– Asymmetrical PvP concept with humans vs. dinosaurs, featuring a variety of classes, dinosaurs, and maps.
– Positive reception for concept, dinosaur roster, and maps; criticisms include controls, balance, and technical issues.
– Steam sale boost: 90% off to $1.29 (original $12.99) with a recent prior discount; noted price undercuts previous lows.
– Upcoming remaster Primal Carnage: Evolution releasing May 28, 2026 for PS4/PS5, possibly driving interest.
Primal Carnage: Extinction Setting and Gameplay
Primal Carnage: Extinction is set on abandoned research islands filled with dense jungle areas and maze-like lab complexes, where modern weapons meet prehistoric predators. Humans fight for survival with shotguns, flamethrowers and traps, while dinosaurs hunt their prey with teeth, claws and brute force. The game offers five human classes and ten different dinosaurs, including fast hunters, flying attackers and massive beasts such as the T-Rex. There is also a co-op survival mode, cosmetic customization and Steam Workshop support.
Development and Reception
Primal Carnage was developed by Circle Five Studios in collaboration with Pub Games and released in April 2015. Since then, the title has collected more than 9,400 Steam reviews, 83% of which are positive. Players particularly praise the successful asymmetrical concept, the large dinosaur roster and the varied maps. Criticism mainly focuses on the imprecise controls, balancing issues and technical shortcomings. On the Steam Deck, Primal Carnage is listed as “Verified”.
Current Player Activity and Pricing
Normally, the shooter only reaches player numbers in the mid double digits – not ideal for a game built around PvP battles. The current deal, however, appears to have given the title a noticeable boost: at the time of writing, 883 users were online simultaneously. The low price is likely the main reason. Until May 31, Primal Carnage: Extinction is 90% off on Steam and costs $1.29 instead of $12.99. According to SteamDB, the game was previously discounted by 75% once during Steam Scream Fest 2024, while discounts of up to 66% were otherwise the norm. The current deal therefore significantly undercuts the previous all-time low.
By the way: The upcoming release of Primal Carnage: Evolution could be another reason for the increased interest. The remaster is scheduled to launch on May 28, 2026 for PS4 and PS5.