Rogue Incursion Won’t ‘Pull the Same Tricks’ From the Films, Dev Says

Survios writer Alex White pledged that Alien: Rogue Incursion won’t “pull the same tricks” as the films that inspired it, but instead seek to offer an entirely fresh experience. They did so as part of a recent internal interview, where they also discussed other aspects of the game and their relationship to the iconic franchise that Alien: Rogue Incursion is based on.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a virtual reality action horror game that’s coming to a variety of VR headsets in December 2024. It will feature another Alien story penned by White, the author of Alien: The Cold Forge (2018) and Alien: Into Charybdis (2021), some of the most beloved tie-in novels that the franchise has spawned to date.

Ahead of Alien: Rogue Incursion‘s debut, White discussed their contributions to the project, views on the current state of VR gaming, and more, as part of an internal interview that Game Rant can now exclusively share.

Survios Writer Alex White Talks Alien: Rogue Incursion, VR, and More

Q: Tell us about who you are and your professional background.

A: My name is Alex White, and I’m the author of many science fiction books, including Alien: The Cold Forge and Alien: Into Charybdis. I’m a lifelong fan of the Alien franchise, and I probably owe a lot of that to the Alien comics from the 90s. I spent a lot of time reading those as a kid and was thrilled when I joined the ranks of those authors.

Q: What is Survios building?

A: Survios intends to build the ultimate Alien VR game that would stand alongside previous Alien games and create that visceral fear of being hunted by the Perfect Organism.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is more than your standard VR action-horror game because our authentic Xenomorphs create a new battle space. The environments are porous, and creatures can emerge from anywhere to threaten the player. It’s not simple run and gun, nor is it all about hiding. You’ll need a potent mix of tactics to deal with the constant threats from all sides.

Perhaps what makes Alien: Rogue Incursion wonderful in the action-horror VR space is its focus on the narrative. We’ve seen a lot of great adaptations in this industry, but this will be an original, fresh story written around everything VR can do. To you. You’re going to have to be brave.

Q: What excites you about bringing the Alien universe to VR? What unique elements can be added as part of the VR story?

A: My favorite thing about experiencing the Alien universe in VR is the way it confronts you. On PC/Console, it’s easy to imagine yourself as a hero, because there’s a layer of abstraction between the controls and the action. In VR, the deadly Xenomorphs are right there with you, and you can’t do a dodge roll to slip out of damage. There’s a sense of size and weight that’s sometimes difficult to depict in 2D, even with modern rendering and sound. In Alien: Rogue Incursion, however, you understand exactly what you’re seeing because it’s actual size and right next to you.

The other awesome part is simply moving about in the setting of that world. It’s not a stretch to say that Alien is my favorite science-fiction horror film of all time, and I’ve always wanted to wander the corridors of the Nostromo or Hadley’s Hope — albeit from the safety of my home.

This will be an original, fresh story written around everything VR can do. To you. You’re going to have to be brave.

Q: What do you believe is missing in the VR game space?

A: The marketplace is inundated with rogue-likes and wave shooters because that’s a great way to create a tech demo for what the medium can do. And I’m not slamming those games! I was a big fan of Raw Data long before I worked with Survios, for example. That was a pioneering title, and Survios continues to evolve that knowledge into the next generation.

As a VR fan, I’m hungry for deeply immersive AAA single-player campaigns with powerful story arcs and huge narrative set pieces. I need good dialogue and gripping stories I can’t wait to tell my friends over drinks. And at the fulcrum of those story arcs, I want characters whose experiences will haunt, thrill and comfort me.

Q: What narrative elements from the Alien franchise are unique to Alien: Rogue Incursion?

A: When you think about the feature films, they’re often ensemble casts up against the horror and danger. Colonial Marines usually come in teams, with bonds like a family, and that gives them a lot of strength. We’ve chosen to focus on the deep loyalty and partnership between Zula Hendricks and Davis 01 – just two against the impossible.

They’ve had a few adventures together at this point, and they’re experts at supporting one another. And while it’s comforting to share a crisis with a loved one, it’s not fun to see them in danger. Let me be blunt: it’s my job as an author to manipulate your emotions. I hope to make you feel for these two.

And, as always, the Alien franchise has a way of keeping you guessing about who lives and who dies.

It’s my job as an author to manipulate your emotions. I hope to make you feel for these two.

Q: When people play this game, what are some take away/key moments you are hoping they will have with their experience?

A: Razor sharp, low-banter dialogue, from two excellent communicators, for starters.

I want them to have the high-stakes Alien experience they always wanted, and I hope we surprise them. After all, they’ve already seen the films, so we can’t pull the same tricks twice…

Q: Is there anything else exciting you can tell us about the game?

A: I loved writing the little bits of story you’ll find littered all over. It was so fun to create a fully realized facility and all the intrigues inside. You won’t be reading a ton of diary entries here, but rather seeing the lives of the staff reflected in various data products. Those who love to dig for lore will find resonant stories buried in this dangerous research facility.

Alien: Rogue Incursion will hit the market on December 19, when it is set to release for the PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest 3, and Steam VR. The game will be offered in two editions, Standard and Deluxe, priced at $39.99 and $49.99, respectively. The higher-tier package will come with some extra cosmetics, including a few weapon and armor skins inspired by Alien: Romulus. Fans can already pre-order Alien: Rogue Incursion for their VR platform of choice.