Team Asobi, the Tokyo-based developer that survived the reported recent restructuring of Sony’s Japan Studio, is getting a rebrand all around Astro Bot.
Sony this week revealed a new logo for the developer, which is still run by Astro Bot Rescue Mission Creative Director, Nicolas Doucet. It features a colorful logo with Astro’s face. In more art on the PlayStation Blog the mascot himself can be seen running alongside it.
Clearly the team is tying itself closely to the character after two critically acclaimed games – Rescue Mission remains at the top of our Best PSVR Games list and free PS5 launch title, Astro’s Playroom, has been very well recieved. Doucet noted that Team Asobi is now “growing” but will still focus on “fun, colorful games for all ages.”
At the same time, a Q&A with PlayStation Studios boss, Herman Hulst, confirms that Team Asobi is “developing a franchise for all ages with global appeal.” It certainly sounds like this could be a new Astro project.
The only question remains is if we could see Astro return to his PSVR roots. Sony is making a new VR headset for PS5 so it certainly seems possible but, given the reception to Astro’s Playroom, Sony might want to make a new game for a broader audience, too. Perhaps it’s possible we’ll see a flatscreen game with VR support, or two Astro projects, one for each platform. That’s all just speculation for now, though.
According to multiple unnamed sources, VGC reports that Sony Japan Studio is shutting down and spinning off ASOBI Team (the Astro Bot devs) into a new standalone studio. The news comes mere days after the confirmation of a next-generation PSVR designed for PS5.
In the report from VGC, their sources say that the studio is currently winding down and it seems legitimate. Several key members of the studio have departed in recent months. According to source, the studio hasn’t been profitable in recent years and changes in leadership hadn’t helped recently. A Bloomberg report from late last year mentioned expiring contracts and the studio falling out of the spotlight of focus for the PlayStation brand.
There is of course precedence for this sort of thing happening. Last year, almost a year ago exactly in fact, it was revealed that the mysterious UK-based studio Sony founded to work on a “AAA” PSVR game was shut down before its project was even revealed. When Evolution Studios closed, DriveClub VR was shut down and pulled from the PlayStation Store. A similar situation occurred with Starblood Arena. And of course Guerilla Cambridge, the developers behind RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, was shut down shortly after the game first launched on PSVR.
While this is unfortunate news for one of the most storied Sony studios with a stable of talented developers, the good news seems to be that ASOBI Team is living on in its wake wit hopefully more resources to continue building Astro Bot games.
Let us know what you think down in the comments below! We’ve reached out to Sony for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
Not all game genres make immediate sense for VR, but some of the very best VR games out there don’t initially sound like good ideas on paper. Here are 7 VR games in unexpected genres that are, actually, pretty good.
Considering Virtual Reality’s immersive nature, it’s hard to argue that some gaming genres naturally fit VR better than others. This is particularly true within rhythm, fitness, FPS and horror games, which all lend themselves favorably to first-person gameplay. Whether you’ve been working up a sweat in Beat Saber to your favorite songs, shooting up enemies in Onward or subjecting yourself to ghostly terrors within Phasmophobia, there’s been no lack of options for fans of these genres.
Modern VR is more accessible than ever, thanks to efforts like Oculus Quest 2, and having moved past those formative years, developers are continuously getting more creative. Genres we wouldn’t normally expect to work within this space have begun making an impact, bringing us some fine experiences worth looking into. From battle royales to visual novels, these are some of the best examples we’ve seen of this so far in no particular order.
We talk a lot about Tetris Effect on UploadVR but there’s good reason for it: it’s absolutely incredible. Having made its way to PSVR, Oculus Quest, PC and Game Pass, no one could’ve expected news of a VR version back in 2018, but it’s a concept which translated surprisingly well. Created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, best known for working on Rez and upcoming title Humanity, it retained Tetris’ classic gameplay formula, seeing you clear lines by filling a box with shapes, and incorporated that into a stunning cinematic aesthetic. Backed up by an incredible soundtrack and recently implemented multiplayer support, we’d strongly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already.
Though we didn’t think Tokyo Chronos’ attempt to bring visual novels into VR justified using the technology, developers MyDearest expanded upon that initial premise nicely last month with its sequel, ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos. Featuring a brand-new story, ALTDEUS took us 300 years into Earth’s future, as humanity is forced to flee underground by strange creatures called Meteoras. Playing a mech pilot named Chloe, its down to you to protect humanity from these monsters and your decisions determine just how this story unfolds. It isn’t as immersive as other VR games, but it still makes for a captivating story worth looking into.
