Author: Jamie Feltham

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Multiplayer VR Shooter Vail Gets Beta In July

Long in development VR shooter, Vail VR, gets a beta in July.

The beta will go live on July 1, as confirmed during last week’s Upload VR Showcase. You can request access now by heading over to the game’s Steam page. Check out the trailer below.

Vail Beta Release Date Revealed

Vail is a competitive VR shooter that takes its cues from games like Counter-Strike. Two teams go head-to-head in tactical battles with a focus on using motion controls for aiming and reloading. We first tried the game out in 2021 and found a lot of promise in its tight maps and weapon handling, though it will have its work cut out for it if it’s going to make a dent in the competitive shooter scene.

Currently it’s not confirmed exactly what content will feature in the beta, though we’re likely to see all of the additions made during the game’s extensive alpha testing phase. It’s also not clearly exactly how long developer AEXLAB plans to run the beta, nor when we can expect a full release once it’s finished.

Over on Twitter, the developer confirmed that the beta will live around the clock as it’s running (the current alpha is only available on Fridays and Saturdays). You can see what’s currently on offer in the game’s armory social hub in the tweet above. Currently the game’s only set to release on PC, but we’ll keep an eye out for future Quest or PSVR 2 announcements.

Are you going to be checking out the Vail beta? Let us know in the comments below!

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Compound: Ace VR Shooter To Finally See 1.0 Release Soon

One of our favorite VR shooters, Compound, will see a full release very soon.

Developer Bevan McKechnie of notdeadgames confirmed as much in a recent post on the game’s Steam page. In the update, McKechnie noted that the game’s next release would be “by far” its biggest launch yet and would finally move the game out of early access, where it’s been since first launching in 2018. No specific date yet but the developer said the update was “very close to being ready for release”.

Compound 1.0 Approaches

So what’s new in this version of the retro shooter? For starters, players will be able to unlock an overpowered minigun should they finish the game to 100% completion. There will also be three full endings for players to obtain by beating the final boss.

Perhaps most interestingly, the developer is overhauling weapon handling. You’ll be able to let go of two-handed weapons with your primary hand to reload, for example, or grab a sidearm to quickly take care of nearby enemies. The game’s rendering system will also see an overhaul to “provide a much higher perceived resolution and crisper textures at absolutely no extra cost to performance.”

Finally, there’s Steam achievements and a new visual tutorial system making it easier to get to grips with the game.

I loved Compound when I first tried it back in 2018. “I’ve found more to appreciate here than in entire campaigns,” I said in a preview. “This is a VR shooter with a rejuvenating sense of direction and an understanding of how to keep players rooted in the action. Compound may be a nostalgia-fueled love letter, but it’s got a lot to learn from.”

We have high hopes for the full release, then, whenever that may be. No word yet on the potential of a Quest 2 or PSVR 2 release but hopefully getting the full version out the door puts those possibilities back on the table.

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No, Meta Didn’t Just Leak Asgard’s Wrath For Quest 2

A set of assets released to demonstrate new changes in Quest 2’s v41 update featured Rift-exclusive Asgard’s Wrath in a Quest store mock-up.

Sadly, a mock-up was all it was.

Quest’s v41 update includes some important new features, such as the introduction of Horizon Home. But it also updates some of the headset’s parental supervision tools. One such feature allows users to invite parents to approve and deny use of certain apps. The graphic for this shows one user clearly trying to buy Asgard’s Wrath on a mock-up of the Quest 2 store interface.

Asgard's Wrath Quest

Another shows how this system works with a parent’s smartphone which, again, shows Asgard’s Wrath on the Oculus Mobile app (though, in fairness, it’s already there under the Rift section). The assets also showed a 4.5 star rating for the game which would be hard to achieve considering it hasn’t actually been released, and lists ‘Add-On Content’, which Asgard’s Wrath doesn’t actually feature.

Asgard's Wrath Quest 2

We reached out to Meta to ask if this graphic confirms that Asgard’s Wrath is in fact coming to Quest 2. Unforuntely it’s not to be; the company clarified this was purely a mock-up and Asgard’s Wrath was just a placeholder. The game isn’t coming to Quest 2 (at least as far as we know).

It’s a strange mistake to feature a non-Quest 2 game in an asset like this. Asgard’s Wrath originally released in late 2019 as a Rift exclusive title and answered the call for a deep, lengthy VR adventure. Since its release Meta acquired Sanzaru itself, but there’s been no word on a possible sequel or spin-off. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for a proper follow-up at some point in the future, though.

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Beat Saber Releases Free Track Remixes For 4th Birthday

Somehow, Beat Saber is already turning four years old. To celebrate, there’s some new free content.

Well, kind of new, at least.

Two remixes of tracks from the game’s original soundtrack have been released as part of an update today. They’re mapped by Camellia and Toki respectively. Check one track out in action in the video below.

Beat Saber Free Anniversary Tracks Released

This looks like a great way to revisit some of the game’s original content and refresh what’s come before. In particular, we’ve pointed to how some of the difficulty of the original tracks hasn’t been maintained as new songs have been added in the past, and these remixes could remedy that.

