Billed as a massive VR sci-fi action game inspired by Starship Troopers, the title called Hivefall is available in early access through the director on Patreon of Memoreum.
Access is granted via our Patreon page and Memoreum Director Wim Buytaert’s SideQuest. Hivefall is the director’s latest work focusing on the concept of base defense. Each mission allows players to prepare before a massive attack of alien bugs destroys walls and culminates in a massive final wave featuring a big boss.
This early build was created specifically with the Quest 3 in mind, and the downloadable file will be sent to paid Google Drive subscribers and can be installed by sideloading via the SideQuest app. The developer said the sci-fi action shooter was “inspired by everything we’ve always wanted from Starship Troopers in VR.”
As the commander of an Earth-based military corporation, your terraforming efforts to colonize new planets will eventually awaken an alien creature bent on infecting other solar systems. The current build provides access to Hivefall’s first three missions and a fully functional progression tier system with skins. This individual developer aims to update the project monthly with new content.
Hivefall’s first level is set on a colorful purple planet filled with bugs.
After spending some time with this initial build and going through the hassle of setting up SideQuest and uploading the files necessary for it to work properly, I’m curious to know how many people are interested in going through the sideloading process. Hivefall’s developer is essentially researching exactly that possibility with his product. Distributing your work in VR via Patreon is not unheard of, with Davigo’s Flat PC vs. VR Games running a campaign. Quest 3 allowed us to see the game working in an early alpha state, but a significant portion of the planned work is still in progress or missing. The first build distributed for the game still looks quite pixelated with bugs to my eyes.
“Realistically, this project could be my last venture in the VR industry unless it becomes financially sustainable. That said, VR remains my true passion and the area in which I most want to create and innovate,” the developer wrote in an email. “This project is more than just a game, it represents years of experience, dedication and belief in immersive technology.”
The developer released survival horror Memoreum last year, which was praised for its ambitious goals but fell short of expectations in other areas. As we said in our review, “Even with its rough edges, there are bound to be people who will love Memoreum, and they’ll have a fair amount of experience to dig into.”
Depending on the support received, regular episodic campaigns and the possibility of an online co-op mode could be in the cards for the game.
Hivefall is currently available for Quest 3 via Patreon.
