Axis Invasion in Sniper Elite 5: what it is, how it works and how to turn it off

Quick answer: Axis Invasion lets another player enter your campaign match as an Axis sniper whose job is to hunt you down. If you’d rather play alone, Rebellion’s official support says to switch Invasion Mode to OFF in the Options menu. In some versions the same setting appears in the campaign menu as Allow Axis Invasion.

What Axis Invasion is

In Sniper Elite 5, your campaign can receive an “intruder”: another player, controlling an Axis sniper, joins your map while you work through the mission objectives. You keep playing as usual — but now someone is looking for you with the same tools you have.

In practice it changes the pace of every mission. A careless shot or a reused position can give you away, and the mission turns into a sniper duel. In our full campaign, played with invasions on, some episodes had up to three invasions in a single mission — like episode 2, in Occupied Residence (narrated in Brazilian Portuguese).

How to turn invasions off

According to Rebellion’s official support:

1. Open the Options menu.
2. Find the Invasion Mode setting.
3. Set it to OFF.

Player guides describe an alternative path through the campaign menu: Play → Campaign → Online Features → Allow Axis Invasion → Off. The setting’s name and location may vary by platform and game version — if you can’t find it in one menu, check the other.

Guides also mention starting the game without an internet connection, which prevents invasions but disables the other online features too.

Should you leave it on?

It depends on what you want:

• Leave it on for extra tension and unpredictable matches — any mission can turn into a different hunt.
• Turn it off if you’re focused on the story, collectibles or completing objectives at your own pace.

Guides note that playing with invasions on used to grant bonus experience (XP), but that benefit has been changed in updates; don’t count on it as the main reason.

Tips for surviving an invader

• Relocate after you shoot. Staying in the same spot after a shot is the fastest way to get found.
• Use ambient noise. The Sniper Elite series has sound masking: shots fired during loud noises (generators, planes) draw less attention.
• Don’t ignore the objectives. The invader wants you, but the mission’s soldiers are still there — an alarm makes the invader’s life easier.

Want to be the invader?

You can also play the other side and invade someone else’s campaign. There’s a match like that on the channel: my first Axis Invasion as the invader.

To see the whole campaign in order, mission by mission, check every Sniper Elite 5 mission in order.