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Created page with "{{Short description|Upcoming video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use American English|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox video game | title = ShooterofIO: Guardians | image = ShooterofIO Guardians key art.png | alt = Promotional artwork for ShooterofIO: Guardians, depicting a modern military fireteam standing before a burning city skyline. | developer = War Games | publisher = Mob Productions | director = Ethan Cole | producer = Marissa Vaughn | designer = {{ub..."

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{{Short description|Upcoming video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = ShooterofIO: Guardians
| image = ShooterofIO Guardians key art.png
| alt = Promotional artwork for ShooterofIO: Guardians, depicting a modern military fireteam standing before a burning city skyline.
| developer = [[War Games]]
| publisher = [[Mob Productions]]
| director = Ethan Cole
| producer = Marissa Vaughn
| designer = {{ubl|Ryan Pierce|Naomi Keller}}
| artist = Lucas Vane
| writer = Brendan Shaw
| composer = Miles Rourke
| series = ''[[ShooterofIO]]''
| engine = SOI Engine
| platforms = {{ubl|[[Microsoft Windows]]|[[PlayStation 3]]|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Xbox 360]]|[[Xbox One]]}}
| released = {{Video game release|WW|TBA}}
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = {{ubl|[[Single-player video game|Single-player]]|[[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]|[[Cooperative video game|cooperative]]}}
}}

'''''ShooterofIO: Guardians''''' is an upcoming [[first-person shooter]] video game developed by [[War Games]] and published by [[Mob Productions]]. It is planned for release on [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox 360]], and [[Xbox One]].<ref name="Announcement">{{cite web |author=Mob Productions |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Announced |url=https://www.mobproductions.example/news/shooterofio-guardians-announced |website=Mob Productions |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> It is the next main installment in the ''[[ShooterofIO]]'' franchise after ''[[ShooterofIO: Modern Ops 3]]'' (2013), and marks War Games' return as lead developer following ''[[ShooterofIO: WWII]]'' (2011).<ref name="WarGamesReturn">{{cite web |author=War Games |date=May 6, 2014 |title=War Games Returns With ShooterofIO: Guardians |url=https://www.wargames.example/news/shooterofio-guardians-war-games-return |website=War Games |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref>

The game features Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.<ref name="Modes">{{cite web |author=Mob Productions |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Modes Confirmed |url=https://www.mobproductions.example/news/shooterofio-guardians-modes |website=Mob Productions |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> Campaign introduces a new modern military storyline centered on a multinational unit known as the Guardians, while Multiplayer continues the series' competitive loadout-based combat. Zombies returns as the cooperative survival mode, marking the first War Games-developed Zombies experience since the separate wartime storyline featured in ''ShooterofIO: WWII''.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm">{{cite web |author=War Games |date=May 6, 2014 |title=Zombies Returns in ShooterofIO: Guardians |url=https://www.wargames.example/news/shooterofio-guardians-zombies |website=War Games |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref>

''Guardians'' is being developed on the SOI Engine, the technology introduced with ''Modern Ops 3'' and adopted for future mainline ''ShooterofIO'' games.<ref name="Engine">{{cite web |author=Mob Productions |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Uses SOI Engine |url=https://www.mobproductions.example/news/guardians-soi-engine |website=Mob Productions |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> The game was announced during the post-launch cycle of ''Modern Ops 3'', continuing Mob Productions' annual announcement window for new ''ShooterofIO'' installments even while the previous game continued receiving seasonal updates.<ref name="Announcement" />

==Gameplay==
''ShooterofIO: Guardians'' is a first-person shooter with Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. The game uses the modern first-person combat structure of the series, with firearms, tactical equipment, score-based rewards, cooperative survival systems, and player progression across its major modes.

