NO FATE: A New Perspective on the Blockbuster Film

The Terminator movie series has not been doing well at the box office recently, but the franchise is thriving in the world of video games. We learned about a new game, Terminator 2D: No Fate, through a leak earlier, and now it has been officially announced by Reef Entertainment and the game developer Bitmap Bureau.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is described as a heartfelt tribute to arcade games from the 1980s and 1990s. This is a side-scrolling action game that revisits the story of the popular 1991 film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Players will be able to choose characters like Sarah Connor, John Connor, and the T-800 while completing arcade-style missions throughout the game.

Mike Tucker, the design director and programmer at Bitmap Bureau, expressed that the team has invested a lot of effort and enthusiasm into creating exciting gameplay and beautiful pixel art, elements that they love most about games. The reveal made a strong impact with a thrilling trailer, showing off the fast-paced gameplay that resonates with anyone who enjoyed similar games during the ’80s and ’90s. It captures the essence of the old-school side-scrolling shoot-’em-ups, complete with nostalgic introduction animations and 16-bit graphics.

However, Terminator 2D: No Fate is more than just a retelling of the iconic film. The name itself references a memorable quote from the movie: “There is no fate but what we make,” suggesting that players can explore various endings in the game.

Players will take on the roles of Sarah Connor and the T-800 as they engage in various exciting missions, battling the T-1000 and trying to prevent Skynet from wiping out humanity. Additionally, players will lead as John Connor during future war scenarios. This unique story merges famous moments from Terminator 2: Judgment Day with original storylines and offers multiple endings, letting players take control of mankind’s fate.

The trailer showcases different levels inspired by famous scenes from the film, like the chase scene at the Corral bar, a thrilling escape from a hospital, and a dramatic motorcycle chase from the T-1000. John Connor’s missions will take players into the Future War, adding depth to his story and the overall Terminator narrative.

Tucker mentioned that one of the most exciting aspects of developing the game was creating the Future War missions, where players can lead an adult John Connor in the fight against the machines. Although the film only hints at John’s role as a leader, the team enjoyed expanding his backstory.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is scheduled to be released on September 5, 2025, for various platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. There are three physical editions available for pre-order, with digital pre-orders set to be available later.

The Day One Edition comes with several items, such as a reversible cover sleeve, a cloth poster called “Unknown Future,” a collectible metal arcade token, a full-color manual, and a collector’s box. The Collector’s Edition includes everything from the Day One Edition, plus a special collector’s tin, a Steelbook case, a different cloth poster, a premium metal paperweight, a flipbook, and an art book. There’s also an Online Exclusive Edition available only through the Reef Direct Online Store, which features a unique version of the collector’s tin and a bonus cloth poster titled “Steel Mill Showdown.”