GenVR

Waltz of the Wizard’s Natural Magic Update Confirmed for July

June 13, 2021 by GenVR

Virtual reality (VR) developer Aldin has been teasing its next big update for Waltz of the Wizard since 2020. Called “Natural Magic” its set to feature new locations as well a reworked spell casting system to make it feel, well…more natural. Today, as part of a slew of VR announcements to kick off the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 this week the studio has confirmed the update will arrive next month.

Previous updates like the “Telepath” movement system added incremental improvements, whereas Natural Magic will be Aldin’s largest expansion to date. Starting off in a peaceful courtyard sandbox where players can practice and play with the new magic system, they’ll find intuitive controls to pick up distant objects or unleash devastating attacks. This is useful as the other area is the Fortress, a sprawling location home to the Observers, interdimensional beings that harness magic to control time and space.

These “Observers” are the bad guys, of course, and to get to them players will encounter a variety of enemies to wield their magic against. The Fortress also houses hidden artefacts which might be useful. It’s also the first location the developer has built that is procedurally generated, so each run-through will be slightly different.

Waltz of the Wizard: Natural Magic will have plenty of other interesting features for hours of entertainment, including mic input which turns a players voice into magical soundwaves to attack foes, enemies with detachable bodyparts and believable defensive reactions, and user health shown by their fingers turning skeletal.

Waltz of the Wizard: Natural Magic is set to launch on 6th July 2021 as a free update for existing owners of the videogame. There is a slight caveat in the fact that the update will be for SteamVR and Oculus headsets but not for PlayStation VR. Aldin’s CEO Hrafn Thorisson previously said in November 2020 that future updates for the headset were on hold due to the lack of info regarding a PlayStation VR 2 (at the time).

For further updates on Waltz of the Wizard: Natural Magic, keep reading VRFocus.

Competitive VR NERF Game Coming To Oculus Quest In 2022

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Go head-to-head with other players armed with NERF dart guns in a futuristic colosseum surrounded by cheering fans.

The NERF company changed the way we played when they introduced the “world’s first indoor ball” back in 1969, selling millions within the first year. What followed was a series of hit toy releases, from the NERFoop in 1972 to the Power Drencher (the original name for the SUPER SOAKER) in 1989. Things really changed for NERF when the company was purchased by Hasbro in 1991. That following year NERF introduced the very first NERF dart gun called the Sharpshooter and the game of tag was forever changed.

Since those days, the NERF dart gun has gone through many iterations. Not only have there been hundreds of versions made, but they’ve also gotten more powerful, and now NERF is heading into VR with the announcement of a global competitive multiplayer game being called the NERF Ultimate Championship.

Announced today during the Upload VR Showcase as part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming event, the NERF Ultimate Championship is scheduled to arrive in 2022 on the Oculus Quest. This epic-sized VR game will have you and other players going head-to-head in massive team-based arena-style NERF battles that promise tons of action.

Developed by Secret Location (a company that was recently purchased by Hasbro and even won a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for their work on The Sleepy Hollow: VR Experience) along with additional funding from the Canada Media Fund and Ontario Creates, NERF Ultimate Championship looks to bring all of the realism of a classic NERF battle to life in VR, only instead of battling your friends throughout your house or local neighborhood, you’re fighting players from around the world in a futuristic colosseum filled with fans cheering both for and against you.

The NERF Ultimate Championship features quick matches full of vibrant Tron-like colors designed to keep you visually engaged at all times. There will also be lots of intense physical activity as you dodge darts and jump behind walls for safety during matches. Of course, it’s not a NERF battle without their famous dart guns. Each match will feature a wide range of NERF blasters, each of which featuring its own pros and cons depending on the battle. You’ll also have a suite of tools that you can use to customize your avatar and blaster.

In an official press release, Kathryn Rawson, VP of Content at Secret Location said, “NERF Ultimate Championship marks an important milestone for us as the first collaboration with our new parent company Hasbro,” adding, “Everyone on the team is excited to bring those epic NERF battles from our childhood into the immersive world of VR and to the growing Oculus Quest audience when the game launches next year.”

