Last seen during the Capcom Showcase on May 16, 2025,Exoprimalwas eclipsed by titles like theResident Evil 4remake andStreet Fighter 6. Capcom’s newest IP mixes PvP elements with the unique concept of mass dinosaur extermination. Fighting many dinosaurs at once serves asa stark contrast to the singular fighting experience that Capcom’sMonster Hunterprovides, which was easier to see than ever once players got their hands on the game.
Exoprimalwill be adopting a live-service model like many of its contemporaries. Not only will it be an online-only title, it will also include elements like seasonal content and battle passes. While those elements can leave a bad first impression, theExoprimalopen beta that ran from March 17 through 20 provides a good idea of what to expect come its full release in July.
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Exoprimal’s Dino Survival Plays Well
TheExoprimalopen beta only has one mode available: Dino Survival. After creating their character and going through a relatively short tutorial, players are thrust into the PvE/PvP hybrid mode with little explanation. Players must follow the waypoints toward different parts of the map and complete objectives ranging from simple dinosaur extermination to escort missions, defending NPC Exofighters or aircrafts. No matter the mission, players can expect to fight tons of dinosaursspawned by the rogue AI Leviathan.
As players are completing missions, they will occasionally be reminded of the enemy team. They will sometimes see red silhouettes on the battlefield (much likehow players can see each other inDark Souls) and hear Leviathan comment on how each team is performing. Once players finish all the set PvE objectives, they can progress to the final mission.
The biggest difference in the final mission is that one team can impede the other’s progress by eliminating their players, which makes it harder to complete objectives like charging and using an Omega Hammer. While some missions prior to the final one allow players to impede the enemy team’s progress (either by invading their world with a player-controlled dinosaur called a Dominator or increasing the difficulty of spawned dinos), having an entire team be dedicated to eliminating the other one is a big shift.
Exoprimal’s Exosuits are the Stars of the Show
While dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus are what players will be fighting the most,Exoprimal’s various Exosuits make the experience memorable. Swapping between the 10 available Exosuits is as easy as selecting one and ejecting from the currently equipped suit. Players are left momentarily vulnerable while a meter charges, which is the offset for being able to swap to a more appropriate Exosuit, but it can happen at any time.
From the sniper-like Vigilatto the tanky Roadblock, all Exosuits bring something new to the table. While preference is the main driving force behind choosing an Exosuit, players should also be mindful of the combat scenarios they face, as well as team composition. Using a melee-only Assault Exosuit like Zephyr isn’t the best choice when the enemies on the field are flying Pteranodons, for example. Likewise, swapping to a Support Exosuit like the Witchdoctor would be advisable if there are no healers on the team.
Despite Some Issues, Exoprimal Looks Promising
Some Exosuits in theExoprimalopen beta are better than others. The Skywave’s ability to heal allies and attack foes with its primary fireoutclasses the Witchdoctorand Nimbus Support units. Crossplay is also an issue, as even though players from different systems can get matched together, there is no way to have a party comprised of friends on different platforms. Since there’s only one mode available in the open beta, players might also find the core gameplay loop gets boring after a while.
But these issues pale in comparison to the open beta’s pros. Its different missions, maps, and Exosuits are all fun to play, with Dino Survival offering something for both PvE and PvP enthusiasts. Most importantly, rendering thousands of dinosaurs and multiple players in a single match doesn’t tank performance to an unplayable state, which is something Capcom should be proud of. There are still a couple of months beforeExoprimalreleases, but if the open beta is anything to go by,Capcom is on track to make it an enjoyable experience.
Exoprimalwill release on July 14, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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