A blast from the past is almost ready to return the gaming world. The puzzles of the 90’s are getting ready to be unleashed in a ground-up remake built with Unreal Engine 5. That’s right, today, Cyan Worlds is happy to announce that their puzzle adventure Riven, is coming once again to flatscreen and VR platforms in 2024. The Myst sequel is being remade with the intention of retaining a major connection to its roots. However, the new version of the game is aiming to take the interactive storytelling medium to new heights with modern-technology. Of course, a new teaser trailer gives players a glimpse of the game’s updated look. 

Riven is widely regarded as a standard setter for the 90’s. A sequel to Cyan Worlds’ Myst, the game invites players to enter the D’ni Empire and explore the decaying age of Riven. Of course, with modern technology at developer’s disposal, the game is ready to offer immersion on a whole new level. In fact, players can experience a larger and more puzzle-filled world. Now, players will also be able to explore with free movement as they travel across the various islands of the game. Importantly, each island is home to its very own intricate puzzles. Additionally, the remaster of the game includes familiar and brand new storylines that will further immerse players in the world that begins to take shape around them.

Interestingly, a new trailer gives players a look at Riven. Of course, the teaser trailer shows off the remastered graphics and gameplay of the upcoming release. Check out the trailer below.

Riven is set to release on platforms later in 2024. Fans can stay up to date on the remaster by following Cyan Worlds on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE

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Prepare to step into the surreal reality of the Pechorsk Security Zone. Here, things are never what they seem and deadly anomalies are awaiting around every corner. The question remains. Do you have what it takes to survive here? Or will you become another victim of the zone? Today, CM Games is happy to announce that the Steam Page for their upcoming game, Into the Radius 2, is now live. The sequel to 2019’s VR survival game, Into the Radius 2 reintroduces players to the setting of the first game with new and old mechanics abound. Of course, there are also new threats. Players can get a look at some early gameplay from the Steam page.

Into the Radius 2 brings players back to the VR universe of the first game. Playing as explorers, players will enter the Pechorsk Security Zone either alone or with a squad. Of course, both ways of playing offer a vastly different experience. Left alone, players will endure a solitary and haunting experience as they scavenge for weapons, supplies, and information on the strange and surreal realm. Importantly, the second game sees the return of realistic weaponry, a meticulous crafting system, and dangerous locations full of hostile anomalies. 

Of course, players will get a handle on how each weapon works. Interestingly, the weapons allow players to customize them with craftable attachments. These attachments will be necessary to defeat various anomalies throughout the world. Yet, they are far from the only advancements players have at their disposal. Rare artifacts also exist within the Zone. These artifacts allow players to harness strange powers and abilities beyond comprehension. 

Into the Radius 2 is set to release on Oculus Quest and Steam VR in 2025. Currently, players can check out the game’s new Steam page for a glimpse.  

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The sprinter van is filthy, and my unenviable task is to make it shine again. Never fear, I have at hand all the tools I need. I’m holding a power washer, and on my toolbelt is a wide range of nozzles, wands, and soaps. I get to work, walking around the van, crouching — even going prone — to clean every inch. Heck, I can even invite some friends to help. I finish with a feeling of immense satisfaction, and even a bit of calm. Then I’m alerted to a few spots I missed, and happily comb the surface of the van seeking out the dirt. This is PowerWash Simulator VR.

As many gamers know, PowerWash Simulator is an unexpected hit, allowing players to spend hours spraying away virtual dirt from doghouses to mansions. It is part of the lineage of jokey games like Goat Simulator that turn out to be way more fun than you’d expect. In the case of PowerWash Simulator, not only is the game pretty deep, it’s relaxing and extremely satisfying. There’s just something in human nature that responds to watching the transformation from dirty to clean. And even better, it requires no effort, unlike real-world cleaning.

The Hands Down Way to Play

PowerWash Simulator has made the leap from monitors to VR, and it’s seemingly effortless. I don’t know if PowerWash Simulator VR is a system seller for Meta Quest, but it’s hands down the way to play the game. I auditioned it on the Quest 3, and my experience was overall very positive. The game also supports Quest 2 and Pro.

In case you’re confused, PowerWash Simulator is all about cleaning stuff. You start with small objects and move to more complex jobs. Eventually, you’ve worked your way up to daunting tasks like houses. Your tools are — naturally — a power washer and specialized nozzles, wand extenders, and soaps, each made for a specific use case. As you wash, you’re rewarded with a satisfying “ding,” which means you’ve completed an area.

The VR version preserves all the content of the PC and console versions. It allows you to move around the object and clean it. You can crouch or go prone as needed, controlled in VR via teleportation or free movement. Your toolbelt hovers around your waist. You grab nozzles and other attachments and snap them to the washer in a way that feels absolutely true to life.

A Few Smudges

Well, almost. The controls and button assignments take a bit of time to learn. They felt just a bit fiddly at times. Rotating my toolbelt with my left hand meant grabbing a specific handle, awkward if it was in an inaccessible place. Once mastered, though, the controls felt well mapped to the Quest 3 controllers. The game features a wide range of accessibility options for movement and object manipulation, and even players new to VR should find a level of comfort.

The ability to move around the object, and have it feel close to real-life scale, is infinitely more immersive than on PC. Thanks to the Quest 3’s additional power and more refined hardware, graphics were sharp and battery life was decent. There aren’t a ton of audio effects in PowerWash Simulator…mostly, you know, the sound of a power washer. I did think the audio was a bit understated and didn’t make quite enough use of the virtual 3D space.

I’ve played a few recent Quest 3 games that technically weren’t quite ready for prime time. I had only a few small issues with bugs and no crashes. It was all smooth sailing.

Make it Shine

My actual car is covered in grime and road dirt, but I’m happy to ignore the laborious task of washing it in favor of doing the same task in virtual reality. PowerWash Simulator has always been an addictive, relaxing, and satisfying game. PowerWash Simulator VR feels like a game that has found its true home and the most convincing version of itself possible. It’s a great addition to the growing library for the Quest 3.