As these tracks have been revamped, they also get the visual overhaul treatment, introducing some of the new lighting effects that made their debut in the game earlier this year.

These new tracks continue Beat Games’ hot streak for its ever-popular VR rhythm game in 2022. So far this year we’ve seen a pack for Fall Out Boy and a new Electronic Mixtape as well as the game’s fifth free OST pack and even new gameplay elements in the form of new block types. Most recently the game added a revamped level editor on PC, too.

All of this was enough for us to go back and re-review Beat Saber in May. Unsurprisingly, we still think it’s one of VR’s most essential games, though there are one or two areas we think need to be addressed going forward.

Are you going to be checking out the Beat Saber free anniversary tracks? Let us know in the comments below!

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Steam Next Fest 2022: Best New VR Demos To Try Out

The latest edition of Steam Next Fest is now live and brings with it a bunch of demos for upcoming PC VR games.

Steam festivals are designed to highlight what’s coming to the platform in the near future with a range of playable demos. VR has always been a part of the event’s offerings and this iteration is no different. Here’s a few of the headline titles you can play up until June 20.

Steam Next Fest 2022: Best New VR Demos

New VR Shooters And Action Games On Steam Next Fest

There’s a handful of promising action games on display this week. They include the physics-driven Battle Talent, which offers melee-based combat similar to Blade & Sorcery. Arcadia’s anticipated co-op zombie survival game, Requisition VR, also gets a demo. This one lets you make weapons out of household items and then slice through undead hordes together. Then there’s Stalker-like Paradox of Hope. Could this perhaps dethrone Into The Radius in this niche genre? I also have no idea what Mayhem on a Rainbow actually is, but maybe that’s why it gets a mention.

New VR Racing Games On Steam Next Fest

There’s a surprising number of new racing games to sample this time around, and some of them look pretty good. On the sports side of things, you definitely need to give Kayak VR: Mirage a look. It’s visually stunning and the convincing controls remind you what great VR is all about. Down Fast also looks very promising; it’s a downhill mountain biking game unlike anything we’ve yet seen in VR. The Flashout series is also coming back with VR support, which looks like it’ll make you sick in seconds.

Other VR Highlights On Steam Next Fest

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the playable demo for the increasingly exciting VR JRPG, RuinsMagus, which we’ve played on Quest 2 and become very fond of. Just Upstream, meanwhile looks like a mix of Firewatch and, uh, Frogger? It’s a story-driven VR platformer with a dreamy forest setting in which you swing through areas using your tongue. Quite the elevator pitch. Adorable Lemmings-like puzzler Tin Hearts also has a new demo. It’s technically a shooter but, given the arcade focus, we’re also putting a shout out to the slickly-produced BlockStar VR right here. Oh and, it’s not in VR, but the flatscreen version of The Last Worker is available to play and is also coming to Quest 2, so it’s a good chance for an early look.

Those are our picks for the best VR demos for Steam Next Fest! What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

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Resident Evil Rereleases Disrupt VR Mods, RE8 DLC Poses PSVR 2 Questions

Capcom had a bunch of announcements for its Resident Evil series at its showcase yesterday, all of which have various implications for the VR community.

The company’s showcase was featured at the end of a long week of digital events, which also included the Upload VR Showcase. We’d already seen several announcements from Capcom elsewhere during the week, including the reveal of PSVR 2 support for Resident Evil 8 and PSVR 2 content for the Resident Evil 4 Remake. There weren’t any direct announcements on the VR side last night, but a few announcements might prove relevant going forward.

Resident Evil 2, 3 And 7 Rereleased, Disrupting VR Mods

One major reveal was the launch of improved versions of Resident Evil 2, 3 and 7. Each game has come to PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, with free updates to the PC versions too. At the time of writing, however, the updates disrupt the excellent VR mod from Praydog (except for Resident Evil 8), and will need an update to get working again.

Also there’s sadly still no official VR support for the PC version of Resident Evil 7 and no word on if any of these improved versions could come to PSVR 2, too. Fingers crossed, though!

Resident Evil 8 Getting DLC, But PSVR 2 Support In Question

The other big announcement on the Resident Evil side was for the DLC reveal for Resident Evil 8. The October 28 launch will introduce a new third-person mode, extra characters for The Mercenaries mode and even a new story campaign, Shadows of Rose. But it doesn’t seem like much, if any of this content will support PSVR 2.

Last night’s video and subsequent blog post explained that the game’s “main campaign” is coming to PSVR 2. It makes no mention of The Mercenaries mode, nor Shadows of Rose. The latter piece of content is also played from third-person, making it seem unlikely that we’ll get full PSVR 2 support, at least at launch.

Resident Evil 4 Gets Extended Look, But No Mention Of PSVR 2 Content

Resident Evil 4 Remake PSVR 2

Finally, we got an extended look at Resident Evil 4’s anticipated remake. First announced at the beginning of the month, we know the PS5 version of the game will feature PSVR 2 content. But no extra information was shared on that content during the showcase. The game sure looks pretty, though!

