PlayStation VR

Report: PlayStation VR 2 Will Launch Next Holiday Season

June 16, 2021 by GenVR

The follow-up to Sony’s 2016 console VR headset will feature Samsung Display OLED panels.

Yesterday afternoon, Bloomberg released a report regarding Tokyo-based LCD specialist Japan Display Inc, in the process revealing potential information regarding the highly-anticipated follow-up to Sony’s PlayStation VR headset.

According to Bloomberg’s report, Sony will be launching its next-generation VR headset, the PlayStation VR 2, late next year as part of the 2022 holiday season, citing sources “with knowledge of the matter.” Not only that, but the headset will feature OLED panels from Samsung Display.

With the popularity of LCD displays on the rise within the smartphone and VR industries, researchers speculate that the technology will steadily replace conventional OLED displays within the next five years, the PlayStation VR 2 being the supposed exception.

“One important holdout remains: Sony Group Corp. plans to use Samsung Display Co. OLED panels in its next-generation PlayStation VR goggles, according to people with knowledge of the matter,” states the report. “The Japanese console giant sold more than 5 million units of the original PS VR, launched in 2016, and is aiming to release the successor in the holiday period next year, the people said, asking not to be named discussing internal plans.”

**Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment**

Sony first revealed the existence of its next-gen console VR headset this past February as part of a surprise announcement, during which the company teased an improved resolution, better tracking and input, a larger field-of-view, and a simplified setup process consisting of a single cable that connects directly to the PS5; no dedicated processing unit required.

That following month we received our first look at the all-new motion controllers designed specifically for the PS VR 2. These orb-shaped peripherals will supposedly offer improved ergonomics and weight distribution, resulting in more comfortable interactions while in VR. Each device will also feature “adaptive” triggers that deliver a sense of palpable tension, finger touch detection, and improved haptic feedback using the same technology used in Sony’s Dualsense controllers for PS5.

Other than that, we still know very little about the next-generation console VR headset.

According to a previous report by UploadVR, the PS VR 2 may feature a 4K resolution, foveated rendering powered by eye-tracking, and haptic feedback technology built directly into the headset itself, though this information has yet to be confirmed by Sony.

Feature Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony’s PlayStation 5 VR Headset Reportedly Arriving Holiday 2022

June 16, 2021 by GenVR

PlayStation 5 might be doing great sales figures with the most recent revealing at least 7.8 million had been sold but it’s still almost impossible to get hold of one. Still, that’s laying the groundwork for Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) next virtual reality (VR) headset which is supposedly going to arrive at the end of next year.

The launch window was reported by Bloomberg today while discussing LCD manufacturer Japan Display Inc. which is turning it attention to the VR market as the smartphone industry focuses on OLED screens. VR headsets used to use OLED’s for the technology’s deep blacks but in recent years companies have moved to fast-switch LCDs thanks to their higher refresh rates alongside their cost to resolution ratio.

Sony’s upcoming VR headset will reportedly buck that trend and use OLED panels unnamed sources told Bloomberg, with an official rollout aimed at holiday 2022. Currently, none of this has been confirmed by SIE. Spec reports have surfaced regarding certain features but none have mentioned the panel technology which could be a big differentiator when comparing VR devices.

As for the launch window, SIE said earlier in the year that its next generation PlayStation VR wouldn’t appear this year. Considering the original PlayStation VR launched in 2016 and PlayStation 5 arrived during the 2020 holiday, a late 2022 release for the next device would seem quite reasonable.

It might be E3 2021 week but PlayStation hasn’t taken part once again, so no VR announcements were expected from the company. The last official details released came in March when the Orb controllers were unveiled. These are going to be packed with tech shared from the current DualSense controllers like its Adaptive Triggers which add tension and texture to an experience, therefore it becomes more immersive.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of the next PlayStation VR, reporting back with further updates.

PS5 VR Headset To Launch Holiday 2022 With OLED Display – Report

June 16, 2021 by GenVR

A new report from Bloomberg claims that the PS5 VR headset will launch in the holiday 2022 period with an OLED display.

The article, which largely covers Japan Display Inc’s shift to making LCD VR displays, cites “people with knowledge of the matter” in saying the device will launch later next year and feature OLED panels from Samsung.

The original PSVR also uses an OLED display, as did the original Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. But Facebook & HTC now use cheaper, higher resolution LCD panels. Bloomberg’s report suggests this shift to LCD will continue in VR, with Sony as the exception to the rule.

