During Tokyo Game Show 2022, the ION LANDS studio unveiled fresh footage of Nivalis, a cyberpunk life simulator set in an expansive, open world where players enjoy complete freedom. The showcased gameplay offers a glimpse into a city that breathes with neon glow, crowded sidewalks, and the kind of ambient detail that fans of the genre crave.
The event included a video presentation where a member of the development team explained that Blade Runner served as the primary source of inspiration for Nivalis. The discussion even recalled a familiar street scene featuring a noodle shop, hinting at the atmospheric texture the game aims to replicate. This cinematic influence underscores the project’s intent to immerse players in a believable, lived-in cyberpunk city rather than a mere playground for vehicular action.
One notable distinction highlighted by the developers is Nivalis is designed to reveal the sci-fi setting from the inside out, in contrast to Cloudpunk, another ION LANDS project. While Cloudpunk emphasized cruising a cyberpunk metropolis in a flying car, Nivalis invites players to experience the world from a more intimate perspective—building and managing a personal business within the cyberpunk ecosystem becomes a core aspect of the gameplay experience.
The team also teased a photo mode, allowing players to capture striking screenshots of the game’s vistas and urban landscapes. This feature aims to give fans a tool to frame moments in the richly detailed world and share visually compelling memories from their adventures in Nivalis.
Developers confirmed that a dedicated effort is underway to render every non-player character with depth and vitality. The in-game life will unfold through daily routines: NPCs going to work, visiting their preferred eateries, enjoying nightlife, fishing, trading various items, and engaging in numerous other activities that populate the city with a sense of real ongoing life.
Interest in Nivalis continues to grow, with anticipation mounting on major storefronts such as Steam and the Epic Games Store. The project has already captured the imagination of gamers looking for a nuanced cyberpunk experience that blends management, exploration, and social simulation in one united world.
Earlier releases include a full trailer that provided a broad glimpse of the game’s aesthetic and ambition. For those curious about visual progress, a collection of in-game screenshots has been made available to illustrate the scale and atmosphere ION LANDS is pursuing with Nivalis.
Source materials from VG Times helped round out the understanding of the project’s direction and its potential place within the broader landscape of cyberpunk titles under development in the industry.