Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance
Released Feb 2024
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is not just a game; it's an adrenaline-fueled journey where your strategic prowess decides the fate of mankind against the machines. After the machines took over, the greatest threats may not come from the machines but rather from other human survivors.
82% positive · 4,535 reviews
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Where to buy
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Evaluation
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance launched on February 21, 2024 and has received sustained post-launch support. Two major story DLCs have already shipped: We Are Legion (December 10, 2024) and Uprising (July 29, 2025). A third paid expansion, Evolution, was announced on December 9, 2025, listed on the store as unreleased, and is now confirmed to release on September 22, 2026 — the developer revealed this date in a September 1, 2026 dev diary post while the DLC was in closed beta.
Beyond Evolution, the same September 1, 2026 developer post revealed that a fourth campaign DLC is already in production and is targeting a 2027 release. A map editing and modding tool is also planned to arrive before that DLC. This means players can expect continued content well past the Evolution launch. Anyone waiting for the complete content experience should hold off for now.
Evidence
Dev Diary #3 confirms Evolution DLC releases on September 22, 2026 and is currently in closed beta. The developer also reveals a fourth campaign DLC is already in production targeting 2027, and a map editing/modding tool is planned before that DLC ships.
Developer announced Evolution DLC is coming in September 2026 and opened beta sign-ups for the community.
Content
4 of 4 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Slitherine Ltd.
Achievements
93
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP
About this game
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is a real-time strategy game based on the Terminator: Dark Fate universe that follows the war between humanity and Legion's synthetic intelligent machine network.
In the single-player campaign, you take the role of a commander in the Founders, a force made up of the remnants of the US military and guide your army in an attempt to foil Legion's plan to exterminate the last remnants of humanity. In skirmish and multiplayer modes, play as three very diverse factions: Founders, Movement and Legion.
Take control of an army carried over from mission to mission on a series of large strategic maps. Make decisions about unit placement, battle tactics and abilities so that you don’t just survive but can become the leader of the resistance against the machines. Hone your skills and military expertise by replaying and achieving the best possible outcomes.
Dynamic battlefields: realistic tactics and consequences
Engage in complex, realistic battles where your tactical decisions are vital to your survival and ultimate victory. Use a variety of military equipment, vehicles and ammunition types in your battles against the enemy. Recruit and train new units, assign new skills and acquire new weapons and equipment to continue the resistance.
Encounter tense battles. Your battlefield tactics and choices have deep consequences that will impact through the campaign, with other factions and characters either joining you or fighting against you, and with certain missions being available or not depending on your actions.
Your resources are limited and you must protect your army. Weapons of war receive damage through a modular component damage system where armour characteristics, component malfunctions and hull structure all affect if your troops survive.
Lead the survival of mankind
Recruit others to your cause and grow your army. Mix and match the composition of your troops to fit your preferred battle tactics. Use infantry units, heavy armoured military vehicles, plasma cannon technology, drones and other flying units and even human skirmishers to achieve victory.
Use the battlefield to your advantage! Physics-based building demolition lets you generate a realistic set of tactical consequences, especially in urban areas.
Multiplayer Mayhem: Skirmish and Online Battles
The excitement amplifies in skirmish and multiplayer modes, where you can play as three distinct factions: Founders, Movement, and Legion.
Engage in epic battles across vast strategic landscapes, testing your skills and military expertise. Every decision matters, impacting alliances, missions, and the overall survival of mankind.
Challenge your skills in skirmish and online multiplayer matches, facing off against AI or real-life human opponents in intense 1v1 and 2v2 battles.
Last evaluated Sep 9, 2026
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