‘Orion Drift,’ the Successor to ‘Gorilla Tag,’ Receives Major Update Tomorrow Featuring a New Mini-Game

Recently, the studio behind Gorilla Tag, Another Axiom, announced some exciting news for Orion Drift. Since the game’s early access launch last month, the first major update is set to introduce a new mini-game called ‘Capture the Beacon’ (CTB).

CTB plays out similarly to the classic capture the flag, but with a sci-fi twist: players must transport a rod-shaped beacon to their team’s base. The game stands out by not setting player limits or time constraints, allowing everyone to join in the fun at any moment.

Although the studio hasn’t spilled all the beans about the update, they have hinted at more surprises accompanying the mini-game. We’ll get all the details when the update goes live on March 28th at 10 AM Pacific Time.

Orion Drift was rolled out for free in late February on Quest in early access. It utilizes the unique locomotion system of Gorilla Tag, where players physically pump their arms to move around the expansive space station.

Beyond CTB, the game offers a variety of activities. The standout is ‘Drift Ball,’ which serves as a kind of spiritual successor to the shelved sports game Echo VR, combining elements of low-gravity handball. Players can also engage in other mini-games spread across different areas of the space station. These include parkour for climbing enthusiasts, arenas for Drift Ball skills practice, and casual games like golf and basketball. For those who prefer spectating, there are lounges to watch matches unfolding in several arenas.

Currently, Orion Drift supports up to 75 players per server. However, Another Axiom has plans to boost that number to 200. Expanding its roster of mini-games feels like a step towards that goal, although Orion Drift is still in its early stages.

The game builds on Gorilla Tag’s formula of providing engaging social experiences that players can easily drop into. Despite this, Orion Drift hasn’t reached the same level of viral success as Gorilla Tag. So far, it has garnered around 3,300 user reviews and hasn’t yet cracked the top 50 best-selling games on Quest. The top spots are dominated by popular games like Animal Company, Yeeps, and Gorilla Tag.