VR Shooter Z.O.N.A: Origin Exits Early Access with Update 1.0

The post-apocalyptic VR shooter Z.O.N.A: Origin, often compared to "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." in VR, has officially launched out of Early Access with its 1.0 update. After a year in Early Access on Steam, the game is now available with a 23% discount (for $5.59) until September 5th.

The 1.0 update brings the finale to the main storyline, complete with three distinct endings (Dawn, O.S.Z., and Alex). Players can also dive into two new side quests: "No Right to Live" and "No Witnesses." Prepare for new threats with the "Strike" faction soldier type, and enhance your long-range game with a new sniper scope for the RKL UltraX12. The update also adds a arsenal with new weaponry, including the Barrett M82, AAC Honey Badger, Huot LMG, and CZ Scorpion EVO 3, along with a deployable assault shield. As a bonus, players who jump into the game before August 24th will receive a unique golden AKS-74U, claimable at the Free Stalkers base. The developer has assured the community that post-launch support will continue, with further updates planned to address bug fixes and implement improvements.

"This has been a long and challenging journey. Almost two years of daily work, dozens of patches, hundreds of fixes, and hundreds of messages from you, the community – all of this has helped transform Z.O.N.A: Origin into what it is today. I started as a solo developer with a small idea, but thanks to your support, the project has grown into a full-fledged game with its own atmosphere, stories, and community. Every comment, bug report, piece of advice, and even criticism has helped make it better," wrote the developer.

Z.O.N.A: Origin is a story-driven, first-person, post-apocalyptic VR shooter set in the near future within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Players take on the role of a stalker venturing into the northern part of the Zone – a dangerous and mysterious place filled with unexplained phenomena, anomalies, and valuable artifacts. The game boasts a variety of locations populated with mutants, artifacts, and anomalies, alongside deep weapon customization, diverse factions, a pervasive sense of solitude, and over 30 hours of gameplay.

In related news, the full release date for Escape from Tarkov was recently announced.