NetEase Games debuted its open world virtual reality (VR) experience Nostos at Gamescom in 2018, showcasing a grand vision for its next title. Then earlier this month the studio held a small alpha test involving around 100 participants. Thanks to that initial run, the studio has revealed plans to roll out a beta test later this summer which will include Oculus Rift for the first time.
![Nostos 13 Self-built Village [screenshot in winter]](https://www.vrfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Nostos-13-Self-built-Village-screenshot-in-winter-1024x576.jpg)
Nostos’ gameplay focuses on PvE (player versus environment), with survival and exploration the main duties. Set 1,000 years after the collapse of humanity, the world is now wild and very isolating, with NetEase Games explaining: “Players need to explore the land with friends, discover historical sites and the remains of war, build shelters and fight against ‘Coral Seas’, gradually uncovering the truth hidden by time.”
In the Nostos Global Alpha Test participants were able to try various mechanics such as climbing, building, driving and shooting systems freely, via either PC or on HTC Vive. “We chose to present the sandbox genre in a VR environment, creating a fascinating world with a higher degree of freedom for our players,” commented Nostos’ Producer, Shui Ge, in a statement.
There will be a massive world for players to explore, from open grasslands to arid deserts and snow-covered mountains as well as ancient crumbling cities to discover, all the while days and nights will pass and so will the four seasons. The Coral Seas are the biggest danger in Nostos, slowly corroding the land while the creatures that dwell in the toxic waters are a constant threat. So players can band together, collecting resources to build shelter whilst gaining their strength by making sure there is enough food and water to live. ![Nostos 11 Driving [Screenshot]](https://www.vrfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Nostos-11-Driving-Screenshot-1024x569.jpg)
NetEase Games has previously said that each Nostos world has the ability to contain a maximum of 20 players, although there won’t be a cap on the number of worlds.
The videogame is slated for a Q3 2019 release, but the studio hasn’t confirmed exactly when the beta will begin and whether it’ll be made available to a wider player base. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Nostos, reporting back with the latest updates.