Sony have been one of VR’s biggest backers since PSVR’s original launch back in 2016a nd Astro Bot: Rescue Mission was part of their increasing 1st party push. It saw us teaming up with Captain Astro, searching for his lost crew after they become scattered in a spaceship attack as we travelled across 5 separate worlds. Astro Bot made for an excellent platforming experience and by utilizing VR, it offered players a 360° view to help uncover hidden secrets in each level. Setting the standard for platformers that Ven VR Adventure recently attempted to follow, it’s an excellent entry point for younger audiences too and is highly worth going back to.
Developed by Twisted Pixel Games, Path of the Warrior was utterly shameless about its influences when it launched in 2019 and if you ever played Streets of Rage (or any 90’s style Beat ‘Em Up to be honest), you’d know exactly what to expect here. Set within Rage City across five levels, the premise is simple: get into fights with bad guys, pick up weapons to assist you, take down bosses and that’s it. Though it felt rather shallow in places, you couldn’t deny the fun concept within and with co-op multiplayer also included, Path of the Warrior is worth checking out.
We’ve seen a few racing games come to VR in the last few years, putting us in the driver’s seat with simulators like Project Cars 2 to Sony’s futuristic Wipeout Omega Collection. Arguably though, the most unique take arrived back in 2018 with Sprint Vector on PSVR and PC. Developed by Survios’, this sprinting game has you run through a series of racecourses, swinging your arms to simulate that motion. Coming with cross-platform multiplayer that supports 8 players, it remains a highly enjoyable obstacle-avoidance racer that also provides a great workout in the process.
You can’t escape battle royale games these days but despite their growing presence, they’ve largely remained confined to traditional platforms. We’d seen a few VR attempts like Virtual Battlegrounds but the genre doesn’t feel like it ever really came into its own until POPULATION: ONE arrived back in November of last year. Developed by BigBox VR Inc. for Quest and PC, the aim is to become the last team standing, battling it out within 18-player lobbies. Brining us fast-paced gameplay that felt incredibly smooth, it comes with a word of caution if you’re susceptible to motion sickness (and if you are, we have some tips) but otherwise comes recommended.
Crytek’s The Climb is a much older title than the rest here, having released during the Oculus Rift launch window, but it showcased just what VR could achieve early on. Released in 2016 on Oculus Rift and later for Oculus Quest, it allowed players to explore three settings to climb between: Alps, Bay and Canyon. There’s a fine rock-climbing game within, one which won’t be to everyone’s tastes and is likely to be overshadowed once The Climb 2 arrives, but it executes this simple premise beautifully and still holds up in 2021.
What are some of your picks for VR games in genres that you wouldn’t initially think would be a good for VR? Let us know down in the comments below!
The star of PS5’s obscenely crisp, 4K resolution launch comes from an unlikely source. It arguably isn’t the snowy streets of Spider-Man: Miles Morales or even the punishing peaks of the gorgeous Demon’s Souls remake. Instead, for the second time in a row, it’s Sony’s unsuspecting new mascot, Astro Bot, that’s really waving the flag for the new hardware.
Indeed, Astro’s Playroom is a real gem of a platformer; breezy to the touch and crammed with obscure and often hilarious references to PlayStation history all fuelled by the amazing haptics of the new DualSense controller. Like many of you, it was the first title I played on my PS5 and, thanks to its moreish action and novel mechanics, the first one I finished too. And, also like many of you, I wish the journey hadn’t come to an end quite so soon.
But it doesn’t have to be.
It seems very likely that to most people buying a PS5, even the hardcore types to get a console in its launch window, this will be the first time they’ve met Astro. But there is plenty more of developer Sony Japan’s genius hidden away in the character’s first full title, the PSVR-exclusive Astro Bot Rescue Mission.
In fact, Rescue Mission is so good — every bit the equal of Astro’s Playroom — that I’d say it’s worth seeking out a PSVR headset to play it on PS5, even if the tech’s age has never been more apparent. Simply put, Rescue Mission is the full Astro Bot game so many have been clamoring for since wrapping up Playroom over the past few weeks.
