It's been out for a little while now, and available to play on PC and Console as part of Xbox Game Pass. The co-op zombie shooter (psst. they're called Ridden here) from developer Turtle Rock, the same studio behind the original Left 4 Dead. Using that as a foundation you'd think this would be a can't lose. Well... it's not great.

Which we found out in our review.

Getting a moment to catch your breath, to take stock of your surroundings, to explore whilst expecting something might happen. These are all variations of the same thing. The act of building up tension... and then letting it subside. The quiet before the storm. There's an art to it, a style; the panic, the dramatic tweaking of the player's nerves and expectations. The surprise.

Back 4 Blood doesn’t have any of these qualities, at least not in a way that makes the action feel like anything more than the same thing over and over and over. A title with roots in the horror genre should be aware of pacing.

Shooting the undead (or ‘Ridden’ in the case of Turtle Rock’s Back 4 Blood) is an exercise in repetition, that much has always been true. The “over and over and over” here is in reference to the action lacking meaningful variation. Even when Corruption Cards and the so-called Game Director spice things up in ways the original Left 4 Dead didn’t advertise -- you’ll barely notice any difference outside of maybe some (admittedly good looking) fog or that the regular zombies look like they’re wearing glow-in-the-dark Stackhats.

Our Full Back 4 Blood Review

It's Back 4 Blood day everyone. Turtle Rock Studios' development return to the formula it created with the Left 4 Dead series is now available in cross-play form for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

We're in the midst of reviewing, so stay tuned for our official thoughts soon, but if you're not the sort that makes purchase decisions based on the review method, the game is available from today.

Here's the official word (there's actually a bit in this):

Warner Bros. Games today announced that Back 4 Blood, a new first-person cooperative zombie shooter, is now available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and PC, with cross-play and cross-generation support across all launch platforms. Back 4 Blood is also available now with Xbox Game Pass via Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, Windows PCs and mobile devices through Cloud Gaming (Beta) with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. As an Xbox Play Anywhere title for both Xbox and Windows PC, Back 4 Blood owners are entitled to both Xbox and Windows PC versions with shared saves, game add-ons and achievements. Additionally, owners of Back 4 Blood on PS4™ will have access to the game on PS5™ at no extra cost.

Developed by Turtle Rock Studios, the award-winning creators of the fan-favourite Left 4 Dead franchise, Back 4 Blood combines a dynamic co-op campaign with thrilling moment-to-moment gameplay and near endless replayability that can be played with up to four friends online. The game also features a unique take on competitive, team-based strategy through the game’s PvP (Player vs. Player) Swarm mode. The Back 4 Blood campaign takes place after a catastrophic outbreak where most of humanity has either been killed or infected by a parasitic Devil Worm. Gamers can play as apocalypse veterans called Cleaners, a group of spirited zombie slayers, as they take on the infected horrors known as the Ridden in their effort to reclaim the world.

“We are thrilled to launch Back 4 Blood and partner with the talented team at Turtle Rock Studios to bring gamers an exciting new experience in the co-op zombie shooter genre,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “Back 4 Blood gives players action packed gameplay with different competitive encounters that we feel fans will really have fun playing.”

“Back 4 Blood encapsulates all of the hard work by the entire Turtle Rock Studios team to deliver a brand-new, best-in-class zombie shooter,” said Chris Ashton, Co-Founder and Design Director, Turtle Rock Studios. “This is the game we envisioned for our passionate and dedicated community, and we are proud to finally see it realised for our fans to enjoy.”

Back 4 Blood features a diverse cast of eight playable characters making up the Ridden slaying crew known as the Cleaners, including Holly, Walker, Doc, Karlee, Jim, Hoffman, Evangelo and Mom. Each Cleaner has their own in-game perks and secondary weapon to complement their distinct personalities, as they take on countless Ridden variants throughout the fight, from towering Tallboys, beastly Breakers and grotesque Ogres to screeching Snitches, ravenous Hags and many more.

Back 4 Blood utilises the innovative Card System, a new rogue-lite component that enhances the experience with each playthrough, ensuring that every gameplay session feels unique. Players can easily dive into the Card System’s vast customisation options to create their own fully personalised deck of cards to combat the adaptive A.I. known as the Game Director, which monitors actions behind-the-scenes and responds accordingly by adding obstacles such as special Ridden mutations through Card System modifiers known as Corruption Cards. Players can change up the gameplay by utilising specific cards to strategise against the Game Director, from amplifying equipment to reloading weapons, as they take on hordes of enemies in their path.

Swarm mode in Back 4 Blood accompanies the game’s cooperative campaign elements with more gut-wrenching action and a new twist on PvP gameplay. Two squads of four can face off against each other in a best-of-three series of rounds as teams swap between playing as the Cleaners and the Ridden. Points are then awarded based on how long the Cleaners can stay alive and endure Ridden attacks, with the team that clocks the most time winning the match. While playing from the Ridden perspective, gamers can choose from nine Ridden types, each with different characteristics that can be upgraded with enhancements called mutations and then used collectively to aid the team and help turn the tide as the match progresses.

