Blog V Reality: May 2024

Thursday, 30 May 2024

New VR Games & Releases June 2024: Quest, SteamVR, PSVR 2 & More

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After some new VR games in June 2024? Here are our monthly highlights.

May marked yet another busy month for VR gaming. While we reviewed numerous games such as MADiSON VR, Blacktop Hoops, Ultimate Swing Golf and Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2, we also offered our thoughts on Masters of Light, Mannequin and more. Last month's lineup also includes Homeworld: Vast Reaches, Smalland VR, Mecha Party, F1 24 and Venture's Gauntlet.

You won't find as many new VR games this month. Summer months are often quieter, yet there's still a good selection to choose from. Be sure to check out our upcoming VR games list for the full rundown, and keep this page bookmarked. We'll keep updating this as we learn about more release dates or delays, and don't forget the UploadVR Summer Showcase 2024 takes place on June 26.

For now, these are the biggest new VR games reaching Quest, PC VR, PSVR 2 and Apple Vision Pro this June.

Eternal Starlight - June 3 (Apple Vision Pro)

Three years after reaching Steam and Quest, Eternal Starlight is officially making the jump to Apple Vision Pro. Developed by White Noise Games, this space fleet command game gives you real-time command of an Ender's Game-like space fleet, offering tasks reminiscent of FTL: Faster Than Light.

Store links - Apple Vision Pro, PC VR, Quest

Silent Slayer: Vault of the Vampire - June 6 (Quest)

The first VR horror title from Schell Games, Silent Slayer: Vault of the Vampire is described as a single-player "jumpscare VR horror game." Playing as a vampire hunter guided by a mystical book, you're tasked with slaying these fearsome foes with "distinct peculiarities and inclinations" by quietly disarming traps and navigating puzzles.

Store links - Quest

Journey to Foundation - June 7 (PC VR)

Created by Archiact, Journey to Foundation is a narrative-focused VR sci-fi adventure. You play as Agent Ward, who possesses unique Mentalic abilities that lets them sense and manipulate the emotions of others. Every choice "carries a consequence and affects your story." On PC, promised upgrades include updated visuals and spatial audio.

Store links - PC VR, Pico, PSVR 2, Quest

BlackForge - June 13 (PC VR, Quest)

Developed by Mana Brigade, BlackForge VR lets you creative medieval weaponry to support the town's local heroes, fulfilling requests in the campaign. At launch, it features a full campaign and story where your tools become essential for others currently fighting a mysterious evil.

Store links - PC VR, Quest

Neon Squad Tactics - June 13 (Quest)

Developed by Tin Man Games, Neon Squad Tactics takes us to a cyberpunk metropolis called UltraCity. Playable solo or in online co-op, this action-adventure strategy games tasks you with carrying out missions for powerful corporations as you navigate this neon-lit underworld.

Store links - Quest

Taskmaster VR - June 13 (PC VR, Quest)

Taskmaster VR turns you into a contestant on the popular game show. Stepping into the Taskmaster house, this upcoming adaptation puts you up against "a menagerie of weird and wonderful tasks." Multiple solutions are available for completing each challenge and those must be cleared within a time limit to impress the Taskmaster, Greg Davies.

Store links - PC VR, Quest

Downtown Club - June 14 (Quest)

Developed by Commuter Games, Downtown Club differs considerably from other VR racing games. Instead of just placing you inside the driver's seat, Downtown Club features full motion control support that involves directly grabbing the wheel, shifter and handbrake. The early access release features four gameplay modes, three hot hatch cars and customizable vehicles.

Store links - Quest

Sky Climb - June 26 (PSVR 2)

Previously launched on Quest, Sky Climb by VRMonkey is a VR platforming game set in a "balloon-themed universe." Promising an adventure that spans 65 levels across seven worlds with various power-ups, this family-friendly experience promises a solo campaign, online multiplayer mode where you can compete against five other players, online leaderboards and a level creator.

Store links - PSVR 2, Quest

Masternoid - June 2024 (PC VR)

A retro-inspired colorful VR game, Masternoid by Pixel Magnet is an arcade brick breaker with a 50-stage campaign and online leaderboards. "Master the art of destruction and explore a universe of 50+ meticulously designed handcrafted levels. Collect all the stars and move through the Masternoid world where a voxel surprise awaits at every corner," states the studio.

Store links - PC VR, PSVR 2, Quest

Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye - June 2024 (PSVR 2)

Released in early access last June, Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye is a point-and-click adventure set one year after The Secret of Retropolis. It features robo-detective Philip Log and Jenny Montage as they face a new villain. Following a recent last minute delay, the PSVR 2 version is now scheduled to arrive this June.

Store links - PC VR, PSVR 2, Quest

VRIDER SBK - June 2024 (Quest)

VRIDER is an officially licenced VR game for the Superbike World Championship that offers a mix of arcade and simulation racing elements. Featuring twelve tracks like Phillip Island, TT Assen, Imola and Magny-Cours, it's currently in early access and June's full release promises five more tracks and online multiplayer. A Steam version is also in development.

