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Rogue Company
Rogue Company
from Wikipedia
Rogue Company
DeveloperFirst Watch Games
PublisherHi-Rez Studios
ComposerRun the Jewels
EngineUnreal Engine 4[1]
Platforms
Release
  • June 9, 2022
  • iOS, Android
  • TBA
GenresThird-person shooter, tactical shooter, hero shooter
ModeMultiplayer

Rogue Company is a free-to-play multiplayer tactical third-person hero shooter video game developed by First Watch Games and published by Hi-Rez Studios. The game was released in open beta on October 1, 2020 for Microsoft Windows via the Epic Games Store, Steam, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch,[2][3] with an Xbox Series X/S release following on November 25, 2020,[4] and a PlayStation 5 release on March 30, 2021.[5] The game features full support for cross-platform play and cross-progression.[6] The game takes inspiration from the Counter-Strike series of tactical shooters. The game came out of beta on June 9, 2022.[7]

The Nintendo Switch version of the game shut down on June 20, 2023.[8]

Gameplay

[edit]

Rogue Company features a range of playable characters, referred to as Rogues.[9] There are 26 playable Rogues in Rogue Company. The game features objective-based game modes and various maps.[10] Matches consist of multiple rounds, with each round usually beginning with both teams skydiving from aircraft to the map below to compete against each other in various objectives. Between rounds players may use money earned from completing tasks and eliminating players in the previous round to buy and upgrade weapons, equipment and perks.

A number of game modes have been revealed: Extraction is a 4v4 game mode, where the attacking team is tasked with hacking an objective; the winner of a round is determined once the objective is hacked or all players on a team have been eliminated. Strikeout is a variation of Extraction in which players are able to respawn after being eliminated, with each team having a limited number of respawns each round. In this mode, victory must be achieved via killing enemies until they have no respawns left. This can be more easily achieved by hacking the objective, an area rather than a box. Demolition is a 4v4 mode in which one team must plant a bomb within a time limit. Wingman is a 2v2 game mode, basically the game mode Strikeout but with less respawns and teams of two.

Development

[edit]

Rogue Company was announced on September 5, 2019.[11] Following the initial video announcement, it was revealed that Rogue Company would be an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC.[12] On November 15, 2019, First Watch Games released a insights video highlighting various aspects of the game and members of the development team.[13] A number of Rogues were announced for Rogue Company prior to release, including Anvil, who can place down a barricade, Lancer, an assassin who can silence her footsteps, Gl1tch, who can detect nearby enemy equipment, Chaac (originally Phoenix), who wields a personal Stim Pack, and Trench, who places down barbed wire traps that slow enemies and disable their dodges.[14]

After a limited public alpha testing phase, the game entered an early access closed beta phase on July 20, 2020 ahead of its intended wide release later in 2020, with players gaining access by purchasing a Founder's Pack or receiving an invite code.[15] During the beta, the game attracted two million players.[16][17][18]

In September 2020, Hi-Rez collaborated with 100 Thieves to add a collection of 100 Thieves-branded character outfits and weapon skins into Rogue Company.[19] In October 2020, Dr Disrespect worked with Hi-Rez to add a custom map, designed by Dr Disrespect, and a Dr Disrespect character skin.[20] In July 2024, all Dr Disrespect content was removed from the game following the revelation that he had communicated inappropriately with a minor in 2017.[21] Also in October 2020, Hi-Rez reported that Rogue Company hit 8 million players.[22]

The game's main menu music was composed by Run the Jewels.[23]

Reception

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The Windows version of Rogue Company received "generally favorable reviews" from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Various journalists were able to play an alpha version of the game at DreamHack Atlanta in November 2019. Philippa Warr described the game to PC Gamer as "Hi-Rez's grungy take on a co-op PVP shooter".[10] Rectify Gaming stated, "Fully aware of the game still in the alpha phase of development, the build was an impressive show nonetheless."[27]

Gamereactor rated the game 7/10, saying "The title has simple enough mechanics, tight, great feeling gunplay and characters unique enough to keep the gameplay feeling fresh. Sure, it isn't without its flaws, but for a title that is looking to be around for the long run, Rogue Company is definitely showing early signs of what could be greatness".[28] Screen Rant gave the game 3/5 stars, indicating "Rogue Company has grown into a fun third-person shooter that's fun with the right group, but it's not one that will hook players for the long haul".[29] PC Gamer praised the playable characters and the game mechanics, stating "The carefree and casual nature of Rogue Company is a nice palette cleanser from more tense, tactical FPSes".[30] Zack Zwiezen of Kotaku compared the game to Rainbow Six Siege and Fortnite, calling it "fine" and indicating "While Rogue Company isn’t very remarkable or exciting, it is genuinely well made".[31]

