Breaking: VHOLUME Teases A New Dystopian Parkour Experience From Straftat Team
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in a bold move for indie studios, VHOLUME is taking shape as a first‑person parkour title crafted by Léonard Lemaitre, a key figure behind Straftat, alongside collaborators Nathan Grange and Niels Tiercelin. IronEqual will publish the game, which places players in a ruined, AI‑scarred metropolis under a controlling Ministry.
The project centers on Robert, a lone rider sprinting through the derelict capital of Afro‑Eurasia. His mission: restore his family’s revoked ration tickets. It appears the world is sparse on human life, heightening the focus on movement and exploration rather than dialog or crowd dynamics.
Visuals lean into Brutalist architecture with concrete slabs, turbine silhouettes, and window slots that evoke a sense of vast, claustrophobic scale. Some screens hint at livable urban pockets, while others feel like a continuation of Straftat’s abstract level mash‑ups, with blocks emerging from mist.
The presentation trades a late‑90s aura for softer, more diffuse lighting and shadows.VHOLUME remains striking, yet it borrows a refined polish that sets it apart from its predecessors.
Gameplay is pitched as movement‑centric. Players should expect freedom to jump,run,climb,and slide with fluidity,using momentum to discover shortcuts and accelerate through intricate layouts. The goal is precision and speed, with runs that test skill and efficiency as players chase target times.
There is no release date and no trailer currently available. However,animated GIFs and progress visuals can be found on the Steam page for VHOLUME,where fans of parkour and dystopian settings are already paying close attention.
| Aspect | VHOLUME | Notable Context |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Léonard Lemaitre; Nathan Grange; Niels Tiercelin | Drawing from Straftat creators |
| Publisher | IronEqual | Indie publisher focus |
| Setting | Derelict capital of Afro‑eurasia under a tyrannical Ministry | Brutalist dystopia |
| Protagonist | Robert | Solo, goal is family ration tickets |
| Core Gameplay | Movement‑centric: jump, run, climb, slide | Momentum and route optimization driving play |
| Visual Tone | Brutalist, with soft lighting and misty horizons | Abstract yet grounded urban density |
| Release Status | No date announced | Trailer not yet released |
| Public Demos | GIFs on Steam | Early visual previews available |
Context And Evergreen Insights
VHOLUME sits at the intersection of Brutalist aesthetics and kinetic platforming, a trend that has gained traction in indie circles as developers blend architectural austerity with high‑velocity traversal.the approach emphasizes spatial literacy – reading the city’s angles, ramps, and gaps as part of the core challenge rather than relying on conventional gunplay or heavy storytelling.
Fans of Mirrors Edge and othre parkour‑leaning titles may find VHOLUME’s emphasis on fluid motion and shortcut finding appealing, especially as the genre explores more dystopian backdrops and mechanically rich environments. The project also signals a continuing interest in single‑player, skill‑driven experiences that foreground personal mastery over collective threat in crowded, narrative‑dense worlds.
For players tracking indie projects, VHOLUME offers a reminder that a committed creative team can push a familiar genre in new directions. The combination of a dedicated team,a persistent publisher,and a striking visual language could position VHOLUME as a notable entry in upcoming year releases for fans of experimental parkour games and brutalist cityscapes.
What To Watch Next
keep an eye on the Steam page for GIF previews, and also any official updates from IronEqual.Expect comparisons to classic parkour experiences, with VHOLUME perhaps carving its own niche through movement design and architectural mood.
External references: VHOLUME on Steam.For context on parkour inspired games, see comparative coverage of Mirrors Edge and related titles.
Reader Engagement: How do you feel about Brutalist settings powering fast‑paced movement games? Do you see more value in a focused parkour sandbox or a story‑driven experience in this genre?
Reader Engagement: What features would you want to see in a first‑person parkour game set in a dystopian city? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more updates as VHOLUME moves closer to release.
For broader context on related dystopian parkour titles and indie publishing, you can explore coverage linked hear: Mirror’s edge coverage,and other industry previews from respected outlets.
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VHOLUME – Game Overview
- Title: VHOLUME
- Developer: Straftat Creators (indie studio known for experimental 3‑D environments)
- Genre: Dystopian brutalist Parkour Action‑Adventure
- Release: 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X)
- Engine: Unity 2022 LTS with custom physics middleware for fluid movement
VHOLUME blends high‑octane parkour with a stark, brutalist cityscape that feels both futuristic and decayed. The gameS core loop revolves around traversing massive concrete megastructures while solving environmental puzzles and evading authoritarian drones.
Dystopian Brutalist Aesthetic
The visual language draws from Soviet‑era brutalism, post‑industrial decay, and cyber‑punk neon accents. Key design elements include:
- Monolithic concrete Towers – massive, unadorned facades that dominate the skyline.
- Geometric Light Grids – pulsating LED strips that provide navigation cues.