***Meta Quest code provided by the publisher for review***

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Let’s be honest. If you’re a fan of VR, you’re probably a little used to disappointment. For one thing, while there are some fantastic games and applications built for VR, it still doesn’t feel quite essential. Speaking for myself, each time I’ve purchased a new VR headset, I’ve thought “OK, this time it will fulfill its potential.” I guess what I really mean is that the cost and comfort of the gear finally balance with the experiences it provides. Happily, the Meta Quest 3 comes very close to doing just that.

My history with VR has included the original Oculus/Meta Quest, Quest 2, and first-gen PlayStation VR. The Quest Pro was far too expensive, and I passed on the PS VR2 because I just can’t go back to the tethered experience. It’s awkward, claustrophobic, and impractical for where my gear and play space are located. With Quest’s ability to wirelessly link to Steam VR games, there are few games that I can’t enjoy. There’s no doubt that the Quest 2 suffered from underwhelming resolution, an unimpressive pass through system and tepid processing power. But the freedom to play Beat Saber untangled in cables was worth it.

Specs Tell Part of the Story

Arriving only three years after the 2020 Meta Quest 2, the Quest 3 feels like a significant upgrade. I emphasize feels because so much of the VR experience is about comfort and perception, more than raw power and stats. The Quest 3 is still powered by a single chip CPU/GPU processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with 8GB RAM. But it’s a big step forward for sure.

Although maybe not as vibrant as the PS VR 2’s OLED screens, Quest 3’s per-eye resolution has been upped to 2064×2208 on lighter, pancake LCD screens. Overall, Meta is claiming a 30% performance improvement. The spatial audio has been improved in clarity and bass response by 40%. I can absolutely hear the difference. The Quest 3’s field of view is 110º horizontal; 96º vertical. Those are moderate but noticeable increases from the previous model. 

Along with impressively improved specs, the Quest 3 has undergone several design changes. These include a new configuration for the color pass through cameras and depth sensors on the faceplate. Overall, the device is thinner, if just a little bit heavier at 530 grams (the Quest two weighed in a 515). The added heft pretty much imperceptible. The USB charging port has been moved to one of the head strap arms and IPD (inter pupillary distance) adjustments are now done via a wheel under the device. The padded foam facial interface is adjustable between four distances to accommodate eyeglass wearers.

Strap It On

Meta Quest 3’s stats are encouraging, but how it feels and the experience of gaming and augmented reality are what counts. If all the numbers don’t add up to a more comfortable and exciting experience, they’re just numbers.

The good news is that Meta Quest 3 is as comfortable as it probably can be, given the necessity of having the battery and processing on the headset itself. That sounds like faint praise, but no wireless headset can be as light as a tethered one. The Quest 3’s standard head straps are a major upgrade from the Quest 2 and adjust in an entirely new way. Importantly, the Quest 3 feels extremely well balanced, and not uncomfortable for extended periods. The Quest 2’s aftermarket or branded pro straps are unfortunately incompatible with the new device.

If you’re an eyeglass wearer like myself, you’ve come to accept that glasses and VR headsets are an imperfect match. Thanks to the adjustable facial interface, the Quest 3 probably comes the closest to comfort in this regard. I’m farsighted, but I can read text with relative sharpness without glasses with the headset on. There are aftermarket custom lenses that are also available. Bottom line, depending on your glasses’ frame size and style, you can probably wear them relatively comfortably with the Quest 3.

When Reality Gets Mixed

Thanks to an outstanding pass-through color camera system, I’m sold on the potential of augmented reality. Quest 3 includes a short AR demo, but there are plenty of applications making use of the technology. It’s one-button-press easy to access the pass-through cameras to attend to the real world. The view isn’t perfectly sharp, but clear enough to read a text on your phone.

In addition to working with Steam VR, Quest 3 is backward compatible with all Quest 2 games and applications. Many of your favorites have upgrades or additions that make use of the new headset’s power and enhanced graphics. It’s disappointing, however, that the Quest 3 didn’t release with at least one or two exclusive games or killer apps. December’s Asgard’s Wrath 2 is included, just in time for Christmas. But what about now?

At $499 for the 128 GB version and $649 for the 512 GB model, Quest 3 comes in cheaper than the PS VR2, much less than the Quest Pro, and not even close to the upcoming Apple Vision Pro at $3500. Not that there are a huge number of choices, but Meta Quest 3 is the clear winner in the wireless VR headset space. The Quest Pro has slightly better specs, but only in some categories.

I’m Sold

Whether wired or wireless, made by Apple or Meta, it doesn’t matter. VR headsets are still slabs of plastic strapped to your face. When it comes to build quality, visual clarity, sound, and comfort, the Meta Quest 3 is a standout product. Although it lags in new and exclusive games, it does support your existing Quest library and a huge number of games and apps from the Steam VR store. Whether you use it for gaming, using a virtual desktop or working out with a number of excellent fitness apps, the Meta Quest 3 is much more than a cosmetic upgrade from the Quest 2.

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Stranger Things is one of the biggest series in the world, and the season finale on Netflix was critically acclaimed. In late 2022, Netflix along with developer Tender Claws announced that they were working on a Stranger Things VR game. Today, the companies have announced that they plan to release the game on the Oculus Quest 2 and Quest Pro in Fall 2023. Furthermore, game will be priced at $29.99USD, but fans that pre-order the game on the Oculus Store will pay only $26.99USD.

In the game, players will be able to experience the mysterious occurrences from the perspective of Vecna, as he uncovers unknown realities and enacts his plan for revenge against Eleven and Hawkins. Moreover, players will be able to invade the dreams and memories of several main characters as the consequences of Vecna’s actions in the previous seasons are revealed. Additionally, players will be able to utilize Vecna’s powers of telekinesis while opening and closing portals.

Furthermore, in the gameplay trailer, viewers get an in-depth look at the intense scenarios, weird constructs and much more. Stranger Things VR promises to offer a new perspective on a storied franchise, that will give fans more details and different versions of historic events.

Also, Virtual Reality games have seen a significant growth in popularity over the years, and with PlayStation’s continued investment, fans can expect a ton more titles.

