Devolver Digital Announces Serious Sam: The Third Encounter
By placing the new main-series entry directly after The Second Encounter, Croteam and Devolver are continuing a 2002 storyline rather than moving the series forward from Serious Sam 4.
Key Facts
- Devolver Digital announced Serious Sam: The Third Encounter on October 22, 2026.
- Serious Sam: The Third Encounter is set immediately after the ending of 2002's Serious Sam: The Second Encounter.
- Serious Sam: The Third Encounter is in early development with no release date, and only PC via Steam has been announced.
- Serious Sam: The Third Encounter supports solo play and online co-op, and full Japanese voice support is planned.
- Main-series development for Serious Sam: The Third Encounter is handled by Croatia's Croteam.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
Devolver Digital announced Serious Sam: The Third Encounter on October 22, a new main-series entry in the Croteam-developed FPS franchise, with a Steam store page and a teaser trailer now live. The game picks up the story immediately after the ending of Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, the 2002 title, and the announcement stresses that this is not a prequel in the manner of Serious Sam 3: BFE or Serious Sam 4. Sam Stone returns to fight through alien worlds, eerie fortresses, and wastelands, moving toward the army of his nemesis Mental. Combat is described as more intense than before, from defense against swarming enemies to an all-out assault on Mental's stronghold. The familiar minigun returns and new weapons are planned. Solo and co-op play are both supported. The game is in early development with no release date, and only PC via Steam has been announced as a platform.
A Steam store page is live for the game, alongside a teaser trailer. Croteam, based in Croatia, handles development, with Devolver Digital publishing.
The toon-style visuals are a new look for the series, which has run since 2001's Serious Sam: The First Encounter. Full Japanese voice support is planned.
- Serious Sam: The First Encounter (2001), the series debut
- Serious Sam: The Second Encounter (2002), the title the new story follows directly
- Serious Sam II, a sequel in the main line
- Serious Sam 3: BFE (2011), described as a prequel
- Serious Sam 4 (2020), also a prequel
- Serious Sam: Shatterverse, a spin-off by Behaviour Interactive released September 1 and the newest release before this announcement
The official Serious Sam account teased the reveal on social media the day before the announcement, posting "Enough foreplay. Let's get Serious! I'M BACK IN THE THIRD ENCOUNTER, BABY! 😎" with an image.
The announcement frames the combat as run-and-gun play, with Sam moving through open ground and firing without taking cover. Online co-op with friends is confirmed alongside solo play.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net ド派手FPSシリーズの正統続編「Serious Sam: The Third Encounter」の開発がアナウンス。伝統の“走り撃ち”でメンタルとの決着をつけろ！
- Automaton 人気ドンパチFPS『シリアス・サム』最新作『Serious Sam: The Third Encounter』発表。24年越しに描かれる『The Second Encounter』のその後
- Denfaminicogamer 押し寄せる敵を片っ端から吹っ飛ばす爽快FPS『シリアスサム』シリーズ新作『The Third Encounter』発表！2002年に発売された『The Second Encounter』直後のストーリーが描かれる
- Game Spark 前日譚ではなく、その先へ！大群を撃ち倒すFPSシリーズ最新作『Serious Sam: The Third Encounter』発表―2002年リリース作の直後を描く