Alternate timelines can be fun to think about. What would the world look like under different circumstances? For example, how would a police officer in 1980s Miami make use of today’s technology to bust a drug cartel? It’s an oddly specific question, and it’s going to be answered in an upcoming game. Today, the Vice NDRCVR demo launched as part of Steam Next Fest.
In the seedy underbelly of the 80s drug trade, you'll need to hack the cartel to take them down. Demo Vice NDRCVR during @Steam's Next Fest today.
Your mission brief is here: https://t.co/Ad9Iv7WDhY#SteamNextFest pic.twitter.com/Kq4CVkJu3K
— Skybound Games (@skyboundgames) October 3, 2022
Vice NDRCVR casts the player as a cop in 1980s Miami.
According to today’s announcement, Vice NDRCVR is an interactive thriller that takes place in an alternate version of Miami where technology advanced more rapidly. This has been a boon to the area’s drug cartels. However, a police officer could also take advantage of the new tech. In this case, the player is the officer for the job.
“Utilizing an early inception of the world wide web that the crime lords have exploited for their own benefit, players will infiltrate the cartel’s computer system deep within the organization’s building and make life-or-death decisions that impact the course of the weaving narrative.”
Watching all the action unfold on a fictional computer interface might call to mind titles like Orwell and Hypnospace Outlaw. However, developer Ancient Machine Studios promises that players can expect the unexpected from Vice NDRCVR.
“VICE NDRCVR represents everything we love about 1980’s pop culture, from the neon aesthetic, synth soundtracks, and homages to classic crime cinema and TV,” says Cos Lazouras, co-founder of Ancient Machine Studios. “We’re doing it with a twist and a healthy dose of paranoia; it’s an alternative Miami in the ‘80s, where technology existed much earlier than reality. How would a narco-war under these conditions unfold?” Ancient Machine Studios Co-founder Miguel Periago added, “The VICE NDRVCR storyline is a complex thriller with twists that will surprise the player at every turn.”
Today’s announcement did not reveal an official release date for the interactive thriller. However, the Vice NDRCVR demo is playable now as part of Steam Next Fest.