Store links - Quest

If you've got an update for a VR game we should know about for this article or future monthly round-ups, you can use our contact page or email tips@uploadvr.com with details.

Interested to learn about more upcoming VR games? Check out our complete list below, which covers upcoming Quest, PC VR, Pico, Apple Vision Pro and PSVR 2 releases across 2024 and beyond:

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Fantasy Crafting Game ‘BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure’ Lands on Quest & PC VR Next Month, Trailer Here

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Indie studio ManaBrigade and publisher Fast Travel Games today announced that BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure, a fantasy VR blacksmithing game, is coming to Quest and PC VR headsets next month.

The game, which is described as a “cosy, fantasy crafting experience” is set to launch on Quest 2/3/Pro and SteamVR headsets on June 13th, priced at $20.

Here’s how ManaBrigade describes the game:

BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure is a wholesome and deceptively skillful VR smithing game in which players have the chance to run their very own forge. Using realistic VR interactions, they’ll sculpt and shape metal, weld materials, chop wood and more as they strive to create fine tools and epic weapons. Before sending them off, players can even test their creations on a combat dummy. The game includes a full campaign in which players will learn new skills as they complete requests from townsfolk and adventurers, handed down by a trusty merchant.

At launch, BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure will include a full smithing campaign and story, the ability to heat and shape metals as well as sculpt and shape wood to make versatile tools, your very own forge spirit pet, and a handy combat dummy so you can test out your weapons and see if they’re up to snuff.

You can now pre-order the game on Quest, which includes a 20% discount. You’ll also have a chance to nab it on Steam for a 20% discount, which will be active for two weeks following launch.

The post Fantasy Crafting Game ‘BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure’ Lands on Quest & PC VR Next Month, Trailer Here appeared first on Road to VR.

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BlackForge Crafts A Release Date Next Month On Quest & PC VR

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BlackForge, a VR weaponsmithing sim, reaches Quest and Steam in two weeks.

Developed by Mana Brigade and published by Fast Travel Games, BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure is described as a "wholesome and deceptively skillful" title that promises realistic interactions. Previously featured in Steam Next Fest, it offers a story-driven campaign that tasks you with creating medieval weaponry to support the town's local heroes as they fend off a mysterious evil. Here's the new trailer.

To create these weapons and new tools, BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure involves sculpting and shaping metal, chopping wood, and welding materials together. You must heat metal in the forge, bash it into shape before it cools, and look after your trusty forge spirit that resides within. New skills gradually unlock after completing various requests, and you can also test these weapons on combat dummies before finishing them.

BlackForge: A Smithing Adventure reaches the Meta Quest platform and PC VR on June 13.

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Spacetop G1: The Screenless Laptop With Built-In AR Glasses Gets Upgraded For Consumer Release

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Spacetop G1 replaces the screen of traditional laptops with floating virtual screens via built-in AR glasses.

It's an upgraded version of the Spacetop Early Access which shipped last year to "hundreds" of early adopters. The startup behind the device, Sightful, says it will upgrade all Early Access owners to the consumer G1.

Sightful was founded by ex-Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan. Berliner also previously founded a 3D sensor company which he sold to Apple.

The laptop part of Spacetop G1 features a full-size keyboard and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with active cooling and 16GB of RAM. That means it has the same GPU and similar CPU as a Meta Quest 3 but with twice the unified memory.

That hardware powers the proprietary Spacetop OS operating system. It lets you spawn large floating web browser windows around you instead of being hunched over a traditional laptop screen switching through tabs. Essentially, Spacetop G1 is like having a Chromebook with infinite massive screens.

However, you won't be able to actually see all those screens at once. The built-in tethered AR glasses are the Xreal Air 2 Ultra with 6DoF tracking, which use transparent birdbath optics. That enables a form factor of a very thick pair of glasses, but has the same problem as all existing transparent optics: a very narrow field of view.

As we noted in our review of Nreal Light, which had a very similar field of view, you'll only see all the floating windows at once if they're placed meters away. At more reasonable viewing distances you'll have to turn your head more often than with physical monitors and remember where content is. This is currently the key tradeoff of transparent AR versus opaque headsets with passthrough cameras.

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Unlike in this concept, the limited field of view means you can't see all the screens at once.

Spacetop G1 supports Wi-Fi 7 for home or office use but also has a 5G modem for phone-free use on the go. You'll need a SIM card with an active plan from a carrier for that though, of course.

Sightful claims Spacetop G1 has up to 8 hours of battery life and charges from 0% to 85% in less than 2 hours via 63W over USB-C.

There are actually two USB-C ports, and as well as charging they can be used to output a 1080p mirror to a physical DisplayPort monitor to show content to others. There's also a 5 megapixel webcam above the keyboard for video calls.

