Star Trek is gearing up for another trip into VR, but this time it’s not about diplomacy or bridge command. Star Trek: Infection takes a darker route, dropping players into a co-op survival scenario that feels more like Dead Space than Bridge Crew.
The game is currently scheduled to arrive this fall on PC VR and Meta Quest 3, bringing together Star Trek’s familiar visual language with a tone that leans into panic, infection, and alien horror.
Federation setting, survival tone
Infection is set aboard the USS Thessalia, a Federation science vessel that’s no longer in safe hands. Something has gone wrong deep in space, and your crew is forced to investigate and survive. The game focuses on cooperative missions for up to four players, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, communication, and adapting to unexpected threats.
This isn’t traditional phaser fire and diplomacy. The tone is darker, with creeping tension and environmental storytelling guiding the experience. That makes it a departure from previous Star Trek VR titles, which largely stuck to optimistic sci-fi and command simulation.
Core gameplay and design
Gameplay unfolds in first-person VR, with players physically interacting with ship systems, navigating damaged corridors, and facing threats both human and alien. The developers are leaning into tactile immersion expect to manually seal doors, operate panels, and perform field repairs mid-mission.
Combat is present, but it’s not the main focus. Situations often call for stealth, planning, or improvisation rather than brute force. Resource scarcity and time pressure seem to be key design pillars, adding a survival layer to the mission structure.
From a visual standpoint, the game blends clean Starfleet tech with darker, more claustrophobic environments. Lighting plays a major role, pushing tension with flickering corridors and sudden shifts in tone as players uncover the ship’s secrets.
Platform plans and future direction
The game is confirmed for both PC VR and Meta Quest 3, which suggests it’s being built to scale visually while maintaining full VR interactivity across devices. No mention of older Quest models implies a focus on newer hardware performance.
While there’s no word yet on post-launch content or expansions, the co-op nature and modular mission design open the door for potential updates. If it resonates with fans, this could be the start of a more experimental branch of Star Trek VR experiences—less about command fantasy, more about what it means to survive in space.More details are expected as launch approaches, but so far, Star Trek: Infection looks like a bold shift in tone that might surprise longtime fans of the franchise.
Virtual Reality Explorer & Game Reviewer
Always the first to plug in. VRSCOUT dives head-first into the most immersive VR worlds, analyzing mechanics, comfort, innovation, and that elusive “presence” factor. If he says it’s worth it, it probably is.