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Ubisoft Hosting Assassin’s Creed Celebration Livestream Today

Ubisoft is set to host a ‘Celebration Livestream‘ for the Assassin’s Creed series today.

Might we get our first glimpse of the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed VR?

The stream, which was surprise announced just yesterday, takes place at 9am PT/6pm CET. The company hasn’t said what exactly to expect from the stream, though based on the name it sounds like we’ll probably get a look back at the series’ history, hopefully with a look to the future included too.

Rumors are swirling around the next major console Assassin’s Creed game, Infinity, but we can’t help but wonder if this might be where we finally get a glimpse of Assassin’s Creed VR, the long-anticipated spin-off game. Assassin’s Creed VR was first announced at Oculus Connect in 2019 for Oculus platforms, but to this day we’ve only seen one piece of concept art for the game on an official basis. Ubisoft also announced a Splinter Cell VR game at the same time.

Back in April reports did spring up stating that Assassin’s Creed VR would be called Assassin’s Creed Nexus, and that it would release within the next 12 months. We even got a look at a supposed leaked menu for the game. According to these alleged leaks, the game will consist of multiple missions but won’t be truly open world, instead featuring large, open-ended environments that allow you to explore and backtrack.

Given how long it’s been since an official announcement, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for a full reveal of Assassin’s Creed VR later today. What are you hoping to see from the game? Let us know in the comments below!

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Green Hell VR Launches On PC

Incuvo’s PC VR port of jungle survival game, Green Hell, is out now.

A launch trailer for the game debuted at the Upload VR Showcase today. Green Hell VR of course already released on Quest 2 earlier in the year, and we were big fans of that version. The PC VR edition, though, is a little different.

Green Hell VR PC Launch Trailer

On Quest, developer Incuvo stripped back the original flatscreen game to fit on the standalone headset. The result was a smartly scaled game, and one of our favorites of the year so far. But today’s PC VR release translates the entire original game to VR. The original map and set of structures is all included, with motion controls implemented too.

It’s essentially the original survival game in VR, then. You’ll need to maintain your character’s health and sanity as you hunt for food, fend off predators and search for a means of escape.

We don’t have a final review for you today but, rest assured, we’ve been playing this version of the game and will look to deliver those impressions very soon. Incuvo also says it’s bringing the experience to PSVR in some form next year, which likely means some kind of PSVR 2 version, if we’re lucky.

Are you going to be picking up Green Hell VR? Let us know in the comments below!

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Killer Frequency Is The First VR Game Developed By Team 17

Killer Frequency is the first VR game developed by Worms studio, Team 17.

A reveal of the new horror-comedy rounded out the Upload VR Showcase today. Killer Frequency is set in the mid-US in the 1980’s, and casts players as a local radio host that must help the citizens of a small town avoid a mysterious masked killer. Check out the first trailer for the game below.

Killer Frequency Reveal Trailer

As the night unfolds, you’ll have people call in offering clues and information. With multiple dialogue choices, you’ll have to carefully pick out solutions that help them survive. You actions will weigh in on the game’s ending, too.

The developer also says that the radio station is fully explorable and comes with an interactive turntable and cassette player and a soundtrack and set dressing that pays homage to the era. The game’s set to launch later this year on Quest 2. It’s also coming to Steam but only as a flatscreen version – you won’t be able to play it on headsets there.

Team 17 also operates a publishing business that’s worked on titles like Overcooked and The Escapists. It’s even published VR titles like Lethal VR before, but Killer Frequency is the first VR title that the studio itself has made. It’s also the team’s first new IP of the past few years.

Don’t miss the Upload VR Showcase for all today’s big headlines and reveals. What did you make of the reveal of Killer Frequency? Let us know in the comments below!

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Among Us VR Gameplay Trailer, Launch Features Revealed

Here’s our latest look Among Us VR.

Today’s trailer, which first debuted at the Upload VR Showcase, gives us our first look at how some of the flatscreen original’s staple systems are translating to VR. Check it out below.

Among Us VR Gameplay Trailer Revealed

In the original Among Us, a group of players are tasked with making repairs to a ship, but one is secretly cast as an Imposter. The Imposter must murder all the other members of the crew without being discovered. The VR version will keep that core concept, changing it up for VR.

For starters, we see the discussion section of a match play out with voice acting, but we also get a first look at players completing certain tasks around the ship. These included scanning into areas, aligning machine parts and what looks like a game of alien whack-a-mole.

Plus there’s another look at a gruesome murder towards the end. Spoilers: it doesn’t end well for the trailer’s hero.

Elsewhere, developer Schell Games has confirmed that the game will launch with the Skeld II Map and a number of hats for avatar customization. There’s also proximity and quick chat voice options.

We still don’t have a release date for the game beyond the Holiday 2022 launch window for Quest 2 and PC VR. A PSVR 2 release has also been confirmed for when the headset launches — whenever that may be — but it’s not clear if the game is still aiming to launch on the original PSVR at this point in time.

Stay tuned to the Upload VR Showcase for yet more VR reveals and headlines today. What did you make of the Among US VR gameplay trailer? Let us know in the comments below!