That ever-present sense of invention that game gives you? The kind usually reserved for Mario games? It’s alive and well in Rescue Mission – which introduces brilliant new concepts that harness both the power and mechanics of VR in different ways every few levels or so. I often fondly recall throwing out ninja stars through my DualShock 4 controller to make platforms Astro could leap across, or physically ducking out of the way of obstacles. There’s a wonderful duality to the game’s design; one for Astro itself and then another layer on top that considers you, the player, from a VR perspective, creating plenty of truly unique moments.
Make no mistake, though, this is no mere tech demo. In fact, Astro itself was born from a free PSVR pack-in that served as the foundation for this 26-mission adventure that will take you a good six or so hours to run through and even longer should you join the addictive hunt for collectibles.
PSVR has enjoyed a surprisingly rich life compared to most other PlayStation peripherals – one dotted with genuinely excellent gems to try for yourself. Looking back on the headset’s life thus far, none shine bright that Astro’s adventures in VR land. Hopefully we’ll see Astro return to his true home as part of Sony’s VR future but, for now, do yourself a favor and give Rescue Mission a shot.
Astro’s Playroom makes an extremely convincing case for Astro Bot to become a legitimate mascot for the PlayStation brand as a whole. And yet, despite his previous game being a VR exclusive, this one’s VR support is conspicuously absent.
Go to this time stamp (3:00) in the video above to see some Astro Bot gameplay and DualSense controller impressions
From the bit that I’ve played so far, basically just the opening ‘Cooling Springs’ level (full playthrough here), Astro’s Playroom seems like a really excellent game. It follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the excellent PSVR-exclusive Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, and brings a bright, cheery, and colorful 3D platformer adventure to life. It’s a genre that’s often neglected these days, but it clearly still has a lot of life left over.
In Astro Bot on PSVR (for PS4) the DualShock 4 controller and PSVR headset itself were used in a litany of novel ways. You could headbutt objects in the environment to interact with them, dodge things thrown at you, or sometimes lean and peek around corners to find hidden collectibles. It was a great showcase for why not every single great VR experience needs to be a first-person action game.
When Astro’s Playroom was revealed, as a free pack-in for PS5 no less, we noted the lack of VR support immediately. Ever since The Playroom VR and then the subsequent full-fledged Astro Bot game, he has felt like a VR mascot. But now, he has left the immersive realm behind — sort of.
There are plenty of references to PlayStation’s past throughout Astro’s Playroom. In the Cooling Springs level alone I found 3D model replicas of every iteration of the PlayStation 3, as well as the Navigation Controller and the PS Move Sharp Shooter rifle — the predecessor to the PS Aim Controller. These collectibles are known as “artifacts” and I’d be willing to bet there are plenty of VR-focused artifacts to find as well.
The opening beach environment has floaties in the shapes of PlayStation symbols, other bots litter the background of levels re-enacting scenes from iconic PlayStation games, and the entire premise of the game is that you’re adventuring into the inner-workings of a PS5 itself. It’s very meta, very silly, and extremely charming.
Yet, despite the lack of formal support, it would be inaccurate to say Astro’s Playroom is a sign Sony doesn’t care about VR. If anything, the litany of Easter Eggs (like the fact that Astro himself will put on a VR headset if you idle the controller for long enough) proves Sony recognizes VR as a core tenant of the brand. Or at least that it’s top of mind enough to not forget about.
But ultimately that’s what makes it all the more frustrating that Astro’s latest adventure is missing the peripheral that helped make him so lovable in the first place. In my mind, Astro and VR are intrinsically linked. Playing Astro’s Playroom without a VR headset just feels incomplete. Like an imitation of something else.
I miss being able to lean in and wave at my little buddy or lean around corners scoping out enemies. I miss how interactive it felt and that feeling that I was right there in his world with him. Seeing him through the window of a TV screen just isn’t the same — even in native 4K resolution.
Generally, I feel like the lack of VR support here, from a studio that has made VR a bit of a specialty in recent years, is just an enormous missed opportunity. I can’t think of a reasonable reason to not put in optional VR support other than Sony decided it wasn’t worth the time, and that’s a shame.
Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions here and once the PSVR 2 arrives there will be another new Astro adventure or, at least, VR support added to Astro’s Playroom. Maybe.
At the end of the day Sony appears to be adapting the character to appeal to a broader audience by removing the shackles of a VR headset and I think they’re going to succeed in that regard — but I just hope it doesn’t come at the cost of their support for VR as a medium.