What are your thoughts on Stranger Things? Do you enjoy virtual reality games? Are you interested in a Stranger Things VR game? What do you think about the Oculus Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro? What aspect of the game are you most excited for? What do you think about the gameplay trailer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.

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The zombie-killing cult-classic film series Zombieland doesn’t come around all that often. With ten years between the two films and a couple of video games, we might not see another film for quite a while. That’s not to say the series is totally dead, which is pretty appropriate. Zombieland: Headshot Fever is coming ’round again.

2019’s Zombieland: Double Tap had a tie-in game for Nintendo Switch, but a couple of years later, a VR game came out. Zombieland: Headshot Fever came out for Steam VR, Meta Quest, and Vive. A re-release will be coming out for PSVR 2.

After Columbo, Little Rock, Wichita, and Tallahassee accidentally rescue you, you shack up with their crew. The game is an arcade on-rails shooter full of different guns to use, wracking up the best scores you can. There is a bullet-time feature to help you score combos of the gnarliest zombie kills.

Nine months ago, the game added an Arcade Attack mode for free. When it launches on PSVR 2, Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded will likely include all the updates thus far. There are some exclusive features that will be implemented using the PSVR 2 hardware.

According to the PlayStation Store, Reloaded will have “Adaptive triggers: making every weapon feel different. Controller haptics: unique haptic feedback every time you fire a weapon. Headset rumble: feel the horde approaching in the headset. [and] Eye-tracking: supports eye-tracking for foveated rendering.”

Zombieland: Headshot Fever is available now for Steam VR, Meta Quest, and Vive. It will launch on PSVR 2 when the hardware launches, on February 22nd.

Will you be getting this for PSVR 2? Let us know in the comments below.

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Attention all sneak thieves, grand theft enthusiasts, and crooks of all manner. There’s some big changes coming to your line of work. All of them for the better. Today, 3R Games is happy to announce a final 2022 update coming for their VR sandbox game, Thief Simulator VR: Greenview Street. The game aims to give players the experience of being an actual thief in a sandbox city. Of course, a press release provides more details on the game and it’s updates. Additionally, a trailer from earlier this year gives players a better look at the game. 

Thief Simulator VR: GreenView Street gives players the opportunity to experience life as a real thief. In VR, players will explore a sandbox city and develop their skills as thieves. Roam different neighborhoods, buy thieves tools, upgrade your skills, and more all while completing various thievery jobs. For instance, players can rob houses, cars, and more. Importantly, you need to avoid being caught at all costs. A master thief never gets caught. Luckily you have a lot of places too hide, and two different car models to make your get away in. 

Of course a final update for 2022 is coming to the game. This update is a major graphics update that will provide a clear split between daytime and night time. Additionally, this update will be accompanied by various quality of life updates that improves scanning NPCs routines that will provide further stealthiness and reduce the chances of getting seen. Check out the trailer for a look at the gameplay. 

Thief Simulator VR: Greenview Street is currently available for the Quest. So, are you ready to become a master thief? 

SOURCE

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The tunneling never ceases. It’s time to hop back into the dirt and continue digging. Today VRKiwi is happy to announce that their action adventure game, Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder, is receiving its first post launch content update. The update, titled The Return of the Chompys, is bringing a host of new content to the game and is releasing on November 21st. A press release provides more info on the update. Furthermore, the full release trailer gives players a look at the game and what it is about.

Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder is the sequel to, best-selling VR game, Cave Digger. The game places you in the mining boots of of a prospector. The game starts players off in a small camp. Of course, players will need to mine for resources to get more funding. With funding, players can purchase better tools to dig even deeper. However, the deeper you go, you learn you’re not alone. 

The Return of the Chompys update sees a lot more coming to the game. For instance players can expect to see more enemies, endings, and above all more Chompys. The new Chompys include the miner, punk, and hellraiser. Each with their own unique task to do and with their own mechanics to learn. Additionally, players can also look forward to new costumes and even more to explore. Check out the trailer below for a look at the game.

Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder’s newest update is releasing on November 21st. Currently the game is available on Steam, Meta, and PSVR. So, are you ready to get back to digging? 

SOURCE

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Cortopia Studios alongside Beyond Frames officially released Wands Alliances on virtual reality systems on June 30th, 2022. The game currently supports Quest 2 and provides players with a unique, competitive and tactical experience. The developers recently confirmed that the game will be releasing on Steam in Autumn 2022. There is no confirmed release date just yet. Interested persons can wishlist the game here and will require an HTC Vive, Meta Quest, Oculus Rift or Valve Index to play.

In the game, players will hop into intense 3v3 battles where they must master tactical aspects of the game such as teleportation, spell casting and spell customization. Every decision matters on the battlefield as it can be the difference between victory and defeat. Furthermore, players will start by choosing their class, spell and winning by either completing the objective or defeating their enemy. Additionally, players will fight in Victorian London.

Wands Alliances is a successor to Wands and it has continued to develop upon its predecessor by adding more content, customization options and an improved virtual reality experience. The game is full of action, fun and appears to be a ‘VR Harry Potter’ experience as players navigate the level using spells to win.

Virtual Reality is growing immensely over the past few years and it’s interesting to see more money being spent on it. With the release of more games on all platforms and improved accessibility, it has a bright future!

What are your thoughts on Wands Alliances? Do you enjoy Virtual Reality games? Which platform do you own? Will you checking the game out when it releases on Steam? Are you interested in its release on various platforms today? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.

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If there’s anything we have learned from The Walking Dead, it’s that things never really die. The show on AMC may be coming to an end, but the spin-offs are still shambling on and raising again. In the gaming-sphere, the VR title Saints & Sinners is getting a second chapter, coming sometime this year.

Skydance Interactive and Skybound Entertainment recently released a short teaser for the second game. It appears that the player will be going up against someone who calls himself “a broken man”. Players will also be returning as the Tourist from the first game.

The trailer also shows off a bit of gameplay. It seems that players will be able to dual-wield weapons. We see the player using a revolver in one hand and a makeshift bladed weapon in the other. After those weapons fail, they pull out a chainsaw, which players can look forward to using.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 appears to take place shortly after the first game ends. The story can end multiple ways, so hopefully the choices made in the first game can be imported or selected again to influence the new game.

