Atomic Heart certainly made an impression during E3 2021 with its trailer leaning full-tilt into the strange Soviet science fiction aesthetic. Where many of the most popular modern first-person shooters focus on bombastic multiplayer action, anything with a focus on atmosphere and a unique setting always catches gamers’ attention.

However, the trailer left us with many questions about the upcoming title. Fortunately, there is plenty of evidence and news to sift through regarding the game, especially because it was actually announced years ago. Whether Atomic Heart lives up to its intriguing premise will only be known once the game finally comes out.

When Was Atomic Heart Announced?

Atomic Heart had its initial reveal in 2017 with a teaser trailer. However, much has changed since the reveal. This is completely normal for game development, since countless iterations occur during development. Sometimes games become unrecognizable during the course of development.

Is VR A Possibility?

In the original teaser trailer, VR is the primary platform advertised. Is this still the case? According to an interview from wccftech, VR is no longer in the cards. The developer says it may come into play in the future, but at the moment it is not a priority.

Soviet Luna Park VR

Developer Mundfish had a prior game called Soviet Luna Park, an exclusively VR experience available on steam. It was released in July of 2018 and was subsequently canceled and removed from sale in December of the same year. The purpose was to focus development on Atomic Heart.

Though the game is no longer available, there are videos of it still available on YouTube and it gives a solid indication of Atomic Heart’s tone. Those who purchased Soviet Luna Park are also set to receive Atomic Heart at no additional cost once it launches.

Trailers

  • There are currently four trailers for Atomic Heart There are numerous other videos showcasing gameplay on the official Atomic Heart youtube channel

While there is plenty of footage of the game available, the most exciting and revealing trailer is the most recent E3 2021 trailer. At just over a minute long, it shows bits of gameplay, enemy designs, and characters all set to an upbeat Russian synth-pop song.

  • The song in the trailer is by the band Мираж (Mirage) and is called Музыка нас связала (Music has Tied Us) The man and woman with the similar haircut appear to be the two main characters We see the player use electric and telekinetic powers An appendage in the player’s hand appears to be able to connect to machines and robots

10-Minute Gameplay Trailer From 2020

There is also a 10-minute gameplay demonstration from 2020 on the company’s YouTube channel which similarly should pique everybody’s interest. It showcases impressive attention to detail as well as an extensive melee combat system.

Atomic Heart’s Gameplay

Atomic Heart is an FPS set in an open-ended environment. There are several other important elements to note.

  • It has several RPG elements you will be able to modify and add attachments to weapons Using what is called the Chaika 3.0, you will be able to craft weapons from components found in the world.

In addition, exploration is promised to be a key aspect of gameplay.

What Is Atomic Heart About?

Trailers ultimately reveal almost nothing about the story, but fortunately there is a short synopsis available directly from the developer in an IGN interview.

  • Atomic Heart takes place in an alternate past sometime in the 1950s or 1960s Robots are a part of everyday life in the Soviet Union The main character is a KGB agent with a mental illness named P-3 He is sent to investigate a factory where robots are made called 3826 The official site for the developer offers an extensive breakdown of the game’s lore before the events of Atomic Heart

This idea of being sent to an interesting environment where something goes terribly wrong is nothing foreign to fans of single-player first-person shooters. However, the setting differentiates it greatly from other atmospheric shooters like Bioshock and System Shock.

What Do We Know About The Developer Mundfish?

Atomic Heart comes from Russian studio Mundfish. They are relatively new to the field but Atomic Heart is already making waves.

  • The Studio was founded in 2017 by four people its first game was Soviet Luna Park VR, which is now currently delisted Mundfish are also publishing Atomic Heart

They Are Getting Help From Gaming Royalty

On the game’s YouTube channel is an extensive interview with Richard “The Levelord” Gray. Veteran FPS fans should be familiar with the name, since he designed levels for Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, SiN, and Quake. He had retired from the industry and moved to Russia for his family before Mundfish contacted him and asked for some input on the game. In the interview, Richard describes his distaste for modern Triple-A development, which makes his endorsement of the game all the more interesting and promising.

Release Date

Currently, there is no release date announced for Atomic Heart. There had been some murmurs about a 2021 release date, but nothing is confirmed at the moment. In fact, the official website simply lists “TBA” as the release date.

The game is still slated to come out on the PS4 and Xbox One, so one imagines it won’t be several years from now. It will be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass

Influences

Gaming Influences

In the developer’s bio, it mentions the studio’s ambition of making a game to garner the same respect and recognition as titles like Doom, Bioshock, and Fallout. All of these influences are evident when looking at the gameplay.

Literary Influences

In interviews the team has mentioned the narrative and atmosphere drawing inspiration from science fiction writers of the Soviet Union. Two names in particular are Stanislaw Lem and the Strugatsky Brothers. The former wrote Solaris, while the latter duo wrote Roadside Picnic. Both stories were turned into films by famed Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky. While Atomic Heart seems to have more dark humor than the aforementioned novels, the idea of a setting haunted by strange, inexplicable circumstances comes directly from both Roadside Picnic and Solaris.

Additional News

In 2019 a ResetEra post spoke of development troubles within the studio. Among the points listed are major layoffs, inexperienced staff, and a lack of direction and concrete vision. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt because the source is completely anonymous. Other notable games have gone through development problems and come out as fantastic products.