Unique operative coming to Ghost in the Shell: First Assault Online today
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Andy is of the firm opinion that there aren't enough games set in the Ghost in the Shell universe. It has a 26-year history to draw on, first as serialised manga then an anime series, a number of films and four videogames. The most recent of the latter is Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex—First Assault Online (pause for a moment to catch your breath), a squad shooter from Neople which, not content with a sizable legacy to draw on, is taking the canon in its own direction. At 5pm GMT today, the character roster will be joined by an operative unique to First Assault but designed in conjunction with the official Ghost in the Shell team.
Maven is a guerrilla warfare specialist equipped with a thermoptic barrier to hide behind. At level two, the size of the barrier increases. The SkillSync system whereby operatives share abilities based on their proximity, forcing squad play, was Andy's favourite thing about First Assault, so I'd image any extra depth from the addition of new ability will be welcome indeed.
"We fought a lot (not really) with the creators so that we could make a great character on par with [protagonist] Motoko," Neople said. "For her story, we wanted to find something that would fit the universe and the character itself. We’re happy with what we came up with, and hope the players feel the same way."
Joining Maven in the update will be a new map, inventively dubbed 'Port', a collection of guns and an early stat tracking work-up.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

