“We’ve been blown away by all of the positive comments we’ve received and all of the useful bug reports and feedback that you have sent our way,” posted the studio. “We wanted to assure you that, even though we may not respond to every single review or report, we are looking at all of them and incorporating them into our future strategy.”

The studio has described five of the big issues that its programming team is hard at work on fixing: general bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, crime rate balancing, AI behaviour, and escort unit fixes. Plans to fix these core issues have been described as its short-term goal. In the mid-to-long-term, however, Fallen Tree Games is asking players for feedback about what new features and content can be developed for the game.

For general bug fixes, the studio has said that it is focusing on the major bugs that players have discovered and have been providing feedback about. It also notes that there will likely be quite a few edge cases and unique bugs that are difficult to track and fix owing to the scope of the open-world game. The developers are also taking player feedback into account as it incorporates more quality-of-life features going forward.

As for rebalancing the game’s crime rate, the studio has described the in-game city’s crime rate being too severe. “Crime in Averno City may be bad, but we want to keep it at least somewhat realistic,” it posted. To that end, work is currently being done to reduce the number of overlapping incidents that can happen. AI behaviour as well as escort units will also get some tweaks.

“This is what we’re focusing on in the short-term, but in the mid- to long-term we’re also compiling suggestions from your feedback to decide what extra features and content we can add to The Precinct in the future,” wrote Fallen Tree Games. “We are committed to adding more content to the game, but we haven’t decided yet exactly what that will be.”

The Precinct was released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S earlier this week. There is also a physical edition available which comes with a Steelbook, a digital copy of the game’s original soundtrack, as well a physical map of Averno City that players can make use of as they navigate through its crime-ridden streets. The game is priced at $29.99 on all platforms.

For more details about The Precinct, check out our review, where we gave it a score of six out of 10. We praised its stylish visuals, presentation, and nuanced take on police work, while also criticising its performance issues, cheesy dialogue, and clunky combat.

Intriguing mechanics and a decent aesthetic aside, the writing can be hit or miss. The police work becomes predictable and sometimes repetitive, and the gunplay could use more polish. Nevertheless, it is a unique gameplay loop.

"It’s one thing to take inspiration from the banter of old cop movies and another to translate that enjoyably. When it’s not trying to be comedic, many of the exchanges are passable enough, even if Cordell Jr. doesn’t get much say outside of the dialogue choices you select."

It’s 1983 in Averno City, which is described as rotten to the core. Gangs are noted to rule the streets, even though you barely encounter any, and when you do, they’re extremely good at adhering to the speed limit. You play as Nick Cordell Jr., a rookie cop who just joined the force even as the murder of your father, a legend in the force, looms large over the police department and the city as a whole.

After initially foiling a bank robbery, you’re quickly involved in larger cases, whether tracking down the August Gang’s leader or going undercover to take down a street racing ring. All this is in service of eventually finding out how your father died and meting out justice the ACPD way. It’s fairly straightforward and more than a little cliched, with the overall vibe and music taking inspiration from old-school cop movies. However, the developer does a decent job of immersing you in the experience.

The same goes for introducing its cast of misfits, from Kowalski, who doles out shift assignments, to Chandler, who bears a suspicious resemblance to Kowalski, the jokester Christie and the nonchalant Kelly, who’s close to retirement. Of course, other characters are introduced as you progress, like Eugene, the evidence guy, and detectives Li and Ferrera, who you know are detectives because one has suspenders and the other has a long coat. I wish their characteristics were more defining.

As such, the lines range from overtly cheesy to outright unnatural. It’s one thing to take inspiration from the banter of old cop movies and another to translate that enjoyably. When it’s not trying to be comedic, many of the exchanges are passable enough, even if Cordell Jr. doesn’t get much say outside of the dialogue choices you select.

