Dismantle, salvage, survive! TankRat is ready for launch, scheduled for release on January 15, 2027.
Sleepwalkers, strike in January!
Beijing Time (August 26, 2026) — During today's Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer Alpha Channel announced that the hardcore vehicle RPG TankRat will officially launch on January 15, 2027. The game will be available on PS5 and PC (Steam).
Watch the eerie and explosive extended trailer here, set to William Blake's poem "The Tyger."
Published in partnership with Kepler Interactive, TankRat is a post-apocalyptic journey about rebellion, lost identity, and mech brawls. You control Whittaker, a digitized human consciousness known as a "Sleepwalker," capable of merging with fully customizable tanks.
Whittaker has only one mission: to find redemption in the legendary city of Highpoint. But when you venture into the Event Containment Area (ECA)—a war-torn wasteland occupied by machines known as Tankrats—this mission becomes an existential bullet that shatters Whittaker's understanding of morality, consciousness, and power.
Your only hope lies with the mysterious guide and mentor, Cyril, and your ability to pilot your tank better than the enemies who seek to tear your vehicle apart.
As you explore six unique regions and challenge seven colossal mechanical bosses, even the most resilient "Sleepwalkers" will have their iron will severely tested. Survival is the only rule here. And how you survive is entirely up to you...
For any "Sleepwalker" seeking survival, the tank is the core backbone. You can choose between two types of tanks: Light Tanks—agile and nimble, capable of dodging shells and disengaging from combat in the blink of an eye; or Medium Tanks—mechanical behemoths that can absorb massive amounts of damage and deliver higher output.
Carefully select from over 25 weapons to arm your tank: from 90mm cannons capable of tearing through metal to 10mm autocannons that can precisely snipe enemies from a distance.
Regardless of which tank or cannon you choose, that's only half the battle. In the Event Containment Area (ECA), the parts you scavenge define your existence. Dismantling enemy tanks and collecting components from their wreckage is just as important as configuring your tank from the start. Every part can offer unique advantages, stat boosts, and new ways to cause destruction, all of which can only be found within the ECA.
Discussing the upcoming release, Daniel Ebanks, Creative Director at Alpha Channel, stated: "Intense and destructive combat is at the heart of TankRat, but we've also infused it with what we love as a studio—Tankrat is a tribute to model 'kitbashing,' the game world is an ode to 20th-century sci-fi, and playing it offers a top-tier mech action feast. We are thrilled to let players get their hands on it and become as passionate about it as we are. See you in the ECA."
Sleepwalkers. Strike in January. Add to wishlist now.
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About Alpha Channel
Alpha Channel is an independent studio founded in 2018 by veteran AAA game developers, dedicated to creating emotionally resonant game worlds driven by player-emergent design. As part of the Kepler Interactive group, the team combines creative freedom with collaborative support to craft unique and highly atmospheric gaming experiences.
About Kepler Interactive
Kepler Interactive is a video game company and creative studio headquartered in London. With titles such as Pacific Drive, Sifu, Rematch, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler carefully curates collaborations with developers worldwide, showcasing the newest and most brilliant ideas in the gaming industry by perfectly blending experimental game design with unique artistic direction.
In addition to its game portfolio, Kepler Creative Studio is dedicated to integrating games into real-life fields such as art, fashion, music, architecture, and design by developing lifestyle products and collaborating with artists like fashion designer Robyn Lynch. Kepler continuously explores creative spaces that inspire games and their developers—challenging existing perspectives and elevating the medium of gaming to new heights.