Killzone: Shadow Fall is a first-person shooter developed by Guerrilla Games and released in 2013 as a PlayStation 4 launch title and the sixth entry in the Killzone series. The single-player campaign takes a more open-ended approach than its predecessors, offering multiple routes and methods for completing objectives. A central mechanic is the OWL, a companion drone capable of deploying zip-lines, stunning enemies, and providing other tactical support. Futuristic weapons and equipment open up stealth-oriented play styles. The multiplayer component supports up to 24 players across 10 maps, with progression tied to a challenge-based ranking system rather than traditional experience points. Available modes include Team Deathmatch, Beacon Retrieval — a capture-the-flag variant — and the returning Warzone mode. A notable addition lets players construct custom Warzone rule sets and share them online for the broader community to download and play.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is set 30 years after the events of Killzone 3. Life on the Helghast home planet Helghan has been left in ruins, however, the war still goes on. The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) allows Helghast refugees to resettle on planet Vekta. The Vektan and Helghast factions are living in a city which is divided by a large security wall. The Helghast are fighting for their right to exist, while the Vektans are fighting for survival, leading to a "Cold War" between Vektans and Helghast. The story is seen through the perspective of Lucas Kellan, an agent of the elite ISA special forces branch known as the Shadow Marshals.
