Turtle Rock Studios, a name synonymous with the highly successful Left 4 Dead series, has been a staple of multiplayer co-op shooter games for more than a decade. The studio’s rich history and unwavering focus on the genre, combined with its “vacancy” following Back 4 Blood’s closure and the ambiguous language used in recent job postings, has sparked speculation among fans.
A recently uncovered job listing on Turtle Rock’s website for a Senior Combat Designer fueled speculations. The listing has outlined the role’s responsibilities and required expertise in areas such as “combat/weapons,” “class design,” “skills,” “boss encounters,” “mission layouts,” and a love for “FPS, Co-op, and Multiplayer games.” What’s more, there’s an emphasis on applicants having experience with “first-person shooting and melee” gameplay, which aligns with a Back 4 Blood sequel, at least in theory.
However, these are general areas of expertise in the field of game development, and therefore, the project could also steer in a different direction. One possibility is that Turtle Rock might venture into a Call of Duty or Halo-like design, creating a game with both multiplayer and co-op campaign modes. The only certainty we have right now is that whatever Turtle Rock is planning, it appears to be built on the lessons learned from Back 4 Blood and is intended to be more ambitious.
Having developed Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, post-launch content for the latter, Evolve, and then Back 4 Blood, the studio’s lineage in AAA game development predominantly revolves around Left 4 Dead-esque titles. Although the studio dabbled in VR over the past decade, there is no hint of VR in the recent job listings. Therefore, a sequel that leverages insights gleaned from Back 4 Blood’s journey seems like a plausible pathway, albeit purely speculative at this point.
Back 4 Blood, billed as the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, debuted in 2021. Despite early enthusiasm, the game couldn’t replicate the kind of fervor and acclaim that accompanied Left 4 Dead’s release. Some attributed this to lofty expectations set due to the game being presented as a successor to Left 4 Dead. The lack of a versus mode was also a sticking point as it reduced the game’s replayability. However, it must be noted that Back 4 Blood, in its own right, garnered a solid fan base and was well-received in certain quarters.
Perhaps if Back 4 Blood wasn’t billed as the “Left 4 Dead 3 that never happened”, it would’ve sold better and would still be supported until now. Alas, this didn’t happen.
Back 4 Blood, though not being updated consistently, continues to provide an enjoyable gameplay experience, thanks to a “Game Director” AI that keeps things fresh. While the road ahead for Turtle Rock remains shrouded in mystery, it won’t be surprising if this job listing serves as a prelude to an exciting string of announcements in the months to come.
The bottom line is that while there’s no explicit confirmation of a Back 4 Blood sequel, the crumbs of information we have suggest that Turtle Rock will, at least, continue to craft games within its well-loved genre. This development should please the studio’s fans who are awaiting the next thrilling ride, regardless of whether it’s Back 4 Blood 2 or a new venture.
And, if you’re looking for something similar and also different, we’ve heard great things about Exoprimal, which came out on July 14.