Check out the game's launch trailer embedded below, and stay tuned for our full review.

With is a post-apocalyptic world where the Ridden (see: zombies) have overrun society Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to classic co-op action of Left 4 Dead. Recently we had the chance to go hands-on with the game (check out our full preview here) and with its new cards as perks system and hub/base it definitely brings the series into the modern era.

Here's the campaign trailer -- which also features some blasting-zombies gameplay -- which introduces the Cleaners.

Motivated by their fearless leader known as “Mom,” who is used to bucking authority and has never shirked from a challenge, the Cleaners are a beacon of hope in humanity’s fight against the Devil Worm infested zombies. Mankind stands on the precipice of extinction against the infected hordes that now roam the earth. Only the Cleaners can hold back the tides of the infected and rally those willing to fight and reclaim what was theirs.

Back 4 Blood is out for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 12. It's also headed to Xbox Game Pass on day one.

Turtle Rock, the studio behind the original Left 4 Dead is back with what is for all intents and purposes a spiritual successor to the co-op action-survival hit. Albeit, one that feels every bit like a game from 2021 - for better or worse. We went hands on with the Beta to bring you our impressions.

And some sweet 4K 60fps gameplay.

A lot of Back 4 Blood’s design feels modern. Which is a good thing. Other times it can feel as if things were changed just to change them -- like making Safe Rooms devoid of free fill-er-up goodies. Stocking filler stuff like fresh medpacks for everyone and crates full of ammo. Lore-wise there’s the strangeness of no one saying the z-word, they’re The Ridden you see. Then there’s the good stuff, playable characters that not only look diverse but act as classes. Each featuring their own abilities and team passives like extra health or movement speed. Very cool, and kind of expected given we’re now in the Age of the RPG-Stat.

Throw in a setting that’s “10 Years Later” or some such, there’s a hub area/town of survivors that doubles as a place to train, customise, shop, launch a campaign run, or dabble in some PVP.

The class-like setup of characters you control also results in different starting weapons, and cards. Yeah, cards. Back 4 Blood’s card system is integral to both the variety you’ll find in terms of modifiers or mutators, but also for the bonuses and abilities you can take into a run or PVP encounter. Draw a bunch of cards from a deck and then choose a couple, like say, extra life or ammo.

Our Full Back 4 Blood Preview - We Go Hands-On with PVP and PVE

And it's glorious.

Going back to what it knows best, Turtle Rock's spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead series, Back 4 Blood, is absolutely everything you could want from the undead brief at hand: Zombies. New types of zombies. Interesting player-characters (including undead). Weapons. And tight, mob-focused swarm-slash-horde combat. And it's not far off either, with an open-beta taking place in August, something the studio is celebrating today with a new trailer and a few open beta tidbits of information you can watch and learn after the jump.

Take it away, publisher Koch Media:

The Open Beta will feature the all-new PvP mode, “Swarm,” where two squads of four face off in a best-of-three series of rounds swapping between playing as the Cleaners and the Ridden, as well as additional campaign content.

The Open Beta will begin with an Early Access portion from Aug. 6-10 for those who pre-order the game. Players can also register at Back4Blood.com/Beta for a chance to get into the Early Access portion (be quick, codes are limited so access isn't guaranteed - Ed.). The Open Beta will continue from Aug. 13-17 and be available for all players. Both Open Beta portions will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Consoles, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC.

The Back 4 Blood Open Beta will feature the following content:

• Two maps for the “Swarm” PvP mode
  
• Two co-op maps to fight off Ridden with your friends
  
• Play as Mom for the first time, as well as other Cleaners: Evangelo, Holly, Walker and Hoffman
  
• Play as six different Ridden variants in “Swarm,” including the Bruiser, Retch, Hocker, Exploder, Crusher and Stinger
  
• Various weapons to check out, cards to build decks and Ridden to slay
  
• Explore the Fort Hope communal hub

Check out the trailer embedded below and hit the link above to sign up for the beta.

With the more being the always welcome UltraWide support for displays and full customisation options. With the Left 4 Dead spiritual successor that is Back 4 Blood headed to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC it's always great to see the latter get some special attention.

And with the Back 4 Blood Open Beta running from August 13-17 (an Early Access preview for pre-orders will run from August 6-10) it's going to feature both cross-play and cross-gen support. Very cool.

Here's the PC trailer from Warner Bros. Games and Turtle Rock Studios.

Back 4 Blood is a first-person co-op zombie shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise and features thrilling, dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay and highly variable, customisable action to keep players coming back for more. The Back 4 Blood story takes place after a catastrophic outbreak where most of humanity has either been killed or infected by the parasitic Devil Worm. Hardened by unspeakable events and emboldened to fight for the last of humanity, a group of apocalypse veterans called the Cleaners have rallied to take on the infected horrors known as the Ridden and reclaim the world.

Features available in Back 4 Blood while played on PC, include:

• 4K Resolution
  
• Uncapped Framerate
  
• NVIDIA DLSS
  
• Ultrawide and Multi-monitor Support
  
• Cross-play
  
• Multiple Quality Customization Options

Back 4 Blood's full release proper is slated for October 12.

