Active Matter: release date, gameplay and survival guide
Active Matter is a hardcore tactical extraction shooter from Matter Team and publisher Gaijin Entertainment (War Thunder, Enlisted). The game entered early access on September 9, 2025, with a full release planned for 2026 on Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. You play an operative trapped in a time loop: raids into quantum-unstable zones, collecting active matter, clashes with rivals and anomalies — and evacuation before the zone collapses. Below is everything known about the game, a survival guide and FAQ.
Active Matter at a glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Tactical extraction shooter with horror elements |
| Developer | Matter Team |
| Publisher | Gaijin Entertainment |
| Early access | September 9, 2025 (Windows) |
| Full release | 2026 — Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Engine | Dagor Engine |
| Languages | English, Russian, German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Progress | Shared between Steam and Gaijin.Net on PC; consoles separate |
Story and setting
The multiverse has been shattered by a quantum catastrophe. Dimensions are collapsing, and active matter — a substance that distorts reality and spawns anomalies — seeps through. Operatives enter unstable zones for loot and answers, knowing every raid could be the last: the zone collapses, and the time loop returns the hero to the start — with experience, but without the gear left behind in the last raid.
Gameplay: how raids work
- Preparation. Choose gear and modern weapons from the arsenal: rifles, shotguns, sniper systems, drones and robot dogs.
- Raid. Enter a quantum-unstable zone: explore, gather active matter, fight anomalies and other operatives.
- Evacuation. Get out before the zone collapses — or lose everything you took. Loot goes to permanent storage.
- The loop. Death returns you to the start: progress is kept, but raid gear is gone.
Editions
| Edition | Contents |
|---|---|
| Standard | Base game, starter weapon and resource pack |
| Advanced | Expanded arsenal and equipment |
| Deluxe | Maximum bundle, digital soundtrack on Steam |
| Elite Squad (Gaijin Store) | Deluxe plus two Standard keys for friends at a discount |
Owners of the early Gaijin Store version get the Steam game for free — link your account before November 23, 2026.
Guide: surviving raids
- Do not get greedy. Active matter is heavy: take only as much as you can carry with combat gear.
- Study anomalies. Each has its own patterns: some react to sound, others to movement. Observation saves lives.
- Play as a squad. Crossfire and role distribution decide PvP encounters.
- Plan your route. Mark evacuation points in advance — panic at the end of a raid costs loot.
- Experiment with the loop. Map knowledge from a past raid is the main advantage.
Tips
- Watch the zone timer: collapse spares no one.
- Drones and robot dogs are recon and distraction: use them before entering dangerous sectors.
- Do not bring your best kit into an unknown zone: the loop returns you, but without the gear.
- Listen to the sound: anomalies often telegraph their approach.
- Join the Discord community: current metas and squad coordination live there.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full release of Active Matter? In 2026 on Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Is the game free? No, it is paid: Standard, Advanced and Deluxe editions in the Gaijin Store and Steam.
Is Russian supported? Yes, interface and subtitles in Russian are available.
Does it run on Steam Deck? Yes, the game supports Steam Deck and native Linux.
Does progress carry over from consoles to PC? No, shared progress is only between Steam and Gaijin.Net on PC.
Is it similar to Escape from Tarkov? Yes in genre: extraction with gear loss on death, but with a unique time-loop mechanic and anomalies.
Last updated: September 19, 2026.