The VR Games Showcase just passed this 11, March, 2025 and among the new announcements, one stood out to me in particular.
That would be none other than Zix!
– A VR roguelike developed by Hidden IO. (More on them below)
Zix is planned to launch in Fall 2025 on Meta Quest 3/3S and Steam VR.
What catches the eye immediately is the unique visual style to the game. Additionally, Zix is an all-too-rare co-op VR game! Solo play is also available.
Borrowing from the developers webpage, “Players will wield a wild arsenal of weapons, chain together acrobatic, high-momentum attacks, and carve their own path through procedurally generated realms that shift and transform in unpredictable ways.”
Zix has found an exciting hook!
Like most roguelikes the game relies on user driven procedural generation, however this appears to be more “player driven” than is typical. What this means is that players will utilize what the devs are calling “Ingredients.” I could attempt to explain this, but fortunately the Hidden IO has summarized it wonderfully:
“Collect world fragments, mix them in the Cauldron, and unleash bizarre new effects. Replace an enemy type? Sure. Flood the level with bees? Why not? Change the soundtrack? That too.”
“Fuse together multiple biomes for wild hybrid levels that defy logic. One moment you’re leaping between glowing fungal islands, the next you’re fighting inside a colossal, rotting creature’s ribcage.”
“You’re not just warping the world—you’re warping yourself. Stack absurd augments, fuse bizarre abilities, and push the Acolyte’s combat potential past the breaking point. One run, you’re an untouchable blur of blades. The next, you’re a walking arsenal of explosive mayhem. Every mutation is a new experiment, every power-up a fresh opportunity for beautifully unhinged destruction.”
Another interesting aspect is that Zix aims to be approachable. This seems a daunting task to any VR experience, let alone a fast paced rogue-lite game. The devs hope to achieve this by simplifying controls and player UI. (User Interface)
By using proprietary gesture based controls, the need for slow and cumbersome menus has been mitigated. Furthermore, only the triggers and grips will be required to launch projectile, attack, and (as I like to say) dodge, dip, duck, dive & dodge!
These aspects are in service of the game’s flow, ensuring that there is never a dull moment and the players are able to keep their energy levels, and heart rates up!
Lastly, I want to declare my personal ties to Zix.
I am in no way involved in the development or production of Zix, nor am I a part of the developers Hidden IO.
BUT:
I went to high school with and spent a year’s worth of lunch hours with Suleyman, the co-founder of Hidden IO. Later in life, I met Tamerlan.
It is my honest opinion that these two brothers are naturally talented. Suley’s gift of creativity is on display in the visuals and I have no doubt that it is merely the tip of the iceberg so-to-speak.
Their story is inspiring and as such I conclude with their account, taken from their webpage:
“About Hidden IO Inc:
Hidden IO Inc., founded in 2023 by brothers Suleyman (Sol) and Tamerlan (Tam) Tahirli, is an innovative VR focused game development studio. The Tahirli brothers arrived in Canada as child refugees from Azerbaijan, and playing and making games together has always been a source of comfort and connection for the two. Sol has always focused on game and graphics design, and Tam honed his skills in scripting for third-party mods in games such as RuneScape, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Garry’s Mod.
After over a decade of professionally working in the game industry at companies like Unity & Ubisoft, in 2021 they embarked on a new journey together, developing a VR game as a means of connecting during the pandemic. This project ultimately evolved into ZIX, Hidden IO’s flagship title.”
For more information and further updates:
“ZIX is available to wishlist on Steam and the Meta Quest Store now. For further details on development and upcoming news, follow the Hidden IO team on Youtube, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), visit the website, or join the conversation on Discord.”
Best of luck boys!
