Mega Overload
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| Mega Overload | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| VR/AR | VR |
| Developer | Subdream Studios |
| Publisher | Subdream Studios |
| Platform | SteamVR, Oculus Rift (Platform) |
| Device | HTC Vive, Oculus Rift |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Type | Full Game |
| Genre | Action, VR, Fast-Paced, Arcade, Shooter, Retro, Difficult, Replay Value, Score Attack, Robots |
| Input Device | Tracked Motion Controllers |
| Play Area | Room-Scale |
| Game Mode | Single Player, Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer, Co-Op, Online Co-Op |
| Language | English |
| Release Date | April 18, 2017 |
| Price | US$14.99 |
| App Store | Steam, Meta Horizon Store |
Mega Overload is a virtual reality arcade wave shooter developed and published by Subdream Studios, a studio that focused on multiplayer VR games, which announced it as its debut VR title. It was released on Steam for the HTC Vive on 18 April 2017 at a price of US$14.99, with a 15% discount during launch week.[1][2] The store listings on Steam and on the Meta Horizon Store (formerly the Oculus Store) use the title Mega Overload VR.[3][4]
Players stand on the Crystal Asteroid and defend the Milky Way against endless waves of robots called Mega Bots, using a blaster in each hand.[3] The game can be played alone or with a second player in online co-op, and each player keeps an individual score for the online leaderboards.[1] Subdream described the two-player mode as suited to VR arcades, and the studio was part of HTC's Vive X accelerator when the game launched.[2][5]
Gameplay
Mega Overload is an endless wave shooter modeled on the difficulty of classic arcade games. Each player holds two blasters and shoots Mega Bots, which have their own attacks, defenses and flight patterns.[1] UploadVR described the game as "an arcade twist on the VR wave shooter" and noted that players have to learn each enemy type's attack pattern to climb the online leaderboard.[2] Players collect power-ups during a run. The press release states that players can choose a "safe and steady playstyle" or spend lives to upgrade their weapons more aggressively.[1]
In the online co-op mode two players stand side by side and fight the same waves, while each keeps a separate score.[1] The Steam version lists single-player, online PvP and online co-op modes, Steam achievements (22 in total), trading cards, Steam Cloud, stats and leaderboards.[6] It is a VR-only title for SteamVR with room-scale play and needs a play area of at least 2 m by 1.5 m.[3]
Version 1.08, released on 5 June 2017, added an easy mode with 10 new levels for players who wanted a less demanding game.[7] Version 1.03 had already added two screenshot features, a selfie mode on the grip buttons and a first-person mode on the touchpad.[8]
Development
Subdream Studios was founded by Jikhan Jung, a former CEO of Colopl Ni. In December 2016 UploadVR reported that the San Mateo studio had spun off from Colopl Ni; Jung said that "the 100% subsidiary structure was not going to work out". Earlier that year the team had released three VR games through Colopl Ni (Cyberpong, Slot Tub Party and The Rise of Captain Longboard), which UploadVR said had together passed 100,000 downloads across the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.[9]
On 27 March 2017 HTC named Subdream among the 33 startups in the second group of its Vive X accelerator, chosen from some 700 applications. Road to VR's list placed the studio in the San Francisco group and stated that it planned to release "quality multiplayer games that can be played at VR arcades and at home".[5] At the game's launch Jung said: "Our goal is to create engaging social VR gaming experiences based on Mega Overload's intuitive cooperative action game style."[1]
The game was optimized for the HTC Vive at launch and used two Vive wand controllers for room-scale play. At that time Subdream had not announced versions for the Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR.[2]
Release
Mega Overload was released on Steam on 18 April 2017.[3] A free demo followed on 11 May 2017; it allowed play up to wave 5 in single-player and five multiplayer sessions.[10][11] Version 1.07, released on 6 May 2017, added Oculus Touch controller support and a "Play Again" button after a game over.[12] By September 2017 the studio's Mega Overload page linked to both the Steam page and an Oculus Store listing for the Rift.[13] That listing, now on the Meta Horizon Store as a Rift (PC VR) title, is priced at US$14.99 and carries a 7+ age rating with the descriptors "Mild Violence" and "Users Interact".[4]
| Platform | Store | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteamVR (HTC Vive) | Steam | 18 April 2017 | US$14.99; 15% launch-week discount[1] |
| SteamVR (demo) | Steam | 11 May 2017 | Free demo, waves 1-5 in single-player and five multiplayer plays[10] |
| Oculus Rift | Oculus Store (now Meta Horizon Store) | Not stated on the listing | Listed by September 2017; US$14.99 as of October 2026[13][4] |
Arcade use
