In its latest announcement, Mundfish, the studio behind Atomic Heart, has pulled back the curtain on the game’s third downloadable content (DLC) which introduces a fresh character named Nastya. Launched back in February 2023, the first-person shooter is set in an alternate post-apocalyptic Russia. While initial reviews were mixed, fans of Atomic Heart have been eagerly anticipating the release of its promised four DLCs, each building upon the intriguing world established in the main game.
To date, two expansions have been released. The first, called “Annihilation Instinct,” guided players through the aftermath of the game’s main storyline, bringing the limelight to NORA, an AI that typically assists the protagonist, P-3, with inventory management and weapon upgrades. The follow-up DLC delved into the surreal by sending players back into Limbo—a bizarre fusion of the subconscious minds of P-3 and his late wife, Ekaterina.
Looking ahead to January 28, 2025, the next expansion titled “Enchantment Under the Sea” promises a shift back to more grounded storytelling. Mundfish has been hinting at this underwater adventure for several months through teasers like screenshots and a gameplay trailer. The recent reveal includes Nastya, a new character sporting glasses and red hair, who appears ready to tackle the chaotic universe of Atomic Heart.
In the latest trailer, fans catch a glimpse of P-3 at the forefront once again, narrating parts of the unfolding story. Old allies like Granny, also known as Zinaida Muravyova, reappear alongside P-3’s new glove, which replaces Charles. This glove introduces two exciting abilities: ‘Blaze,’ which hurls fireballs causing damage over a wide area, and ‘Whip,’ a versatile grappling hook that serves as both a tool and a weapon. Additionally, two new armaments await season pass holders: the ‘Thunderclap,’ a hammer that crackles with electricity, and the ‘KM-4 Kuzmich,’ a customizable double-barrel shotgun.
Naturally, players can expect fresh adversaries to challenge their new gear and skills. As the name “Enchantment Under the Sea” suggests, P-3 will dive into the oceanic depths at the Neptune Research Center, facing coral mutants and what seems to be a formidable boss, MOR-4Y. The DLC also revisits familiar settings like Chelomey, offering a glimpse into how they’ve evolved now that robots dominate the landscape.
Atomic Heart thrusts players into a seemingly utopian world where humans live peacefully alongside devoted robots. However, the harmony is shattered by a system failure, unleashing chaos in the form of rebellious machines and mutated entities. Players must navigate this turmoil, utilizing an experimental glove and a diverse arsenal to uncover the mysteries triggering this crisis and restore balance. As players adopt different strategies to suit each unique opponent, they’ll find that using the environment to their advantage and upgrading their equipment are essential to surviving and thriving in this vivid, explosive world.