To help build up some NERFhype (not that it needs any) prior to the game’s launch in 2022, NERF has launched nerfvr.com. There you access some sneak peeks of some Oculus Quest gameplay as well as some behind the scene content that the company plans on uploading over the next few months. You’ll also get a chance to take part in exclusive test sessions later in the year. So keep checking back!

“This is a dream project for the team,” said Luke Van Osch, Supervising Producer at Secret Location. “We’ve had Blasters next to our desks for years, and it’s a thrill to bring all the fun and excitement of NERF to VR. We’re looking forward to connecting with other VR and NERF fans, and gathering their input as we continue to bring the game to life.”

In addition to their website, you can also get updates by joining the NERF community via its official Twitter, @nerfvr. They also plan on offering more online platforms such as Discord in the near future.

Feature Image Credit: Hasbro

NERF Battles are Coming to Oculus Quest in 2022

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

It’s been a couple of years since Secret Location’s last virtual reality (VR) title Transpose but the studio is probably better known for its bullet hell shooter Blasters of the Universe. For the start of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 today, Secret Location has begun teasing its next project, NERF Ultimate Championship.

Collaborating with NERF to bring those classic battles all kids know and love into VR, NERF Ultimate Championship is about digitally recreating that excitement pitting players against each other in team-based wars. Players will be able to select from a range of NERF blasters before heading into an arena to leap around and dodge darts in an effort to win the quick, physical matches.

“NERF Ultimate Championship marks an important milestone for us as the first collaboration with our new parent company Hasbro,” said, Kathryn Rawson, VP Content, Secret Location in a statement. “Everyone on the team is excited to bring those epic Nerf battles from our childhood into the immersive world of VR and to the growing Oculus Quest audience when the game launches next year.”

Outside of the arena players will be able to customise their avatars and blasters with plenty of vibrant designs the brand is known for. NERF fans will get a chance to go hands-on with the videogame later this year as Secret Location will be hosting exclusive playtest sessions.

“We are thrilled to partner with Secret Location to take our legacy brand NERF to new heights through the immersion of virtual reality,” stated Scott Ozarski, Brand Manager, Global Brand Marketing for NERF. “It translates the imaginative play, high physicality and fun competition that characterizes the property to an all-new and exciting medium for our fans.”

NERF Ultimate Championship is going to be an Oculus Quest by the looks of it, due to arrive for the standalone headset at some point in 2022. Check out the teaser trailer below although there’s no gameplay footage at the moment. As and when further details for NERF Ultimate Championship are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

I Expect You to Die 2 Features Wil Wheaton, Launches This Summer

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

It’s E3 2021 week so there are plenty of videogame announcements fly around including a few virtual reality (VR) ones. Today, Schell Games has announced that its escape room sequel I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar will be launching this summer and its got some star talent on board.

The studio has revealed that I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar will feature six globe-trotting missions to foil Zoraxis’ plans for world domination. These new missions will still feature ingenious puzzles and cunning villains just like before, the first revealed being to protect the prime minister, who happens to be attending a theatre production by world-famous actor and celebrity John Juniper.

Schell Games managed to get Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: Next Generation) to voice Juniper while the theme song is performed by world-renowned singer and songwriter Puddles Pity Party.

“I Expect You To Die 2 builds upon everything our community loved about the first game, and we’re excited to take players on another adventure filled with espionage,” said Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games in a statement. “Wil and Puddles have been amazing to work with, and their enthusiasm has helped us expand the I Expect You To Die universe in compelling new ways. With Wil Wheaton bringing life to John Juniper, and Puddles’s dynamic performance of the new theme song, we’re confident players will feel immersed in this rich, story-driven evolution of the original game.”

If you enjoyed the first title and you have a PC VR headset then check out the Steam Next Fest this week because there will be a free demo of I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar from 16th June.

I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar is now slated to launch this summer on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, SteamVR and PlayStation VR headsets. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

MMO-like ‘A Township Tale’ Coming to Oculus Quest on July 15th

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Multiplayer RPG A Township Tale is coming to Oculus Quest on July 15th. The quietly developed MMO-like has been available in early access on PC since 2018 as developer Alta has honed a deep profession and crafting system.