The game retains the cross-generation approach used by ''Modern Ops 3'', with versions planned for Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows versions are expected to serve as the lead technical versions, while the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are planned to retain the same core modes and content with reduced visual detail and different performance targets.<ref name="Platforms">{{cite web |author=Mob Productions |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Platform Details |url=https://www.mobproductions.example/news/guardians-platforms |website=Mob Productions |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref>

===Campaign===
Campaign is the single-player story mode of ''Guardians''. It follows a multinational special operations unit formed after several governments lose control of military assets, emergency networks, and private security forces during a series of coordinated attacks. The unit, known as the Guardians, is deployed when conventional command structures fail or when hostile forces operate across borders faster than individual governments can respond.<ref name="CampaignTease">{{cite web |author=War Games |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Campaign Teased |url=https://www.wargames.example/news/guardians-campaign-tease |website=War Games |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref>

The announcement trailer shows the Guardians operating across burning urban districts, abandoned military checkpoints, an attacked airport, a storm-damaged coastal base, and a fortified mountain installation.<ref name="Trailer">{{cite web |author=Mob Productions |date=May 6, .<ref name="2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Announcement Trailer |url=https://www.mobproductions.example/trailers/guardians-announcement |website=Mob Productions |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> War Games described the Campaign as a grounded modern conflict with larger squad presence than its previous titles. The story is planned to focus on rapid-response operations, fractured command chains, and the consequences of relying on unofficial military networks to prevent wider collapse.<ref name="CampaignTease" />

The Campaign is mission-based. Announced mission types include direct assault, defensive evacuations, convoy protection, intelligence recovery, sabotage, urban rescue operations, and large-scale military engagements. War Games stated that the Campaign would not use the open-world structure of Operations from ''Modern Ops 3'', but several missions are planned to include wider combat routes, optional approaches, and larger allied squad involvement than earlier War Games releases.<ref name="CampaignTease" />

===Multiplayer===
Multiplayer returns as the competitive online mode of ''Guardians''. It includes custom loadouts, weapon progression, perks, attachments, equipment, scorestreaks, public playlists, private matches, and cross-generation progression support.<ref name="MultiplayerTease">{{cite web |author=War Games |date=May 6, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Multiplayer First Details |url=https://www.wargames.example/news/guardians-multiplayer-first-details |website=War Games |access-date=May 6, 2014}}</ref>

The mode is planned to build on the movement and weapon handling changes introduced in ''Modern Ops 3'', while giving War Games its own map style and pacing. Early footage shows combat in military compounds, city streets, highway checkpoints, a damaged airport terminal, and industrial facilities.<ref name="Trailer" /> Mob Productions confirmed that a full Multiplayer reveal would take place later in 2014.<ref name="MultiplayerTease" />

Skill-based matchmaking returns from ''Modern Ops 3'' in public playlists.<ref name="MultiplayerTease" /> The system is planned to continue using recent performance, connection quality, party size, and playlist population when forming lobbies. War Games stated that matchmaking tuning would be adjusted based on feedback from ''Modern Ops 3'', particularly around lobby strictness and public-match variety.<ref name="MultiplayerTease" />

===Zombies===
Zombies returns in ''Guardians'' as a cooperative survival mode.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" /> War Games previously developed Zombies content for ''ShooterofIO: WWII'', which used a separate wartime storyline centered on Projekt Totenglocke. For ''Guardians'', the studio confirmed that Zombies would return as one of the game's three main modes, but did not reveal the full cast, setting, map list, or storyline at announcement.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" />

The announcement trailer includes a brief Zombies tease showing soldiers entering a dark containment room, a body bag moving on its own, and a distorted radio transmission repeating the phrase "they were guarding the wrong door".<ref name="Trailer" /> War Games stated that the mode would be revealed separately and that its story would not be a direct continuation of the Campaign.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" />

==Synopsis==
''Guardians'' introduces a new modern storyline within the ''ShooterofIO'' franchise. The game is centered on the Guardians, a multinational special operations unit formed to respond to military crises that fall outside normal command structures. The unit is deployed after a series of coordinated attacks expose weaknesses in allied defense networks, private military contracts, emergency response systems, and cross-border intelligence sharing.<ref name="CampaignTease" />

The Campaign follows the Guardians as they investigate an enemy network known as the Vantage Order, a coalition of former officers, private security commanders, intelligence defectors, and weapons brokers who believe that global governments have become too slow and divided to control modern warfare. Rather than attempting to conquer territory directly, the Vantage Order destabilizes regions by attacking communications, seizing military stockpiles, impersonating allied forces, and provoking emergency responses that allow its operatives to move through collapsing command systems.