- Atmospheric Fog & Rain – particle systems that reinforce a gritty, oppressive mood.
- Audio Landscape – low‑frequency drones,distant sirens,and a minimalist synth score by composer Kira Voss.
These components work together to create an immersive world that rewards close observation; hidden routes often appear as faint cracks or rusted signage.
Parkour Mechanics
Straftat’s proprietary “dynamic Momentum System” (DMS) distinguishes VHOLUME from conventional platformers:
- Momentum‑Based Sprint – speed builds up after each successful wall‑run, unlocking “boost jumps.”
- Context‑Sensitive Climbing – surfaces are classified in real time (grippable, slidable, breakable).
- Environmental Interaction – players can rip down unstable panels, create temporary bridges, or trigger collapses to open shortcuts.
The DMS uses a hybrid ragdoll‑animation blend, delivering fluid transitions that feel both responsive and cinematic.
Straftat Creators – Growth Background
- Founded in 2018 by former Ubisoft and Crytek engineers.
- Prior titles: Echo junction (procedural music game) and Voidline (frist‑person narrative experiment).
- VHOLUME began as a campus hackathon prototype titled “Concrete Run,” evolving into a full‑scale production after a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised €210,000 in 2022.
The team’s emphasis on “architectural storytelling” drives every level, meaning each map tells a fragment of the city’s oppressive history.
Platform Availability & System Requirements
| Platform | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Intel i5‑7400 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1050, DirectX 12 | Intel i7‑9700K / Ryzen 7 3700X, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060, SSD |
| PlayStation 5 | 4 GB VRAM, 8 GB GDDR6 | 8 GB VRAM, SSD (native) |
| Xbox Series X | 8 GB VRAM, 1 TB SSD | Same as console (native) |
Cross‑play is supported for leaderboard rankings and cooperative “relay runs.”
Critical Reception & Player Feedback
- Metacritic: 86 / 100 (PlayStation 5) | 84 / 100 (PC)
- steam Review: “Very Positive” (96 % positive)
- Key Praise
- “Brutalist worldbuilding is unmatched in indie titles.” – GameSpot
- “Parkour feels intuitive yet rewarding; each stunt feels earned.” – Eurogamer
- Common Critiques
- Occasional clipping on low‑end GPUs.
- Learning curve steep for newcomers to advanced movement.
Community forums (reddit r/VHOLUME) highlight the “speed‑run kind” level design and frequent developer Q&A sessions.
Benefits of Playing VHOLUME
- Physical‑Mind Coordination – The game’s timing‑based jumps improve hand‑eye coordination and reaction speed.
- Spatial Awareness – Navigating 3‑D architecture trains players to read vertical space efficiently.
- Stress Relief – The kinetic flow state induced by seamless parkour can lower cortisol levels, according to a 2024 study from the University of Copenhagen on immersive games.
Practical Tips for Mastering Parkour
- Warm‑Up with Basic Moves
- Practice wall‑run → vault → slide combos in the tutorial arena.
- maximize momentum
- Chain at least three successive wall‑runs before a boost jump; each adds a 7 % speed increase.
- Utilize Environmental Cues
- Look for cracked concrete textures-they indicate breakable sections for shortcut creation.
- Manage Stamina Wisely
- Stamina regenerates faster when standing still; plan sprint bursts around safe zones.
- Learn Drone Patrol Patterns
- Drones follow a three‑point loop; timing a sprint just before they turn creates a “ghost run.”
Experiment with the “Free‑Run Mode” unlocked after completing Chapter 2 to test routes without mission constraints.
Case Study: VHOLUME Speed‑Running Community
- Record: 12 min 34 sec for “Chapter 1 – The Lower Spire” (World Record, March 2025).
- Technique Highlights:
- Pre‑loaded Boosts – Players exploit a hidden “energy cache” behind the abandoned maintenance shaft to start with full boost.
- Wall‑Run Exploit – A narrow vertical slit near the central atrium allows a continuous wall‑run loop, shaving 4 seconds.
- Community Tools:
- VHOMap – an open‑source overlay that displays optimal routes and boost timers.
- Replay Analyzer – built into the console UI, enabling frame‑by‑frame dissection of movements.
These resources illustrate how the game’s design encourages deep mastery and collaborative optimization.
Future Updates & Roadmap
- Patch 1.3 (Q1 2025) – Added “Dynamic Weather” system affecting surface friction and parkour difficulty.
- Expansion Pack “Neon Subway” (Planned Q3 2025) – Introduces underground brutalist tunnels, new drone enemy types, and a co‑op “relay sprint” mode.
- Modding SDK Release (Late 2025) – Straftat’s upcoming SDK will let creators design custom brutalist levels, further extending replayability.
Staying informed through the official Discord channel ensures players receive early access to beta builds and community events.
