Pixelity Inc., the Korean developer behind Evangelion: Î Cross Reflections, has released a debut trailer for its upcoming VR trilogy. The game is an alternate-universe retelling of the 1995 anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, and it promises to do more than simply remake the series in virtual reality. Instead, it will tell an entirely new story set across three games, each structured around the events of the original anime.
The first game in the trilogy is scheduled for release in 2027, with subsequent entries following at later dates. Players will take on the role of a new NERV trainee who wants to become an Evangelion pilot, navigating a world where the Angels and their battles still exist, but the outcome is anything but predetermined.
The Trailer Shows What Players Will See
The trailer is a 2D-animated preview of scenes that players will eventually experience in the finished release. It opens with one of the new characters speaking to the player as damaged ships fall from the sky onto the street near them. The sequence sets a tone of scale and danger, but the rest of the trailer veers into decidedly odd territory.
Players will run through NERV HQ, repair vehicles and Evangelion units, train on shooting ranges, and yes, hedge-trim and eat cake. One moment shows the player trimming hedges with Rei Ayanami, while another has the player sharing a meal with Asuka Langley. These disconnected moments raise more questions than they answer.
The trailer also includes glimpses of familiar Angels and returning characters, but the game is clearly trying something new with its universe. It is not a straight port of the original story; it is an alternative take.
A Long History of Alternative Takes
The Evangelion franchise has a long history of exploring alternate universes. In the late 1990s, the series released numerous PC and console games that retold the story in different ways, including dating sims. The Rebuild of Evangelion films are themselves an alternative take on the original anime.
This is not even the first time the franchise has been in VR. A Japan-only VR experience allowed players to jump into an Eva and fight against an Angel.
Why Now, And Who’s Behind It
This project comes at a moment when the franchise is searching for its identity. The Rebuild series has ended, and creator Hideaki Anno’s direct involvement has ended as well. The game is part of a broader push to present new visions of the world, including ones that jump into virtual reality.
The first game in the trilogy is planned for release in 2027, with other games set to follow. Between this VR trilogy and the planned Yoko Taro-penned anime TV series, it suggests there is a growing embrace for new takes on the franchise.
The Ambition On Display
The scope of the project is genuinely ambitious. A trilogy of VR games, each telling a new story while staying rooted in the world of Neon Genesis Evangelion, is a substantial undertaking. The game promises large-scale battles against Angels, recreating the series’ signature confrontations within its alternative timeline.
The trailer demonstrates that while some of the Angels and characters are familiar, the game will also be trying new things as it revisits the world of the series. That mix of the familiar and the novel is the core promise of the project.
The Hedge-Trimming Question
The hedge-trimming and cake-eating scenes are the most memorable parts of the trailer, and they are also the most puzzling. They appear to be isolated moments rather than part of a larger plot thread. The question is whether these whimsical sequences will feel out of place once they are placed within the larger story.
The trailer makes a strong case for the game’s ambition, but it also raises questions about how the game will balance its serious stakes with its lighter, more whimsical moments. The contrast between the two is jarring, and it will be interesting to see how the final product resolves it.
Comparing The Trailers
| Element | Evangelion: Î Cross Reflections Trailer | Previous Evangelion VR Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 2D-animated recreation of future scenes | Full VR encounter |
| Scope | Multi-game trilogy, new alternate story | Single Eva vs. Angel encounter |
| Content | Running, repairs, shooting ranges, hedge-trimming, cake | Jump into an Eva, fight an Angel |
| Timeline | Alternate-timeline story | Not specified |
The previous VR experience was a Japan-only standalone attraction, while Evangelion: Î Cross Reflections is a full trilogy of games. The comparison shows how far the franchise has come in its approach to virtual reality.
The game is set for release in 2027, and the trailer gives players their first look at what that release might include.
Source material: “Neon Genesis Evangelion Is Set To Jump Into VR In 2027 For An Alternate-Universe Retelling Of The Anime,” Kotaku.
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