In December 2020, the studio announced that the game reached 15 million players.[32][33]

Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rogue Company is a third-person tactical action shooter developed by First Watch Games, a studio under , and published by . Released on September 30, 2020, initially for Microsoft Windows via the , , , and , with Xbox Series X/S support added on November 25, 2020, and on March 30, 2021, it later became available on in July 2021. The game centers on multiplayer team-based gameplay, where players select from a roster of unique operatives known as Rogues—each with specialized abilities, gadgets, and weapons—to engage in objective-driven matches across exotic locales. Built on Unreal Engine 4, Rogue Company features 4v4 and 6v6 modes such as (bomb defusal), (elimination rounds), and (area control), emphasizing strategy, precision, and high-stakes action in short, intense sessions. It supports full and progression, allowing seamless multiplayer across PC, consoles, and , which has contributed to its accessibility and community growth. Since launch, the title has amassed over 20 million players, with updates that introduced new Rogues, weapons like sniper rifles and katanas, and limited-time events to maintain engagement in its hero-shooter format. Development on the game ended in February 2025.

Gameplay

Core mechanics

Rogue Company is a third-person where players control elite operatives known as Rogues in team-based matches emphasizing objective completion over pure kill counts. Matches typically feature 4v4 team compositions, with two teams of four players each competing to achieve mission goals such as planting or defusing explosives or capturing control points, fostering strategic coordination and positioning rather than individual . The core combat revolves around a third-person perspective that allows for precise aiming over the shoulder while utilizing environmental cover for tactical advantage, including destructible elements that players can break to create new lines of sight or escape routes. Movement is fluid and responsive, enabling actions like sliding, vaulting, and sprinting to navigate maps dynamically, with players often starting rounds by skydiving from to select drop points. Shooting mechanics prioritize accurate gunplay with a variety of primary and secondary weapons, where patterns and weapon handling encourage deliberate engagements from cover rather than run-and-gun chaos. Integrated into the combat flow are gadgets, such as grenades or utility devices, which provide tactical options like area denial or , purchasable and upgradable between rounds to adapt to evolving situations. Perks offer passive bonuses and enhancements, such as increased regeneration or faster reloads, selected to complement team strategies and purchased via in-match . options, including knives or improvised weapons, serve as close-quarters alternatives for silent takedowns or finishing weakened foes, adding versatility to engagements without primary firearms. The game supports full across PC, PlayStation, , and , allowing seamless matchmaking and progression sharing among console and PC players.

Rogues and loadouts

Rogue Company is a that emphasizes team composition through its roster of unique playable characters called Rogues. At its peak, the game featured 25 Rogues, each designed with specialized kits to encourage strategic role-based play. As of the last updates in 2023, the roster and maps remain at these levels, with no further additions. Rogues are categorized into distinct roles that define their playstyle and team utility. Duelists, such as Ronin, focus on aggressive, close-quarters combat and mobility, often equipped with fast-firing weapons and melee options like Ronin's for quick engagements. Breachers, exemplified by Dima, excel at disrupting enemy defenses and initiating pushes, utilizing tools like breaching charges to clear obstacles or flush out opponents. Defenders, including and , prioritize area control and protection, deploying gadgets such as or repair tools to fortify positions. Supports, like , provide team sustain through capabilities, such as Saint's drone that restores health to nearby allies. Additional roles include for , with certain Rogues like Phantom excelling in long-range precision within their kits, ensuring balanced team setups across matches. Each Rogue's consists of fixed core elements tailored to their , including two primary weapons from different classes (e.g., assault rifles or SMGs), one secondary weapon (typically a or ), a option, and two gadgets—one utility and one lethal. They also possess a passive that offers constant benefits, such as increased movement speed or damage resistance, and an active perk that can be activated for temporary boosts like faster reloads or evasion. For instance, Phantom () includes primary options like the SL-C and NLR-B , active Nano Smoke (reveals enemies in smoke), passive Grievous Wounds (delays enemy health regeneration), and gadgets such as Sticky Sensor and . These elements promote role fidelity while allowing some flexibility. Loadout customization is limited to selecting between the available primary weapons, gadgets, and perks, with abilities remaining fixed to preserve each Rogue's identity. This design prevents over-customization that could blur role distinctions, encouraging players to master specific kits rather than generic builds. Over the game's lifespan, developers implemented balance changes via patches to address overpowered elements and refine gameplay. For example, early updates adjusted Rogue abilities and perks to curb dominance in competitive play, including nerfs to high-mobility tools and duration-based effects like cloaking mechanics to promote fairer engagements. These iterations, detailed in official patch notes, ensured evolving meta without altering core loadout structures.