"Shooting civilians is also out of the question – it’s an automatic game over, though surprisingly, running over multiple civilians, who dodge-roll Dark Souls-style, isn’t. "

Characters aside, The Precinct is focused on implementing the nitty gritty – or recreating it as much as possible – that constitutes real police work. You have a shift that runs for a certain number of hours and can focus on specific crimes like vandalism, which often involves dealing with those spraying graffiti, giving out speeding tickets (and engaging in hot pursuits against those who don’t play nice, and on-foot patrols.

Depending on the assignment, there’s enough leeway to pursue a little of everything. You could be driving around a specific district and suddenly get a call about a street fight or burglary in progress. It’s also possible to randomly check license plates and speeds of different cars to determine if they should be investigated. As you resolve various crimes, you’ll earn progress towards unlocking the next location and level up to unlock upgrade tokens for new skills.

As for the actual police work, you can’t just go around smacking everyone in the head with a baton. Shooting civilians is also out of the question – it’s an automatic game over, though surprisingly, running over multiple civilians, who dodge-roll Dark Souls-style, isn’t. When confronting a perpetrator, you must go through several steps, like checking their ID, searching them for any potentially illegal contraband or weapons, giving them a breathalyzer test if they’re intoxicated, etc.

Depending on the circumstances, you can tack on different offenses. If you encounter a burglar attempting to flee or even trying to fight, you can throw in evading arrest or assault for bonus XP. Other acts like reading them their rights or covering up bodies also provide XP.

"The same can’t be said of the cover-based shooting. It’s a little haphazard on controller, especially when trying to line up the height of a shot. Enemies perfectly landing their shots when you barely peak out of cover doesn’t help. The mouse and keyboard feel better when aiming, but it’s still clunky at times."

Learning the due process can take some time, but there is some enjoyment in figuring out the different offenses to tack on since selecting the wrong ones results in a slight XP penalty. However, while there is a variety of crimes to tackle that can feel vastly different – the relatively peaceful ticketing of parking infractions versus a high-speed chase where the crook escapes their vehicle and takes a hostage – many devolve into the same booking process more often than not. It adds the tedium of a shift, especially as you’re trying to obtain evidence to advance your investigation into the city’s gangs.

At least you can eventually customize a shift, from the duration and location to the type. As for the actual story missions, they’re fairly rote and don’t offer much beyond more extensive shootouts or chases. They could have been more memorable if the dialogue was up to snuff, but alas. There are other activities to discover on the map, like hitting jumps and partaking in challenges that your fellow officers have set up for the best times. I’m not sure how either is explained away as part of the job, but they break up the monotony, at least.

Additional tools are unlocked as you level up, including better weapons like shotguns and beefier vehicles like 4x4s. You also get new support options to call in when required, and while it’s funny to T-bone a perp’s car with a fellow cruiser, oftentimes they feel superfluous and unhelpful. I’m not sure what helicopter support is supposed to really offer in the early going but at least flying around isn’t too shabby.

The same can’t be said of the cover-based shooting. It’s a little haphazard on controller, especially when trying to line up the height of a shot. Enemies perfectly landing their shots when you barely peak out of cover doesn’t help. The mouse and keyboard feel better when aiming, but it’s still clunky at times. The actual movement itself is acceptable, even if it’s odd that criminals never lose stamina while you, a fresh out-of-the-academy recruit, are continuously sucking wind. It is somewhat odd that Cordell ragdolls when tackling an escaping perp. Funny, but still odd.

"While The Precinct is a throwback to the old days of Grand Theft Auto and offers its own unique twists due to the police perspective, it’s hard to recommend. Even if bugs are ironed out, and the performance is improved, the story and characters just aren’t compelling enough to get you invested."

The Precinct’s presentation is passable – Averno City is lit well enough with decent details, even if the depth of the sandbox, like dynamic interactions between NPCs, is limited. You’ll spot the same ID portrait more than once for some as well, which isn’t a big deal but does sully the immersion.

Outside of bugs, like a perp’s neck turning more than 90 degrees to look at you before fixing itself, the biggest annoyance is the performance. Even while being well beyond the system requirements, the slowdown was enough to warrant dialling down the settings, and even then, there were issues.