When folded it fits into the same space as a 13-inch laptop, but with a bulge.

Spacetop G1 ships from October for $1900. For the next week you can reserve one for a $100 refundable deposit and get a $200 discount. Sightful claims you can cancel at any time before your Spacetop G1 ships.

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Wednesday, 29 May 2024

Hands-on: Marvel ‘What If…?’ Foreshadows the Possibilities & Pitfalls of VR Games on Vision Pro

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Image courtesy Marvel Studios, ILM Immersive

The Marvel What If…? experience is set to launch tomorrow exclusively on Vision Pro. We got an early look at the experience and found a polished presentation that foreshadows the possibilities and pitfalls of immersive VR games on the headset.

Marvel’s What If…? on Vision Pro is being described as an “interactive Disney+ Original story.” And while it isn’t meant to be a full-blown VR game, it’s the headset’s biggest fully immersive production to date—most other native ‘games’ on the headset feel a lot like board games that float in front of you.

In What If…? players experience a narrative blended with casual gameplay driven by Vision Pro’s hand-tracking.

Made by Marvel and ILM Immersive, the production quality meets the high bar you’d expect from this kind of experience. Though scarcely an hour long, the experience is polished with strong sound, visuals, and voice acting throughout.

Fittingly for the emphasis on the Marvel multiverse, the narrative plays out across several distinct mediums. Players will see Marvel characters between their own living room (thanks to augmented reality), in fully immersive virtual spaces (thanks to virtual reality), and in 3D animated videos that play on floating screens in front of you.

The jump between these distinct contexts is actually handled very smoothly (aside from an awkward lack of environmental occlusion in AR), whether taking a portal from your living room into a fully immersive space, or seeing a 3D video playing back on a crystal shard floating in front of you (as a representation of some vignette from another timeline).

From a gameplay standpoint, What If…? shows us both the potential and likely pitfalls of fully immersive experiences on Vision Pro.

On the one hand (pun intended), the game makes use of hand-tracking to detect a range of gestures. You’ll use different gestures to summon an arm shield, grab distant objects with a force-like power, or shoot lasers from your hands. Some more complex gesture interactions are used effectively too, like a spell where you pinch your fingers together on both hands then pull them apart to draw a line, rotate your hands to twist the line, then finalize the spell by opening your hands and pushing them together, palm-to-palm.

But even though all of these gestures work reasonably well for this casual experience, they ultimately feel just like that—gestures: simple, prescribed hand motions. You’re never actually touching anything in the experience… just making a gesture and watching it cause things to happen.

I’ve said it before: the least interesting interactions in VR are those that happen far away from you. In VR, it’s not the distant bad guy falling over after you’ve shot them with an arrow that makes VR unique. What’s unique about VR is the fact that you can literally reach over your shoulder to pull out an arrow, nock it to your bow, stretch the string back, aim with one eye, and release—like you had an actual bow in your hands.

Now those reading along carefully should stop to think “isn’t the bow scenario you just described really just a series of ‘gestures’?” Sure. If you want to use the broadest definition of that word, you could dump it into that category. But it’s the fidelity of the gestures that we’re concerned about. It’s the difference between wiggling a Wiimote to make the character on screen swing their sword, versus actually swinging the sword yourself—dictating with precision exactly where it should land on the enemy.

There’s no doubt that Vision Pro as a headset is capable of doing the latter. But it has to be said… it’s damn tough without the precision of tracked controllers.

Falling back to hand gestures—and using those hand gestures to cause distant things to happen—isn’t highly engaging. Not being able to reach out and touch the virtual world around you—even to just pick up a rock and throw it with your own hand—diminishes much of the magic of VR.

And that’s where we find What If…?. It’s doing more than I even would have expected with Vision Pro’s hand-tracking. The gestures are varied and detected fairly consistently, but what you do with them feels kind of… detached. I never managed to cross the chasm from I’m ‘doing a hand gesture’ to ‘I’m casting a spell’… and further still from ‘I’m actually interacting with this world’.

Now to be fair, that’s partly due to the experience’s gameplay itself. It’s very casual by the standards of any ‘gamer’; easy enough that most people will be able to figure it out. That’s clearly on purpose; this is a supposed to be a narrative as much as an interactive experience. Marvel and ILM Immersive could have made the gameplay deeper and squeezed a bit more engagement out of the hand-tracking. It’s just hard to see it crossing that chasm I talked about above.

But let’s concede that this casual gameplay is ultimately in service of telling a story. Is the narrative any good? Well, my opinion will surely be colored by the fact that I’m not terribly attuned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (even if I’ve caught the rough strokes over the years). Dropping me into a What If…? experience—that’s expressly about throwaway alternate timelines—certainly doesn’t lend itself to meaningful character development or real stakes. The narrative has the distinct feeling of being a framework for this experimentation in this new medium, rather than a story unto itself.

