Atomic Heart 2 is keeping the "craziness," with even more horny robots

I consider myself a bit of a shower philosopher. Some of the best articles I've ever written came to me during early morning steam sessions; it's where I ask myself questions and attempt to work out the answers. As a history and war studies graduate, I find my mind wandering to corners of the past: how would the world look if x had happened, instead of y? Mundfish answered one of those with Atomic Heart: what would have happened if the Soviet Union survived and became the global superpower? Apparently, lots of angry robots, fur people, and a very horny vending machine. But now, as revealed at Summer Game Fest, Atomic Heart 2 is on the horizon, seeking to answer different questions and ponder even more.

Atomic Heart 2's premise is similar to its predecessor: the world's robotic population has turned on humanity, and it's up to you to stop it. While the exact details are still a little hazy, the newest chapter of the FPS game's ongoing saga (set in the now-official 'Atomic Universe') promises to "expand events to a global scale," building out the RPG elements and showcasing more of its world.

"The events that are happening in the world of Atomic Heart are not just impacting the Soviet Union; they're impacting the rest of the globe. This is what we're going to explore," Mundfish CEO and Atomic Heart game director Robert Bagratuni tells me via a translator.

"In terms of the location itself, it's going to be massive. We're working with an architectural bureau that's helping to design a huge futuristic city in the world of Atomic Heart." He says that said company has done work in various areas of the United Arab Emirates, as well as for royal families, which are oftentimes not "bound by rules." This means the metropolis that we see in Atomic Heart 2 will be a "thoughtful, believable city of the future."

With Mundfish's promise of an expanded scope, I ask whether Atomic Heart 2 is leaning towards being more of an open-world game; an interesting switch given the somewhat critical feedback around Atomic Heart 1's bumpy switch from close-quarters, linear missions to an explorable sandbox.

"We took a lot of learnings from Atomic Heart," he tells me. "We had this amazing city in Atomic Heart 1 that, unfortunately, the player only gets to see and explore once. After the release, we really thought about it and we wished that we'd given the player a place to come back to that they could explore and really experience at their own pace.

"For Atomic Heart 2, the city we're building will be an integral part of the game loop. It will be the place that the player can always come back to and explore, get their quests, then venture out and do other things. The feeling that we want to channel is this atmosphere of a great retro-futuristic city that's a triumph of science and technology. That's very important to us."

Perhaps the most important question of all is, of course, about horny robots. Mundfish hasn't shied away from the online popularity of the twins, releasing wallpapers featuring the robotic duo and a six-hour-long YouTube video of the pair striking poses. In 2023, the twins attracted so much attention that Atomic Heart rocketed to number five in Pornhub's gaming category, and that's before we even touch on NORA, the aggressive vending machine that's determined to consummate your supposedly passionate relationship.

I ask Bagratuni straight: will there be more horny robots? And will we see more of Trapped In Limbo's psychedelic fur people and candyland-style aesthetic? "That's my goal, you know," he jokes. "When we hit number five on Pornhub, I was amazed that number one was Pokemon Go, which is insane. So I hope we will hit number one next time. So more horny robots!"

Jokes aside, he promises that the original's eccentricity is here to stay. "The craziness will definitely continue with the sequel, and we love to experiment with different styles, genres, and mechanics and blend them all together. There'll be more experiments with the sequel, but what'll remain the same is the unique Atomic Heart aesthetic."

While Atomic Heart 2 doesn't yet have a release date, Mundfish has revealed its multiplayer spinoff, The Cube, which reimagines the Atomic Universe. If you're intrigued, check out our interview.

If you're feeling inspired to dive back into Mundfish's weird and wonderful shooter, which we awarded an 8/10 in our Atomic Heart review, we have a list of all the best Atomic Heart weapons. Or, if you're looking for something completely new, check out our list of the best PC games.

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