The spin-off of Atomic Heart, The Cube, is set in a cube as a satire towards flat earthers

Mundfish explains why it decided its MMORPG spin-off is set in a cube and the challenges this entails.

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Robert Bagratuni, CEO of Mundfish, has recently spoken about The Cube, a shooter MMORPG set in the Atomic Heart universe. In an interview with Polygon, Bagratuni explained why they decided to set the game in a massive floating cube.

According to him, the choice of the cube as a setting was partly a jab at those who believe the Earth is flat, but there’s also a deeper motivation behind this choice.

A jab at flat-earthers and a technical challenge

Bagratuni pointed out that, in the universe, the sphere is considered the perfect shape, but the cube is a very different entity. A gigantic cube would have one face completely irradiated by the Sun, the opposite face plunged into darkness, and a perpetual twilight zone on the side faces. This offers incredible variability in what is perceived on the screen by players. The concept of the cube is fundamental to the game, as its shape has a powerful influence on the brain and how the gaming experience is interpreted.

The cube’s shape also presents a monumental technological challenge, as each cube tile contains thousands of interactive objects that must move simultaneously with the rest of the game world, and everything must happen in real-time. Bagratuni highlighted that, if a player is on a lateral tile of the megacube, they will see a vertical horizon, which offers a completely different experience from the tiles placed horizontally on the same axis of the surrounding environment.

Mundfish continues to work on The Cube, which promises to be a unique and exciting gaming experience in the Atomic Heart universe.