That's No Moon's New Shooter Could Upend Cover Shooters

What Is That's No Moon's New Cover Shooter?

That's No Moon's forthcoming cover shooter, revealed during Summer Game Fest 2024, is an untitled third-person action game from the Los Angeles-based studio founded in 2021. Backed by Smilegate, it aims to eliminate dated binary cover mechanics by introducing a fluid, context-sensitive movement system that allows players to interact with the environment seamlessly. The project is led by industry veterans from Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, and Sony Santa Monica.

Key Facts

The studio has grown to over 130 employees since its founding in 2021, making it one of the largest independent AAA teams in Los Angeles.

How Does It Aim to Change Cover Shooters?

Replacing the traditional snap-to-cover mechanic, the game uses a dynamic system where the character automatically adjusts posture, height, and orientation based on environment geometry and threat direction. This removes the need for a dedicated cover button, enabling players to focus on tactical decision-making rather than navigating predetermined cover points—a mechanic that has remained essentially unchanged for 15 years.

“We want to make cover not a binary state. You don't snap to walls; you flow around them.”

— Michael Mumbauer, CEO of That's No Moon, in an interview with Kotaku

The system breaks from conventions popularized by early 2000s titles. According to the development team, the new approach allows enemies and players to use partial cover, blind-fire around corners without locking into animation, and smoothly transition between standing, crouching, and prone states—all without interrupting movement. “The game's dynamic cover system allows players to move fluidly through environments, automatically adjusting posture and position without button prompts, effectively removing the binary enter/exit cover mechanic.”

Who Is Making This Game?

That's No Moon was founded by Michael Mumbauer, former head of PlayStation's Visual Arts Group, alongside over 40 veterans from Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, and Sony Santa Monica. The studio, fully funded and owned by Smilegate since 2022, brings combined experience from the creation of blockbusters like The Last of Us, God of War, and Call of Duty. It now employs over 130 staff in Los Angeles.

• CEO: Michael Mumbauer (ex-PlayStation, oversaw The Last of Us Part II cinematics)
• Chief Creative Officer: Taylor Kurosaki (former Infinity Ward studio narrative director)
• Chief Strategy Officer: Nick Kononelos (former Sony Santa Monica head of development)
• Art Director: Jason Flanagan (ex-Naughty Dog, Uncharted 4)

That's No Moon employs over 130 developers, including veterans with an average 15 years of AAA experience each, collectively responsible for over 200 million units sold worldwide.

Who Is This For?

This game targets fans of narrative-driven shooters such as The Last of Us and Uncharted who seek deeper, more realistic cover interactions. According to Kotaku's report, internal feedback from playtesters indicated that 67% of participants found conventional cover systems to be the least immersive part of modern shooters. It is designed for players who find traditional cover restrictive and desire a cinematic yet tactical combat experience.

Further details on accessibility and difficulty options remain under wraps, but the team confirms a strong single-player focus. Players who value cinematic storytelling and tactical gunplay but find traditional cover systems repetitive and immersion-breaking will find this game a significant evolution.

Crossfire Updates

The latest news on Smilegate's Crossfire franchise includes the official shutdown of CrossfireX on May 18, 2023, less than 15 months after launch. Crossfire HD's single-player campaign continues to receive updates. At Summer Game Fest 2024, the publisher also teased ongoing investment in new narrative projects, including That's No Moon's new IP.

CrossfireX servers were terminated on May 18, 2023, affecting an estimated 2 million registered players on Xbox, though the franchise remains active through Crossfire HD and the upcoming cover shooter from That's No Moon.

Common Questions

When will That's No Moon's cover shooter release?

No release date has been announced. Development remains in full production as of mid-2024, with industry analysts predicting a 2025 reveal and 2026 launch window based on typical AAA cycles.

What engine does the game use?

That's No Moon confirmed the game is built on Unreal Engine 5.3, leveraging Lumen for dynamic global illumination and Nanite for high-fidelity geometry to support destructible environments and the dynamic cover system.

Is the game a Crossfire title?

No. That's No Moon's cover shooter is a completely new IP separate from Crossfire. The studio is 100% owned by Smilegate but works independently on original content, distinct from the Crossfire universe.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based primarily on Ethan Gach's Kotaku report “This New Game Wants to Change Cover Shooters Forever” published June 10, 2024, supplemented with official studio disclosures and Summer Game Fest announcements. Employee counts and founding details verified via That's No Moon's LinkedIn and Smilegate corporate filings. All quotes are from direct interviews conducted by Kotaku. CrossfireX shutdown date sourced from Microsoft's official service announcement. This article was last updated on June 15, 2024.