So in the end, is What If…? worth checking out on Vision Pro? Sure. I can’t say it was a terrible amount of fun, but hey, it’s free and well produced. And if not for the entertainment value, it’s a clear lesson on what can and probably can’t be done with the headset’s hand-tracking input. In the end this will go down as an early experiment, but certainly not a killer app.

The post Hands-on: Marvel ‘What If…?’ Foreshadows the Possibilities & Pitfalls of VR Games on Vision Pro appeared first on Road to VR.

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Population: One Phoenix Rising Update Resurrects The Fun In VR Battle Royale Games

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We've gone hands-on with Phoenix Royale, the latest iteration of popular VR battle royale game Population: One.

Phoenix Royale brings new features and improvements that aim to elevate the already amazing experience Population: One offers. In this hands-on report, we'll dive into the gameplay, graphics, and sound, and more, while comparing it to the original Population: One and highlighting the differences that make Phoenix Royale stand out.

Gameplay And Differences

The Phoenix Royale update for Population: One brings several exciting changes compared to the original game. Most notably, the update introduces:

New Phoenix Map

One of the most significant additions to the new Phoenix Royale update is its new Phoenix map. This full-sized battle royale map is meticulously designed to offer a diverse range of environments providing many strategic opportunities that rarely leave players caught in the open. From dense urban areas to open fields and rugged terrain, the Phoenix map provides an environment that keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting until the very end. The map's layout also encourages exploration and aids in tactical decision-making, creating a unique experience with each match.

Phoenix Redeploys

One of the standout new features of the Phoenix Royale update is its redeploy system. In traditional battle royale games, being downed often means a long wait or an early exit from the match. In Phoenix Royale, however, the game introduces a new redeploy system that allows players to get back into the action quickly. Even if you're downed and away from your squad, you can redeploy and rejoin your team, ensuring that the gameplay remains fast-paced and balanced.

Phoenix Supply Crates And Buy Stations

In Phoenix Royale, BigBox is introducing Phoenix Supply Crates and Buy Stations, which add a new layer of strategy to the game. These supply crates are scattered across the map and contain various weapons, health items, and even Phoenix Gem Bars, which are a new in-game currency. Players collect these gem bars to spend them at the Buy Stations where they can purchase items such as health, backpacks, weapon upgrades, and class buffs. This encourages players to explore the map further while making strategic decisions about where and when to spend resources.

Phoenix Loot Vaults

Every time a match starts, loot vaults randomly appear on the map. These vaults are guarded by Towerheads, which players must destroy in order to capture the objective point and access special supply crates that contain various high-level weapons and sometimes even significant amounts of Phoenix Gem Bars. This brings an element of risk and reward, causing players to decide whether or not to engage in these high-stakes encounters all for the chance to obtain some valuable loot.

Moving End-Zone Mechanic

Phoenix Royale also introduces a new moving end-zone mechanic in all of its squad-based modes. In Phoenix Royale, the moving end-zone rotates around the map, keeping the action constantly moving and forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. The dynamic end-zone adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability and discourages the dreaded zone camping that seems to occur often in many battle royale-style games.

Sprinting Mechanic

Another notable addition to Phoenix Royale is the new sprinting mechanic. Players can now use a tactical sprint movement option to move quickly. This mechanic is available in all game modes and provides players with more mobility and flexibility. Whether you're trying to escape the closing end-zone or repositioning for a better vantage point, the sprinting mechanic adds a new and much appreciated dimension to Pop One's gameplay.

Graphics and Sound

As it's always been with Population One as well as all of its other updates, Phoenix Royale boasts impressive graphics that look fantastic in the Quest 3 I used for our demo session. While the game still has not been fully updated to take advantage of the new graphics horsepower, the Quest 3 offers the developers mentioned during our press demo that specific enhancements had been made but that they needed to strike a balance between looks and performance, since the nature of the game demands peak performance at all times.

Checking out the lighting and textures on weapons

The new Phoenix map is visually stunning, featuring a detailed environment with good use of textures that bring this world to life. The game's lighting effects also add to the atmosphere, creating both a dynamic and visually appealing experience. The sound design in Phoenix Royale is equally impressive, with realistic audio cues that help players stay aware of their surroundings and aid in making strategic decisions.

Press Demo

We recently participated in a press demo for Phoenix Royale where Ian Hamilton, Henry Stockdale, and Don Hopper from UploadVR - along with other journalists from various publications and members of the BigBox team went head to head while exploring the maps and learning about the new features and mechanics. The redeploy system and moving end-zone mechanic kept us on our toes, and the new Phoenix map definitely provided a fresh and exciting environment to battle each other in. The entire experience was a testament to the game's ability to deliver a fun and engaging experience for players of all skill levels. As someone who hasn't played Pop One in a while but used to play a lot when it first released, it felt like coming home again.

We had a great time exploring the new features Phoenix Royale brings and even had a bit of good-spirited inter-office rivalry in a few of our matches. In one match, I vividly remember suffering a bitter defeat at Ian's hands in the last minutes of a crucial round, only to respawn shortly afterward dispatching Henry with my new bad-ass energy blade, and it was utterly exhilarating!