A Township Tale is a cooperative VR RPG that’s been in open development by Australia based developer Alta. With multiplayer at its core, the game will allow up to eight simultaneous players on Quest to experience a persistent world designed for adventure, discovery, crafting, and a sense of community participation.

“From the moment the Quest was announced, the requests from fans started to roll in
for a dedicated version of our game, even though the thought of delivering a world as
expansive as A Township Tale to a standalone device seemed crazy,” said Boramy
Unn, game director at Alta. “We began the process last year, and now on July 15 we’ll be
launching A Township Tale on Oculus Quest, bringing to life a fantasy we’ve had since
we were children: To truly embody the RPG characters we play in a fantastical world.”

Beyond having a hand-made world to discover, A Township Tale leans deeply into its crafting, allowing players to intuitively take on roles like blacksmiths, woodcutters, and miners, simply by taking the time to experiment and learn the process of each trade. Blacksmiths, for instance, must heat molded metal before being able to hammer it to shape to make a sharpened blade that can be affixed it to a hilt to make a sword or axe.

A Township Tale is set to launch on Quest on July 15th, priced at $10. The price will also include 1,000 Talems (the in-game currency) which players can use to purchase premium cosmetic items.

The game is available free-to-play on PC. Developer Alta says that the Quest version of A Township Tale will include most of, but not all, of the PC version features at launch, with plans to reach feature-parity in the future. The studio also notes that cross-play between Quest and PC is unfortunately not supported yet, but plans to support one-way cross-play in the future by allowing PC players to connect to Quest servers.

Upload VR Showcase 2021: Everything Announced

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Whew, that was quite a ride. The Upload VR Showcase 2021 is now over!

Need a recap? You’ve come to the right place.

Below is every announcement, reveal and trailer we debuted at this year’s show. Of course, if you want to watch the full thing in its entirety that’s above too.

– PSVR Exclusive Fracked Debuts Explosive New Gameplay Clip

– Larcenauts Lays Out Future Roadmap, Introduces VOD In New Trailer

– Waltz of the Wizard: Natural Magic Releases July 6th

– Song In The Smoke – Watch The 9-Minute Making Of The VR Survival Game

– New Trailer For Noir Combat Rhythm Game Against

– New Unplugged Gameplay Reveals Offspring Track, Fall Launch For Quest, SteamVR

– Sam & Max Creator Steve Purcell Will Voice A Character In New VR Game, Trailer Here

– In Da Hoop! Releases On Quest With Hand Tracking, New Trailer Debut

– Pistol Whip Style System Adds Bullet Hell & Deep Customization

– Rhythm Of The Universe: Ionia Launches Q3 2021, Supporting Wildlife Warriors

– I Expect You To Die 2 Releases This Summer

– Traffic Jams Arrives On PSVR In August

– Watch VR Survival Game Green Hell In Action

– After The Fall Shows Plenty Of New Gameplay In New Dev Diary

– Demeo Realm Of The Rat King Launches Later This Month

– See Sniper Elite VR’s X-Ray Kill Cam In Action

– Nerf Ultimate Championship Arrives On Oculus Quest In 2022

– A Township Tale Brings Co-Op VR Fantasy To Oculus Quest In July

What was your favorite moment of the show? Let us know in the comments below!

A Township Tale Brings Co-Op VR Fantasy To Oculus Quest In July

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Long in-development VR fantasy game, A Township Tale, will be coming to Oculus Quest next month.

Alta Reality’s unique adventure VR just closed out this summer’s Upload VR Showcase with the reveal of its standalone version. The game arrives on the official Oculus Quest store on July 15 for $9.99. Check out the announcement trailer below.

Until now, A Township Tale was only available on PC VR headsets. In the game, players discover an abandoned village and get to work on rejuvenating it as they embody different classes. You can forge items as a blacksmith, gather resources as a miner or fight off foes as a warrior, and there are woodcutter and archer professions, too.

But, whereas many VR games feature similar roles, A Township Tale has a unique focus on its interactions. Each class has tasks that involve physically replicating what you might do in the real world, like hammering swords over an anvil as a blacksmith or putting genuine effort into axe swings whether it’s to chop a tree or fell an enemy. In this sense, the game’s been uniquely designed from the ground up for VR.