Chapter 2 will apparently be available sometime in late 2022. It will launch on Meta Quest and Meta Rift headsets. Saints & Sinners part 1 eventually was released on PSVR, so hopefully that same audience will get to play it on PSVR or PSVR 2 as well.

Did you play Saints & Sinners? Will you be picking up the sequel? Let us know in the comments below.

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A dreamlike world. A twisted and terrible reality. Today Shanghai Developer UGmax announces the release of their atmospheric VR horror game, Lost in Abyss, on Oculus Quest 1 and 2. Prepare to descend into a dark reality and face the horrible truth of past events. The announcement provides details to player about what they will experience in the chilling gameplay. 

Lost in Abyss places players in the, unfortunate, shoes of Landon. As Landon players  are trapped in a nightmare space taking the form of an old house. Of course, reliving memories gets complex. Especially when good memories are intertwining with horrifying realities. 

The game offers a 60-90 minute experience. However, the time frame packs the experience full of horrific additions to the atmosphere. For instance, jump scares, SFX, and terrifying animations are sure to make your experience feel a lot longer. Additionally, the game features full high quality Chinese voice acting and full subtitles. 

Players will dive into Landon’s inner world uncovering the truth about the death of a woman named Lilith and her family. As you progress, uncover a conspiracy written in blood and sin. Furthermore discover the truth about a mysterious cult known only as Saint Cohen. 

Lost in Abyss is out now on the Oculus Quest 1 and Oculus Quest 2. It is available now on Steam for $11.61. So, are you ready to face the nightmare? Will you be brave enough to learn the truth? Or will you simply succumb to the fear, and accept that there is no possible way out of the nightmare. 

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Creepy Jar’s 2019 survival game Green Hell is widely considered to be one of the best of its kind. It is perfect for those with a survivalist’s heart, but lack the means and know-how to do it in real life. Green Hell VR will take you one step closer to living out that dream, but without the danger of actually dying.

Green Hell VR was announced last year. It is being developed by Incuvo and Creepy Jar. While it will be available by the end of the month on Meta Quest, it will also be coming to Steam VR at a later time.

In the new trailer, Green Hell VR looks to have some very involved gameplay, more than before. Everything from crafting to building to combat is a fully engaging process. Rather than just crafting items in a menu, players will have to manually put resources together and bind them with rope. The same goes for building shelters and applying bandages.

We also see some combat against wildlife and native people (who we should probably be nicer to). Players can use spears, one-handed weapons, and dual wield weapons, while making more precise strikes than using controllers or keyboard and mouse. Again, it is more involved in VR though.

Green Hell VR will be available on April 22nd for Meta Quest. It will also be coming to Steam VR sometime in May. Green Hell is now available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Will you be trying to survive the rainforest in VR? Let us know in the comments below.

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NFL Communications, a media website for the NFL, has announced the league’s intention to create a new game series. It goes untitled at the moment, but apparently this NFL VR game will be an annual release.

As you may know, Football coach and commentator legend John Madden died in late 2021. He was also the namesake of the Madden NFL game series. The series has been an annual release since 1990 and Madden NFL 23 would be the first since Madden’s death if/when it is announced. Though Madden 23 is probably an inevitability, the NFL could be starting a rivaling VR game series.

Annually releasing games are a challenge to keep fresh. However, series like NFL, NHL, FIFA, MLB, and NBA titles are cash cows. If the NFL is trying to do that with VR, they will need to nail it the first time to keep players coming back for more.

Not only does it need to be good, but VR would need to be more widely available if they want to pump out an NFL VR game every year. Instead of working with EA Sports for this franchise, they are partnering with StatusPRO.

Statements on this partnership can be read on NFL Communications from Joe Ruggiero, SVP, Consumer Products at NFL, as well as co-founders of StatusPRO Andrew Hawkins and Troy Jones. It is unclear when the game will be officially revealed or what it will even be called. Hopefully, we will get a convincing look at it in due time.

The untitled NFL VR game will be coming to PSVR devices and MetaQuest.

Would you like to try a VR football game? Let us know in the comments below.

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Do you have the ambition to achieve your musical dreams but don’t have access to instruments? Good news, there’s a solution. Today, marks the release of Really Interactive’s musical sandbox game, Virtuoso. A press release gives details about the features of the game and everything that players will be able to create. Additionally, a launch trailer on Quest’s YouTube gives players another look at the game. 

Virtuoso allows players to live out their musical fantasies. The game places players in a sandbox environment with several musical instruments at their disposal all designed with VR in mind. Using the looping tool in combination with your instruments can let anybody form their very own one-man-band. Additionally the game is built with an interactive tutorial where even the most new musician can learn to rock with the best. 

“Virtuoso is the next evolution of creating music in a virtual space, allowing both complete beginners and seasoned musicians the chance to create and play in a brand new way.” Says Jonatan Crafoord, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Really Interactive. 

Furthermore, the game is a sandbox. This means players can design music in a variety of locations. From a sci-fi galactic theme studio, to a windy field, to a calming forest. You are sure to find a location where you feel most ready to create. Players will also be able to find which instrument is their favorite. Of course, the launch trailer gives players a glimpse of what they can expect. 

Virtuoso is out now on Quest, Rift, and Steam VR headsets. Currently the game costs $19.99. So, are you ready to become a music star? 

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Have you ever woke up on a dusty strange highway with no recollection of who you are? You can experience it now. Indie Publisher Versus Evil’s atmospheric first person mystery game, Hitchhiker: A Mystery Game, is coming to Meta Quest March 10th. A press release about the game gives fans some insight into the world of Hitchhiker and discusses its plot. 

Hitchhiker: A Mystery Game places players in the shoes of an unknown person. The player character awakens on the side of a dusty highway in the middle of nowhere. Your character has no memory of who they are, why they are on this highway, or how they got there. Additionally you have no clue of how to find out anything about yourself. With no other option you must hitch rides with strangers across the country, putting together pieces of the puzzle that is your mind. Maybe through these rides you can piece together who you are. 