Conclusion

Overall, Phoenix Royale offers major new reasons to install, or re-install, Population: One to give this new update a try. It offers a host of new features and improvements that enhance the original game’s experience. The update brings with it the new Phoenix map, redeploy system, supply crates, buy stations, loot vaults, moving end-zone mechanic, and sprinting mechanic which all contribute to a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

The game's impressive graphics and sound design, combined with all of these new improvements make it another standout update to one of the most amazing games in the VR battle royale genre. So, whether you're a veteran player or new to the series, Population: One - Phoenix Royale is a must-play game mode.

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Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Les Mills XR Bodycombat Gets First DLC With Power Strike Update

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Les Mills XR Bodycombat receives its first paid DLC with new workouts and over twenty songs on Quest.

Available today, the Les Mills XR Bodycombat - Power Strike DLC introduces eight new workouts with 22 new songs, additional cosmetics and a new 'Arena of the Brave' environment. This update also introduces two new gameplay moves - 'Power Strike' lets you "unleash your strongest punches" to earn bonus points, while 'Final Targets' end each workout with a "powerful punch."

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"With the introduction of premium DLC packs, we aim to innovate gameplay further, introduce new moves, and elevate the game to provide the ultimate XR fitness experience," says Odders Lab in a prepared statement. In a press release, the studio states it remains committed to regular free updates despite today's introduction for paid DLC.

Elsewhere, Odders Lab also announced that a new 'Meta Quest x Les Mills XR Bodycombat Fitness Bundle' is now available in the US market. Available for both Quest 2 and Quest 3, this headset bundle includes the 'Active Straps' accessories and game. That's available on Meta's official store for $230 with a Quest 2 or $540 with a Quest 3 until June 30, 2024.

Les Mills Bodycombat - Power Strike is out now on the Meta Quest platform for $8.

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PlayStation Plus Premium Adds The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners, Walkabout Mini Golf And More Next Week

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PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers will receive multiple PSVR 2 games next week, while the headset gets a $100 discount.

Kicking off Days of Play 2024, Sony announced that it's introducing an additional set of "bonus" PSVR 2 titles into its rotating 'Games Catalogue' on June 6. As a three tier subscription service, the catalogue is normally only accessible to anyone subscribed to PlayStation Plus' Extra and Premium tiers. However, Sony states these bonus games can only be accessed by Premium subscribers.

Here's the full list:

Before Your Eyes
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
Synth Riders
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners + Chapter 2: Retribution
Walkabout Mini Golf

It's a big boost for PSVR 2 owners who subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium. Currently, Sony's Games Catalogue only includes Humanity, Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect: Connected, while PSVR owners can access Werewolves Within. Free trials for 11 PSVR 2 games like Demeo, Ghost Signal and Moss are also available for Premium subscribers. As a reminder, Plus is mandatory for PS5's online multiplayer.

Elsewhere, Sony also confirmed that it's discounting $100 off the PSVR 2 headset and the PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle, beginning on May 29 until June 12 across select regions. An exclusive deal is promised for PlayStation Plus members buying the headset through PlayStation Direct, offering 12 months of Netflix Premium to existing and new Netflix subscribers.

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New Parkour Apple Immersive Video Out Now On Apple Vision Pro

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Episode 2 of Adventure is out now on Apple Vision Pro.

Adventure is an Apple Immersive Video series that lets the viewer "join pioneering athletes as they take on awe-inspiring challenges in some of the world's most spectacular locations".

What Is Apple Immersive Video?

The Apple Immersive Video format is 180-degree video with 8K resolution, stereoscopic 3D, and spatial audio. It's served from the Apple TV+ subscription service with much higher bitrate than many other immersive video platforms.

We highly praised Apple Immersive Video in our Vision Pro review. It's not possible to cast or record Apple Immersive Video though, so you'll have to take our word for it unless you have access to a Vision Pro.

Episode 1 of Adventure has been available since Apple Vision Pro launched. It's called Highlining, lasts 13 minutes, and lets you watch highliner Faith Dickey take on "her biggest challenge yet" - crossing Norwegian fjords at 3000 feet in the air.

Episode 2, out now, is called Parkour and lasts 12 minutes. It follows "the world's leading Parkour athletes" as they traverse the rooftops and streets of Paris.

Adventure is exclusively available from the Apple TV+ service in the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro.

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The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter VR Will Be Delisted From Steam This Week

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The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter VR is being delisted from Steam on May 31.

Originally released in 2014 for flatscreen platforms, The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter is a horror adventure where you play as a paranormal investigator investigating the titular character's disappearance. While PC VR support later arrived as paid DLC, developer The Astronauts confirmed the DLC is being delisted since they "can no longer support" it.

