Rules of Engagement: The Grey State vs Neo Berlin 2087

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Online Co-op & PvP (1-4 Player Squads)
• Setting: The 'Horrorverse' / The Grey State
• Platforms: PC (Future console release TBD)
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique blend of a tactical extraction shooter with a deep, permanent, Path of Exile-inspired RPG skill tree, set in a Lovecraftian horror universe.

• Perspective: First-Person & Third-Person (Switchable)
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Futuristic Berlin (2087)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Window: Q4 2025
• Unique Feature: A deep, cinematic detective thriller with flexible gameplay, allowing seamless switching between first and third-person perspectives and multiple approaches to missions.

• Alien Artifacts: The primary objective item in The Grey State. Successfully extracting these is the main goal of any run.
• Resources: Scavenged from the environment and smaller monsters, these are used for in-match crafting and progression.
• Gear (In-Match): Better weapons and armor looted during an expedition. This gear is lost on death.

• Hidden Files: Data shards and documents hidden in the world that provide deeper lore about the city's corruption and the main conspiracy.
• Upgrade Stashes: Hidden caches of materials used to upgrade Nolan's cybernetic abilities and high-tech weaponry.

• Tactical Shooter
• Extraction
• Horror
• Cosmic Horror
• PvPvE
• Action RPG
• Sci-Fi

• Cyberpunk
• Detective
• Thriller
• Dystopian
• Conspiracy
• Action RPG
• Player Choice
• Narrative-Driven

• Firearms: Varies (Shotguns, Rifles, etc.)
  A mix of realistic and experimental firearms used for fast-paced, tactical combat. The Sledge class, for example, can unlock talents for a shotgun and a recoilless rifle.
• Flamethrower: Heavy Weapon
  The signature weapon of the Pyro class, used to incinerate enemies and control areas.
• Melee Weapons: Varies (Sledgehammer, etc.)
  Close-quarters weapons, such as the Sledge's sledgehammer, used for brutal takedowns.

The game features a deep, permanent RPG progression system with no forced wipes. Players choose from four classes (Sledge, Pyro, Phantom, and one unrevealed) and customize them via an extensive, Path of Exile-inspired skill tree with over 100 talents. These talents are mechanics-based (e.g., faster looting, new weapon options like a shotgun for Sledge) rather than raw stat increases, ensuring a level playing field. Progression is persistent, but all players spawn into a match with a basic, blank-slate loadout.

The game features a flexible RPG system with skill trees that adapt to player choice, allowing specialization in stealth, hacking, diplomacy, or combat. Nolan's cybernetic abilities, such as a Ping to highlight enemies and a Bullet Time to slow combat, are central to gameplay and can be upgraded. Progression is focused on piecing together the story through investigation and action.

The game features multiple, large-scale maps. Gameplay is session-based, with a limited time for each incursion. The environment is dynamic and reactive, with shifting weather, unstable geometry, and hazards. The world is populated by AI factions and hostile creatures, creating a dense PvPvE experience.

The game is set in a dark, neo-futuristic Berlin, divided by a new wall separating the rich from the poor. Players will explore meticulously crafted districts, from neon-lit plazas to underground resistance hideouts and a desolate 'wasteland' outside the city walls. The world is designed for deep environmental storytelling rather than as a pure sandbox.

• Sledge: Playable Class (Heavy Assault)
  The 'juggernaut' class. Specializes in frontline combat, using a shield to block damage and talents for shotguns and recoilless rifles.
• Pyro: Playable Class (Battlefield Control)
  A 'chaotic madman' class. Uses a flamethrower, gas grenades, and incendiary bombs to control the battlefield.
• Phantom: Playable Class (Assassin)
  A 'swift assassin' class. Focuses on stealth, flanking, and executing 'flawless' one-shot backstabs and chain kills.
• The Hunger: Enemies
  The grotesque, infected abominations that serve as the primary PvE threat.

• Nolan: Playable Protagonist
  A troubled, cybernetically enhanced detective investigating the murder of Berlin's police chief. Voiced by Elias Toufexis.
• Natalie: Key NPC
  The daughter of the murdered police chief. She holds a secret crucial to the investigation, and her fate is intertwined with Nolan's.
• Bryan: Supporting Character
  A character revealed in trailers who is expected to play a key role in the story.
• Phoenix: Supporting Character
  Another character revealed in trailers who will be involved in the main plot.

• Expeditions
  The main gameplay loop. Players deploy to a map (solo or in a squad) with a limited amount of time. The mission is divided into two phases: a PvE-focused gear-up phase, and a high-conflict second phase where players can opt for a safe, early extraction or fight for the high-value 'Vertex' prize.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows Nolan's investigation into the police chief's murder, uncovering a city-wide conspiracy. Missions are designed to be replayable with different approaches.
• Side Quests
  Impactful optional quests that allow players to delve deeper into the world and its characters, such as helping a rogue AI or dismantling a corrupt tech cult. These quests will have choices that shape outcomes.

The game is a persistent online PvPvE extraction shooter. Players can queue for 'Expeditions' solo or in squads of up to four. The core loop is divided into two phases: a resource-gathering first phase and a high-conflict second phase where players can choose an early, safe extraction or fight for the final, high-value 'Vertex' prize at the main helicopter extraction.

• Q: What is Rules of Engagement: The Grey State?
  A: It is a free-to-play, first-person tactical extraction shooter with deep, permanent RPG progression. Players, as 'Striders,' enter a surreal horror dimension to fight monsters and other players for valuable artifacts.
• Q: Is it 'pay-to-win'?
  A: No. The developers have confirmed the game is not pay-to-win. All players spawn into a match with a basic loadout, and all monetization is cosmetic-only.
• Q: How does progression work if everyone starts with the same gear?
  A: Progression is persistent and tied to a deep, Path of Exile-inspired skill tree. You don't bring in better gear, you bring in better *talents* and *abilities* that you have permanently unlocked, which define your playstyle (e.g., stealth, farming, or combat).
• Q: What is the 'Horrorverse'?
  A: It's the game's setting concept. 'The Grey State' is a dimension that acts as a 'graveyard of nightmares,' allowing the developers to pull in monsters from diverse sources, such as Lovecraftian lore, creepypastas, and global folklore (like from the upcoming Hong Kong map).

• Q: What is Neo Berlin 2087?
  A: It is an upcoming single-player Action RPG with a strong focus on its cinematic, detective thriller narrative. It features flexible gameplay allowing for stealth, action, and dialogue-heavy approaches, and the ability to switch between first and third-person perspectives.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: The game is projected to be released in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, but a firm date has not been set.
• Q: Is it like Cyberpunk 2077 or Deus Ex?
  A: It draws many comparisons to both. Its cyberpunk setting and action RPG elements are similar to Cyberpunk 2077, while its focus on player choice, mission design, and cybernetic themes are reminiscent of Deus Ex, especially with the casting of Elias Toufexis (Adam Jensen) as the protagonist.
• Q: What engine does the game use?
  A: Neo Berlin 2087 is being developed on Unreal Engine 5.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications reflect the demands of a modern Unreal Engine 5 title.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. As a fast-paced shooter, maintaining a high and stable framerate is crucial.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of both monsters and human enemies, as well as the physics-based interactions.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive FPS.
• Game Name: Rules of Engagement: The Grey State

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and potential for intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI, physics, and ensuring a smooth experience in the detailed city.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a shooter with slow-mo mechanics.
• Game Name: Neo Berlin 2087

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of both monsters and human enemies, as well as the physics-based interactions.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a competitive FPS.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and potential for intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI, physics, and ensuring a smooth experience in the detailed city.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a shooter with slow-mo mechanics.