Alpha Channel and Kepler Interactive used The Game Awards stage to officially reveal TankRat, a full-scale reimagining and expansion of the studio’s cult vehicular-action hit TankHead. Launching in Spring 2026 for Steam and PlayStation 5, TankRat takes the post-apocalyptic mecha combat of the original and turns every battle into a desperate fight for survival.
As a major thank-you to early adopters, all existing Epic Games Store players will receive the full TankRat upgrade for free at launch.
A new announcement trailer gives a fresh look at the chaos ahead.
Mechanized Survival in a Deadly Wasteland
In TankRat, players control Whitaker, a human consciousness digitized to survive a world ravaged by an unknown cataclysm. The only way forward is to fuse with customizable war machines, massive, weaponized mechs built from the ruins of a world consumed by metallic corruption.
Players battle across the Event Containment Area, a warped, crumbling wasteland where mechanical monstrosities roam freely. Every encounter is a duel of firepower and improvisation, demanding players dismantle enemies, salvage their parts, and rebuild stronger.
Every Kill Is an Upgrade
TankRat leans heavily into its “scrap-to-survive” loop. Each destroyed enemy becomes a valuable resource:
- Tear apart colossal machines
- Harvest their components
- Fuse new power into your mech frame
- Rebuild for the next encounter
It’s a world where progression is earned one kill at a time, and the machines standing in your way are as terrifying as they are essential to your survival.
The Road to Highpoint Won’t Be Easy
Whitaker’s goal lies within Highpoint, a fabled city rumored to hold the key to humanity’s salvation. But getting there means venturing through the Dead Zone, an expanse dominated by towering mechanical titans that serve as both guardians and executioners.
Challenging these giants won’t just push your build to its limit; it will force players to master tactical positioning, adaptive loadouts, and ruthless scavenging to stay alive.
Follow TankRat’s Journey
To track development updates, new footage, and community news, players can visit the official link hub.
TankRat launches in Spring 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, with Epic Games Store owners receiving a free upgrade.
