Xbox‘s latest Partner Preview introduced Blindfire, a fresh multiplayer FPS that sets itself apart by plunging players into near-total darkness.
Starting today, Blindfire enters early access via the Xbox Game Preview program for both Xbox Series X|S and PC. This game focuses on “slower, more tactical play,” as shared in an Xbox Wire blog. The arenas are cloaked in shadows, making every gunshot and muzzle flash a beacon for opponents. Players must carefully decide when to attack. Matt Dunthorne from Double Eleven explained that players can choose between a fast, noisy reload or a quiet, careful one, showing how crucial sound is in Blindfire.
Dunthorne summed up the game, saying, “It’s a pitch-black room, you have a gun, so do your enemies…good luck!”
Blindfire’s main mode, Bodycount, offers both solo and team play, spanning five rounds with only one life per round. This setup turns matches into tense games of hide-and-seek. Players can’t just sit in the dark, though. Earning points comes from taking risks—getting multiple kills, headshots, or being the first to score. Surviving without a scratch also earns rewards.
“Kills are less about pure shooting prowess, and more about clever use of environmental cues,” Dunthorne said. The game pushes players to move slowly, listen closely, and think strategically about every encounter.
As the match progresses, lights gradually brighten the arena, pushing everyone towards the center like a shrinking battle royale zone.
Players won’t be completely blind throughout the game. They have an ability called Echo that briefly highlights their surroundings. If it shows an enemy, it reveals their last known location, turning them into potential prey.
At launch, players can choose between two weapons: a precise pistol and a short-range shotgun. Dunthorne mentioned that more weapons will arrive later, but the aim is to focus on “strategy and execution” rather than gear loadouts.
The Xbox Partner Preview also highlighted other upcoming games like Remedy Entertainment’s FBC Firebreak and Subnautica 2, both joining Game Pass on release day.