Here's the full statement:

Dear Players,

On Friday (31.05.2024), we will be removing the option to buy the VR version of Vanishing of Ethan Carter for new players. If you already own the title, nothing is changing, and you can still access it as before.

This decision was made because we can no longer support this version of the game, so we cannot guarantee it will work with new VR headsets and OSes.

However, it's unclear whether The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter will also be removed from the Rift Store, which combines the flatscreen game and VR support into one package. We've contacted The Astronauts for clarification and we'll update this article if we learn more.

One of the earliest modern VR experiences available, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter only officially supports Rift and HTC Vive headsets on Steam. VR gameplay offers a 'Normal Mode' with full freedom of movement and a 'Comfort Mode' designed for beginners.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter's base game remains unaffected and it's available on Steam for $20. You'll need that to play the VR DLC, which costs $10 and is available until May 31, 2024.

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PC VR Hit Boneworks Is Now Playable On Quest Via Bonelab Mod

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Boneworks, Stress Level Zero's acclaimed physics-driven PC VR shooter, is now playable on Quest through modding.

Created in Bonelab by Volx64 and EvroDev, the 'Labworks' mod has been in development for roughly 18 months. Now at Version 11.1, the latest build recreates the full Boneworks campaign and several non-campaign levels for existing Bonelab owners on both Quest and PC VR. That's downloadable via mod.io and while a more recent official trailer isn't available, you can see version 9.0 gameplay below.

You can also check out this official tutorial video or the mod.io page for more details on installing Labworks in Bonelab.

We praised Stress Level Zero's physics-based sandbox in our Boneworks review, stating, "You’d be hard-pressed not to get carried away on its own journey; one of interactive wizardry, devilishly gratifying combat and stunning physical authenticity, even if that occasionally works against you." With Bonelab, we considered it an enjoyable extension on Boneworks' premise, though we believed the campaign felt like "an afterthought" used to justify other features.

Bonelab is available now on the Meta Quest platform with Rift cross-buy support, and Steam.

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Fall Guys-Inspired Sky Climb Reaches PSVR 2 Next Month

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Following its recent Quest release, Fall Guys-inspired Sky Climb heads for PSVR 2 next month.

Previously launched on Quest App Lab before April's full release, Sky Climb by VRMonkey (Galaxy Kart) is a VR platforming game set in a "balloon-themed universe." Promising an adventure that spans 65 levels across seven worlds with various power-ups, this family-friendly experience tasks you with "restoring harmony by rescuing guardians from the clutches of corruption."

Joining this solo campaign is an online multiplayer mode where you can compete against five other players, alongside online leaderboards that record each level's fastest times. There's also a 'Builder Mode' for creating your own levels, which VRMonkey confirms supports mixed reality.

During GDC 2024, our video producer Don Hopper interviewed VRMonkey to learn more.

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Sky Climb is available now on the Meta Quest platform for $14.99, and a PSVR 2 version follows on June 26.

Notice: This article was initially published on April 4, 2024. It was updated on May 28 following the PSVR 2 release date confirmation.

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Monday, 27 May 2024

PC VR Exclusive ‘Boneworks’ is Now Entirely Playable on Quest Thanks to This Free ‘Bonelab’ Mod

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Boneworks (2019), the physics-driven PC VR shooter from Stress Level Zero, isn’t a Quest-native game, but thanks to a third-party mod for Bonelab (2022), called ‘Labworks’, you can play the entire campaign on Quest—no PC required.

Developed by modder ‘volx64’, Labworks now includes the entire campaign of Boneworks, which can be played in Bonelab on a Quest 2/3/Pro.

In addition to being available on Quest, Bonelab is also on PC VR headsets via Steam and Meta PC, which means you can play the entire Boneworks campaign there too.

Porting the full Boneworks campaign has taken nearly two years, volx64 says, which includes all 12 levels from the game as well as a number of non-campaign/sandbox levels. Check out the trailer below to see Labworks in action:

Notably, when we reviewed Boneworks back in 2019, it took us around nine hours to complete the campaign—nearly double the size of the campaign in Bonelab—making for a sizeable amount of gameplay for Bonelab players on Quest who are looking for a new challenge.

If you need help installing Labworks on either PC or Quest, there’s a handy video guide from volx64. In addition to the required downloads, there are also full instructions available on its mod.io page where you can nab the admittedly very large mod.

– – — – –

And in case you’ve never heard of either, here’s the one-pager: in Boneworks, players step into the shoes of Arthur Ford, a renegade cybersecurity director who delves into an incomplete simulated universe. They navigate surreal architecture and environments, which includes a range of experimental physics-based weapons to fight their way through.

Considered a sequel of sorts, in Bonelab the player controls an outcast who escapes death and explores experimental worlds in a research lab in MythOS. More physics-based madness and sandbox fun.

The post PC VR Exclusive ‘Boneworks’ is Now Entirely Playable on Quest Thanks to This Free ‘Bonelab’ Mod appeared first on Road to VR.