Sony confirmed it was working on a new VR headset for the PS5 earlier this year, but stated it would not be released in 2021. A holiday 2022 window isn’t too surprising; developer kits for the device are being sent out around now, giving studios a decent window to prepare software for the device. The original PSVR launched in October of 2016, too.

That said, the window between now and late 2022 leaves plenty of room for Facebook to grow in the VR space. The company’s Oculus Quest 2 standalone headset has already outsold every other Oculus headset combined and the company has acknowledged a possible ‘Pro’ version of the device that could well also launch in 2022.

Last month we reported that the PS5 VR headset — which doesn’t have an official name — featured a resolution of 4000×2040 pixels (2000×2040 per eye), a lens separation adjustment dial, and gaze tracking capable of foveated rendering.

What do you think of the new PS5 VR headset potentially launching in late 2022? Let us know in the comments below.

République: Anniversary Edition Coming Soon to PlayStation VR, in Digital & Physical Formats

June 15, 2021 by GenVR

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 keeps on giving this week with Limited Run Games’ showcase announcing République: Anniversary Edition, a reworking of Camouflaj’s mobile original, coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR soon.

République was the studios’ first title when it launched in 2014 and was subsequently brought to Steam and PlayStation – although it is now delisted on the PS Store. Camouflaj then brought out République VR for Gear VR, followed by Oculus Go and Oculus Quest.

By the sound of it République: Anniversary Edition for PlayStation VR won’t be utilising the previous VR version as this new edition has been rebuilt for PlayStation by Camouflaj’s development partners Skymap Games. There aren’t many details regarding how the anniversary edition will be different other than it’ll feature commentary: “revealing new secrets about the game’s tumultuous development,” says the press release.

With Limited Run Games handling the launch PlayStation VR owners will be able to pick up République: Anniversary Edition as a physical copy through their website, as well as finding it digitally via the PlayStation Store. A release date has yet to be confirmed.

République is a stealth-action videogame that explores the perils of government surveillance in the internet age. With over 10 hours of gameplay, you control the fortunes of Hope, a woman trapped inside a mysterious totalitarian state who must hack her way to freedom.

Stay with us as VRFocus continues its E3 2021 coverage, and as further details for République: Anniversary Edition are released we’ll keep you updated.

Peek Into Song in the Smoke’s Creation With This Behind the Scenes Documentary

June 14, 2021 by GenVR

One of the surprises revealed during March’s PlayStation Spotlight was 17-BIT’s Song in the Smoke, a mystical survival adventure coming to PlayStation VR and Oculus headsets. For the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 this week the studio has released a behind the scenes documentary called The Call of the Wild – this is the unabridged version – giving some backstory to the teams’ first virtual reality (VR) project.

Created by Japanese gaming documentarian studio Archipel, the video features 17-BIT founder and creative lead Jake Kazdal as he talks about the challenges of making the VR experience over the past three years. Having previously created Skulls of the Shogun and GALAK-Z with a tight-knit team who usually all work in the same room, Kazdal discusses the challenge everyone is all too aware of, remote working, and how that affected production.

But you also get to see more of Song in the Smoke, it’s beautiful environments as well as learning about some of the gameplay elements like the wild animals. The team wanted to created creatures that lived and behaved like real wild animals, so they’ll be hungry, afraid and tired, likely to attack or run away.

“Song in the Smoke is a colossal departure from our previous work,” said Kazdal in a statement. “When I first tried VR I was instantly struck by how utterly immersive it is, which opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I’ve always been moved by exploring nature, with its overwhelming mix of majesty and danger, where you’re constantly reminded of both how expansive the world is and how small you are. With VR’s all encompassing presentation, I felt like I could actually make a world that captures this quietly beautiful feeling of aliveness. Where nothing is canned and everything feels organic. Song in the Smoke is the result of this.”

Featuring art by renown illustrator Katsuya Terada (The Legend of Zelda, Blood: The Last Vampire, The Monkey King) Song in the Smoke is part survival adventure and part mysterious narrative. You’ll be able to hunt with bows and axes, forage for resources to craft new items whilst uncovering this prehistoric world’s secrets.

Song in the Smoke is coming to PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift later this year. Take a look at the documentary below and for further updates from 17-BIT, keep reading VRFocus.

‘After The Fall’ Looks Like The VR Zombie Game We’ve All Been Waiting For

June 14, 2021 by GenVR

A new trailer takes us deeper into this cross-platform multiplayer VR game from developer Vertigo Games.

This weekend we received a new behind-the-scenes trailer for Vertigo Games’ (Traffic Jams, Arizona Sunshine, A Fisherman’s Tale) latest title, After the Fall, a cooperative multiplayer VR zombie shooter set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.

In this ’80s inspired action/horror game, four players team up to find an endless onslaught of undead nightmares throughout a frozen wasteland in search of valuable supplies for the last remains of humanity. Similar to classic cooperative games, such as Left 4 Dead, teamwork is crucial to survival as you shoot your way through a variety of haunting locales using an eclectic arsenal of powerful weaponry.

The latest trailer, released this past Saturday as part of the Upload VR Showcase, offers us new information regarding the game’s replayability. After the Fall features a unique game director system that throws new enemies at you every time you play, which means no two sessions are ever the same.

“In After the Fall, we have a game director system, which basically means that every session that you play is different every time you play it,” says studio director Richard Stitselaar in the video. “Every session you do is basically different.”

We also learned more about the game’s cross-play functionality. According to Vertigo, players on Oculus Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR headsets will have the ability to play alongside one another in real-time. Not only that, but each version will be nearly identical in terms of the available features and enemy count.

“For After the Fall, we really focused on cross-platform so you can play on PC, Quest, or PS4 all together and still experience the same gameplay,” says senior technical artist Dennis Jongsman.

“Our largest challenge is getting those very high-end PC players able to play with those lower-end mobile VR players. Visually, they’re obviously not going to be the same,” adds technical director Trevor Blom. “What needs to be the same as the gameplay. The enemies are in the same locations, the walls are in the same locations, where Player A is looks the same as where he’d be for Player B, and shooting as well; this should all be identical.”

After the Fall launches on Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, and PC VR headsets later this year. No word yet on an official price tag.

For more information on the many announcements from last week’s E3 VR Showcase, check out this list breaking down our five favorite reveals.

Feature Image Credit: Vertigo Games

Our Favorite VR Game Announcements From E3 2021

June 13, 2021 by GenVR

The Upload VR Showcase returns with new information on 18 killer VR games.

Yesterday, Upload hosted its third annual E3 VR Showcase as part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming event, revealing a generous amount of new information for 18 VR games on Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, and SteamVR headsets. This includes everything from new gameplay trailers for highly-anticipated titles such as Larcenauts and Green Hell VR to long-awaited updates for popular experiences like Demeo and Blaston.

For those who missed out on yesterday’s event, we’ve put together a small recap of our favorite announcements for your viewing pleasure. For a full list of yesterday’s reveals, check out Upload’s full recap here.

Green Hell VR – PCVR Gameplay Trailer

We were over the moon when we heard that developer Incuvo Games was developing a VR port of Creep Jar’s brutally realistic survival crafting game Green Hell for PCVR headsets.

For those unfamiliar with Green Hell, this psychological survival-horror experience drops you in the center of the Amazon rainforest where you’re tasked with surviving everything from tropical diseases to deadly wildlife using only your wits and whatever tools you can craft using the natural environment.

This latest trailer showcases even more of Incuovo’s upcoming VR jungle simulator, including the ability to craft temporary shelter using various resources scattered throughout the environment as well as the games crafting and backpack storage systems.

Green Hell VR is scheduled to launch later this year on Oculus Quest and PCVR headsets. According to the developer, the Quest version of the game will differ from the PCVR release due to technical limitations, though details are sparse at the moment.

Blaston & Demeo – New Updates

In addition to new details regarding unreleased games, the Upload VR Showcase also shined a light on several exciting updates coming to existing VR titles, including Resolution Games’ Blaston and Demeo.

Originally released on Oculus Quest and PCVR headsets this past October, Blaston will be receiving a new update on June 21st that will introduce a slew of new content to the multiplayer slow-motion bullet hell game. This includes a brand new single-player mode, token system, and arena just to name a few. The update, referred to as “Crackdown,” will also expand the Blaston universe with the introduction of Scrapper Street, a new location complete with robots, flying cars, and other lore-expanding elements.

We also received fresh updates on “Realm of the Rat King,” a brand new campaign heading to Resolution’s smash-hit VR dungeon crawler, Demeo. While we still know very little about the highly-anticipated expansion, this latest trailer confirmed an official release date of June 28th.

