Nuclear Union (Novy Soyuz) is a story driven third person RPG set in an alternative reality where the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into full scale nuclear war. The Soviet Union survived, but emerged transformed. The project brings players into a distinctive post apocalyptic world that combines late Soviet retrofuturist aesthetics with role playing mechanics.

Game Features

• Alternative history: a world where the Soviet Union survived the nuclear apocalypse and built a new underground society called Pobedograd.
• Branching narrative: players make choices that affect world development and shape attitudes toward the protagonist, a war veteran sent to the surface on a secret mission. 
• Open world: the explorable territory covers dozens of square kilometers of the ruined Soviet Union, filled with anomalies, mutants, factions, and abandoned locations.
• Tactical combat system: based on realistic Soviet era firearms, an advanced cover system, and squad based combat involving companions.
• Distinct companion characters: each companion has a personal story, interaction mechanics, and potentially branching narrative lines.
• Distinct visual style: a dark Soviet retrofuturist aesthetic with highly detailed locations inspired by real places from the Soviet era.

Development Status

In 2013, development of Nuclear Union was suspended. The main reason was the publisher’s decision to shift focus toward publishing activities and close its internal game development division, which led to the termination of project funding.

Best Way team continued working on the project, independently financing further development of gameplay mechanics, the animation system, and artificial intelligence; however, no agreement was reached regarding the transfer of rights to the assets, script, and completed game content, which ultimately resulted in development being frozen.

The team completed the main part of pre production and implemented a significant portion of the core gameplay:

• Game and visual design completed: the world structure, level architecture, main and side quest systems, in game factions, as well as the core logic behind artifacts and anomalies were fully developed.
• Combat mechanics implemented: a tactical combat system was created, combining firearms, cover mechanics, tactical maneuvers, and interaction with anomalies and artifacts, which can also be used as elements of combat strategy.
• Interface developed: a functional UI styled in Soviet retrofuturist aesthetics and designed for PC players.
• Enemies and behavioral systems implemented: the game features different monster types with unique AI, along with simulated behavior for faction based NPCs.
• Anomalies and artifacts integrated: several anomalies were fully implemented, from visual and sound design to player interaction logic. Artifacts function as a separate gameplay element, with their own purpose and situational use by the player.
• Encounters and side activities implemented: integrated into world exploration, encouraging experimentation and player choice.
• Companion system implemented: the protagonist is accompanied by Alice, a well developed character with her own background, personality, and dialogue. Later in the story, a second companion joins the player: an autonomous flying robotic assistant with a set of unique functions.

The team retains ownership of the original engine and the technical foundation created during the project’s development. However, the rights to assets, storyline, and completed game content remained with the publisher.