Summary
As one of the most iconic action series etched into the pop culture zeitgeist,Terminatorand its legacy remain strong, even while complicated by the sheer number and sometimes wavering quality of entries within it over the years and across all forms of media. ButTerminatorcontinues to be a popular franchise, and has never stopped producing projects or appearing in various other IPs since its inception in 1984.
Recently, fans got some promising news, as indie developer Bitmap Bureau and publisher Reef Entertainment just announced anewTerminatorgame.Terminator 2D: No Fateis an officially licensed upcoming title that will be a throwback to the classic 90s arcade era of gaming, taking what is probably the most recognized and liked film,Terminator 2: Judgement Day, as a point of entry for its gameplay and story.
Terminator 2D: No Fateis scheduled to release onSeptember 5, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC (Epic Games Store and Steam), Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Terminator 2D: No Fate Looks Like A Retro Side-Shooter Dream Game
Terminator Has Been On the Rise Recently
While some of the modern-day films haven’t been as well-received, the older movies, particularlyTerminator 2: Judgement Day, remain a touchstone and a rich source of material for adaptations and spin-offs. Last year’sTerminator Zeroanimated series on Netflix was highly rated and brought positive attention to the series. On the videogame side of things,Terminatorhas crossed over or been featured and referenced in a range of properties, with more to come from some later this year:
Aside from appearing in the above, the latest official game, 2019’sTerminator: Resistanceby developer Teyon, was an FPS RPG-lite telling a story set between the events of the first film andJudgement Daythat saw generally positive reactions. And prior toTerminator 2D: No Fate’s reveal, Nacon announced an open-world survival MMO, althoughTerminator: Survivorswas delayedfrom its planned 2024 launch to sometime later this year. Still, the iron has been hot forTerminator, and the streak is set to continue withNo Fate.
Terminator 2D: No Fate Aims to Meld Old School Style With Modern Sensibilities
Bitmap Bureau has been very clear about howTerminator 2D: No Fatewill pull from the past while applying modern polishes to create an engaging retro experience. Design director Mike Tucker describes it as"a love letter to 80s/90s arcade games. My mission was to create theT2side-scroller we should have had in our youth."
Terminator 2D: No Fatewill have players controlling Sarah Connor, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800, and John Connor as they battle against Robert Patrick’s chilling liquid metal T-1000 in intense side-shooting action in the vein ofclassic Contra games. It will feature versions of many of the memorable scenes and set pieces fromJudgement Daywhile expanding on existing elements, like showing more of the Future War side of the conflict and the adult John Connor leading the human rebels against Skynet’s relentless AI army.
Terminator 2: Judgement Dayis one of the most successful and enduring sequels, and translating it into a side-shooter that harkens back to the days of 90s arcade games seems a perfect fit. Combined with the resurgence of similar retro games in the indie space at large,Terminator 2D: No Fate’s vibrant and crisp pixel visuals and tight-looking gameplay are poised to deliver fans an incredibly fun experience that shouldn’t be missed.
This is the Terminator 2 side-scroller we should have had in our youth.