Rhythm Of The Universe: Ionia – Release Date Trailer

Brought to us by ROTU Entertainment, Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia is an upcoming VR puzzle game with an environmental twist.

According to the developers, Ionia will be the first of seven upcoming chapters designed to immerse players in a captivating experience that combines environmental conservation with musical theory. We still know very little about this mysterious game at the moment, other than the fact that part of its proceeds will go directly to Wildlife Warriors, a non-profit conservation organization founded by the late great Steve Irwin.

It looks like we’ll have to wait until the games launch in Q3 2021 to find out more.

Township Tale – Oculus Quest Announcement Trailer

Available now on PCVR headsets via the Alta game launcher, Township Tale is an ambitious RPG experience built from the ground up for VR headsets.

In this uniquely crafted VR role-playing adventure, players are tasked with revitalizing an abandoned village by swapping between various jobs, each of which featuring their own unique interactions designed to immerse you in said role. As a blacksmith, for example, you’ll mine valuable resources and craft powerful weaponry. As a warrior, you’ll defend the village from various threats. Other professions include archer, cook, woodcutter, etc. As you progress, you’ll unlock the ability to customize your character, collect new inventory, and craft unique equipment; all of which can be taken with you between servers.

The latest trailer offers new information on the long-awaited Oculus Quest release. Township Tale will arrive on standalone VR headsets on July 15th for $9.99 with optional in-game purchases.

Larcenauts – VOD Gameplay & Roadmap Trailer

Revealed this past May, Larcenauts is an upcoming team-based PvP game coming soon to the Oculus Quest. Similar to class-based multiplayer titles such as Overwatch and Apex Legends, this fast-paced VR shooter lets you select from a roster of diverse characters, each with their own unique pros and cons, as you battle a team of six other players throughout a series of objective-based game modes using customizable weapons and powerful abilities.

This latest trailer shows off one of the more unique characters featured in the game, VOD, a brawler-class specialist armed with two incredibly powerful fists capable of dealing massive amounts of close-quarters damage. In addition to its elastic arms, VOD also features several ranged attacks, making it one of the more deadly specialists in the game; when used correctly that is.

Yesterday’s trailer also teased a series of exciting updates scheduled as part of the developers’ official roadmap, including two-handed aiming, manual reload, private lobbies, new maps and game modes, and immersive playlists just to name a few.

Larcenauts is scheduled to launch on Oculus Quest and PCVR headsets later this summer.

As stated previously, the announcements listed above are just a small handful of the total number of reveals made during Upload’s VR Showcase event. For more information on all of yesterday’s announcements, visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Impulse Gear

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.

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.

Winds & Leaves Shines on PlayStation VR in July

June 5, 2021 by GenVR

This week saw a flurry of videogame announcements for PlayStation VR including release dates for big titles like Sniper Elite VR. Canadian developer Trebuchet also joined in by revealing that its flora-building experience Winds & Leaves now has a specific launch date, 27th July 2021.

From the team behind Prison Boss VR, Winds & Leaves looks to be the biggest virtual reality (VR) project from the studio to date, offering you the chance to be a virtual gardener bringing life back to a barren planet. Coinciding with the launch date announcement Trebuchet has released the first gameplay trailer for Winds & Leaves, showing a vibrant world just waiting to be brought back to life.

A The Gardener you have a unique connection to the trees and plants around you, and they in turn help you explore the world. Awakening in a verdant valley with some basic tools you need to plant and harvest increasingly complex trees with techniques mastered over generations. In doing so each new forest you grow provides life-giving energy for you to venture further as well as becoming a safe haven to return to.

Exploration will reward you with ancient dormant varieties of trees, new climates, and diverse biomes. You need to find the Outposts littered around the edge of the world as each of these structures contains knowledge to learn new abilities. You also have your own private garden which supports all the plant species you find, offering a constant supply of its particular fruit.

The videogame also features a unique locomotion system for PlayStation VR where players are up on stilts. Trebuchet hasn’t quite detailed how this will ensure Winds & Leaves will be a comfortable experience for all, as there looks to be plenty of walking involved. In any case, it certainly looks gorgeous.

Winds & Leaves is exclusive to PlayStation VR when it arrives in July. Take a look at the new trailer below, and for further updates from Trebuchet, keep reading VRFocus.