The Guardians are sent into several flashpoints where the Vantage Order has already compromised local forces. Their early operations focus on evacuating trapped personnel, recovering stolen intelligence, and identifying how the enemy is moving between official and unofficial military networks. As the story progresses, the unit discovers that the Vantage Order is not simply exploiting disorder, but attempting to prove that unofficial armed command structures can replace national military authority during global crises.

==Development==
''ShooterofIO: Guardians'' is developed by War Games, which previously led development on ''ShooterofIO: WWII''.<ref name="WarGamesReturn" /> The game marks the studio's return to the main annual release cycle after SOI Studios developed ''Modern Ops 3'' and Air Studios developed ''ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare II''.

The game uses the SOI Engine, making it the first War Games-developed title to use the technology introduced by SOI Studios for ''Modern Ops 3''.<ref name="Engine" /> Mob Productions had previously confirmed that future mainline ''ShooterofIO'' games would be developed on technology created by SOI Studios, allowing different lead studios to work from a shared technical foundation rather than maintaining separate legacy engines across each sub-series.<ref name="Engine" />

War Games stated that using the SOI Engine allowed the studio to focus on larger battle spaces, improved lighting, cross-generation scalability, and more detailed animation systems than its previous work on ''ShooterofIO: WWII''.<ref name="Engine" /> The developer also said that it wanted ''Guardians'' to feel distinct from both ''Modern Ops 3'' and ''Dark Warfare II'', with a tone built around emergency military response, fractured command authority, and the pressure placed on small units during wide-scale instability.<ref name="WarGamesReturn" />

The game is being developed for Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.<ref name="Platforms" /> Mob Productions did not announce a Wii U version. The publisher stated that the platform lineup was selected to maintain the cross-generation audience established by ''Modern Ops 3'' while continuing to prioritize Windows, PlayStation, and Xbox development.<ref name="Platforms" />

Zombies was included as one of the game's main modes from announcement.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" /> War Games stated that the mode would be treated as a major part of the game rather than a smaller bonus mode. However, the studio withheld most Zombies details at announcement, confirming only that the mode would have its own reveal and would not simply reuse the Projekt Totenglocke storyline from ''ShooterofIO: WWII''.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" />

==Marketing and release==
''ShooterofIO: Guardians'' was announced on May 6, 2014, through a cinematic announcement trailer and publisher blog post.<ref name="Announcement" /><ref name="Trailer" /> The announcement confirmed War Games as lead developer, Mob Productions as publisher, the title, platform lineup, SOI Engine support, and the three main modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.<ref name="Modes" />

The announcement trailer opened with footage of global emergency broadcasts, abandoned checkpoints, burning city streets, and military convoys moving without visible national markings.<ref name="Trailer" /> The trailer introduced the Guardians as a rapid-response unit deployed when official command systems fail. It showed brief scenes of the unit fighting through an airport terminal, defending a coastal base during a storm, and assaulting a mountain facility before ending with the title reveal.<ref name="Trailer" />

The announcement also briefly teased Zombies. The final seconds of the trailer cut away from the Campaign footage to a dark containment room, where a sealed door begins shaking as a distorted radio transmission repeats the phrase "they were guarding the wrong door".<ref name="Trailer" /> Mob Productions confirmed after the trailer that Zombies would return as a full mode and would receive a separate reveal before launch.<ref name="ZombiesConfirm" />

Early coverage of the announcement focused on War Games' return, the use of the SOI Engine, the inclusion of Zombies, and the continuation of cross-generation support.<ref name="AnnouncementReaction">{{cite web |last=Russell |first=Mark |date=May 7, 2014 |title=ShooterofIO: Guardians Announced by War Games |url=https://www.consoleinsider.example/news/shooterofio-guardians-announced |website=Console Insider |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> Several outlets noted that the game was announced while ''Modern Ops 3'' was still receiving seasonal content, but described the timing as consistent with Mob Productions' usual annual reveal window for new ''ShooterofIO'' titles.<ref name="AnnouncementReaction" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.shooterofio.example/guardians}}

{{ShooterofIO series}}

[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows games]]
[[Category:Mob Productions games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:ShooterofIO games]]
[[Category:Upcoming video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:War Games games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]

ShooterofIO: Guardians - Revision history

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