VA · Project Variants — Project update, October 2026

The new direction

Since the last update

May 2026Prototype 3 demoInitial direction

Jun – JulTwo main concepts tested and evaluatedMultiverse extraction · Extinction survival-craft

Jul – AugNew direction establishedResearch, references, playtests, prototypes

Aug 2026Production startedNew UE project, new UGS + GAS pipelines, no marketplace-system reliance

Oct 2026 · todayFirst full loop playableRooms, weapons, enemies, upgrades

Variants Roguelite

A fast-paced first-person roguelite action FPS game for solo and co-op play, set in a dark fantasy world.

Fast, readable combat A new build every run Progress that lasts Solo or 3-player co-op One world theme

HOW IT FITS

Many needs are met with one direction

Clear audience

Shooter players who know and love the genre

Team fit

Shooters, systems, levels, tech

Short cycle

Focused release, reusable content

Replay value

Builds, unlocks, shuffles, harder missions

Co-op scope

Friends, P2P only, no servers

Post-launch growth

Updates and DLC on one foundation

Our own identity

One dark fantasy world

Fun from the start

Readable fights, regular wins

Indie-friendly

No AAA holds the niche; indie and AA teams

Tight scope

More depth from fewer systems

Scope we reduced

Multiverse extraction

Public lobbiesMatchmakingDedicated serversAnti-cheatMultiple worldsPer-world art and rulesIncursion toolsSuit and exposureExtraction economy

Extinction survival-craft

Investigation toolsEvidence and samplingHarvestingCrafting recipesInventoryMobile baseWorld variantsPersistent open worldDay/night, weather

What stays

roguelite core

WeaponsAbilitiesElements and statusEnemiesProgressionRun upgradesRooms and runs3-player P2P co-op

Fewer systems, faster release

Estimated months to release for the same 5-person core team, with art and audio running in parallel.

Product → release (Early Access)Art and audio, in parallelExtra months and × vs the roguelite bar of the same type

Rogueliteour pick

~12 mo

~13 mo

Survival-craft4-player co-op

~18 mo · +6 mo / ×1.5 vs Roguelite

~21 mo · +8 mo / ×1.6 vs Roguelite

Extraction shooterPvPvE

~24 mo · +13 mo / ×2 vs Roguelite

~26 mo · +13 mo / ×2.1 vs Roguelite

06 mo12 mo18 mo24 mo30 mo

*Optimistic. Path confirmed at Vertical Slice. Same 5-person core team plus art.

Where the time goes: systems by genre

Strong GAS fitPartialOutside GAS

RogueliteOur pick

~12 monthsto release · optimistic target8 systems Shared core (6): WeaponsAbilitiesStatus and elemental effectsEnemies and their attacksCo-op networkingProgression and unlocks Plus 2 roguelite systems: Run upgradesRun structure and rooms

GAS saves 5.5 months (1.5×)Art and audio: 13 months

Survival-craft

~18 months+6 months · 1.5× the roguelite13 systems Same shared core (6) Plus 7 more systems: Survival needsGathering and resourcesCrafting and recipesInventory and storageBase buildingPersistent open worldDay/night and weather

GAS saves 5.5 months (1.3×)Art and audio: 21 months

Extraction shooter

~24 months+13 months · 2× the roguelite13 systems Same shared core (6) Plus 7 more systems: Body-part damage and medsPvP server authorityInventory and stashLoot, traders, economyRaid and extraction rulesMatchmaking and backendAnti-cheat

GAS saves 10 months (1.4×)Art and audio: 26 months

GAS: Unreal's built-in Gameplay Ability System for abilities, buffs, effects and their networking. *Optimistic; path confirmed at Vertical Slice.

How it plays

What a roguelite shooter is: the core loop

Enter run

Basic loadout, 20–40 min run

Fight

Clear the room

Choose

Pick 1 of 3 rewards

Get stronger

Rewards stack into a build · repeat

Boss fight

Win the mission, or die trying

Back at the hub: spend currency and get unlocks, start again stronger.

Inside a runWeapons, upgrades, effects — temporary. Reset every run; rooms and rewards reshuffle.

Between runsCurrency, upgrades, unlocks — permanent. Every new run starts stronger with more options.

Five core pillars

Fast, readable combat

Responsive, satisfying, fair from minute one

Builds through clear choices

Weapons × elements × upgrades

Progression and replay

Completable missions, meaningful unlocks

Solo and co-op

Great alone, better with friends

Dark fantasy identity

Themed guns, dark magic, cursed dungeon

Run progression: 81* builds from four choices

4choices→81builds→8choices→6,561builds→15rooms→43M+possible runs

WeaponRoom 1 · rewardRoom 2 · rewardRoom 3 · rewardFinal build

Marksman rifle

Shotgun

SMG

Move faster while firing

Weak-point damage

Faster fire

Faster reloads

Lightning rounds

Critical-kill explosions

Chain lightning

Ammo on kill

Critical damage

A · The ExecutionerEvery headshot detonates the pack

B · The JuggernautWades in; kills feed an endless barrage

C · The StormcallerOne blast arcs through the whole room

D · The PhantomUntouchable blur, never stops firing

Illustrative rewards. B and C share a weapon and first pick and still play differently. Grey lines: the other combinations.