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Raindance Immersive Returns Next Month With Online VRChat Festival

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Raindance Immersive returns this June, kicking off with a month-long online festival in VRChat.

Part of the 32nd Raindance Film Festival, the 9th Raindance Immersive seeks to highlight independent XR creators, game designers, world builders and performers. Promising world premieres and first-look previews," this year's program covers immersive storytelling, games, filmmaking, world building, live shows, and more, with eight awards available.

Curated by Mária Rakušanová, Joanna Leigh, Mary Lee Desmond, and Tropi Ginger, this year's Immersive is divided into three segments. That begins on June 1 with a virtual VRChat festival, followed by an in-person Immersive Summit between June 18-19 in London. An Immersive Showcase follows from June 21-23, aimed at how developers, XR filmmakers, and more can utilize Apple Vision Pro.

Notable projects include Thrasher, an upcoming PC VR and Quest game from the studio behind 2016's Thumper, a VR rhythm violence game. This lineup also includes an upcoming Apple Vision Pro exclusive from Beyond Games, Runaways, and Wisp World from Liquid City.

You can find the full program here for more details.

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Sunday, 26 May 2024

Between Realities VR Podcast ft Dr. VR (Justin Baillargeon)

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In this week's episode of the Between Realities VR Podcast, Alex and Skeeva host Justin Baillargeon of the Dr. VR Podcast.

Justin shares how virtual reality became the catalyst for his PhD research. Other topics include immersive theater in VR, the future of education, and the importance of embodiment in VR experiences.

— Between Realities Links —
Merch Store: https://teespring.com/stores/between-…
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BetweenRealities
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/BetweenRealities
Twitter – https://twitter.com/BtweenRealities
Discord – https://discord.gg/EvNnj2w
Facebook – https://fb.me/BetweenRealities
Alex VR – https://www.youtube.com/Alex_VR
Alex VR’s Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/Alex__VR
Skeeva – https://www.youtube.com/Skeeva007
Skeeva’s Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/Skeeva

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Five Nights At Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 Review: Great, But A Few Fazcoins Short

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Five Nights At Freddy's Help Wanted 2 is a solid minigame collection full of fun and frights, even if it doesn't flawlessly stick the landing. Find out if you're ready to brave Fazbear's frights in our full review below:

Five Nights At Freddy's is in a very odd place. It's never been more popular, yet at the same time, each new entry further divides the fanbase in this brave new era of Steel Wool Studios' tenure. The first Help Wanted was an interesting but diverged substantially from the original formula. After that, Security Breach was an absolute mess of compromises, unfinished concepts, and an even more radical departure from the core experience.

The Facts
What is it?: A room-scale horror VR minigame collection that's themed around and partially recreates scenes from Five Nights At Freddy's Sister Location and the Security Breach games.
Platforms: Quest, PSVR 2, Steam (reviewed on Quest 3)
Release Date: Out now
Developer: Steel Wool Studios
Price: $39.99

For a minute, some genuinely feared that it was curtains for the games. I mean, when even a middling Blumhouse production performs better, there's reason for concern. While Security Breach's DLC, Ruin, has helped improve its tarnished reputation, the question remains: is the third time the charm for Steel Wool?

On one hand, Help Wanted 2 is definitely trying to evoke the spirit of the old games. I had to dig for secrets, challenges were more unpredictable, and the general atmosphere is much, much darker than last time. There are no giant, encouraging robot bear guardians to shelter the player.

That said, the darkness is also quite literal, but thankfully not to the point of detriment. This isn't an Asgard's Wrath 2 situation where you're begging for a brightness slider; one is included in Help Wanted 2 if you need it. The sound design is as solid as ever, with fantastically ominous directional hints when something's stalking about to eat your face.

What's far less overt, though, is the story. While it will eventually make some sense, it's a lot less exciting than the first Help Wanted narrative. It hinges heavily on how much the player cares about a new character introduced in Security Breach: Ruin. Alternatively, there's a harder to get ending that resolves some of the main Security Breach story, but in a way that honestly raises more questions than answers.

A TV with instructions for the player next to an open vent, with the corrupted, partially damaged animatronic version of Circus Baby clawing her way towards the player with glowing eyes and talon-shaped fingers

Though the minigames revisit moments from Sister Location and Security Breach, the story doesn't really connect to the two entries in as clear a way. Fittingly, the two persistent antagonists, Circus Baby and Moon, are from each respective game. Of the two, Circus Baby is oddly limited to her plush form most of the time. However, a few of the other Sister Location animatronics get a wonderful reprisal in one or two of the minigames. Even if the greater narrative takes a backseat, there's a wealth of smaller tales to be enjoyed across the various minigames.

While you can re-experience several nights from Sister Location, the Security Breach-inspired sections offer a chance to see the Fazplex from multiple new perspectives. I composed some hot beats with a demonic spider robot DJ, fended off Chica while serving fast food, performed amateur surgery on Helpy the Bear, and tested out a variety of arcade games that definitely weren't haunted in the slightest. A pirate boat ride shooting gallery in particular had some of the best implementation of 3D sound since Until Dawn: Rush of Blood!

