Quick answers
- Cross-play
- Yes. The official FAQ confirms multiplayer between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
- Cross-progression
- Only between the Steam and Gaijin.Net PC versions; not between PC and consoles
- Solo and PvE
- Supported, but locations are divided among PvE, PvPvE, and PvP modes
- Standard price
- US Steam listed $29.99 when checked September 16, 2026
- Linux and Steam Deck
- Officially supported; published compatibility is not a measured performance guarantee
What is Active Matter?
Active Matter is an online extraction shooter built around raids into quantum-unstable zones. Players choose a loadout, collect active matter and other loot, and try to extract before the zone collapses. Its official descriptions combine modern military weapons with physics-breaking anomalies, SCP-inspired objects, hostile creatures, and rival operatives.
The game supports solo play and small squads. Its locations are divided between PvE, PvPvE, and PvP activities, so players can avoid human opponents in dedicated PvE content without assuming that every location is available in every mode. This page summarizes first-party launch information and does not assess balance, server quality, or performance.
Platforms and cross-play
Active Matter launched on September 15, 2026 for PC through Steam and Gaijin.Net, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The official FAQ confirms cross-platform multiplayer between the PC and console versions.
Console players can choose among three matchmaking scopes: their own platform, consoles only, or every platform. These are separate matchmaking choices and should not be confused with cross-progression, which has a much narrower official answer.
| Version | Cross-play | Progress transfer | Verified platform note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam on PC | Yes, with PC and consoles | Shares progress with the Gaijin.Net PC version after account linking | Windows and native Linux requirements are published; Steam Deck support is stated in the FAQ |
| Gaijin.Net on PC | Yes, with PC and consoles | Shares progress with the Steam PC version after account linking | Earlier Gaijin Store owners must link by November 23, 2026 to receive the Steam edition |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | No transfer between PC and console versions | Can match on PlayStation only, consoles only, or all platforms |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | No transfer between PC and console versions | Can match on Xbox only, consoles only, or all platforms |
Does Active Matter have cross-progression?
Only between the two PC versions. The official FAQ says progress can be shared between Steam and the Gaijin.Net launcher, but cannot be transferred between PC and console versions.
Owners of the earlier Gaijin Store version can receive the corresponding Steam edition by linking their accounts by November 23, 2026. The linked PC versions then share progress. One purchase overlay on the official site currently uses broader wording about all platforms, which conflicts with the FAQ's direct technical answer. Until Gaijin corrects that inconsistency, the FAQ's explicit PC-versus-console answer is the safer interpretation.
| Official location | Published wording | How it is treated here |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ: Progress transfer | No transfer between PC and console; progress is shared only by the Steam and Gaijin.Net PC versions. | Used as the direct technical answer. |
| Purchase overlay | Uses a broader statement that progress is shared across all platforms. | Flagged as conflicting and not used to promise console cross-progression. |
| Current conclusion | PC cross-progression is confirmed; PC-to-console transfer is not supported. | Retained until the publisher clarifies or changes the FAQ. |
Can you play solo or only in PvE?
Yes. The official FAQ says Active Matter can be played solo and includes dedicated PvE locations for players who do not want to fight other people. It also notes that solo play is harder than cooperative play.
Mode access depends on the location: some areas are designed for PvE, some for PvPvE, and others for PvP. That distinction matters because a general claim that the entire game can be played as solo PvE would overstate what the developer has confirmed.
Price and edition differences
The US Steam storefront listed the Standard Edition at $29.99 on September 16. Steam also sells Advanced and Deluxe upgrade bundles; Deluxe includes the digital soundtrack. Prices and bundle discounts vary by region and can change, so the live storefront is the final source at checkout.
The editions provide different starting weapons, equipment, storage upgrades, recipes, cosmetics, and in-game resources, while the playable content is otherwise the same. The Gaijin Store also offers an Elite Squad Edition containing Deluxe content for the buyer and two Standard Edition keys for friends. These are starting advantages and extras, not separate campaigns or maps.
| Edition | Starting resources | Notable extras | Playable content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 25,000 Credits and 300 Prime | Base starting weapons, modifications, equipment, and ammunition | Same playable content as the higher editions |
| Advanced | 60,000 Credits and 1,300 Prime | One storage expansion, one replicator-queue expansion, Bouncer backup, and Harpy recipe | Same playable content as Standard |
| Deluxe | 185,000 Credits and 5,500 Prime | Three storage expansions, two replicator-queue expansions, extra shells, recipes, weapons, and cosmetics; Steam includes the soundtrack | Same playable content as Standard |
| Elite Squad | Deluxe-level content for the buyer | Two additional Standard Edition keys for friends; sold through the Gaijin Store | Same playable content as the other editions |
Linux, Steam Deck, controller, and anti-cheat support
Steam publishes native Linux requirements, and the official FAQ says Active Matter works on Steam Deck and supports controllers on PC. Neither source provides a measured Steam Deck frame-rate or battery-life target, so compatibility should not be read as a performance guarantee.
Steam also discloses kernel-level BattlEye anti-cheat and says it requires manual removal after the game is uninstalled. That disclosure applies alongside the published Windows and Linux specifications.
Official PC requirements
The Windows minimum starts at a Core i5-6600 or Ryzen 3 1300X, 8 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1050 Ti, RX 470, or Arc A580. The recommended tier moves to a Core i5-8700 or Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM, and an RTX 2060, RX 5700 XT, or Arc A770.
Both tiers require 45 GB of storage and an SSD. Steam lists the same processor, memory, graphics, network, and storage guidance for Linux, with most modern 64-bit distributions at minimum and Ubuntu 26.04 64-bit for the recommended tier.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit; most modern 64-bit Linux distributions | Windows 10/11 64-bit; Ubuntu 26.04 64-bit |
| Processor | Core i5-6600 or Ryzen 3 1300X | Core i5-8700 or Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1050 Ti, RX 470, or Arc A580 | RTX 2060, RX 5700 XT, or Arc A770 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
| Storage | 45 GB available; SSD required | 45 GB available; SSD required |
Sources and verification
First-party sources were checked on September 16, 2026. Store prices and launch details can change after that date.
- Active Matter on Steamprimary · checked 2026-09-16Supports: release date, developer and publisher, US price snapshot, modes, editions, anti-cheat, Windows and Linux requirements
- Active Matter official FAQofficial · checked 2026-09-16Supports: platforms, cross-play, cross-progression limits, solo and cooperative PvE, edition differences, controller support, Steam Deck, native Linux
- Active Matter official website and screenshotsofficial · checked 2026-09-16Supports: gameplay overview, official promotional media
- Gaijin: Active Matter is out nowofficial · checked 2026-09-16Supports: released status, launch platforms, current editions, Gaijin-to-Steam linking
- Gaijin: Active Matter launches September 15official · checked 2026-09-16Supports: release date, launch platforms, Standard Edition reference price, Gaijin-to-Steam migration