“Bringing Hitchhiker into the VR gamespace made perfect sense from a narrative standpoint, particularly in the way we’ve been able to elevate the surreal road trip adventure with a player experience that feels like you’re actually inside the car.” Says Developer Mad About Pandas Founder Patrick Rau in the press release. 

A trailer for the Quest version of the game shows players the immersion they can expect from the virtual reality system. 

The game is set for a March 10th release on Meta Quest VR. Hitchhiker is also available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile devices. 

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Have you ever wanted to serve weird space drinks to aliens? Well you can soon. Developer Foggy Box Games’ upcoming bartending simulation, Startenders, gives players the chance to mix drinks for a galaxy of peoples. A press release provides not only the release date but details on the features of the game. 

Startenders puts players in the role of a new intern at the Startenders Academy. Here you will learn a whole host of skills that you will need to use on patrons. Behind the bar you will need to shake, slice and dice, cryo, blast, and serve patrons to level up and gain new skills. Additionally you can test your skills in various game modes from the story mode to free mix. In each mode you’ll encounter alien species, experiment with crazy new cocktails, you can even compare your skills with the rest of the world in challenges. 

Players get a glimpse of all of this bartending action in the Meet Startenders trailer. Additionally the trailer provides players with a look at the art style of the game. 

Furthermore the mixing of drinks isn’t limited by puny earth ingredients. Instead you’re going to be mixing up cosmic cocktails with help from the most recent advancements in drink-making technology. 

“We wanted each player’s Startenders experience to be unique, so we built a system that can provide endless procedurally generated shifts, with different customers and orders each time you play.” Said Chris Youles, Creative Director of Foggy Box Gamesin the press release. 

Startenders is set for a March 17th, 2022 release. The game will be available on Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR. It will cost $14.99. So, what will be your specialty? 

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With some games, you instantly know from the opening sequence whether you are going to like them. Wanderer nails it right from the start. The orchestral opening awe-inspiring music swirls around you as the title screen appears. Overhead, an old DC3 four-prop airliner hangs, while strewn around you lay relics from various ages.

As you look around, you realize something is wrong. There is a familiar picture of a moonwalking astronaut but it’s not American Neil Armstrong but an unknown Russian cosmonaut. At this moment, you know an amazing adventure is about to unfold. This is a game that screams of developers with a vision who know what they are doing.

That impression continues when you hit the start button to see the game expertly use the PSVR’s OLED display ability for deep blacks. The screen fades to black and a slick menu in bright yellow sleeves appears. It just looks beautiful.

That beauty continues when the first game screen appears. The year is 2061 and you are in Boston. However, it is a flooded city. A deserted Beantown has canals for streets, and you travel through it via a barge-like boat. You could almost believe you are in the world from The Last Of Us Part 2. While not photorealistic, the city displays amazing detail, especially for the PSVR. Wanderer is easily one of the best-looking PSVR games.

A Journey Across Space And Time

Your initial goal is to find your grandfather’s apartment, which takes some doing, and is a mini-adventure in of itself. The beginning sections showcase the interactive complexity of the game. You can pick up many of the objects in the game and either use, examine or throw them. For example, there is a chalkboard and you can pick up chalk and write on the board. You swiftly learn that objects behave in a realistic, physics-based manner.

There are some immersion-breaking limitations, however. Only objects that highlight when looked at are usable. This limitation is, in actuality, a good thing because there are so many objects needed to solve puzzles. Also, some worlds visited have invisible walls from time to time that abruptly smack you in the face. The most jarring moment came when I was walking on the moon.

Oh, did I forget to mention that Wanderer is a time-travelling game? Not only do you go to different eras but also exotic locations. Or that you will meet famous people like Tesla? Well, you sure do. The great thing about Wanderer is that all these locations are not static settings. Usually, it’s during a moment of conflict. You’ll end up on the moon where the lunar landing has crashed, bump into Tesla who can’t get his experiments in electricity to work, play drums at a live rock ’n’ roll concert in 1969, or help crack codes in an arms race during World War 2.

In each location, you solve puzzles. Often, the solution requires you to jump back and forth between time periods to procure items to do so. Fortunately, you are not alone on these quests. You have your grandfather’s unusual wristwatch that goes by the name of Samuel. He has a face that looks like the banker from Monopoly and sounds a lot like Tim Curry. Samuel is more than a guide. He also carries your inventory and, most importantly, is your time travel device.

Time Traveling Mechanics

As you travel to each time period, you leap into the body of someone, a la Sam Beckett from the Quantum Leap TV show. While Wanderer is a high adventure game, at its core, it’s a puzzle game. It’s in these sections of gameplay where it feels the most Myst-like. However, you don’t feel the claustrophobia of that game which restricted movement to rigid teleportations. Thanks to VR, you can move freely throughout the environment.

Tied to the location-specific puzzle-solving is a grander overall story arc. Your grandfather wants you to complete his mission. A mission to return the timeline to its original state. It’s a storyline quite popular today, with all the franchise metaverses prevalent today. It makes for an engrossing game.

On the technical side, Wanderer has gorgeous graphics, great audio and the expected VR comfort options. You can elect to teleport or use free locomotion, but some sections require the use of teleport to jump. New Zealand developers, Oddᗺoy + M-Theory, have shown some major technical muscle with this game. It looks simply brilliant on the aging PSVR platform.

I cannot emphasize enough what a grand adventure Wanderer is. The game has the right mix of action and puzzle-solving to keep things from getting stale. Voice acting and the orchestral score are top-notch and bring added gravitas to the proceedings. The only niggle in the presentation comes with the actions of the NPCs. Sometimes they are oblivious to your presence and movement. This makes their obviously scripted behaviour all that more artificial.

A Wanderer Trilogy…

Wanderer is a true treat and if it does well enough. Oddᗺoy + M-Theory has plans to make a trilogy of games. The game launched with some annoying bugs but the developers have been quick and diligent to respond and provide patches. The version of the game I played ran flawlessly after the patches. Wanderer is available on all VR platforms – PSVR, SteamVR, and Oculus. Check this one out. You won’t regret it.

