Virtual Reality Space Simulator Detached Available Now

Taking one small step for video games and one giant leap for virtual reality, the space-explorer game Detached was fully released on Steam on Thursday.

The PvP-oriented game was developed by Anshar Studios, a company that contains experienced members of City Interactive Games, the publisher and developer known for its work on titles such as Lords of the Fallen. In Detached, players are dropped off on the edge of civilization in space, the by-product of a war-torn community that's lost most of its previous structure. Without the factions that were previously in place there to guide your movements, you're forced to survive on your own while you look for the remaining members of your crew. Resources are scarce, and the importance of conserving the limited resources — especially oxygen — can't be stressed enough.

While the multiplayer aspect of Detached looks promising, the single-player experience shouldn't be ignored either as it allows players the chance to acclimate themselves to the uncharted territory of space. Most games use their single-player mode as almost a tutorial of sorts, and it can sometimes be skipped, but it doesn't look like that's the best option in Detached. The game features that same zero-gravity environment that would normally be found in space, something that makes it incredibly difficult to navigate throughout the space stations and the outlying surroundings. The majority of the initial experiences with Detached will likely involve bumping around the space station in a nauseatingly weightless situation until you're able to find your space legs.

Though VR is sometimes an add-on for many games, sometimes even at a gimmicky level, this game was built from the ground up for VR. There's twists, turns, sudden accelerations, and jarring collisions to be had, all from the first-person perspective. Throughout the descriptions on Steam and on the game's official site, there are numerous warnings about the intensity of the VR experience.

"All gamers should also be aware that Detached is an extreme VR experience that simulates sudden and dramatic acceleration, freefalling, twisting, and rolling," a warning reads. "Even at 90 fps, it is not for VR-sensitive players."

Some of the VR intensity found in the game can be seen through the launch trailer below amidst a bit of explicit language.

For those who are relatively new to the world of VR games, it may be best to work your way up to this one. But for those who already consider themselves veterans of the VR experience, this roller coaster of a game looks like a true test of the stomach.

Detached is available on Steam and requires the use of a VR headset such as the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift.