Oculus Quest

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.

Facebook Acquires POPULATION: ONE Developer BigBox VR

June 11, 2021 by GenVR

Facebook acquired another VR shooter game development studio with the purchase of BigBox VR, the creator of battle royale title POPULATION: ONE.

Facebook said it wouldn’t disclose the terms of the deal, which follows the April purchase of Downpour Interactive and its tactical multiplayer shooter Onward. Both POPULATION: ONE and Onward are among the highest revenue earners on Facebook’s standalone VR headset Oculus Quest. In February, Facebook said six Oculus Quest titles had cleared $10 million in revenue and Facebook now owns at least half of them.

Launched in late 2020, POPULATION: ONE is a first-person shooter (FPS) in which players team up in groups of three and fight across a large map to be the last team standing. The game is comparable to Epic Games’ battle royale sensation, Fortnite, both in terms of structure and business model – POPULATION: ONE is currently running a second ‘season’ of themed content including free updates and cosmetic items that are locked behind a premium battle pass.

The purchase represents Facebook’s 5th VR game development studio acquisition. The company first acquired the developer of rhythm slicing game Beat Saber, Beat Games, in late 2019. Beat Saber is likely VR’s most popular game at more than four million copies sold. Then, in February 2020, Facebook bought Sanzaru Games, the makers of PC VR’s visual powerhouse title Asgard’s Wrath.

In June 2020, Facebook also bought Ready At Dawn, the makers of the Echo VR games. Ready At Dawn’s Lone Echo II is slated for release on PC VR this summer, likely representing a swan song for the PC-powered Rift platform as Facebook zeroes in on the success it is finding with the standalone Quest. The multiplayer Echo VR, meanwhile, now runs a seasonal content structure similar to POPULATION: ONE.

Facebook says BigBox VR will operate as an independent studio.

“BigBox VR has big plans for the future of POP: ONE and for other projects, but we’re not ready to share details at this time,” a blog post prepared by Facebook states. “POP: ONE will continue to be supported on all its current platforms.

‘The Climb 2’ Freestyle Update Adds Hamster Wheels & Slides

June 10, 2021 by GenVR

Part 2 of the free update turns Crytek’s VR rock climbing simulator introduces six outrageous levels.

Germany-based developer Crytek (The Climb, Robinson: The Journey) today released Part 2 of its Freestyle Expansion Pack for The Climb 2, introducing a handful of new levels complete with a variety of ridiculous obstacles designed to test your skills as a virtual rock climber.

Part 2 introduces six new levels in total (Crumbling Madness, Obstacle Course, Press Me!, Rotating Blocks, Slides, and Wheel’n’Jump), each of which featuring its own unique obstacles to overcome. Wheel’n’Jump, for example, adds enormous human-sized hamster balls to scale, whereas Crumbling Madness has you navigating a perilous course composed almost entirely of broken grips that crumble in your hands.

Similar to Part 1, which introduced “rhythm-based climbing” to the game, each of these new courses can be played in both casual and professional mode with zero checkpoints. Experienced climbers can rack up additional points by completing each level without chalking their hands. Finish every course back-to-back, and you’ll unlock exclusive gloves as a reward.

“Once again we’re delighted to bring yet another expansion pack to The Climb 2, which means more menacing levels to be taken on for players,” said Andreas Liebeskind, Principal Gamer Designer, in an official release. “Players have told us how much they love the game and the updates we’re continuously bringing to it and this is all part of our post-launch support for the game. The levels were designed for players to have fun but also challenge them in new ways and we hope they’ll enjoy what’s in store for them.”

Whereas the game’s original maps focused on providing a realistic climbing experience by replicating popular real-world locations, the Freestyle Expansion Pack features colorful, artificial environments, resulting in more of an arcade-style experience.

Part 2 takes this concept to the extreme, introducing a wide range of impossible obstacles that drastically change the way you approach each level. While the core gameplay remains the same, new hurdles like the giant hamster ball and button-activated grips add a whole new dimension to the game.

Despite having completed the game start-to-finish, Crytek’s free updates have successfully kept me coming back for more. Part 2 of the Freestyle Expansion Pack is easily my favorite addition to the game thus far, offering a plethora of over-the-top courses that would impossible—or at least incredibly expensive—to replicate in real life.

The Climb 2 is available now on Oculus Quest headsets for $29.99. Parts 1 & 2 of the Freestyle Expansion Pack are available now to all existing owners 100% free of charge.

Feature Image Credit: Crytek

Livestream With Supernatural’s Head Of Fitness Leanne Pedante

June 8, 2021 by GenVR

A little more than one year after launch, Supernatural is changing lives with its subscription-based fitness program on Oculus Quest.

If you’re looking for a “daily source of inspiration and motivation” and curious about the broader impact of VR as a technology, you might think about checking out the Official Supernatural Community on Facebook. The group has more than 13,000 members with updates streaming in at all hours from people talking about their fitness journeys in VR. They share what’s going on their lives, their progress, the music and the workouts, and generally encourage one another with support and tips.

A key part of Supernatural is its focus on coaches in virtual reality who talk members through new workouts every day. Leanne Pedante is the Head of Fitness at Supernatural and her encouraging voice has been driving “champions” to finish their Supernatural workouts strong and proud. We’re going to be joined by Pedante in our virtual studio this week for a live broadcast interview talking about exercise in VR. Has Pedante been noticed out in the physical world by Supernatural players who “met” her virtually? Does she have any advice for people to keep up with their workouts? Do you have your own questions?

Tune in on Wednesday, June 9 at 11 am Pacific time for our live discussion with Pedante from our virtual studio. We should be able to monitor live comments, so no matter if you’re a member of the Supernatural community already, or entirely new to VR and thinking about getting a headset for exercise, leave a question or comment and we might talk about it on the show.

You can subscribe to our channel and set a reminder for the interview with the video below, or check back on this page at 11 am Pacific time on June 9.

Sci-fi RTS Eternal Starlight Strategically Lands on Oculus Quest & PC VR Next Week

June 8, 2021 by GenVR

Looking for a new real-time strategy (RTS) title to sink your teeth into? Then keep an eye out for White Noise Games’ upcoming project Eternal Starlight which is set to launch next week for Oculus Quest and PC VR headsets.

Eternal Starlight puts you in command of a fleet of starships, waging a war against a hostile alien race called the Kraya. From a third-person perspective, you have to deploy and position a selection of craft, each with their own specialities which can turn the tide of battle.

Consisting of a 28 mission campaign as well as a skirmish mode where you can access all ships, missions revolve around helping various alien races and in doing so gaining access to their resources and technology so you can upgrade your flagship and purchase smaller vessels. In total there will be 6 unlockable starting loadouts for 2 different flagships.

In development since 2016, Eternal Starlight has been designed as a comfortable experience for all players, enabling them to scale the play space however they wish. From a wider world view to right up close and in the midst of battle, the title can be played room-scale, standing or seated. And for Oculus Quest owners, Eternal Starlight also features full hand tracking support.

“I took inspiration for Eternal Starlight from games like FTL, Mass Effect and Homeworld,” said indie developer David Wallin of White Noise Games in a statement. “Adapting RTS to VR was challenging, but we’ve created a novel experience for space strategy fans. We came up with a locomotion system that allows you to move around comfortably while being a core part of the gameplay.”

Eternal Starlight is set to launch next Thursday, 17th June for Oculus Quest and Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Oculus Quest owners can pre-order the videogame now for £14.99 GBP that also gains them an exclusive Fusion Blast starting loadout for their flagship. For further updates on Eternal Starlight, keep reading VRFocus.

