The only thing that would surprise me is ; (1) VR + Wearables, then that would be realistic as only the fit would survive.
Take it one step further (actual intelligence and intuitions, ability to macgyver your way into repairs., actual have to review schematics infer learning to perform repair items. Depending on your abilities the quality of repairs and such maybe can translate to some real-world knowledge?? and/or quality of repairs based on items available/their quality that choose to do the repair.
Maybe can separate the weak (mental/physical) from those actually prepared. Maybe take the game back to just pre-apocalypse stage just day of / before $h1t goes south. Then having to really compete with PC/NPC's in chaos mode and decision (uncertainty) impacting changes for survival.
That is when society really breaks down in the first 3 days after a disaster. Let's face it if you are alive at the phase of the apocalypse in which 7D's starts, your changes are already greatly improved for survival than the first 3 days, less people fighting for scarce resources at that point.
One life to live and game over (mode).
Just saying.