Natural Selection 2
Released Oct 2012
A fast paced multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival!
85% positive · 13K reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $4.99 IndieGala Steam key $4.99
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Evaluation
Natural Selection 2 launched on October 30, 2012 and received over 117 updates across more than a decade. On February 14, 2023, Unknown Worlds Entertainment published an official statement confirming that active development of the game has ended. The studio expressed gratitude to the community, noted the 10-year milestone, and indicated the team would be moving on to other projects. The developer committed to keeping matched play servers running so players can continue to find games, but was explicit that no further development work on the game is planned. All 10 DLC packs in the store listing are released, with the most recent having shipped in November 2019. The developer's own statement is the definitive word on the game's status: it is a complete, finished product.
Evidence
Unknown Worlds Entertainment officially announced that active development of Natural Selection 2 has ended after 10 years and 117+ updates, with the team moving on to other projects. Matched play servers will remain hosted for the community.
Matched Play v1.0 released — the final major update to the game, shipping improved regional servers, overhauled bots, and a new official map (AYUMI).
Content
10 of 10 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Achievements
137
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Multiplayer · PvP
About this game
Natural Selection 2 pits alien against human in an action-packed struggle for survival. Wield devastating weaponry as a Frontiersman marine, or become the xenomorph as a deadly Kharaa lifeform.
Strategy Meets Shooter
Natural Selection 2 is a First Person Shooter and Real Time Stategy game rolled into one! Each team, alien and human, has a Commander. The Commander looks down on the battlefield and issues orders, places structures, collects resources, researches technology, and deploys abilities.
Here are some gameplay examples: A human Commander could drop health packs and ammunition to a trapped marine squad, and deploy sentry guns to help them defend their position. Or an alien Commander could grow a new Hive to spread infestation throughout newly captured territory, allowing more alien eggs to spawn...
Two Unique Sides
Aliens players choose to evolve into one of five lifeforms: The fast, fearsome Skulk can run on walls and deliver massive damage with its jaws. Lerks fly and deploy gasses to support their teammates in battle. Gorges heal other lifeforms and build tunnels, hydra turrets, walls, and other tactical structures. Fades blink in and out of battle, picking off marines with giant scythes. Finally, the giant Onos is so massive and so tough, that even entire marine squads can't take it down.
Marines wield rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, pistols, and other weapons. Cluster grenades can clear ventilation shafts of sneaky Skulks, flamethrowers make short work of alien structures and infestation, and boosts dropped by the Commander increase combat effectiveness.
When attacking on foot doesn't cut it, marines can construct hulking Exosuits wielding miniguns and railguns, and equip jetpacks for high speed assaults on alien Hives.
Long Term Development
Natural Selection 2 receives constant updates. This year, 2019, Unknown Worlds continues to develop new features, content, and improvements.
Mod Tools Come Standard
Natural Selection 2 comes with all the tools we used to make the game. All game code is open source. That means you can create, and play, an endless variety of mods. Publish, share, and download mods from the Steam Workshop, and automatically download mods when you join modded games.
Digital Deluxe Edition
Digital Deluxe Edition includes:
- Official Soundtrack - 1 hour of tribal, industrial music composed by David John and Simon Chylinski
- Digital Art Book - 40+ pages of art by Cory Strader, including environments, creatures, weapons and more
- Exclusive in-game marine model - Exclusive in-game marine model - A new marine model with custom visor and armor plating
- Exclusive Wallpapers and Avatars - Unique views of the NS2 universe by Amanda Diaz
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 28, 2026
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