The leadership at Bohemia Interactive has approved a Steam Early Access release for a new game titled .silica. This project marks the inaugural effort of Bohemia Incubator, a development program that backs independently focused ideas. Through this subsidiary, Ev tests, supports, and markets riskier, innovative bets that don’t carry the big-budget weight of major licenses in the industry.
mix of species
Publishers face tough calls with such proposals, yet Bohemia’s stance is clear. The game stands out for its striking visual presentation, blending genres that have rarely been combined before in a single experience. It merges first‑person action with real‑time strategy, attempting a seamless fusion that hints at bold experimentation. What’s been tested so far is still in an early development phase, leaving behind a sense of what the final balance might look like as the project evolves.
.silica introduces a spacefaring adventure with echoes of Dune: a resource‑scarce planet, factions eager to control those resources, native life that defends its world to the last breath, and sweeping desert vistas. In the current Early Access state, players can switch between a real‑time strategy mode and a traditional first‑person shooter in a single session.
Choose game type
In the real‑time strategy path, players work toward the Balterium collection, deploying the classic RTS infrastructure: harvesters, bases, radar nodes, research facilities, and workshops. These structures support unit production and resource extraction, while units push back against rival forces. The insect faction adds planet‑specific attributes, featuring rapid, aggressive units that excel in close combat but falter at long range.
As a strategy proposition, the title delivers visual prowess both from afar and up close. Farther camera motion reveals expansive scale, while close‑up play highlights details on vehicles and soldiers as they push into uncharted terrain. The challenge lies in striking a balance between perspective and practicality, ensuring fluid unit control that varies with each vehicle type; a nimble Light Quad differs greatly from a heavy Siege Tank.
On the FPS side, gameplay maintains the same vast, sand‑filled environments and massive sightlines, supporting large skirmishes across wide maps. Map design becomes a distinct hurdle as battles can erupt next to the player or require long travels to encounter another force.
Early in its lifecycle, the game ships with several modes but promises more over time. The Strategy mode combines RTS and FPS, letting players join in any combination. The Prospector mode, while the narrative of Silica unfolds, provides a gentle onboarding that nurtures core principles while allowing hands‑on experimentation. Arena mode continues to offer player‑versus‑player conflicts across multiple zones.
keep growing
Current figures show six locations, three modes, eleven vehicles, and eight creature types in Silica. The creator has pledged that the feature set will expand as development progresses. The title is available in Early Access, offering a transparent view of ongoing growth over the coming months. The roadmap envisions nine to twelve months of active evolution, guided by community feedback and ongoing updates. This is an ambitious project that invites players to engage with a living world, where the experience will take shape through collaborative input from its community and developers alike.