While The Precinct is a throwback to the old days of Grand Theft Auto and offers its own unique twists due to the police perspective, it’s hard to recommend. Even if bugs are ironed out, and the performance is improved, the story and characters just aren’t compelling enough to get you invested. The actual gameplay can feel novel, though it can also wear out its welcome over longer periods. It’s worth checking if you’re looking for a different take on the cops and robbers dynamic and feeling generous. Otherwise, there are plenty of other indie sandbox titles that are more worth your time.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Along with the digital release, The Precinct is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in physical form as part of a collaboration between Kwalee, Fallen Tree Games and Microids. The physical edition of The Precinct comes with a Steelbook, a digital copy of the game’s original soundtrack, and a physical map of the game’s main setting – Averno City.

The Precinct was originally announced all the way back in June 2023 with a trailer. The title puts players in the shoes of rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr. Set in the crime-ridden streets of 1980s America, The Precinct has players doing their part in bringing peace to Averno City by taking on the various gangs, as well as uncovering corruption that might end up going all the way to the top. Check out the launch trailer that shows off the general vibes of the game, while also giving us a look at some of its gameplay, below.

Back in May 2024, the game got another trailer narrated by art director Lewis Boadle that gave us a look at some of the minute-to-minute action that players can expect in their role as a beat cop. Along with patrolling the streets, players will have to also take an active role in stopping and preventing crime, ranging from petting infarctions like jaywalking or littering, all the way up to more intricate crimes in progress like massive heists and even government corruption.

Fallen Tree Games also revealed some more details about The Precinct back in October 2023, letting us know how different aspects of the game would work. One of the title’s key features, procedurally-generated crime, was described as being a way to offer players endless gameplay possibilities.

“The game has a day and night cycle, and when you start your shift you’ll be presented with a list of shift options,” explained the studio. “These will include vehicle and foot patrols, helicopter support, and issuing parking tickets. During these shifts, almost anything can and will happen, ranging from muggings to gang wars, graffiti incidents to store holdups. You’ll have callouts come through on the radio, and you will also have the ability to identify incidents on your own. Although accepting these callouts is not mandatory, failing to meet your quotas will affect your progress.”

The studio also revealed that, despite superficial similarities between The Precinct and its previous title, American Fugitive, players in the latest title will have to take a more deliberate approach to situations. “While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians,” it said.

For more details, check out our full interview with the studio.

Previously scheduled to release on August 15, Fallen Tree Games has announced that The Precinct has been delayed to fall of this year, with the studio saying it intends to use the additional development time to continue finetuning the gameplay, apply further polish, and continue fixing bugs.

“Our aim has always been to create the best version of The Precinct possible,” Fallen Tree Games’ delay announcement reads. “We want to deliver an immersive and engaging gameplay experience of the highest quality possible with our resources.

“After much consideration by both us and the team at our publisher Kwalee, we all decided that this would not be possible by August 15th based on the time we have left, which is why we have reluctantly delayed the release of The Precinct to Fall 2024.

“This additional time will allow us to fine-tune the gameplay, fix any remaining bugs, and provide the seamless gameplay experience that we set out to create when we first started working on The Precinct.”

Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee have also released a new trailer announcing the game’s delay and showcasing new gameplay footage. Check it out below.

Whenever it releases, The Precinct will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. For more details on the game, make sure to check out our interview with Fallen Tree Games through here.

Narrated by art director Lewis Boadle, the new trailer gives us a look at some of the things expected of a beat cop who is out doing their job in Averno City. The trailer showcases some of the game’s police-centric gameplay mechanics, such as how patrols work.

The Precinct seeks to meld gameplay based on police procedurals with an open world. The game will feature procedurally-generated crime, which can range quite a bit in terms of severity. One of the early examples revealed during the game’s announcements featured parking violations, as well as more intense crimes like shootouts and gang wars.

The game has been described by the studio as a love letter to classic cop movies, and is based in a 1980s noir setting.

