officially licensed Skydance game, has been made available for free on Steam by publisher Slitherine as part of the current Steam Next Fest. Fight for the survival of the human race and play three campaign missions and one single-player skirmish map of the grim real-time strategy game, pitting man against machine.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is set in the Terminator cinematic universe, which sets surviving humans against the powerful synthetic Legion in complex tactical battles, where both sides are armed with near-future and machine-tech weaponry. The real-time strategy game will feature a story-rich campaign and multiple skirmish and multiplayer modes. In a ruined post-Judgement Day world, the greatest threat may not only come from the ravaging machines but also from bands of other human survivors.

The Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance demo contains three single-player scenarios and one skirmish map playable in Assault Mode. The missions encompass the first campaign levels, teaching the basics of the game and introducing the players to a post-apocalyptic world with its three distinct factions: Founders, Legion, and Movement.

Major features in the full launch of Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will include multiple-choice campaign options, branching dialogue, events, and mission objectives, as well as the army management screen. This latter feature lets players upgrade character skills, weapons, and armor for squads and vehicles, plus unit customization and buying and selling manpower, equipment, and supplies.

The single-player skirmish mode in the Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance demo focuses on Assault Mode. This mode allows players to select either the Founders or Legion factions - the objective being to attack or defend an Underground Base. The full game will also feature Domination Mode maps, allowing all three factions to be chosen with different reinforcement rules.

All skirmish maps in the full release of Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will be playable in multiplayer mode, allowing up to 4 players to duel it out in either 1v1, 2v1, or 2v2 games.

The real-time strategy of Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will let players deploy their military expertise in a future war characterized by plasma cannons, drones, and of course, imposing robotic war machines. Battlefield tactics will feature profound consequences, as limited resources, damage, and weapon malfunctions will shape the human struggle for survival.

Players will have multiple options throughout the game's campaigns when confronted by other human survivors, each with different consequences, from gaining intel, weaponry, and even new volunteers to open conflict. A player’s decision in Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will resonate in subsequent missions.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will see its full release in Fall 2023 on PC.

A barren desert landscape stretches out before them, with no defined landmarks or signs of life. Despite heavy losses suffered on the frontlines, a crucial reinforcement has just arrived. Many brave soldiers have fallen in battle, but a glimmer of hope now shines through the arrival of Alex Church and their group of former US military members.

Galveston, TX. The time has come for the ultimate showdown between humanity and the machines. Everybody is joining the fight, standing ready to face the greatest final challenge.