TL;DR
- Shrapnel will host “FIGHT NIGHT in the ZONE!” on February 25, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. PST.
- Players will test combat updates and technological advancements inside “The Zone”.
- The studio raised over $37.5 million to develop the game using Unreal Engine 5.
Neon Machine confirmed a new testing session for its extraction shooter Shrapnel. The event, called “FIGHT NIGHT in the ZONE!“, will take place on February 25, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. PST. The company invited players to monitor its Steam page for registration details, which will be released closer to the date.
During the six-hour window, participants can test updates to combat systems and technological advancements inside “The Zone,” the game’s hostile environment. The developer also announced a limited edition of the Type 38 Revolver to commemorate the event.
FIGHT NIGHT in the ZONE!
Operators, join us on Wednesday, February 25 to take part in the Gala X $FIGHT X Shrapnel playtest live from 3–9 p.m. PST!
On this occasion, Astral decided to produce a limited Type 38 Revolver edition: Reveal soon đź‘€
Join Discord for how to join! pic.twitter.com/xLD5HoIhGY
— SHRAPNEL (@playSHRAPNEL) February 18, 2026
Combat and Technology Upgrades in “The Zone”
Shrapnel is an AAA extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic zone where players, known as “Operators,” scavenge Sigma from meteorites to enhance their abilities and progress. The Seattle-based studio consists of industry veterans from franchises like Call of Duty and Halo, and develops the title using Unreal Engine 5.
Recent updates improved gameplay mechanics, including more intuitive user interfaces and enhanced nighttime visuals. The game emphasizes strategic play: if a character dies, they lose all accumulated gear and resources.
Neon Machine secured over $37.5 million in development funding. The game integrates the $SHRAP token into its economy, enabling governance, transactions, and content discovery within its marketplace. Players can also create, mint, and sell items as NFTs through built-in tools.
Shrapnel’s Discord community now exceeds 100,000 members, reflecting strong interest ahead of the official launch scheduled for early 2026. The company also plans to expand into the Chinese gaming market with a strategy that includes a $SHRAP buyback program tied to local revenue.
The upcoming playtest represents a critical step for Neon Machine before the commercial release. The session will allow the team to evaluate new features and player feedback in a controlled environment, as the game prepares to compete in the extraction shooter segment.