Persistent progression: get rewarded, win or lose

Run won · mission complete

Permanent currency

New weapons, perks, upgrades in the pool

Next mission unlocked

Run lost · still worth it

Permanent currency

less, never nothing

New weapons, perks, upgrades in the pool

some unlock progress

Next mission unlocked

go again, do better

At the hubSpend currency on permanent upgrades · pick a starting perk · new options join the reward pool

Next run starts strongerBetter baseline · wider reward pool · a new mission or harder difficulty to chase

Bars show relative reward size, illustrative. Exact currency, unlock and mission-gating rules remain in design.

Market and setting

Proven demand in the niche

Gunfire Reborn$34.4M3.1M unitsEarly Access May 2020 · 93% positive

Witchfire$19.1M656K unitsEarly Access Sep 2024 · 91% positive · adjacent genre

Deadzone: Rogue$13.5M836K unitsEarly Access Apr 2025 · 82% positive

Roboquest$12M734K unitsEarly Access Aug 2020 · 95% positive

DRG: Rogue Core$10M424K unitsEarly Access · 60% positive

Steam only. Premium revenue and units: VG Insights estimates, Sep 2026. Ratings from Steam. Not a forecast for VA.

Dark fantasy across genres

Underserved among roguelite shooters

One art language, not one per world

Occult guns and magic belong here

Biomes of one magic dungeon

Inspiration, not VA art or targets. Art style and direction to be developed in early Production.

Progress

What we've built in 2 months

Aug → Oct 2026 · new Unreal project from scratch · full run loop playable

Combat

5 weapon bases3 enemy types, incl. a flyerEnemy AI and spawnsHealing drops

Run loop

Full loop, start to finishClear a room to move onWin, lose, reset9 upgrades, rarity and stacking

World

9 unique roomsHub and end roomRoom stitchingLevel streaming

Co-op and design

Co-op foundationsRun progression prototypePersistent progression prototypeCombat and abilities design

A selection, not the full list. Placeholder assets only.

Foundations in place

Engine

Source-built UnrealNew Perforce depotGAS integrated

Build pipeline

Unreal Game SyncHordeTeamCityAutomated packaging

Networking

Iris replicationPush modelCo-op foundations

Design

Run progressionPersistent progressionCombat and abilitiesPrototyped

Three enemy roles

Melee

Closes distance, punishes standing still

Ranged

Holds position, forces cover and priority

Flying

Harasses from above, tests aim and awareness

Placeholder models from the current build. Roster grows next.

Thematic environments

Stylized greybox rooms and placeholder assets, already carrying the mood.

Plan

What comes next

Product and gameplay

More run upgradesPersistent progression in-gameUtility and mobility abilitiesBigger enemy rosterBigger weapon rosterBranching room exitsMore room varietyImproved co-op

Art and marketing

Art style and directionFirst assetsAsset planMarketing positioningMarketing first steps

Roadmap to launch*

Direction establishedAug 2026

Vertical SliceFeb 2027

AlphaJun 2027

BetaAug 2027

LaunchOct–Nov 2027

Product

Discovery and Concept

Vertical Slice production

Production ramp-up

Alpha

Beta

Launch

LiveOps

Marketing

Research

Positioning

Brand

Reveal

Awareness

Community growth · audience check at Alpha

Launch ramp

Launch

Growth

Concept approval

Direction validated

Go / rework / stop

Market presence

Scope lock

Release readiness

Launch

*Optimistic, desirable scenario; path confirmed at Vertical Slice.

Risks we are watching

Risk	Why	Plan
Art throughput	Longest track, ~12.5 months	Art direction now · marketplace assets · outsource props
Estimate accuracy	±30–40% this early	Re-forecast regularly · confirm path at Vertical Slice
Co-op stability	Player-hosted sessions	GAS and Iris in place · test co-op every sprint
Standing out	Strong games already in the genre	Dark fantasy identity · deep builds · completable missions
Scope creep	Roguelites invite endless content	Focused first release · grow via updates and DLC

Variants Prototype 4 Update

Since the last update

Variants Roguelite

Many needs are met with one direction

Clear audience

Team fit

Short cycle

Replay value

Co-op scope

Post-launch growth

Our own identity

Fun from the start

Indie-friendly

Tight scope

Scope we reduced

Multiverse extraction

Extinction survival-craft

What stays

Fewer systems, faster release

Where the time goes: systems by genre

What a roguelite shooter is: the core loop

Enter run

Fight

Choose

Get stronger

Boss fight

Five core pillars

Fast, readable combat

Builds through clear choices

Progression and replay

Solo and co-op

Dark fantasy identity

Run progression: 81* builds from four choices

Persistent progression: get rewarded, win or lose

Proven demand in the niche

Dark fantasy across genres

What we've built in 2 months

Combat

Run loop

World

Co-op and design

Foundations in place

Engine

Build pipeline

Networking

Design

Three enemy roles

Thematic environments

What comes next

Product and gameplay

Art and marketing

Roadmap to launch*

Risks we are watching

Thank you!