Originally announced last year, The Precinct is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is set for release some time in 2024.

"While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians."

Your previous game, American Fugitive, offered a similar experience of an open world crime game that evoked classic GTA titles, but The Precinct is putting a different twist on it by having players play as law enforcement. How did the idea for that switch come about, and what changes will it bring to the core gameplay?

The concept for The Precinct took shape during the development of American Fugitive, when we would often talk about how enjoyable it would be to play as the police, and we lamented the lack of exciting cop games.

We played a police mod for GTA and loved it, so we just started tinkering with the concept after American Fugitive was launched. We noted that the act of pursuit is great fun, and it just grew from there. We’ve had so many people say to us they’ve been desperate for an action cop game, so glad it wasn’t just us that felt that way.

While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians.

Given your role as a law enforcement officer, the game anticipates that you exhibit restraint and sound judgement throughout your gameplay experience. You’ll need to be careful when engaging in gunfights and choose your targets carefully.

The Precinct will be making use of procedurally generated crimes for players to deal with. Can you talk about how this will function, and what level of variety players should expect from these activities?

We’ve put a lot of attention into the procedural generation of crimes, meaning that the game offers virtually endless gameplay possibilities. There is a story, but it isn’t as lengthy as it was in the American Fugitive, and you’ll spend a fair amount of time doing Shift Work.

The game has a day and night cycle, and when you start your shift you’ll be presented with a list of shift options. These will include vehicle and foot patrols, helicopter support, and issuing parking tickets. During these shifts, almost anything can and will happen, ranging from muggings to gang wars, graffiti incidents to store holdups. You’ll have callouts come through on the radio, and you will also have the ability to identify incidents on your own. Although accepting these callouts is not mandatory, failing to meet your quotas will affect your progress.

The Precinct seems to be placing plenty of emphasis on police chases, where players will also have access to a support system. How much depth will that system have, and what kinds of options will players have in the sort of support they can call in during a chase?

Our support system runs on tokens – think of them as rewards you earn for doing good or proper stuff, like staying close to a fleeing vehicle or taking down a bad guy. You can cash in these tokens to call for backup when you need it. Just remember, it’s context sensitive, so you can’t call in a helicopter for an overdue parking metre fine. Different support costs different amounts of tokens. e.g., a patrol car is cheaper than a spike strip, so there is an element of risk versus reward. Do you hold out in a chase and get a higher value item? So, expect to see a bunch of pursuit vehicles, spike strips, roadblocks, and even choppers in action.

"In contrast to the rural setting of American Fugitive, this game is set in a gritty metropolitan city, inspired by 1980s New York."

What should players expect from the design style and environmental design of The Precinct’s map, especially given its 80s noir inspirations?

In contrast to the rural setting of American Fugitive, this game is set in a gritty metropolitan city, inspired by 1980s New York, which was a pretty sketchy place back then. We’ve tried to create a condensed island city that contains lots of nooks and crannies to explore with unique landmarks and locations, and a road network that lends itself to thrilling chases and stunts. Unlike our previous game, which was entirely flat, we’ve introduced a degree of verticality for The Precinct. This can lead to clever shortcuts, exciting jumps, spectacular spins, and rooftop chases. We’re also leaning hard into the neon noir blade runner aesthetic, and the city looks stunning, especially at night.

What can you tell us about the dynamic weather system and what kind of an impact that will have on how players play the game?

The dynamic weather system has a direct impact on your gameplay experience. Your activities will be influenced by the weather conditions, which can either pose challenges or offer advantages. For instance, during rainy periods, the streets become slippery, and puddles accumulate, significantly complicating manoeuvring for both those chasing and those being pursued. If there is a storm, visibility will be seriously impaired. Your strategy and tactics will need to adapt according to the changing weather conditions.

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of The Precinct be?

