To say that virtual reality (VR) videogame Pixel Ripped 1989 has had a rocky development might be a bit of an understatement, but for fans of the title the end is almost near. Having gone quiet in 2016, developer Ana Ribeiro announced a new partnership with Brazilian VR studio ARVORE in September 2017 to bring the project back on track. Today, they’ve revealed that Pixel Ripped 1989 will finally see the light of day in May, supporting PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Pixel Ripped 1989 has gained a loyal following due to its core gameplay idea. Much like Ready Player One, Pixel Ripped 1989 is a homage to all things retro, especially the 80’s and the early days of videogames. You play the role of Nicola, a second-grade student who just wants to play her favourite game without being caught by the teacher.
Set in the era of portable 8-bit consoles, this game-within-a-game follows the adventures of Dot, an in-game character who sees her world torn apart by the Cyblin Lord, a villain able to break through the videogame screen and invade the real world. Nicola must help Dot save both realities from this menace by facing challenges in the retro-gaming 2D world, all while distracting the cranky teacher and escaping from the furious headmaster in her own 3D world.
Having began work on this project back in 2014 when it was called Pixel Rift, Ribeiro launched a failed Kickstarter in 2015, then joined the Boost VC startup accelerator that same year. Thanks to funding from Oculus and awards from Intel and the AMAZE Indie Festival, as well as nominations to IndieCade and the Proto Award, Ribeiro joined ARVORE, Pixel Ripped‘s publisher and investor, as project director and videogame developer to make it a commercial reality.
“The most difficult part of development is over,” says Ribeiro in a statement. “We are in the final steps to deliver Pixel Ripped 1989 very soon to all of our fans. Being at GDC and showcasing our finished game to press is a dream come true, and we’re looking forward to the public’s reaction next month in Boston,”
Pixel Ripped 1989 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive on 22nd May, 2018. If successful, there are plans to make future installments of the title spanning videogame industry history. As further details are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.