The Left 4 Dead spiritual successor that is developer Turtle Rock's Back 4 Blood is on track for a full release later this year. And based on everything we've seen so far it definitely lives up to that premise. With the Open Beta set to kick off on August 6... we're all on the cusp of checking it out in full.

The announcement arrived, you guessed it, as a part of Summer Game Fest.

Back 4 Blood is a first-person co-op zombie shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise and features thrilling, dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay and highly variable, customisable action to keep players coming back for more. The Back 4 Blood story takes place after a catastrophic outbreak where most of humanity has either been killed or infected by the parasitic Devil Worm. Hardened by unspeakable events and emboldened to fight for the last of humanity, a group of apocalypse veterans called the Cleaners have rallied to take on the infected horrors known as the Ridden and reclaim the world.

The Back 4 Blood Open Beta will begin with Early Access from August 6-10 for those who pre-order, which will then open up to all from August 13-17.

Back 4 Blood is out for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 12, 2021.

Turtle Rock's Back 4 Blood is really shaping up to be the game the studio needed to put the unfortunately failed Evolve behind them (it's failure wasn't TR's fault, mind), and emerge triumphant once more as a studio that knows what it'd doing. And today's trailer, which features a quick look at B4B's colourful cast of characters, alive and undead, is proof of that in blood-covered spades.

Here's a quick official rundown of the cast of "Cleaners" you'll see in the trailer:

• Holly – After losing her family to the Devil Worm, Holly Forrester learned to channel all her energy into being a Cleaner and is known as the glue that keeps the team together. Armed with her trusty nail spiked baseball bat she affectionately calls “Dottie,” Holly’s resilience and never-say-die attitude helps boost the team's morale and is often seen as a ray of light in the darkness of the apocalypse.
  
  
• Walker – The oldest of five siblings, Elijah Walker was born in Evansburgh to a hardworking, blue collar family. The former Army Ranger and war-torn veteran is highly skilled with a wealth of front-line combat experience. Walker is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he commands the attention of his fellow Cleaners, who all respect his commitment to the fight.
  
  
• Doc – She has been instrumental in keeping Fort Hope up and running, but this is far from the life Doc expected when she first came to America. Fiercely independent, she sacrificed social life for career. It wasn’t until years later that she finally found a kindred spirit in Mom. After the Collapse, Doc’s no-nonsense attitude and pragmatic outlook served her well. Though her bedside manner can take some getting used too, no one denies she’s one hell of a doctor and a mean shot to boot.
  
  
• Karlee – Surviving on the outskirts of Fort Hope since the Collapse, Karlee only trusted in herself. No one knows much about her, and she’s fine with that. Though originally seen as a nuisance at best and a looter at worst, her actions have proved time and time again which side she’s on. Now with the Ridden on the rise, she’s made the choice to fight alongside the survivors. She may not be a Cleaner by name, but she more than makes up for it in attitude.
  
  
• Jim – Nobody knows Finleyville and the surrounding county like Jim. From an early age, he would head out into the countryside with his father, hunting and trapping with the best of them. After a stint in the military, he returned home, only to see it ravaged by the Collapse. Now he’s found his place among the most trusted cleaners. When not fighting back-to-back with his team, he’s scouring the countryside of his beloved Pennsylvania routing out the Ridden infestation.
  
  
• Hoffman – A meticulous individual, enthusiastic prepper, and conspiracy theorist. When the infection hit, he and his mother hunkered down and rode out the storm as the rest of the world fell into chaos. After his mother passed away in her sleep and his supplies ran out, he left his boarded-up house to face the world of the Devil Worm. Howard Robert Hoffman is genuinely skilled and good-hearted, with an earnest desire to be a useful part of the team. As part of the Cleaners, he’s finally come across the family that he’s always wanted – he just had to wade through the zombie apocalypse to find it.
  
  
• Evangelo – He may be the youngest and least experienced Cleaner on the team but has proven to be a quick study. Besides being good in a fight, Evangelo has established himself as a loyal and reliable member of the team. He tends to talk a lot, especially when he’s nervous, but is eager to show that he has what it takes to be a Cleaner.
  
  
• Mom Mum – The only person surprised that Mom became the voice of survivors in Finleyville was herself. She’s never shirked from a challenge and always puts the needs of others over her own. Still, for one who’s used to bucking authority, her newfound responsibility sometimes weighs uneasily on her. Although she has faith in her Cleaners, Mom has questioned other leaders’ strategies on more than one occasion, especially since the death of her son. Mom’s goal is simple, make the Ridden pay.

While the similarities between B4B and L4D as a glaring as they are glorious, we just want to point out that the Cleaner, Jim, looks suspiciously like Turtle Rock co-founder, Phil Robb who we've had the pleasure of chatting to on numerous occasions.

Watch the new trailer embedded below. Back 4 Blood releases on PC, PS4 and PS5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X this October. Stay tuned for more on B4B right here on AusGamers.