Human Within Dev Diary Explores Player Interactions, Unique Storytelling Mechanics

Publisher and co-developer Signal Space Lab and development studio Actrio Studio have released the first dev diary for Human Within, their upcoming multimedia sci-fi VR experience. Slated for release on Meta Quest 2 and 3 today, with a later release on SteamVR, the project explores the intersection of video games and film through VR storytelling mechanics.

The latest dev diary is called Human Within: An Innovative Interactive VR Experience. It delves into the project’s unique narrative approach and thematic focus on artificial intelligence and advanced technology, including their societal implications and potential risks.

Human Within redefines traditional VR storytelling by blending elements of video games and cinematic experiences. Conceptually inspired by iconic sci-fi films like Lawnmower Man and Transcendence, as well as the transformative impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT, the narrative unfolds in a near-future dystopia. It examines the consequences of technological misuse, offering users the opportunity to shape events through their choices, and emphasizing the ripple effects of compassion and selfishness.

Check out the official Announcement Trailer for Human Within below to see this unique VR experience in action:

The Dev Diary highlights the interactive mechanics that set Human Within apart. Users experience the story through the consciousness of Linh, exploring a virtual internet space while actively participating in the unfolding events. The project features Point Cloud Interactivity, enabling users to navigate digital recreations of environments and engage deeply with the narrative.

Visual storytelling is presented through three distinct styles: a blend of 2D film and 3D graphics in the Internet Space, immersive 360-degree stereo films for flashback scenes, and six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) 3D environments in the Point Cloud sequences. Key moments in the story allow users to make impactful decisions, shaping both past events and the narrative’s outcome. If you want to read the entire dev diary, you can head over to the studio’s official Steam blog post.

Directed by Avi Winkler and Anne Weigel, Human Within centers on sisters Nyla and Linh, cyber engineers working at Forward Industries on a revolutionary supercomputer powered by human brain processing. When Nyla uncovers her employer’s hidden motives and attempts to sever ties, both sisters are imprisoned and coerced into continuing the project. A desperate bid for freedom forces Nyla to connect Linh to the technology, confronting her worst fears.

Pre-production began in 2019 under Winkler’s creative direction, with principal photography concluding in late 2023. The project premiered at international festivals in October 2024 and is supported by Meta, the Canada Media Fund, and German film organizations.

Human Within is launching today on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 while a SteamVR release is in the pipeline and a release date will be announced at a later date. If you want to jump into the game right now, you can head over to its Meta Store page and play it on your Meta Quest headset but if you prefer playing it on Steam, you can add it to your Steam wishlist to remain updated on its upcoming release.

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Would you be interested in playing Human Within on your Meta Quest VR headset or would you rather wait for its SteamVR release? What do you think of its latest dev diary? Let us know in the comments section below.