There has been a deluge of new virtual reality (VR) titles revealed today thanks to the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, some a surprise, others not so. One from the surprise list is Espire 2, a sequel to Digital Lode’s 2019 stealth experience. And like many of the videogames shown during the stream, Espire 2 is just for Meta Quest 2.
Espire 2 continues on from the original putting you in the shoes of Espire Agent POE. However, POE has just awoken from a seven-year coma, and dropped right back into the action but this time with all new toys to play with. In Espire 2 you have two bleeding-edge droids called “Frames” that you can switch between, each with its own special abilities. One is a tank, able to take and dish out punishment from enemies. The other is light and more nimble, great for stealth tactics and nipping through vents.
Digital Lode hasn’t purely created new Espire units to inhabit. There’s a whole new single-player campaign to test out the new kit as well as other gadgets, plus a separate co-op campaign where you and a buddy can play through a narrative bridging the gap between Espire 1 and Espire 2.
You’ll also have greater control over the battlefield with Espire Vision, seeing through walls and marking enemies. Or use voice commands to distract or interrogate the enemy. Then there’s the stealth AI system which has been rebuilt for Espire 2 to ensure a variety of gameplay options.
“We are so excited to finally share a first-ever look at Espire 2, the VR stealth-action sequel of our dreams,” said Digital Lode Founder and Game Director Michael Wentworth-Bell in a statement. “Espire 2 would not be possible without the amazing teams at Meta and the Quest 2 platform, or without our continued publishing partnership with Tripwire Presents, who have believed in our vision from the beginning and continue to guide and mentor our studio. Most importantly, this sequel wouldn’t be happening without the incredible community that has supported Espire 1 since its release two years ago. We thank you, and we hope you will enjoy what we have in store for Espire 2.”
“We are thrilled to be working with Digital Lode and Meta on Espire 2! The team at Digital Lode has embraced fan feedback from Espire 1 and is focused on implementing features that open exciting new ways to play in the sequel,” said Brian Etheridge, Publishing Director at Tripwire. “The new Espire frame offers an entirely new toolset to take on the enemy in Espire 2, while the addition of cooperative multiplayer lets players coordinate with each other to develop dynamic tactics and create awesome memories. The Digital Lode teams are, more than anything, VR super fans and that shows in everything they do!”
Espire 2 is currently slated to arrive this November exclusively for Meta Quest 2. See the videogame in action below and for continued updates on all the latest Quest 2 titles, keep reading gmw3.