The launch press release presented the two-player mode as a fit for VR arcades.[1] Version 1.08 added keyboard shortcuts to the game's arcade mode for arcade operators and for mixed reality recording, including keys that hide each player's avatar and toggle the on-screen interface.[7] An update on 8 August 2017 added gameplay logging to arcade mode "for bookkeeping purposes".[14] In September 2017 the studio's website listed the game as playable at VR arcades including VRJunkies, CTRLV, IsimuVR, General VR City de México, Urban Safari, MontVR, Springboard, Howies, Rabbit Hole Reality and Hongbin.[13]
Updates
| Version | Date | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.03 | 24 April 2017 | Selfie and first-person screenshot modes; more visible enemy projectiles; bloom and particle changes for clarity and performance; more on-screen HUD; fix for voice chat staying connected after a game; game volume lowered automatically during multiplayer voice chat; Wave 4 balance change[8] |
| 1.07 | 6 May 2017 | "Play Again" button after a game over; Oculus Touch controller support; Wave 2 balance change[12] |
| 1.08 | 5 June 2017 | Easy mode with 10 new levels; arcade-mode keybinds for avatar hiding, UI toggle and menu buttons[7] |
| Logging update | 8 August 2017 | Gameplay logs in arcade mode[14] |
In June 2017 Subdream announced its first Mega Overload tournament, a co-op event streamed on Twitch in which players teamed up with the streamer 3sleepyowls for Steam Wallet code prizes; entrants needed an HTC Vive.[15]
System requirements
The Steam store lists the following minimum requirements for Windows.[3]
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 or later, Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel i5-4590, AMD FX 8350 equivalent or better |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or better |
| Storage | 1 GB available space |
| VR support | SteamVR; room-scale area of 2 m by 1.5 m required |
Reception
As of October 2026 the Steam store page shows a "Positive" user review rating, with all 16 counted user reviews positive.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Joonkyu Seok (2017-04-18). "Subdream Studios Announces Debut Virtual Reality Game Release, Mega Overload". Inven Global. https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/1597/subdream-studios-announces-debut-virtual-reality-game-release-mega-overload. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jamie Feltham (2017-04-18). "Mega Overload Is A Multiplayer VR Shooter From A Vive X Studio". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/mega-overload-multiplayer-vr-shooter-vive-x-studio/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Mega Overload VR on Steam". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/613130/Mega_Overload_VR/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Mega Overload VR". Meta Horizon Store. Meta Platforms. https://www.meta.com/experiences/pcvr/1277986908983013/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ben Lang (2017-03-27). "HTC Invests in 33 More AR/VR Startups Through Vive X Accelerator". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-funds-33-startups-vive-x-accelerator/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ "Mega Overload VR - Steam app details (app 613130)". Steam Store API. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/api/appdetails?appids=613130. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Subdream Studios (2017-06-05). "Version 1.08 - Easy Mode". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/1904307386970231069. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Subdream Studios (2017-04-24). "Version 1.03". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/1858141774319164197. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ John Gaudiosi (2016-12-28). "Subdream Studios Focuses On Social VR Gaming". UploadVR. https://uploadvr.com/subdream-studios-focuses-on-social-vr-gaming/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Subdream Studios (2017-05-11). "Demo Released!". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/2423345440406172262. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ "Mega Overload Demo - Steam app details (app 633830)". Steam Store API. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/api/appdetails?appids=633830. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Subdream Studios (2017-05-06). "Version 1.07". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/1869401952301309171. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Mega Overload". Subdream Studios. 2017-09-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911204849/https://www.subdreamstudios.com/mega-overload/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Subdream Studios (2017-08-08). "Logging Update". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/2093464278175867794. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Subdream Studios (2017-06-06). "Beat the Mega Bots with 3sleepyowls!". Steam News. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/613130/view/1904307386973332583. Retrieved 2026-10-12.