Players can anticipate spending approximately 6-8 hours to successfully complete the main story line. Additionally, players have the option to confront other gangs and gather a variety of in-game items. As previously highlighted, our focus on procedural crime generation ensures that the game delivers nearly limitless gameplay possibilities.

"Players can anticipate spending approximately 6-8 hours to successfully complete the main story line."

Do you have any plans to eventually bring the game to the Switch down the line?

We are currently focused on releasing the game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We have no plans on bringing the game to Switch now.

Instead of becoming criminal kingpin in a reimagined US, players will rise through the ranks of fictional Averno City’s police force. Assuming command of rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr. players will tackle the frontline to protect Averno’s few good citizens, with a lightly sprinkled narrative centring on Nick’s father’s murder in the line of duty thrown in for good measure.

This action sandbox features procedurally generated crimes, from petty misdemeanours like parking infractions and littering to halting illegal street races, undertaking exhilarating car chases through twisted streets and alleyways on the hunt for powerful enemies and responding to bank heists alongside Averno’s finest, with player choice on how to complete each mission front and centre. Choosing the appropriate tactic plays a big part in The Precinct’s gameplay; for instance, players may opt to gung-ho solo, but this wouldn’t be playing to the strengths of the force, who at the player’s command will provide squad car backup, set up vehicle immobilising spikes strips and roadblocks, or even provide aerial helicopter support (which, by the way, can be flown by the player). In order to call in the support of the powerful Averno City police force, players must undertake good police work to earn support tokens.

Fallen Tree Games themselves describe The Precinct as “a love letter to classic cop movies”, and with the game set in a neon noir vision of 1980’s America it seems to replicate the style, feel, and tone of movies such as underappreciated Arnold Schwarzenegger matinees Red Heat and Raw Deal, Sylvester Stallone outings Nighthawks and Cobra, and maybe even RoboCop is acting as primary influence on The Precinct’s gritty drama. If you’ve seen those movies, you’ll know to expect thrilling car chases and epic shootouts. The slimy urbanism and vaguely isometric top-down perspective also calls to mind recent detective slow-burner Disco Elysium, but whereas that game presented opportunity to blur the lines of morality The Precinct encourages players to undertake their duties as straight as an arrow. As stated in Fallen Tree Games’ FAQ, there’s no room for brutality in Nick Cordell Jr’s. remit, with excessive force being met with disciplinary action. Instead, players are tasked with using their wits to operate within established legal parameters when investigating crimes and apprehending criminals. In breaking the law himself Nick Cordell Jr. would draw the ire of his station sergeant and likely lose the camaraderie of his fellow officers.

Like Disco Elysium though, players will forge through The Precinct’s missions with a partner in tow. It’s unclear at this stage how vital it will be for Nick Cordell Jr. to protect his partner, although it certainly seems based on video snippets shared on Fallen Tree Games’ social media accounts that players will face imminent and unexpected dangers to both their own and the life of their partner, with seemingly innocuous events like routine traffic violations turning deadly in an instant. The choice to go to heroic lengths to protect the life of their partner is something players will routinely face on the rough streets of Averno City.

And in visiting Averno City’s police headquarters is where the game’s intricate details shine: the bustle of office busybodies, admins chattering and phones ringing, tapping computer keyboards, water coolers and evidence boards, Fallen Tree Games are going to great lengths to craft a vibrant, living experience. Out on the streets citizens go about their daily routines, commuters go to work, children go to school, all under the cloud of the ruling criminal gangs who operate under the influence of a dark conspiracy. The ever-shifting underbelly of these gritty city streets is stuffed with, street vendors, and furious taxi drivers, whether in the underprivileged projects and slums or the glitzy, neon-lit financial districts. With decrepit parklands and a subterranean subway network too, there’ll be plenty of distinct environments to explore. Averno City’s realism is further underpinned by fully destructible buildings, dynamic weather conditions, and a full day and night cycle.