***PSVR code provided by the publisher***

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The world of virtual reality has grown significantly with the release of the Oculus and PSVR systems. Vox Machinae is one of the more popular virtual reality titles and can be bought via Steam and the Oculus Store. It is currently available for $24.99 USD in Early Access. Today, the developers have announced that they’ve been working on a single player campaign for two years. The team has also indicated that they’re working on the title and that it will be free!

In terms of story, the developers are going big. The game has always dealt with massive operations, hangars and galaxies. Furthermore, resources in the game include fuel, steel, munitions and more. Therefore, in the campaign, the team intend to go big and push the limits of virtual reality.

In an effort to make the world massive, there will be a lot of endearing and quirky characters. As the new recruit, players must assess them, make relationships and explore the world. Furthermore, players will be planet hopping across areas with unique environments, gripping stories and more. Players must keep aware of their surroundings to be safe. Additionally, players will be able to fully explore these new spaces with their new crew.

The original composer will be part of the team creating the score for the expansion. The final flash of credits and score will add the cherry on top of the experience. Therefore, the developers have confirmed the expansion and that it is free!

What are your thoughts on Vox Machinae? Are you a fan of virtual reality games? Do you own a virtual reality system? Are you looking forward to a single player campaign in Vox Machinae? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.

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Have you ever thought about the recipes from a time long before our own? Have you ever wanted to cook them? Now, you can. Schell Games historical cooking simulator, Lost Recipes, is coming to the Quest VR platform later this month. A press release about its arrival to the Quest provides more details. 

In the game players cook for ghosts. That’s right. Ghosts. As the player character you will cook ancient, traditional, recipes from different cultures throughout time. Additionally, you will be cooking this food in historically accurate kitchens, with historically accurate ingredients. From ancient Greece, to China, and Maya, you will cook accurate recipes that have passed through generations of people all to be presented to players in virtual reality. Also, players will learn about how geography and history morphs cuisines around the world. 

A trailer released last month shows off the gameplay of Lost Recipes and how it looks from the players point of view.

“Cooking has the power to bring people together and we wanted to capture this experience for players in and outside of the Quest headset.” Says Melanie Harke, Lost Recipes Project Director in the release. 

Though the team behind Lost Recipes try to remain as accurate as possible with their recipes in the game, they admit that some things are out of their control in real life. Thus, some of the recipes they attempted to make outside of the VR realm need some alternate ingredients that still exist. 

Currently, Lost Recipes is releasing on January 27th, 2022. It is priced at $14.99. Players can wish list the game on the Quest coming soon page.  

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Popular scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson is bringing his recognizable voice to virtual reality. Developers of the upcoming VR meditation app Maloka announced the astrophysicist’s involvement today. In Maloka, Tyson will be doing what he does best: talking about the universe. You can get a feel for Tyson’s role in the sneak peek below.

Since science plays a big role in the creation and inspiration for Maloka, Tyson feels like a natural fit. Tyson will guide players around their private virtual island that will grow as they advance in the game. Each player’s island is cultivated through guided mindfulness. As players advance, they can decorate their island with plants and sculptures. Moreover, players will have the opportunity to explore other worlds.

Maloka’s creators have used scientific research to guide players through exercises that activate Beta and Theta brainwaves to aid in relaxation. This will help achieve their goal is to easily integrate meditation and mindfulness into players’ everyday lives.

Players are each choose a spirit that will accompany them on their mindfulness journey. In addition to the guided practices, players can also enjoy the sounds of gongs, singing bowls, chimes and tuning forks. Players looking for a mindful movement experience can even do yoga-inspired sessions.

Maloka will debut on Meta Quest on December 14, with a free companion app coming out on iOS and Android. The app will allow players to track their progress and will also feature companion exercises.

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Everyone has performed an air guitar solo in their living room at least once. If you somehow haven’t, you’re missing out! It looks incredibly silly but it is, in fact, totally rad. Unplugged is a high tech extension of this low tech fantasy. Suddenly people are cheering for you, the stakes are higher, and it sounds awesome. Assuming you and the hand tracking get along, you’ll have an excellent time.

That’s right! You control Unplugged like you would any proper air guitar- no controllers required. For me, this produced some mixed results. By which I mean every motion but the stupid finger pinch button click worked great. If you’ve ever used hand tracking on a VR rig, you’ve used this one countless times. If you haven’t, it sucks more or less every single time. Everything else is perfect! Moving your hand from chord to chord is pretty much spot-on. The strums hit just like they’re supposed to, as well. It’s truly just the act of grabbing and pinching that the whole game whiffs at.

No Controller Required, Of Course

Although really, the fault for this one lies with the Quest itself. Perhaps if you’re running this game on the Quest 2, such problems won’t mean anything to you. But this is a problem I’ve experienced all across the Quest and its many apps. Thankfully you never have to do it during songs. But still, adjusting your guitar beforehand? It’s like trying to put down a plastic straw wrapper. Does that make sense? I’m saying you can neither pick up nor put down this instrument without a mighty struggle.

But what about the music? It’s amazing, assuming you were a teenager in the 90s. Which I very much was! The tracklist isn’t actually confined to a single generation or subgenre, though it does feel specifically tailored to the smoky basement suites of my distant youth. I could listen to every track repeatedly, which is good news, given my skill level. Here’s the tricky part, where I confess to a love of rhythm games that vastly outpaces my skills. To that end, I can’t score Unplugged on any rhythm game toughness scale. What I can do, is tell you that certain finger placements caused me real, actual pain. There’s things I’d never done with my fingers in my life, before I played this game. The tracklist is excellent, though.

Your teacher and coach throughout this air guitar journey is Satchel, the lead guitarist of Steel Panther. His teaching style is mostly focused on rock star attitude, along with a basic primer on the mechanics. By the end of the tutorial track, you’re more or less prepared for the business of rocking out. It’s weird, having this real human in a glam rock wig light your way through an ephemeral world of cheers and glittering visual effects. Beyond Satchel’s occasional presence, the graphics in Unplugged are downright utilitarian.