Game modes and maps

Rogue Company offers a variety of objective-based multiplayer modes designed to promote and strategic play in 4v4 or formats. The core modes consist of , Extraction, and , each emphasizing different tactical priorities. is a 4v4 competitive mode similar to classic plant-and-defuse scenarios, where attackers must plant a at one of two sites while defenders prevent it, with teams switching roles upon round completion; the first team to win five rounds claims victory. Extraction pits 4v4 teams against each other to locate and secure up to three briefcases scattered across the , then escort them to an extraction , with the team extracting the most briefcases after a winning the match. is a 4v4 elimination mode structured in multiple rounds, where teams share a pool of 12 tickets per round, respawning until tickets are depleted by deaths or objective failure; the first team to win three rounds triumphs. Beyond the core offerings, players can access ranked variants of these modes, which feature and progression systems for competitive ladder climbing. Custom games enable private matches with adjustable settings, such as player counts and mode modifications, ideal for organized play or practice. Limited-time events introduce rotating modes like , a respawn-based objective game where teams compete to capture and hold a moving control point for the longest duration to score points and reach the target first. The game's maps provide diverse environmental challenges that influence mode dynamics and encourage adaptive tactics, with 14 maps available at its peak following post-launch expansions from an initial eight at open beta release in October 2020. High Castle, set on multi-level rooftops in an Italian urban locale, promotes vertical movement and elevated positioning for flanking routes. , a prison facility map, features long sightlines for cover fire alongside tight interior corridors for close-quarters ambushes during breakouts. Hollows, an underground secret base carved into a Southeast Asian cavern, emphasizes verticality through layered platforms and chokepoints around a central launch silo. Other notable environments include the close-quarters apartment layouts of and the sprawling industrial desert complex of , each with variants tailored to specific modes like sites or Extraction points. Rogue abilities, such as mobility gadgets, often align with these layouts to enable map-specific maneuvers like rooftop grapples on High Castle.

Development

Conception and announcement

First Watch Games, a of , was founded in 2018 specifically to develop Rogue Company, marking Hi-Rez's dedicated push into the genre. The studio assembled a team of veteran developers drawn from prominent studios including , Daybreak, , and Vicarious Visions, with leadership roles filled by experts like Scott Lussier, a former Halo world champion serving as lead designer, to emphasize competitive gameplay design. The initial concept for Rogue Company centered on elite, realistic mercenaries operating as a private organization taking on high-stakes missions in iconic global locations, blending tactical team-based combat with customizable loadouts for weapons and gadgets. This vision drew inspiration from established titles such as Rainbow Six Siege for its tactical depth, for hero-based abilities, and for cover-shooting mechanics, positioning the game as a third-person in a near-future setting focused on and evolving live-service content. Rogue Company was publicly announced by on September 5, 2019, via a highlighting its PvP-focused modes and roster, with alpha sign-ups opening immediately to gather player feedback for refinement. The reveal emphasized the game's commitment to accessibility, allowing players to drop into matches mid-round and upgrade gear using in-game earnings, setting the stage for its 2020 launch across PC, , , and .

Pre-release testing

Rogue Company's pre-release testing began with a closed alpha phase in late 2019, allowing select players on PC, , and to test early builds of the game. This phase focused on core gameplay mechanics and featured a limited roster of playable characters known as Rogues, along with initial maps to evaluate multiplayer dynamics. Feedback from alpha testers helped refine basic systems, setting the stage for more expansive testing. The closed beta launched on July 20, 2020, exclusively on PC via the , , , and , requiring purchase of Founder's Packs for access. It included six free Rogues—such as Ronin, , and Dima—each with unique abilities, gadgets, and perks, and four maps including High Castle, , Foundation, and Wallbang, supporting 4v4 modes like . This phase emphasized stability and player progression systems, with cross-progression enabled across platforms. Key player feedback during the closed beta highlighted issues with , leading to improvements in hit registration and synchronization to reduce desync problems, such as those affecting abilities like Gl1tch's hack. To combat , the developers integrated Easy Anti-Cheat, enhancing detection and security measures early in testing. Iterative updates addressed these concerns, including patches for ability desyncs and server stability. Balancing adjustments were made to initial Rogue kits based on community input, tweaking weapon handling, ability cooldowns, and perk effectiveness to promote fair play—for instance, refining overpowered gadgets on characters like Phantom. Voice chat functionality was also introduced and refined during this period, with fixes for connection issues ensuring reliable squad communication. These changes were rolled out through multiple hotfixes, culminating in the beta's conclusion on September 30, 2020. The open beta commenced on October 1, 2020, transitioning to a model and allowing broader access without requiring Founder's Packs, with full cross-play already enabled across all platforms including . This phase incorporated prior feedback to broaden accessibility, allowing a wider audience to test refined mechanics ahead of the full launch.