New Trailer Showcases YUKI Bullet Hell Gameplay ahead of Summer Launch

June 7, 2021 by GenVR

Having already made a name for itself in virtual reality (VR) gaming thanks to its Pixel Ripped titles, ARVORE revealed its next project in late 2020, an anime roguelike called YUKI. Recently, the studio dropped an official trailer showcasing more of the gameplay as well as confirming a multiplatform launch for this summer.

Mixing bullet-hell and roguelike genres into one colourful mix for VR gamers, as you can see from the new gameplay trailer YUKI is set to offer plenty of action as players manoeuvre their character through levels filled with obstacles and incoming projectiles. Designed to be easily picked up and played by any gamer, YUKI’s control scheme is entirely geared around using your hands to grab the Yuki action figure and physically move it, so players should find the experience fairly energetic.

You do get to fight back, of course, blasting enemies to rack up highscores along the way and gain new abilities. Just like other roguelikes such as In Death: Unchained, the colourful shooter offers procedurally generated runs so enemies and obstacles will continue to change on subsequent runs.

To aid your journey deeper into the videogame there’s a persistent progression system that enables you to improve Yuki’s skills, equipping various power-ups, new abilities and weapons at the beginning and during each run. Unlocking new Bladewing weapons for Yuki should then help when levels throw in challenging boss fights to test your spatial awareness and reflexes.

“I’ve worked with illustrations for nearly 25 years. Telling stories through visual elements is my way to communicate with the world. This is something very close to my heart and YUKI gave me the chance to turn the game into a vibrant visual journey,” said Kako, YUKI’s Creative Director and Production Designer in a statement. “Unlike most VR shooters and bullet hells, YUKI players are not stationary. That sparked something, the idea that YUKI could be approached as a theme park ride. And in order to achieve the same kind of environmental storytelling I’ve studied theme park designer and illustrator Don Carson’s works and applied them to every level as much as I could. Reveal is the key. And for YUKI, knowing when to tell a story to a player that is being shot at from everywhere was our biggest challenge.”

YUKI is due to arrive this summer for Oculus Quest and Rift as well as all SteamVR headsets. A PlayStation VR version is also on the way for later in the year. As ARVORE release further details on YUKI, VRFocus will keep you updated.

Sniper Elite VR Hits All Major VR Platforms in July

June 4, 2021 by GenVR

As one of VRFocus’ most anticipated virtual reality (VR) titles of 2021, expectations for Sniper Elite VR have been high since its unveiling back in 2019. A combined effort between Rebellion, Just Add Water and Coatsink, this week they’ve announced that the iconic sniping franchise will be heading to most VR headsets next month.

Sniper Elite VR has been built specifically for VR rather than porting one of the previous editions over, whilst the narrative stays within the franchise as it’s set prior to Sniper Elite 4. The 18-mission, single-player campaign places you in the shoes of an Italian partisan during WWII, helping his fellow countrymen deal with the Nazi’s. Each mission is told through the recollection of his harrowing memories.

Just like the rest of the series, Sniper Elite VR has been built for action as well as realism with an arsenal of weapons at your disposal. While you can always choose to have a sniper rifle by your side, missions also allow you to mix things up with SMGs, pistols, shotguns, grenades and explosives depending on the situation, all authentic to the era. Naturally, this wouldn’t be a Sniper Elite videogame without notorious X-ray Kill-Cam, adding a visceral view of your devastating shots.

The teams have ensured Sniper Elite VR should be as comfortable as possible for most players by providing a suite of locomotion options. From continuous locomotion for the most immersive experience to the ever comfortable teleportation, you’ll be able to tweak the settings to comfortably outmanoeuvre enemy troops and vehicles.

It seems like a long time ago since VRFocus first demoed Sniper Elite VR two years ago during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019, suitably impressed by what was shown so early on. Just like the demo, the PlayStation VR version will support the PlayStation Aim controller for natural rifle-wielding as well as PlayStation Move which will provide realistic weapon reloading.

Sniper Elite VR will see a multiplatform launch for PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest and Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index on 8th July 2021. Check out the new gameplay trailer below, and for further updates on the title, keep reading VRFocus.