PlayStation 3 on July 4, 2013, in Japan. Developed by Sandlot, it is a direct sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017. It features four player online co-operative play. It was released in February 2014 in North America and Europe. Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair, an updated port, was released for the PlayStation 4 on April 2, 2015, in Japan and on December 8, 2015, in North America. Europe has an estimated release date for February 12, 2016, and European players are able to play with North American players online according to Ryan Graff from publisher XSEED Games. A Nintendo Switch version is planned to be release in Japan in 2022. Earth Defense Force 5 (2017) Earth Defense Force 5 was announced at TGS 2016, and was released on December 7, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 in Japan. The game was released on December 11, 2018, in North America and Europe. Earth Defense Force 6 (2022) Earth Defense Force 6 is a sequel to Earth Defense Force 5 and was released on August 25, 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Japan. Spin-offs Global Defence Force Tactics (2006) Chikyū Bōeigun: Tactics, known as Global Defence Force Tactics in Europe, is a turn-based strategy game, taking place after the events of Global Defence Force. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (2011) Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is the fourth game in the series, released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows. It was the first game in the series to be developed outside Japan and also the first to feature online co-operative play. Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain (2019) Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain was announced at TGS 2017. Under development by Yuke's, the game has been described as "more serious than the series’ traditional campy tone." The game was released on April 11, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 worldwide. Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (2020) Earth Defense Force: World Brothers was announced on June 23, 2020 as an action spin-off with voxel graphics for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Developed by Yuke's, the game was released on December 24, 2020 in Japan and on May 27, 2021 in North America and Europe. Reception Despite generally mixed reviews, the Earth Defense Force series, particularly from Earth Defense Force 2017 and onwards, has been described as having a cult following. Joe Juba of Game Informer