Just You And The Stage

To be fair, they aren’t bad graphics. You’re plopped into a little backstage setup with all the usual accessories, every poster and piece of gear adding more authenticity. The guitars, the menu catalogs, and the song effects are all crisp and polished. It just feels a bit spare. Like, all the processing power and memory is being funneled into the act of playing air guitar. Everything else is drained or blurred into obscurity in service to this vision. I understand the decision to do so, especially while actually playing. You get such intense tunnel vision that extra assets would be kind of a waste. The visuals just feel a little empty, at least in the brief moments between songs.

Unplugged is the long-awaited answer to the question “how cool is air guitar, really?” It turns out air guitar is actually Guitar Hero without the massive custom controller taking up space in your living room. Which is pretty cool! If you’ve got a head for rhythm games, along with a lingering fondness for timeless rock songs, there’s a lot to latch on to here. The hand tracking is better than you’d expect, although there are a couple of choke points to contend with. Furthermore, those quality motion controls can’t stop certain finger positions from being real bone-breakers. Small hitches aside, Unplugged is an unconventional, engaging interpretation of VR rhythm games.

***An Oculus Quest code was provided by the publisher***

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Survive or die. That, in a nutshell, is what Song in the Smoke (or SITS for short) is all about. What makes it so good is how much 17-Bit crammed inside that shell. You wake up in a primitive and deadly jungle world. You start with no clothes, food, weapons, water, or shelter. To survive, you must find the raw materials to craft the necessities of life. Otherwise death awaits. But your tribulations don’t just stop there. There are many dangers in this virtual world – be it predators or poisons or the cold of night.

Song in the Smoke is the latest game from developer 17-Bit and it’s a winner. Everything about this VR game is top-notch. The controls are tight and the interface is straightforward and intuitive. The crafting system is deep and immersive. You must take the raw materials and combine them together in ways only VR allows. For instance, to fashion a knife requires you to find a stick in one VR hand and a sharp rock in the other and rub them together to whittle the branch into a handle. Then you must take the handle and lash a piece of flint to complete your knife. Another great example of VR immersion is the creation of antidotes or health potions. For that, you take the plant, drop in your mortar, and then grind it down with your pestle. Once done, you raise the mortar to your mouth to drink.

Tactile VR Inventory Management

17-Bit incorporates inventory management seamlessly by leveraging off the advantages of VR. You store items in skins that roll out and contain pouches. Many of the pouches will hold multiple quantities to reduce screen clutter. Everything stored requires you to pick it up, lending a real tactile sensation. You can also combine items in different ways to yield different results. The game also excels in crafting a living world that not only moves through day/night cycles but weather as well. The lighting in the game is superb. The daylight waxes and wane, and objects throw realistic shadows. The stylized visuals in the game are not photorealistic, so the textures are just as detailed as they need to be. The net effect is a stylized, cohesive world that feels immersive.

You must also keep track of your health and energy. A quick glance at your wrists gets you the stone age equivalent of PDAs. All your vital stats are depicted on stone bracelets that use caveman drawing like pictograms. You can quickly check your health, hunger, time of day, etc. from them. For more detailed information you open up the inventory skin. Here you can get exact percentages of your health and energy plus your body temperature. Don’t worry, if you become so engrossed in the game that it slips your mind to periodically check your stats, the game sends you the appropriate visual cues.

I want to dive a little deeper here on how well SITS creates an immersive world. Take the day/night cycle, for example. Never have I experienced the impact of the sun passing across the sky and dreading the falling of night so deeply in a game. Night time is dangerous. The dark hides scary things and all you have is your torch or campsite fires to hold it at bay. As daylight fails, it is imperative to find a safe place to camp for the night. If you have ever gone camping, you know these feelings well. Now imagine them taking place in an unknown, hostile place. It’s these small and emotionally effective moments SITS creates so wonderfully.

There is a variety of flora, some of which serves as food, like berries or mushrooms to eat or herbs you use to heal or provide energy. The flora is also used to make the world feel alive. Fern leaves and tree branches move and dip with the wind or part as you move through them. The denser foliage can also be used as camouflage while hunting or as refuge to hide from larger predators. It really adds a lot to the game when the environment is interactive instead of just set dressings.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My

SITS doesn’t stop with the flora, though. There is much fauna too, aka creatures great and small. Some you hunt and some hunt you. There is a veritable Noah’s arc of life in the game that ranges from small creatures like fish or ground hogs to boars to lions and jaguars. Each of them moves with the proper weight and mass. There are also predatory birds. They all behave as you would expect and are animated in manners consistent with the animal type. The various species provide different means for you to hunt or protect yourself. You can throw rocks, or even sticks, at them or use a bow and arrow or a spear. If all that isn’t enough, there are also creatures not of this world. Some of them may even be supernatural.

You move through the eight worlds with a variety of VR options. Those with VR legs will opt for no vignettes paired with smooth turning. The PSVR version of the game requires the PlayStation Move Controllers and they work great. The only concession comes for climbing – which uses a form of teleportation. The worlds vary from jungle to desert to ice mountains and each brings it’s own set of challenges. Along with the graphics, the 3D audio also does a great job in presenting a 360 degree outdoor soundscape.

The survival aspects of SITS include an overarching mystery. This mystery gives purpose to your struggles and keeps the game from getting stale. At the beginning of the game, a creepy and surreal three-headed raven leads you on. Three heads are strange enough, but the weirdness extends further. There is a human face behind the three heads. What does it want from you? Where is it leading you to? And why? You’ll have to play the game to find out.

It’s always a struggle to describe in words, or even show in videos, how immersive and enveloping a VR experience is when done right. SITS will suck you in and bring out your inner caveman. 17-Bit has nailed it with this game. It’s truly an excellent VR experience.

*** PSVR Code provided by the publisher ***

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VR has brought a kind of resurgence to the couch co-op, passing the controller around kind of multiplayer. Especially with Beat Saber, where you and a group of friends can compete to beat each other’s high score on a certain song. But what if your friends can’t make it over, particularly in this pandemic era?