Astro’s Playroom will be included on every PlayStation 5 console for free and is a great showcase for the new DualSense PS5 Controller — we highly recommend you play it if you get a PS5.
Since his debut in 2016’s Playroom VR, Astro Bot has become something of a mascot for Sony’s PSVR headset.
So why’s he showing up in a non-VR game?
If you missed the news, Astro’s Playroom is a free PS5 launch title that comes installed on every console. It’s a third-person platformer just like 2018’s Astro Bot Rescue Mission, but with no support for headsets.
In a recent interview with Famitsu, Sony Japan Studio Head (and Astro Bot Director) Nicolas Doucet explained that the team was using the character’s popularity to help frame what is essentially a platformer comprised of lots of tech demo-like ideas. Instead of PSVR, Astro’s Playroom is designed to showcase the new DualSense controller for PS5, which features additions like triggers that provide resistance.
As a result, much like how a Mario game often utilizes the new features of a Nintendo console, Astro’s Playroom is a series of different ideas strung into a campaign. “However, the character Astro already existed and was quite popular,” Doucet said of featuring Astro himself. “I decided to challenge using that character. Because of that, it may not be noticed by those who play it, but this work also incorporates many tech demo elements.”
Doucet also revealed that the game has about four to five hours worth of content and plenty of platform staples like collectibles and more. Sadly, though, it seems like VR support won’t be included in this entry into the series. Fingers crossed that Astro Bot Rescue Mission 2 is in the works for a possible PSVR 2 headset, though.
Since his debut in 2016’s Playroom VR, Astro Bot has become something of a mascot for Sony’s PSVR headset.
So why’s he showing up in a non-VR game?
If you missed the news, Astro’s Playroom is a free PS5 launch title that comes installed on every console. It’s a third-person platformer just like 2018’s Astro Bot Rescue Mission, but with no support for headsets.
In a recent interview with Famitsu, Sony Japan Studio Head (and Astro Bot Director) Nicolas Doucet explained that the team was using the character’s popularity to help frame what is essentially a platformer comprised of lots of tech demo-like ideas. Instead of PSVR, Astro’s Playroom is designed to showcase the new DualSense controller for PS5, which features additions like triggers that provide resistance.
As a result, much like how a Mario game often utilizes the new features of a Nintendo console, Astro’s Playroom is a series of different ideas strung into a campaign. “However, the character Astro already existed and was quite popular,” Doucet said of featuring Astro himself. “I decided to challenge using that character. Because of that, it may not be noticed by those who play it, but this work also incorporates many tech demo elements.”
Doucet also revealed that the game has about four to five hours worth of content and plenty of platform staples like collectibles and more. Sadly, though, it seems like VR support won’t be included in this entry into the series. Fingers crossed that Astro Bot Rescue Mission 2 is in the works for a possible PSVR 2 headset, though.
[UploadVR regularly commissions freelance writers to review products, write stories, and contribute op-ed pieces to the site. This article is an Q&A transcript the author conducted with the game’s developer.]
Confirmed for launch on Oculus, Steam VR and PlayStation VR, you’ll be playing an intergalactic police officer working together with Ven, a fox-like creature looking to protect his home planet from Bruce Nelson, a criminal that invaded Ven’s planet. Home to an energy source called Runes, his planet has often been threatened by invading forces and this time around, we must help Ven stop them and save his little companions along the way.
Certainly, Ven’s gameplay seems reminiscent of old-school 3D platformers like Ratchet & Clank, Mario, and Crash Bandicoot. Rather than controlling a character personally like those games however, Ven VR Adventure lets players directly interact with the main character, reaching into this world with tracked motion controllers. It’s a similar approach to Moss and Astro Bot, two games that successfully proved how platformers can work well in a VR environment.
Since then, we’ve received a few developer updates about Ven and back in June, Monologic treated us to some further gameplay footage. It gave us a small teaser for what’s to come but news has been quieter these last two months. As such, we reached out for an interview with Monologic’s Community Manager, Łukasz Konieczny, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.
Ven VR Adventure: Upcoming New 3D Platformer Exclusive To VR
Henry Stockdale, UploadVR: Firstly, thank you for joining me here. For those readers unaware of your game, could you please introduce yourselves?
Łukasz Konieczny, Monologic Games Community Manager: Hello! First of all, thank you for being interested in our game. It is a great pleasure for us to talk to you about Ven. Our team was established at the beginning of 2019 in Poland. At the moment we have around 8 members making sure that soon you will receive a fun to play VR platformer.
