Enhanced Gameplay, Simplified Graphics

When Alien: Rogue Incursion first hit the scene for PSVR 2 and PC VR in December, it marked an exciting milestone as the first VR-exclusive title in the iconic ‘Alien’ franchise. Fast forward to now, and developer Survios has expanded its reach by launching the game on Quest 3.

Reflecting on our review from launch day, the adrenaline-packed encounters with Xenomorphs, known for their raptor-like stalking, were certainly highlights—despite being somewhat dulled by repetitive, random run-ins. The experience was further tarnished by a save system that didn’t quite hit the mark, leading to some frustration. Nonetheless, we rated it a respectable 7 out of 10.

Before the Quest 3 debut, the game received several patches. You’ll find it on the Horizon Store with a $40 price tag, and one patch, in particular, stands out. Released just days ago, this update rebalanced Xenomorph spawn mechanics by tweaking their ability to hear and see, preventing them from overwhelming players or homing in on them too precisely. Additionally, the save system got an adjustment, allowing players to load previous saves instead of just one.

We haven’t dived into the Quest 3 version yet, but initial feedback is varied. Gamertag VR on YouTube offers a solid overview of the new Quest launch, pointing out some graphical inconsistencies.

“The dark atmosphere is somewhat lost on Quest, as the initial parts of the game are surprisingly bright. There’s a head-mounted flashlight, but for the first four or five hours, it goes unused because the environment isn’t as dimly lit as expected,” they noted.

Despite these lighting issues, Gamertag VR acknowledges the Xenomorph interactions feel more authentic, likely thanks to the recent patch just before the Quest 3 release.

For those curious about a detailed comparison, ‘The VR Grid’ on YouTube has done a side-by-side analysis of the game on both Quest 3 and PSVR 2 (using the base PS5). This comparison shows a few compromises made to accommodate the Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor.

While the gameplay’s core experience remains consistent between Quest 3 and PSVR 2, the Quest version misses out on dynamic lighting, realistic ambient effects like steam, and has a shorter draw distance. On the plus side, it offers more legible in-game text.

Although we’re highlighting Alien: Rogue Incursion here, it’s technically ‘Part One’ of a two-part epic. Back in December, Survios shared that this first installment is a standalone adventure ending in a cliffhanger, with promises of more to come.

Survios is currently developing ‘Part Two,’ continuing the tale of Zula as she faces fiercer foes and tougher challenges.