Release and updates

Launch details

Rogue Company was fully released as a on October 1, 2020, available on PC via the , , , and . Support for was added on November 25, 2020, and on March 30, 2021. The game supported full cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms from day one, allowing players to team up regardless of their chosen system. At launch, the game offered a roster of 12 playable rogues, including , , , Dima, Lancer, Phantom, Ronin, , Scorch, Talon, , and , each with unique abilities, perks, and loadouts tailored to different playstyles such as breaching, support, and reconnaissance. The initial content also included 10 maps set in diverse locations like urban environments, industrial sites, and high-tech facilities, designed to support varied tactical approaches. Three core game modes were available: , a bomb-planting objective mode; , a best-of-five round elimination format; and Extraction, focused on securing and escaping with an objective. The launch was supported by an aggressive marketing push, featuring Twitch drops that rewarded viewers of participating streams with in-game cosmetics and , alongside partnerships with influencers to showcase and build community hype. These efforts helped drive initial player engagement during the rollout. Immediately following launch, a day-one patch was deployed to fix critical bugs, with a primary focus on improving server stability and reducing lag during peak playing hours, ensuring smoother multiplayer experiences for the growing player base.

Seasons and content additions

Rogue Company introduced a seasonal content model shortly after its launch, dividing post-release updates into themed seasons that typically lasted 50 to 90 days each. These seasons delivered new rogues, maps, weapons, game modes, and cosmetics, alongside the debut of the system in Season 1. The provided players with tiered rewards, including exclusive skins, emotes, rogue unlocks, and XP boosts, earned through gameplay progression. The game featured 12 seasons from 2021 to mid-2023, beginning with Season 1 in January 2021, which added the rogue , new weapons like the SL-C , and the initial . Subsequent seasons built on this foundation: Season 2 launched in May 2021, introducing the rogue Mack and balance adjustments to core mechanics; Season 3 arrived in August 2021, coinciding with the release of the map and further rewards. Season 4 in November 2021 expanded the roster with additional cosmetics and a new map, emphasizing thematic events around holidays. Seasons 5 through 8 in 2022 continued the pattern, incorporating and luxury themes with rogue enhancements, limited-time modes, and ongoing iterations that unlocked variants for existing characters. Season 9, titled "Mayhem," ran from December 2022 to February 2023, focusing on cosmetic bundles and event passes without introducing new rogues or maps. Season 10 (February to April 2023) and Season 11 (April 2023 onward) added further and balance changes, while Season 12 (June 2023) introduced the "Virtual Horizons" with themed rewards. In July 2021, the game became available on , expanding its PC player base. A major Year 2 revamp in February 2022 overhauled the ranked mode by adding to competitive queues, improving matchmaking via Project Saint updates, and debuting the Meltdown map set in an research facility. This update also enhanced mastery challenges and progression to encourage deeper player engagement. No new seasons have been released since mid-2023, with content additions limited to minor balance tweaks and event passes. As of November 2025, the game continues to receive maintenance updates and hosts community events, such as the in November 2025, maintaining a dedicated player base without major expansions.

Business and monetization

Free-to-play model

Rogue Company employs a model that eliminates any upfront purchase requirement, enabling players to access the full game experience immediately upon download across supported platforms. Core gameplay elements, such as Rogues, game modes, and maps, are progressively unlocked through earned , a currency accumulated by playing matches, completing objectives, and achieving performance milestones, ensuring accessibility without financial barriers. Rogues can also be unlocked using Rogue Bucks to accelerate the process, though a free path via is always available. Rogue Bucks, the premium currency, can be obtained in limited quantities via in-game activities or purchased outright to accelerate the unlocking process for Rogues and other content, though the base progression remains viable solely through gameplay. This structure prioritizes skill-based advancement, where player performance directly influences gains, while monetization focuses primarily on optional like skins and emotes to incentivize spending without impacting competitive balance. Cross-progression is facilitated by linking player accounts through services, allowing seamless transfer of unlocks, , and most progress between platforms such as PC, PlayStation, , and .

