Deceive Inc.
Developer(s)	Sweet Bandits Studios
Publisher(s)	Tripwire Interactive
Platform(s)	PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox Series X/S
Release	WW: March 21, 2023
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Deceive Inc. is a first-person shooter video game developed by Sweet Bandits Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive in 2023.

Gameplay

Players control a spy competing against other teams of spies to retrieve a package. Gameplay blends elements of hero shooters and extraction shooters. Each player has a holographic projector that can hide their identity. As long as they do not shoot, players can hide as a non-player character or an object. Shooting reveals their identity. To retrieve the package, players need to get into locked vaults. To gather the necessary resources, players can masquerade as a VIP, which allows them access to otherwise forbidden areas, though this stands out to other players.^[1]

Characters

The game currently has eleven playable characters split into different classes that indicate their playstyle:

• Chavez, a Vanguard who fights with a six-round revolver and an expertise that grants him invincibility for a short time.^[2]
• Ace, a Tracker who wields a sniper rifle and an expertise that allows her to trail enemy targets she locks on to.^[2]

• Squire, a Vanguard who wields a silenced pistol and an expertise that allows him to scan the area around him for loot.^[2]
• Madame Xiu, a Scoundrel who uses a rapid-fire crossbow and has an expertise that lets her teleport to a selected character.^[2]
• Hans, a Disruptor who carries a hand-mounted shotgun with the ability to fire a large orb that slows enemies.^[2]
• Cavaliere, a Tracker who wields dual pistols and the ability to track down enemies by investigating items they have recently interacted with.^[2]
• Larcin, a Scoundrel who has a pocket pistol and the ability to go invisible for short periods of time.^[2]
• Yu-Mi, a Disruptor who carries a slingshot that can fire special pellets that destroy enemy gadgets.^[2]
• Red, a Scoundrel who uses a classic assault rifle with an expertise that allows her to instantly regain her cover.^[2]
• Sasori, a Tracker who uses darts and a wakizashi with the ability to coat them in poison for a short time.^[2]
• Octo, a Disruptor and the newest character added to the game, who uses an intel powered semi-automatic rifle and other intel based abilities to get the upper hand on his opponents.^[2]

Classes

The game's characters are split into four separate classes, which described in-game as follows:

• Vanguards are well-rounded, self-reliant fighters that can get through the thick and thin.^[2]
• Trackers focus on finding, singling out, and hunting down targets.^[2]
• Scoundrels are sly, cunning, and use dirty tricks to get ahead of the competition.^[2]
• Disruptors are experts at controlling space and disturbing the flow of fights.^[2]

Development

Developer Sweet Bandits Studios is based in Quebec City, Canada.^[3] Tripwire Interactive released the game for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 21, 2023.^[4]

Reception

On Metacritic, the PC and Xbox Series X/S versions received positive reviews,^[5][6] and the PlayStation 5 version received mixed reviews.^[7] PC Gamer called it a "creative blend of sneaking and shooting that will have squads coming back for more".^[1] NME said it is "a fantastic multiplayer game" that fans of the genre will enjoy despite its confusing progression system.^[8] Shacknews called it "creative, both visually and conceptually" and "a blast to experience, just as long as you have friends at the ready".^[9] Push Square said it is "a solid starting point with a great premise" but needs better gunplay and more content.^[10]