Now, to be clear, Fallen Tree Games aren’t hellbent on delivering a true to life replication of police work although they have consulted with a veteran NYPD officer who served their city during the 1980s to enhance the game’s believability as much as possible. Nevertheless, Fallen Tree Games say, role-players will enjoy the open world exploration promised by Averno City, including the low intensity task such as issuing parking tickets. This city never sleeps, and neither does our rookie cop – there is always something interesting to discover whether patrolling on foot, in a squad car, or flying helicopters overhead.

Closer to the OG GTA aesthetic perhaps is Fallen Tree Games’ prior game American Fugitive, a prison break caper whereby players bust out of jail on the hunt for the real culprit to their father’s grisly murder. On the way, players will infiltrate a dangerous criminal underworld under the guise of a regular citizen in a vibrant rediscovery of Grand Theft Auto’s top-down carnage. Whilst The Precinct isn’t a direct sequel to American Fugitive both games share the same connective tissue; they’re set in the same universe with Easter eggs dotted throughout The Precinct. American Fugitive requires players fulfil the life of a hardened criminal, robbing stores, looting houses, and arming themselves with enough firepower to take down a small base. The Precinct, if you like, is American Fugitive’s mirror image, borrowing from the elements which made its predecessor so successful whilst crafting something fresh albeit with the same top-down, OG GTA aesthetic.

Together with publisher Kwalee, Fallen Tree Games are targeting a 2024 release window for The Precinct, with PC the only officially announced platform thus far although next-gen consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are obvious shoe-ins. The game will be single player only for now, with no concrete plans for an online or co-operative element to gameplay, although there’s definitely ample scope for multiplayer owing to Nick Cordell Jr. patrolling the streets with a partner. One thing’s for sure, Rockstar’s rampant success with Grand Theft Auto has spawned many a copycat – some of which of supreme quality such as Sleeping Dogs – but you’d be hard pressed to find a GTA style game in a similar guise played through the lens of law enforcement.

Here’s hoping the game is met with success, as Fallen Tree Games have hinted they may be looking to add more features after launch.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

The Precinct puts you into the shoes of rookie cop officer Nick Cordell Jr. The game is described by the studio as a love letter to classic cop movies, and features a 1980s noir setting. The game features on-foot action, as well as car chaces, and even allows players to pilot helicopters.

The game will feature procedurally-generated crime that range from simple ones like parking violations, to more intense events like gang wars and shootouts. It also features vehicle chase sequences along with destructible environments, and a day/night cycle with dynamic weather.

The Precinct doesn’t yet have a release date, but it does have a Steam page where you can wishlist it. The Precinct will be coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

Fallen Tree Games’ open world sandbox title American Fugitive, which takes place from a top-down perspective, is now available. It’s out for PC and PS4, with the Nintendo Switch version coming on May 23rd. The Xbox One release will follow on May 24th. Check out the launch trailer to see the game in action.

The premise is simple – you’re Will Riley, framed for a crime and out to avenger your dead father. Breaking out of jail is the first step. After that, you have to locate the actual killer. There are different missions to undertake with 10 to 14 hours of gameplay time in the story. Whether you should trust any of the people you meet is something you’ll have to discover for yourself.

American Fugitive’s sandbox does channel old-school Grand Theft Auto in some ways. Players can steal cars, rob houses and stores, flee from cops, and much more. The game retails for $19.99, but you can avail of a 20 percent discount until May 28th. Check out our interview with the development team for more information.

If you’re yearning for old-school top down open world crime thrillers in vein of the older Grand Theft Auto titles (or the not-so-old Chinatown Wars), Fallen Tree Games’ upcoming America Fugitive might be just the thing for you. The indie studio has dropped a trailer of the game to give you an overview of what to expect.

It touts destructible environments, a “massive” open world, and plenty of chaos. The 3D top down visuals are looking pretty sharp as well, while the trailer also gives a brief introduction of some of the main characters we’ll be seeing in the story, from convicts and thieves to failed business owners and corrupt policemen. Take a look below.

American Fugitive is out on May 21st for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. For more information on the game, check out our recent interview with art director Lewis Boadle through here.