UploadVR: Ven VR Adventure is Monologic Games’ debut title. As a new studio, have there been any unexpected challenges during development?
Konieczny: Of course, game development is very challenging in general, especially for new teams. When it comes to Ven, we are very happy because our plan works pretty well so we can reach milestones without any serious problems. However, while making VR platformer you need to think really about everything because in contrary to 2D version the player can look in any direction.
UploadVR: Since making the reveal announcement, Ven’s been compared to Crash Bandicoot. Was this a big influence on gameplay or did you take inspiration from elsewhere?
Konieczny: It is an honor to be compared to such legend as Crash. This series gives you a picture of what well-crafted platformer is. It is also a favorite game from childhood for Damian, the founder and head of our team. The biggest inspiration from Crash when talking about Ven’s gameplay is that we want it to be challenging, dynamic and satisfying. On top of that is VR technology which is an amazing addition to platformer game.
UploadVR: Platformers are often known for their colourful cast of characters; can we expect to see anything like that here?
Konieczny: One of the most important characters is Bruce Nelson, our main villain who invaded Ven’s planet. During your adventure, you will also meet Teremy, a robot companion who will assist you in various ways. There are also many unique creatures inhabiting the planet, more robots (this time the baddies from Nelson’s army) and bosses.
UploadVR: How does virtual reality factor into gameplay, is it mostly that direct interaction with Ven or did other factors draw you to VR in particular?
Konieczny: As a player, you can be physically in this world, next to Ven’s character. What we try to emphasize whenever it is possible is that Ven notices you – he can look at you, blink to you and more. Those are very subtle interactions that build your bond with Ven. There are also various interactions that influence gameplay – you can use them to help Ven in combat or during traversal in the level.
UploadVR: Did you ever consider releasing Ven on traditional platforms?
Konieczny: For now, we are strongly focused on releasing the game on multiple VR platforms. Honestly, we didn’t make any plans or decisions about that but who knows what the future will bring 😉
UploadVR: Outside of the campaign and time trials, I can see other gameplay modes have also been promised. Can you tell us anymore about these?
Konieczny: What we can say today is that there will be a special game mode that will serve as the reward after completing the main campaign. It is a surprise so you need to wait till the launch of the game 😉
UploadVR: At this point, Ven has been confirmed for Oculus, Steam VR and PlayStation VR. Are there plans to support other major PC headsets or the Oculus Quest?
Konieczny: As to the Oculus Quest, it is the future of VR but we want to wait a little bit more before providing some official information.
UploadVR: Will there be a simultaneous release between these platforms?
Konieczny: It would be perfect to have it that way haha – cannot give you the final confirmation but we would like to do it.
UploadVR: Is there a release date in mind?
Konieczny: We plan to release Ven by the end of the year and we are working hard to make it happen.
UploadVR: Lastly, is there anything you’d like to share with the fans in particular?
Konieczny: We would like to say “THANK YOU!” for all of the kind comments and support that we can see in social media. We are making Ven VR Adventure to give you tons of fun and a good time. We do hope you’ll love it once the game is finished!
Ven VR Adventure is slated for release before the end of the year on PSVR and PC VR headsets such as the Rift, Vive, and Index on both the Oculus Rift store and SteamVR. An Oculus Quest version is not confirmed, but it sounds like it could be possible eventually.
Let us know what you think of Ven VR Adventure down in the comments below!
Family game night? We’ve got you covered with our list of the best family VR games.
We wanted to make this a varied list to give you a lot of choice. As such, when we say a family VR game, we don’t necessarily mean just multiplayer titles and, while we’ve kept violent games off of the list, some of the games do have action elements and mechanics you might deem unsuitable for the youngest audiences. We’ll point those out where applicable.
Dreams is a glorious VR playroom, a sort of do-it-yourself creation platform where, after a bit of onboarding, you can make your own content and share it with others. You’ll be amazed at the scale of the creations possible in Dreams. It’s easy to lose hours with others hopping from one bright idea to the next.
We’ve put Dreams higher in the list for two reasons. Firstly, it takes a bit of dedication to get to grips with, which will make the creative aspect too mature for some younger audiences. Plus, this is an online hub of user-made content, which comes with the usual caveats. If you want to show younger audiences, it might be an idea to curate a list of levels beforehand.