Beat Saber has the solution for you. Online Multiplayer, just like any other game system. For those on PC and Oculus Quest/Rift multiplayer has been available since October 2020, but it’s only now coming to PSVR. There’s no particular reason specified for this year-long delay. Perhaps it was Sony needing to re-evaluate the quality of the game. Or some other kind of technical limitation regarding Sony’s take on VR. Maybe they just didn’t feel like it, we’ll never know.

Beat Saber’s multiplayer allows up to 5 players to compete on songs available in the game. All players must have the respective DLC packs should they want to play a DLC song. Players can choose to enter online matchmaking or create custom matches with their friends. The devs also added a sort of “badge” system. For example, if your slices are really on-point you’ll be rewarded with the “most precise slicer” award/badge.

The update also brings a new spooky song called “Spooky Beat” by Jaroslav Beck, ushering in the Halloween spirit for any VR fans. As of yet, PC/Quest players are not able to play with PSVR players but we hope that changes in the future. PC and Quest players are able to play together.

If you were looking for an excuse to pick up a PSVR kit, nows your chance. Beat Saber offers hours of single-player fun, and the online matchmaking will tack on another few hours. If your friends own a PSVR, you’ll be able to enjoy getting double their score and humiliating them over the internet!

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Resident Evil 4 VR will be launched on October 21st as an Oculus Quest 2 exclusive, and will be giving the franchise’s fans a whole new perspective into the game. Unfortunately, reports have surfaced that this new VR version has had some content that was removed.

Apparently, there were scenes and dialogue that highly sexualised Ashley Graham, who is the President’s daughter accompanying Leon throughout most of the Resident Evil 4 VR adventure. Leon was sent to rescue Ashley after she got kidnapped by an unknown group. With that said, Resident Evil 4 VR players will be spending majority of the game protecting her as they escort her back to safety.

In the original game, when Ashley meets Luis, the latter looks at her chest and comments, “I see that the President has equipped his daughter with ballistics, too.” Ashley then responds with, “How rude. And I do not believe there is any relevance with my figure and my standing. Who are you?” All but this dialogue’s last three lines have been removed from the game. All this happened during a cut scene, instead of a video call, which makes the editing a bit more obvious.

Resident Evil 4 VR will also no longer allow players to look up Ashley’s skirt. Removing this scene also led to the removal of the animation that shows Ashley covering her legs and calling Leon a pervert.

Another Resident Evil 4 VR dialogue that was trimmed from the game was the ending where Ashley seemingly propositions Leon. The line “So, after you take me back to my place, how about we do some overtime?” has also been removed.

Capcom got some flak for allowing Facebook “to deface and modify” the classic game “to please the gaming media and the social justice crowd.” However, Facebook confirmed that all changes made to Resident Evil 4 VR were necessary to fit today’s gaming standards “Oculus Studios, Armature, and Capcom partnered closely to remaster Resident Evil 4 from the group up for VR,” Facebook’s statement read. “It also includes select changes to in-game dialogue and animations that we believe will update Resident Evil 4 VR for a modern audience.”

Do you think they did the right thing to remove these scenes and lines? Let us know in the comments below.

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Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia opens with a beautiful, lush cinematic that seems to promise an epic tale: evil forces are closing in on a city and its citizens are being evacuated. But that enticing premise gives way to a disappointing, simplistic experience that despite some attempts to utilize VR’s potential, has you too often watching instead of playing.

You play as an alien boy in a strange land called Ionia, which I’ll admit is often a pretty place. Like Avatar’s Pandora, it’s a forested paradise abounding in fantastical creatures and ancient curiosities. You embark on a quest with your sister, Allegra, to save one of these creatures who is threatened.

All of which sounds fine, except that Ionia is just far too short on both time and gameplay. As you make your way through its 4 chapters, you must overcome obstacles and that means mostly climbing. You do a lot of climbing and it’s suitably fun for a time but that is really all you do in the game. It begins to lose its appeal after a while.

There are a few puzzles as well, including ones involving music (hence the title) but they are laughably easy and even by some chance you don’t get them right away, the game will literally tell you what to do after not too long. When Allegra told me I had to “find a fruit” we needed for one task, there was literally one cluster of bright red fruit a few feet away in an otherwise green grove of trees. Nobody likes overly-frustrating puzzles but Ionia is the other extreme.

Other than the climbing and easy-as-pie puzzling, Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia is too often a passive experience. There are many long sequences where you are literally stuck in one place, listening to Allegra or some other character talk. It would have helped a lot to have some dialogue options sprinkled in here and there, allowing for some relationship-building or forking narrative paths depending on the choices I made. As it is, Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia makes you a silent player in this (very) short story.

A Tale of Two Games

And when I said earlier that Ionia is pretty, that isn’t completely true either. The visuals are actually very inconsistent. Certain assets are definitely beautiful and well-rendered. Characters like Allegra look quite lifelike and detailed, with realistic movements and smooth lip synching. Or the gigantic forest creatures are awe-inspiring as they tower overhead, in full 3D virtual reality.

But then one of them threw up on me as part of a cinematic, and when I turned to look at it on the ground, the green “puke” was just a pile of triangular polygons floating oddly. It’s at times like this that the visuals in Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia are actually PS1-era bad, which is a jarring contrast to the lovingly rendered characters and cinematics (which you’ll see in the trailer above). This kind of wild variation in visual quality was distracting for me as I played, preventing me from ever fully believing in this fantasy world.

The length of Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia is another bothersome aspect. VR games have been notorious for their short-run times; but Ionia’s one hour of game time from start to finish feels so brief as to barely qualify as a full game instead of a demo. There is an implication that this is just the “first episode” in a series but for many purchasers of Ionia this will feel unsatisfying. Even a famously short VR game like Vader Immortal was longer than this and gave you extra practice levels to enrich the experience.

Ionia has some appealing concepts and the environmentally-conscious themes show its heart is in the right place. The climbing mechanic and other physical interactions are also well suited to VR. But there just isn’t enough to do, and in Ionia’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run time I was never challenged physically or mentally. Even the centerpiece musical aspects really just amounted to me plunking a few notes and moving on. Despite a few highlights, this is one adventure that doesn’t live up to the magical premise.

** An Oculus Quest 2 code was provided by the publisher **

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