A rather peculiar new title has emerged, tasking you with building a computer to compete against others.

The international developer Impakt Games unveiled 'PC Versus' on Steam this past 22nd. At a glance, it might look like your standard PC-building simulation, but it actually aims to be a competitive game where you construct the ultimate system to take on opponents in online matchmaking.

The gameplay loop is split into three phases: deck construction, assembly, and overclocking. You begin by prepping your build with hundreds of parts spanning various price points and generations. The core challenge lies in assembling a high-performance rig that meets specific criteria under a strict time limit.

What’s genuinely impressive is how meticulously they’ve replicated real hardware mechanics. You’ll find authentic components like the RTX 2070 Super and RX 6650 XT, complete with real-world variables such as thermal throttling and VRAM limitations.

Once the assembly is done, it’s time for system tuning. You can undervolt for better efficiency or push your luck with aggressive overclocking. Just be warned: push too hard and your system might crash, leading to a swift defeat. It’s a game of risk versus reward.

Victory is decided by scoring across five criteria: main performance, auxiliary performance, thermal management, price-to-performance ratio, and compatibility. You can even snag bonus points for taking risks with overclocking or achieving clever component synergies.

There is no official release date for PC Versus just yet, though you can participate in the ongoing Steam Playtest to get an early look at the action.