When it comes to co-op, Quest players will be able to launch their own server for up to eight players total. There won’t be any cross-play with the PC version “at launch”, however.

“To bring something as big as A Township Tale to standalone VR seemed crazy, but we were able to start the process last year in 2020,” Boramy Unn, Game Director, said in a prepared statement. “The PC version of A Township Tale isn’t complete and had many technical improvements to be made. We found that dedicating to these improvements would align us well with working on a Quest version and so we began.”

As with the PC version, there will be an in-game store with cosmetic items to purchase. You’ll get 1,000 Talems, the purchasable in-game currency, when you buy the game from the Oculus Store. Go a step further and pre-order, however, and you’ll get 2,000 Talems as well as exclusive in-game items.

Will you be picking up A Township Tale on Quest? Let us know in the comments below!

Nerf Ultimate Championship Arrives On Oculus Quest In 2022

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Nerf’s brand of foam warfare is coming to VR. Nerf Ultimate Championship heads to Oculus Quest in 2022.

Blasters of the Universe developer Secret Location announced the project at the Upload VR Showcase today. We saw a short teaser of the game where a set of characters load up some iconic weapons. Check it out below.

Ultimate Championship will be a competitive multiplayer shooter in which players wield both new and classic Nerf designs in arena-based battles. Fans will cheer you from the side as you go head-to-head in team-based matches. Games are intended to be fast-paced.

“NERF Ultimate Championship marks an important milestone for us as the first collaboration with our new parent company Hasbro,” Kathryn Rawson, VP Content at Secret Location, said in a prepared statement. “Everyone on the team is excited to bring those epic Nerf battles from our childhood into the immersive world of VR and to the growing Oculus Quest audience when the game launches next year.”

And that’s it for now. There’s plenty more to learn about the game but we’ll have to wait until we’re closer to its 2022 launch to hear more.

Are you looking forward to Nerf Ultimate Championship? Let us know in the comments below!

See Sniper Elite VR’s X-Ray Kill Cam In Action

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

We finally know that Sniper Elite VR is coming to headsets next month but — we hear you ask — where’s the X-Ray kill cam?

Wonder no more.

The team at Rebellion debuted a new trailer for the upcoming VR shooter at today’s Upload VR Showcase. We get a quick look at more of the explosive action from the game’s single-player campaign. Stay tuned right up until the end, though, to get a first look at gaming’s goriest kill cam back in action.

If you thought that was gruesome, just wait until you see it in VR. Developed with the help of Just Add Water and Coatsink, Sniper Elite VR will see players sign up to the Italian resistance during the height of the second world war. You’ll carry out stealthy assassination missions and use an assortment of WW2-era weaponry in made-for-VR combat. The game was first announced a few years back and has quite a few VR fans looking forward to it.

Sniper Elite VR arrives on July 8th for Oculus Quest, PSVR and PC VR headsets. Are you looking forward to the game? Let us know in the comments below!

Demeo Realm Of The Rat King Launches Later This Month

June 12, 2021 by GenVR

Resolution Games’ Demeo is getting its first campaign expansion later this month with Realm Of The Rat King.

We adored Resolution’s tabletop role-playing game when it debuted and we labeled it an essential VR title. The Dungeons & Dragons-style game puts you and up to three others around a board trying to strategize your way through uncharted territory with turn-based rolls of the die determining your fate. It can be brutally difficult, with sessions lasting multiple hours only for a couple of mistakes (or bad rolls) to undermine the campaign. The entire journey is an absolute blast and the way it encourages social interaction represents a masterclass in VR design. The game cleared half a million in revenue in just the first 48 hours on sale.

Still, Demeo only launched with one campaign and that left fans who completed the multi-hour journey itching for more. That’ll change on June 28 when Realm Of The Rat King launches. The release date for the new campaign was confirmed during the Upload VR Showcase alongside an update for Resolution’s shooter Blaston, which is getting a single-player campaign.

You can check out the segment in the video below:

Demeo is available on PC VR and Oculus Quest with cross-play included. The developers are also planning a traditional flat-screen version of the game.