When it comes to the Sniper Elite series, Rebellion Developments knows what it does well - and Sniper Elite 5 is no exception. Players already familiar with the tactical shooter, set across the theaters of World War 2, can expect to use similar careful, methodical strategies in SE5’s French setting to the ones that got protagonist Karl Fairburne through SE3’s Italian countryside and SE4’s North African deserts.
Despite that well-established formula, Rebellion aimed to add a new dimension in Sniper Elite's fifth entry. SE5 introduces Axis Invasion mode, which allows players to interlope in each other’s campaign sessions as enemy snipers, using both brains and bullets to toss a wrench into Karl’s well-laid plans. Game ZXC spoke with Rebellion design lead Jordan Woodward about the new mode, and how SE5 fits into the modern shooter genre.
Sniper Elite 5’s Invasion Mode Creates New Dangers for the Player
Although SE5’s new game mode is similar in concept to some other titles’ PvP modes, the idea isn’t all that new at Rebellion, according to Woodward. “Invasion Mode is something we have been toying with for some time, and it has proven to be a real game-changer for Sniper Elite.” For starters, he said the idea that another player can join a players' session at any time changes the mood entirely. “The moment you get the notification that an invader has joined your game the tension ramps up,” Woodward said. “This has a tangible effect on your playstyle and how you approach your objectives.”
Invasion mode also adds a uniquely human element to SE5’s gameplay as players are no longer just dealing with Rebellion’s advanced, but not infallible, AI enemies. “It becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse,” Woodward said.
“No matter how clever and advanced your AI is, it is never going to react like another human being, full of their own eccentricities, tactics, and even errors.”
Woodward recounted an example of how some devs exploited that new dynamic while playtesting. During an Invasion dry run, one of the invading Rebellion team members tried to fool the opponent player by acting like an AI. “He was moving very deliberately, rather than how the average human player acts,” Woodward said. The opponent was duped into trying to sneak by what they thought was an AI enemy without raising the alarm, which allowed the invader an easy kill. Now that SE5 is properly released, Woodward said that Rebellion has seen players use Invasion mode in a similar way.
Rebellion is Happy with Sniper Elite 5’s ‘Tactical Shooter’ Niche
Although SE5’s Invasion mode seeks to add more spice to the series’ tried-and-true formula, it’s not as if Rebellion is trying to push Sniper Elite away from its roots, Woodward said. “I would say that the Sniper Elite series sits within that ‘tactical’ niche of shooters, and we are very comfortable there.”
SE5 is still a lot like its predecessors in the sense that it encourages players to “observe, plan, and execute” missions rather than simply going in guns blazing, Woodward said. While he acknowledged there “are a lot of amazing shooters out on the market” with a variety of gameplay experiences and pacing styles, he focused on what SE5 in particular offers players.
“We want to offer the player choice,” he said. SE5 aims to give players the freedom to pick not only weapons and attachments, but also to choose routes and side missions, making other playstyle decisions that will affect how each player interacts with the game world.
“We have concentrated on making the best Sniper Elite game possible, playing to our strengths and the strengths of the series. Hopefully, we have achieved that.”
So far, players have responded positively to Rebellion’s desire to remain true to form, Woodward said. “The reception has been fantastic, and we are delighted to see so many people playing and enjoying the game.”
Sniper Elite 5 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