Microtransactions

Rogue Company employs a system centered around Rogue Bucks, the premium in-game purchased with real and used to acquire and other content. Bundles of Rogue Bucks are available in various denominations, ranging from 500 Bucks for $4.99 to 13,500 Bucks for $99.99, providing options from approximately $5 to $100 depending on the package size. The premium tier costs 1,000 Rogue Bucks, equivalent to about $10, unlocking additional rewards beyond the free track, including exclusive and progression boosts. The item shop features rotating selections of purchasable items such as Rogue skins, wraps, wingsuits, and emotes, with prices typically ranging from $5 to $20 based on rarity—uncommon items at 500 Bucks, rare at 1,200 Bucks, and legendary at 2,000 Bucks. Player engagement on peaked in July 2021 with over 12,000 concurrent users. It subsequently declined alongside a drop in player base, from averages of over 3,000 monthly concurrent players in mid-2021 to approximately by late 2023, and further to about 175 as of 2025.

Reception and legacy

Critical reviews

Upon its launch in July 2020, Rogue Company garnered generally favorable reviews from critics, earning a score of 75/100 for the PC version based on four aggregated reviews. Console versions, including and , received similar averages of 75/100 across limited critic evaluations, reflecting similar sentiments but with notes on performance variances. On , the game achieved an overall score of 75 from 17 critics, positioning it as a "Strong" title in the competitive shooter genre. Critics frequently lauded the game's core mechanics, particularly its smooth and responsive gunplay, which provided satisfying third-person shooting experiences reminiscent of established hero shooters. The implementation of full cross-play across PC, consoles, and even was highlighted as a major strength, enabling broader matchmaking and community engagement without compromising accessibility. Tactical depth was another praised element, with rogue agents' unique abilities and loadout options adding strategic layers to objective-based matches, as noted in reviews emphasizing the blend of action and . However, several outlets pointed to shortcomings that tempered enthusiasm, including repetitive game modes that failed to innovate beyond familiar extraction and demolition formats, leading to predictability in gameplay loops. Launch bugs, such as connection issues and unbalanced matchmaking, were common complaints that disrupted sessions and undermined the otherwise solid foundation. Monetization drew scrutiny for its battle pass and cosmetic systems, which some felt encouraged excessive spending despite the free-to-play model, potentially alienating casual players. For instance, Screen Rant scored it 6/10, criticizing the "trite" objectives and lack of fresh ideas in mode design. Subsequent reviews in and acknowledged improvements via seasonal updates, including refined agent balancing, new maps, and expanded progression systems that addressed some initial technical glitches and enhanced replayability. Yet, critics observed that core content remained stagnant, with limited innovation in modes and a reliance on cosmetic additions failing to revitalize long-term engagement. These updates were seen as iterative rather than transformative, maintaining the game's competent but unremarkable status in a crowded market.

Community response and decline

Upon its release, Rogue Company experienced significant initial popularity, reaching a peak of 12,189 concurrent players on Steam in July 2021, with estimates suggesting a larger overall player base across consoles given the game's cross-platform availability. By 2024, however, concurrent player counts had sharply declined to averages below 500 on Steam, reflecting broader struggles in retaining an active audience. As of mid-February 2026, concurrent player counts on Steam have been approximately 300-350, with recent monthly averages around 200, indicating sustained but limited activity. The community initially praised the game's balanced roster of rogues, which allowed for diverse playstyles and , as well as its engaging seasonal events that introduced fresh content and . However, as player numbers waned, feedback increasingly focused on persistent issues with cheaters exploiting the game's anti-cheat systems, unbalanced that often pitted skilled players against novices or uneven teams, and a noticeable slowdown in updates after 2023, leading to frustration over stagnant progression and bug fixes. These concerns were echoed in player discussions and contributed to a mixed recent review rating of 67% positive on as of November 2025. Esports efforts for Rogue Company were short-lived, with a brief competitive scene in 2021 featuring tournaments like the Checkmate Gaming Showdown Invitational, which offered a $10,000 prize pool for six teams competing in qualifiers and a LAN final. Major organized leagues did not materialize at scale, and by 2022, official support for competitive play had effectively discontinued, with no significant tournaments recorded thereafter on platforms like Esports Earnings. The game's decline accelerated due to Hi-Rez Studios reallocating resources toward other titles, particularly Smite 2, resulting in Rogue Company entering maintenance mode by early 2024 with minimal updates. In February 2025, Hi-Rez confirmed the end of active development for Rogue Company alongside layoffs affecting approximately 60 employees, shifting the game to sustained server operation without new content. Despite rumors in late 2025 of a potential full shutdown by the end of the year, no shutdown occurred. As of mid-February 2026, the servers remain operational with no major outages reported. Third-party trackers show the game running normally, with approximately 300-350 concurrent players on Steam and no indications of a shutdown or widespread issues.

References

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