The Cube. Just the name conjures up that unsettling, enigmatic feeling-part science fiction puzzle box, part doomsday artifact. Maybe it’s all the years we’ve spent watching cubes wreak havoc in everything from the Avengers films to indie horror flicks, or maybe it’s just because game developers love a good geometric mystery. Either way, Mundfish’s announcement of “The Cube”-an online action MMORPG set in the Atomic Heart universe-absolutely grabbed my attention. We’re talking about a studio known for their Soviet-tinged single-player shooter, now wading into the chaotic, ever-hungry waters of live-service multiplayer. That’s a big swing. But is it a home run, or are we headed for another live-service misfire?
Key Takeaways:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mundfish |
| Release Date | TBA |
| Genres | Action, MMORPG, Puzzle, Shooter |
| Platforms | TBA |
Let’s be real: the jump from Atomic Heart’s single-player, alt-history shooter to an MMO with puzzle mechanics isn’t just a genre shift—it’s a whole new development philosophy. When I heard CEO Robert Bagratuni talk about “The Cube,” the first thing I wanted to know was whether this would be a true co-op blast-a-thon like Helldivers 2 or a competitive, sweat-inducing shooter like Valorant. Turns out, it might be something else entirely. Bagratuni describes it as an “action MMORPG with a very strong emphasis on exploration.” That’s not the first thing I’d expect from a franchise known for its frantic gunplay and creepy robots, but it’s a potentially bold move if they can pull it off.
Mundfish is banking on letting players slow down and actually poke around the world, a lesson learned from players blitzing through Atomic Heart’s single-player dungeons. If they can recapture the eerie, detail-rich vibe of the original—just with friends along for the ride—it could scratch an itch a lot of loot shooters ignore these days. The pitch is all about freedom: pick your playstyle, revisit instances, and solve the giant, floating Cube at the center of it all. The stakes? Humanity’s fate, of course. No pressure.
But here’s where my enthusiasm gets checked by reality. The live-service multiplayer landscape is absolutely brutal right now. Ubisoft’s XDefiant just got axed, and Sony’s Concord is already infamous for its lukewarm reception. Even the biggest studios are eating dirt trying to keep these games alive, let alone make them fun and sustainable. I had to ask: Why take this risk, especially now?
Bagratuni’s answer is refreshingly grounded—at least if you take it at face value. The team is made up of “gamers,” with over 70 playtests under their belt, both internally and externally. “We want to ensure we create a game that is fun to play and people actually need it and want it—not that we come up with some crazy idea that no one needs,” he says. I can appreciate that sentiment, but plenty of doomed live-service projects have said the same thing before launch. The difference will come down to whether their live-ops pipeline can actually keep players coming back, and whether Atomic Heart’s universe is enough to build a community around.
What’s a little odd is the lack of concrete details. We don’t have a release date, supported platforms, or even a breakdown of what “rich live-op content” really means. In a genre where player retention is king (and where half-baked launches are the death knell), that vagueness could be a red flag—or just a sign they’re not ready to overpromise. At least we know Atomic Heart 2 is also on the way, so the universe isn’t going anywhere soon.
Here’s why this could actually matter for gamers: if Mundfish delivers on their promise of exploration-first, player-driven content, “The Cube” could stand out from the usual horde shooters and copy-paste PvP experiences. Atomic Heart’s world is weird, dangerous, and packed with style—that’s something a lot of live-service games lack. If they double down on the bizarre, the puzzles, and the freedom to play your way, there’s a shot this becomes more than just another MMO shooter. But the risks are real. If the content pipeline falters or the core mechanics aren’t satisfying, players will bounce—and in 2024, there are more alternatives than ever.
Personally, I’m cautiously optimistic. The idea of a multiplayer puzzle-shooter with deep world exploration is right in my wheelhouse, but the shadow of failed live-service games looms large. If Mundfish actually listens to its playerbase and avoids the usual grindy, FOMO-driven traps, “The Cube” could be a sleeper hit. But it’ll need more than a mysterious floating artifact to keep players hooked for the long haul.
TL;DR: Mundfish’s “The Cube” is a wild swing at live-service MMO territory, blending Atomic Heart’s signature weirdness with puzzle-centric chaos and a promise of meaningful exploration. The studio claims to be learning from recent multiplayer failures and focusing on fun, but the live-service market is rougher than ever. If they nail the gameplay and content flow, this could be the shake-up the genre needs. If not…well, we all know what happens when you mess up a puzzle cube.
Source: Mundfish via GamesPress