GTFO is a hidden gem on Steam - What's in the new update

The new horror shooter GTFO has provided MeinMMO with exclusive information and images of new content as part of “Find Your Next Game” – along with a release date for the update on Steam. We reveal what to expect and why the hardcore shooter is already great to play in coop.

If you’re a fan of horror survival and hardcore shooters looking for new content, you should have had GTFO (short for: “Get The Fuck Out”) on your radar by now or at least be interested now.

GTFO has been in Early Access on Steam since early December 2019 and has received over 10,615 reviews, with 87% being “very positive” (as of June 1). Only the fact that the title has hardly made waves in gaming media makes GTFO a hidden gem.

At the launch of “Find Your Next Game” the developers 10 Chamber Collective provided MeinMMO with access to exclusive material for the upcoming content. And they revealed the rough release timeframe for the game: GTFO is expected to leave Early Access and officially launch on Steam in early 2021.

New content on June 11 – With creepy children?

This is the “Rundown” feature in GTFO: The content of GTFO is implemented through the “Rundown” concept. New maps and content are continuously brought into the game, which are replaced by the next Rundown. Players have only a limited time to see the unique content for that period.

The expiration date is meant to keep the content exciting. There will always be something fresh introduced so that players do not get bored. The new Rundown brings more story and potentially a really creepy enemy.

What we know about the new Rundown: The new Rundown 03 is titled “The Vessel”. It will be released on June 11 as a free update. It includes:

the “Laboratory” as a new environment
seven new expeditions
numerous new weapons
a new enemy

While there are currently no images of the new enemy, the developers told us a bit about how it is supposed to sound. For the new monster, recordings of a younger family member of one of the developers were used.

Could a creepy horror child be an enemy?

Additionally, “The Vessel” is said to tell more of the previously fragmented and cryptic story – albeit still very little. The story is intended to remain a mystery that motivates and keeps players engaged.

The developers say about the story: The story of the horror game has so far been somewhat of a mystery, and we want to at least partially keep it that way and not distribute everything directly and easily, as it brings the community together in discussions and helps them find clues about how everything fits together. In The Vessel, you will find more of these clues and get a clearer picture of what is really going on in “the Complex” [the game world].

While the developers have not revealed to us what exactly happens in the story of GTFO, the way it is told plays a significant role in the game’s development. The studio has brought in high-profile help: Adam Gascoine, who previously worked on games like DOOM, DOOM Eternal, and The Last Of Us.

The Last Of Us is considered one of the best story games of all time. If GTFO actually comes with a similar narrative, it could soon develop a real cult following.

10 Chambers is currently working on hiring voice actors and more help for storytelling, art, and design in order to implement all of this.

What makes GTFO special?

The unique feature of GTFO is undoubtedly its difficulty and realism, in both aspects, GTFO overshadows most genre peers.

This is the gameplay principle of GTFO: GTFO uses a gameplay principle that fans of the horror and survival genres should be familiar with: Up to four characters are sent into a station, a cave, or similar, to retrieve something and escape.

Instead of regular zombies and a post-apocalyptic world, GTFO offers aliens and a sci-fi setting. The advantage is that veterans can quickly adjust to the new setting and not get bored with recurring themes.

This is how GTFO differs from other horror shooters: GTFO plays with the fact that you have to get through tight levels with many enemies using scarce resources such as healing items and ammunition. This is something that classics like Left 4 Dead have already demonstrated.

Nonetheless, the new project is different and something that not everyone will or should like. Essentially, GTFO takes the core elements of many zombie shooters from the past and makes them even harder:

No matchmaking – You start with the team that signs up together, alone or with up to three other players.
Team communication is essential – Those who wander off alone generally die and fail the mission.
Supplies and ammunition must be shared. You can see the condition of your teammates and how well they are equipped in order to distribute medkits or ammunition.
It’s all in the setup – The selection of various gadgets and weapons you encounter should be discussed with the team beforehand and adapted for the mission.
What the hell is the goal anyway? Figuring out where you need to go and how to achieve the goal is part of the mission – and can sometimes cost you time and nerves as you find out through the terminals in the game.
Going in guns blazing does not work – You should remain undetected for as long as possible to avoid the danger of enemy hordes and save ammunition for critical situations.

Furthermore, GTFO relies on a strong realism factor. Terminals must be hacked through text input, infections affect players, and when characters need to cough, they alert nearby enemies.

Why is it so well received?

The developers already stated before the Early Access release that they expect GTFO to be too hard for many players. They anticipated that the game would seem “too hardcore” and incomplete to people.

In an initial analysis, the colleagues at GameStar have reported why the step into the niche was still bold and even the right one. We have embedded the video for you here:

Left 4 Dead – Just different?

Which games can GTFO be compared to? GTFO has the most obvious similarities with Left 4 Dead, Killing Floor, and the recently released World War Z from 2019, all of which utilize a similar level system. The game’s atmosphere is somewhat reminiscent of Dead Space.

However, the management of equipment, the limitation of resources, and the necessary communication with the team, along with the stealth gameplay, are reminiscent of Escape from Tarkov. The oppressive feeling that enemies are lurking everywhere and that you are sneaking through a level together comes quite close. Only the loot is absent.

Those who have checked out the top-down shooter Alien Swarm, released in 2010, may also find similarities with GTFO, perhaps even stronger ones. Here too, team composition, communication, and joint progress were crucial. Even the sci-fi setting aligns.

GTFO is worth it for you if …

… you are looking for a harder version of Left 4 Dead and similar games.
… you are fans of horror survival and sci-fi.
… you enjoy playing coop with friends and want a challenge.
… you have a high frustration tolerance and like to earn your successes the hard way.
… you want influences from Dead Space, Escape from Tarkov, and Alien Swarm packaged in a hardcore shooter.

Potential: Very good

I have already played and loved Alien Swarm, at least with my then group. That was one of the best coop games ever. The obvious predecessor Left 4 Dead is a worldwide success. Both games contribute the coolest elements to GTFO. That’s why I see the same potential there.

Especially since the shooter puts a strong emphasis on coop and hardcore, it has the potential to achieve a unique position in the niche. Also because GTFO makes bold decisions and regularly replaces old content with new.