Mike Booth’s Return to Co-Op Shooters

Mike Booth, the creator of Valve’s legendary co-op survival game Left 4 Dead, has announced his next big project. In a Reddit post, Booth revealed that he has joined Bad Robot Games, the video game arm of J.J. Abrams’ production company, as Chief Creative Officer.

His first task in the new role is to lead development on Project Tacoma, the codename for the untitled 4-player co-op shooter that aims to capture the spirit of Left 4 Dead while carving out its own unique identity. This marks Booth’s first major return to the genre since Left 4 Dead. Notably, he had no involvement in Turtle Rock Studios’ Back 4 Blood, a 2021 title that tried but failed to recreate the magic of his original formula.

What We Know So Far

While Project Tacoma is still in early development, Booth stressed that its core will focus on the pillars that made the team shooter such a mainstay:

Teamwork-first gameplay
High replayability driven by unpredictable encounters
A constant sense of tension and cooperation

So far, no gameplay footage, platforms, or release window have been announced.

Fans Can Join Playtests

Bad Robot Games has opened playtest sign-ups to bring fans into the fold from the very beginning. According to Booth, this early player involvement mirrors the process that helped Left 4 Dead evolve into a cult classic. Fans can register interest via Bad Robot Games’ official playtest page.

For fans who have long awaited a true successor to Left 4 Dead, Booth’s return could signal a new era for the co-op shooter genre. With industry veterans leading the project and Bad Robot’s backing, this game has the potential to deliver the kind of cooperative thrills players have been craving for years.