Forget everything you thought you knew about Evangelion video games. Evangelion: Δ Cross Reflections, the franchise’s first-ever extended reality (XR) game, just released a gameplay teaser on October 1, 2026 — and the opening scene is not a mech battle. It is not an Angel attack. It is you, in first person, trimming hedges while Rei Ayanami watches silently from across the lawn.
Yes, you read that correctly. And honestly? That might be the most Evangelion thing ever.
What Is Evangelion: Δ Cross Reflections?
Developed by Korea-based studio Pixelity Inc., Cross Reflections is a VR and mixed reality (MR) action-adventure experience set within the world of the original 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion anime. But here is the twist — you are not playing as Shinji Ikari. Instead, you step into the boots of an original character: a NERV officer cadet who dreams of becoming an Evangelion pilot.
The game weaves through key episodes of the original series rather than retelling it directly, and it is the first entry in a planned trilogy. Part one covers Episodes 1 through 11, with subsequent entries handling the rest of the 26-episode run. If Pixelity pulls this off, fans will eventually experience the entire Evangelion TV series from the inside — literally.
The Teaser That Broke the Internet
The roughly 40-second teaser, which Pixelity released publicly after previously showing it at a San Francisco Hands-on Preview event on September 25, 2026, moves from surprisingly ordinary interactions to full-blown mech combat. In the opening moments, you see:
- The player trimming vegetation in first person while Rei Ayanami observes nearby
- Food-related interactions (yes, pie eating makes an appearance)
- Environmental exploration around a vehicle
- Then suddenly — weapons, intensity, and a full EVA-versus-Angel confrontation
This shift from mundane to apocalyptic is pure Evangelion DNA. The original anime balanced catastrophic battles with quiet, awkward everyday moments, and it was those quieter beats that gave the franchise its emotional weight. Director Hideaki Anno built an entire series on that contrast — and Pixelity seems determined to capture it in VR.
Hand Tracking, Cel-Shading, and No Controllers
Cross Reflections uses hand-tracking as its primary input method. No controllers required — just your hands and fingers. The game features two confirmed modes:
- Story Mode: A narrative-driven experience focused on your original character’s journey through NERV, with interactions with classic characters like Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, and Misato Katsuragi
- Battle Mode: Re-creates Evangelion vs. Angel confrontations in VR, putting you inside a NERV simulation environment
Visually, the game leans on a cel-shaded art style reminiscent of Persona 5 and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Combined with VR immersion, this could create something genuinely unique in the anime gaming space.
Original Voice Cast Announced
Pixelity has revealed four original characters with some impressive voice talent behind them:
- Martin Dason Holloway — voiced by Gakuto Kajiwara (known for Asta in Black Clover)
- Rimi Okada — voiced by Hana Hishikawa
- Tomohito Yagi — voiced by Tasuku Hatanaka (Denki in My Hero Academia)
- Erisa Nozaki — voiced by Manaka Iwami (Maquia in Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms)
Having Gakuto Kajiwara — the voice of Asta himself — as the lead protagonist immediately signals Pixelity is not messing around with this project.
Delayed to 2027 — But for Good Reason
Originally slated for a 2026 release, Pixelity has confirmed that Cross Reflections will now launch in 2027. No specific date has been given. Platform details remain listed as “various VR devices,” pointing to a Meta Quest-first release, though nothing has been officially locked down.
Hands-on preview events have been held in Japan and San Francisco (where approximately 80 selected attendees got to try Story Mode). The next event is planned for Frankfurt, Germany, with dates to be confirmed.
For a first-of-its-kind XR project of this ambition — an immersive trilogy spanning all 26 episodes of one of anime’s most beloved and psychologically complex series — a delay is not just understandable. It is probably necessary.
Why This Matters for Evangelion Fans
Evangelion has had games before — from the Super Famicom era to the PSP to mobile gacha titles. But nothing has ever attempted what Cross Reflections is doing: placing you physically inside Tokyo-3, inside NERV Headquarters, and eventually inside an Entry Plug. The hand-tracking, the cel-shaded art, the contrast between hedge-trimming and Angel-fighting — this is the Evangelion game fans have been imagining since 1995.
Follow @EvangelionXR_GL on X for event dates, platform announcements, and the eventual release window.
What Do You Think?
Is trimming hedges with Rei Ayanami the most brilliant or the most bizarre way to start an Evangelion game? Will hand-tracking VR work for mech combat, or is Pixelity being too ambitious? And most importantly — are you ready to become a NERV cadet?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. We want to hear from every Evangelion fan who has ever dreamed of stepping inside Tokyo-3.
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