Seriously, I realize it's not the usual thing you praise a game for, but the execution of the spacial audio is, by far, the most impressive aspect of the presentation. I'm a guy who plays Dead Space to kick back and relax, and yet, Help Wanted 2 got under my skin a few times, in just the right way.

A whack-a-mole themed minigame with a timer counting down as a plush version of Circus Baby leaps out at the player, eyes glowing menacingly

Every minigame only lasts a few minutes at most, so no matter what you're doing, it's bite-sized fun. This both fits the vibe of the original games and ensures nothing outstays its welcome. I could work up a sweat, take a breather, get some water, and dive back in. The trickier part is unlocking all of it, as certain stages are barred before figuring out a puzzle tied to the meta-narrative. This isn't a new concept to the Help Wanted games, but may take new players by surprise.

Let me save you a little trouble - after you've made it inside? Grab the handle. Then reach for your your face. You'll thank me later!

Comfort

Help Wanted 2 is quite comfortable to play, with minimal sections requiring turning or actions that would induce sea-sickness. Hub area movement is entirely teleportation based, though there are some hidden collectibles more easily gathered by moving about in your real-life room. While most crucial gameplay elements are within arms' reach, certain minigames, such as Ballora Gallery, require fairly repetitive motions like crawling or throwing balls.

You can use either hand for any action, multiple buttons serve the same grab and interact functions for optimal comfort, and the game naturally adjusts to your height for every activity. There's a variety of accessibility settings for turning and style of teleportation. The only real concern to bear in mind is that if you take your headset off and place it somewhere different than your play area, it can cause you to be misplaced in the game world. A quick restart mid-minigame or re-teleporting in the main hub will properly orient everything immediately.

There is also one secret actually tied partially to this glitch, but I won't spoil how!

There's also an impressive amount of physics simulation going on. I really had to thrust, smack, and throw to engage with the environment. While there were some surprisingly effective scares scattered throughout, my heart was pumping more from the sheer workout. Ballora Gallery, in particular, is a great way to give your arms a workout.

A carnie-themed robot bear says "Do you like darts, high-tech lasers?" in front of a scoreboard

That said, the physics proved to be a double-edged sword, as whenever I needed to toss or roll a ball, things went from challenging to infuriating faster than jumpscare. There is no auto-aim assist to speak of, which for a game aimed at such a young audience, feels like a major oversight. I understand that getting the highest score isn't critical to winning but that doesn't mean these stages couldn't have been better executed.

There was also some frustration with the one food prep minigame, as a key "pizzarito" machine really lacks responsive scripting. I basically had to repeatedly slap the pizza against it until it would trigger, costing me precious time while every other minigame element functioned fine. A few times the "complete" button would also be triggered accidentally by my hand trying to grab something else, resulting in an unwarranted game over because I hadn't actually finished the order.

Still, these blemishes never kept me from proceeding, and if only a handful out of the dozens of stages disappoint, that's a pretty good batting average! I'm including the Hard Mode stages in that headcount, which live up to that description but in fun ways. Instead, the weakest stages are the Fazer Blasts, which get far too complex for their own good while lacking the precision necessary to feel fair.

A flashlight and dart gun are held in hand in a pitchblack room of arts and crafts supplies

When not fighting with Fazer Blast, many of the Hard Mode minigames place new constraints that add much more flavor to the proceedings. Instead of racing a timer, I'd have to ward off a threat with a recharging flashlight, or I might need to harness one animatronic's impatience to bar others from getting close. Steel Wool has fully embraced the possibilities of room-scale VR to wonderful effect.

I understand there's a larger audience for flat Five Nights games, but VR truly makes the series shine. Getting up close with these hulking monstrosities revives the unnerving nature they'd long since lost in flat experiences. While the Quest 3 can't compete with the PSVR 2 version's graphical fidelity, I'm impressed by the performance. No frame dips, minimal evidence of lowered detail, and some outstanding dynamic lighting.

Granted, I'm also glad I just invested in a head strap with extra battery for longer play sessions - Help Wanted 2 will burn through your charge fast, and I'm using a relatively brand-new headset battery. It's being used to great effect, but it's worth considering.

Five Nights At Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 Review – The Final Verdict

Altogether, Five Nights At Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 is a great all-ages horror game that makes excellent use of VR. It won't redefine horror gaming or minigame collections, but it's a well-executed return to form for the franchise. While its story may leave new players scratching their heads, the variety of solid, replayable stages more than makes up for it. Whether you've been facing down Freddy and co. since 2014 or are just looking for something spooky to play on your headset, this one is definitely worth grabbing!

UploadVR uses a 5-Star rating system for our game reviews – you can read a breakdown of each star rating in our review guidelines.

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