- The Vibe: A stylish, cartoon-inspired SF shooter that swaps “gritty realism” for comic-book flair and sharp anti-corporate wit.
- The Hook: You play as a retired war robot forced back into action to defend its desert moon home from a greedy “Gigacorporation.”
- The Gameplay: A seamless blend of high-octane FPS combat and strategic tower defense placement.
- Release Date: March 18, 2026, on PC (Steam).
What happens when a war hero robot just wants to mine batteries in peace, but a corporation decides your home is their next hostile acquisition? You stop being a miner and start being a one-robot army. Published by indie.io, AI.VI is the debut commercial title from Out of Time, a small studio formed by four recent university graduates.
The Story: A Hostile Takeover on the Moon of Sohot
The game takes place on Sohot, a desolate desert moon where our protagonist, AI.VI, was enjoying a quiet retirement. Peace is shattered when P.A.S.C.A.L. Gigacorporation—the galaxy’s largest and most ruthless profit-machine—arrives to strip-mine the moon.
As AI.VI, you lead a ragtag rebellion of “walkerbots” to fend off the corporate invaders. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath story, if David was a heavy-duty war machine and Goliath was a bureaucratic nightmare with a marketing department.
Aesthetic & Sound: Anti-Corporate Satire in Technicolor
AI.VI stands out with its stylized comic-book visuals. The world is vibrant and futuristic, but the enemy designs are intentionally cold and corporate, featuring sharp logos and rigid geometries.
- Wacky Arsenal: Expect unconventional weapons like explosive plushies and even a pump-action camera that captures more than just memories.
- Satirical Soundscapes: The black comedy extends to the audio. Enemies charge at you shouting corporate slogans, and their dying breaths often include one last pitch for a P.A.S.C.A.L. product.
Gameplay Mechanics: FPS Meets Strategic Defense
The core loop of AI.VI requires both fast reflexes and a tactical mind.
| Feature | Details |
| Hybrid Combat | Switch between traditional FPS shooting and placing automated traps/defense structures. |
| Elemental Synergy | Utilize Fire, Ice, Acid, and Electricity to exploit enemy weaknesses or trigger chain reactions. |
| 3-Tier Progression | Customize your Loadout before missions, find Temporary Modules mid-fight, and earn Permanent Upgrades after clearing levels. |
| Movement | Physics-based destruction and fluid movement that keeps the pace high during massive wave attacks. |
From the Classroom to the Console
The developers at Out of Time started this project shortly after graduating from university in Cannes. Their philosophy is simple: “Make games that are fun and memorable—they don’t always have to be serious.” This lighthearted but rebellious spirit is baked into every line of code in AI.VI, acting as a metaphor for small creators standing their ground against the “planned obsolescence” of the modern tech world.
Quick Specification: AI.VI
- Developer: Out of Time (France)
- Publisher: indie.io
- Genre: FPS / Tower Defense / Roguelite Action
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Languages: Korean, English, French, Japanese, and more.
- Steam Page: AI.VI on Steam
