Hey Troopers! We’re the team at Auroch Digital, and alongside our partners at Dotemu we’re currently Doing Our Part, by creating the most realistic depiction of war ever made. Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War is releasing on PlayStation 5 on March 16 – officially endorsed by FedDev – and we also have a world first for Starship Troopers fans.

For the first time ever, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War will let you play as the enemy – the Arachnid Menace. We hope that stepping into the (many) legs of the all-new Assassin Bug will help our Troopers to understand them, and to defeat them as we throw you into fast-paced, ichor-filled combat.

Would you like to know more?

What is Bug Mode?

In Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War’s Bug Mode, you’ll take control of the Arachnids’ new ultimate weapon – The Assassin Bug. As the Assassin Bug, you’ll terrorize Federation Troopers in four expansive training scenarios, as well as a tutorial mission to understand the real danger of the Assassin Bug.

You’ll work to decimate troops and buildings, commanding your Arachnid army and taking advantage of the Assassin Bug’s three attack forms, with each of these bringing their own unique skills and abilities.

• The Warrior Form – The default state of the Assassin Bug. An agile form with razor-sharp pincers. 

• The Hopper Form – A flying Arachnid form, which can identify destructible buildings, as well as track Bug pheromone trails

• The Tanker Form – a chargeable form, we designed the Tanker to be able to deal devastating attacks including its distinctive flame spray attack

The Assassin Bug itself has been one of the most complex parts of Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War, and possibly the part which has taken the most time and effort internally to ensure it’s a balanced experience. 

In addition, getting the Assassin Bug’s larger form and flying abilities to work within maps designed for a human campaign has been another significant challenge, but one which we believe we’ve lived up to (we’re just Doing Our Part).

Why is Bug Mode?

To fight the Bug, we must understand the Bug – We can ill afford another Klendathu. We’ve been working long and hard alongside the best Federal scientists, spending countless hours analyzing Bug data to truly understand our enemy

As part of our FedDev-approved training experience, in Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War we wanted to deliver something never before seen – something which would allow Mobile Infantry Troopers to truly know how the Bugs feel on the battlefield.

So we teamed up with FedDev to deliver a cutting-edge Bug simulator – giving Troopers a unique insight into the Bug mind as they stick their claws into you and your fellow Troopers (spoiler alert – they love it).

It also provided a great and in-universe way of letting players deliver the elevated carnage that the Assassin Bug has to offer. There’s something so incredibly joyous about charging head-first into a Federation building to blast it into smithereens with the Assassin Bug, and we can’t wait for you to experience it yourself, alongside the Tanker form’s flame spray attack ability.

When is Bug Mode coming?

Bug Mode will be available for all Troopers who pick up Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War. We’ve had an incredible time working with FedDev to create Bug Mode – especially crafting those juicy sound effects and building destruction – and we can’t wait for you to deploy on March 16th.

We’re really excited for you to discover Bug Mode for yourselves, and especially the feeling of commanding your very own Bug army against the Mobile Infantry. This is a never-before-seen experience, and it’s given all of us a real God complex (which is scary considering that the Bugs are meant to be our enemies).

Where to access Bug Mode?

You’ll find Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War Landing on PlayStation 5 – with Bug Mode included from launch. We’re so proud of our S.A.S.S. (you’ll understand that, later) and we can’t wait for Troopers to dive into the Experience. 

Bug Mode will be unlocked after completing your first couple of missions, with four expansive areas to play through – as well as our Bug Mode tutorial. Our FedDev-endorsed Bug Mode is designed to help you to understand the Bug, and to defeat the Bug. We’ll keep fighting, and we’ll win.

Remember – Service guarantees Citizenship. Are you doing your part? Wishlist now, on PlayStation 5.