9. Puppet Fever
Type: Local multiplayer Platforms: Quest, PC VR
This ingenious family VR game needs just one headset to be enjoyed by anyone in the room. The VR player uses a huge range of 2D props to put on their own puppet show. They find themselves behind a stage, while on a connected screen you can view their show from the front. Different game modes can give you the freedom to make up your own stories, or you can generate word cards for a virtual game of charades. A brilliant little idea, and free to play on Quest (with in-app purchases, mind you).
8. Racoon Lagoon
Type: Single or online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, Rift
A cutesy little island lifestyle game – perhaps the closest VR has yet gotten to its own Animal Crossing. You explore a tropical destination, meeting a friendly cast of critters that you can carry out tasks for. Earn more hearts, make more friends and unlock new areas. The game has multiplayer and cross-play between Rift and Quest so, if you have another headset handy, you can adventure together.
7. A Fisherman’s Tale
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
VR gaming doesn’t get much more wholesome than A Fisherman’s Tale, a puzzle game that’s equal parts charming and brain-bending. You take on the role of the titular fisherman, awakening one day to find themselves living in his own model replica of his lighthouse. But, get this, that same model sits in the middle of the room, and you can take the roof off to interact with a tiny version of yourself, or open the window to see a larger version too. It’s incredibly clever but still very approachable, and a VR must-play.
6. Fuji
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
There’s a lot of great VR meditation apps out there but, for our money, you won’t find many virtual destinations more tranquil or more soothing than Fuji’s vibrant fields of alien vegetation. In this relaxing trip, you reawaken wildlife and can also grow your own virtual garden. It’s the perfect choice for those looking for a less demanding VR experience.
5. Spaceteam VR
Type: Local and online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, PC VR
If you’re looking for a bit of a team-building exercise with the family, then you can consider Spaceteam VR a one-stop-shop. In this adaptation of a mobile classic, you work together with friends to fix a spaceship, shouting out ridiculous orders to each other while making sure to listen out for your own.
4. Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale
Type: Online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, Rift
VR tries its hand at Overcooked with Michellin Star results. Cook-Out has you cooking for a fairytale cast in a full campaign for up to four players (with cross-play!). You’ll need to work with each other to slice up ingredients, clean dishes and cook up tasty treats before customers get too inpatient.
3. Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
Curious Tale makes for a whistful story of summers spent away and sibling rivalries. It’s an adorable puzzler ideal for casting to a screen and collaborating on, and the stop-motion art style is something to really behold inside a headset. Curious Tale is a perfect first destination for getting to grips with VR, too.
2. Vacation Simulator/Job Simulator
Type: Single-Player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator remain hallmarks for the VR industry because they prioritize unique interactions only possible inside VR alongside user comfort first and foremost. They’re chock full of engaging activities that really take advantage of the platform. For many people, this should be your first stop when picking up a VR headset.
1. Astro Bot/Playroom VR
Type: Single-player (Astrobot) Local multiplayer (Playroom VR) Platforms: PSVR
Astro Bot was born out of the Playroom VR, which is available for free, so we thought it only fair we bundled the two together. The latter includes some of the best local multiplayer in VR, with other players joining in on a TV screen to play family-friendly games of cat and mouse and more. Astro Bot, meanwhile, is a genuinely Mario-level platform bursting with fresh ideas that will constantly delight. It remains our top ranking for the best PSVR games and now we crown it one of the best family VR games too.
Yesterday’s PS5 reveal went down a treat with most gamers, but there wasn’t much to say on the PSVR front.
This was to be expected, of course; Sony wants to market its console for launch and talking about additional hardware at this stage complicates that. We were waiting with bated breath for a mention of VR, but knew full well it was highly unlikely.
But, look a little closer at yesterday’s showcase and you will see at least a few promising hints for the future. PS5 is compatible with a new HD camera, for example. But it’s the games, mostly sequels to titles with original PSVR support, that have us most intrigued. So here’s five PS5 games we certainly hope get PSVR support.
Resident Evil Village
We’re all pinning our hopes on this one, right? Resident Evil 7 remains one of the best PSVR games on the market and the series is long overdue to make its return to the headset. And the signs are encouraging; Resident Evil Village (which, as the logo design makes clear, is Resident Evil 8) returns to a first-person perspective and picks up with 7’s hero, Ethan Winters.
Details are slim but we know Ethan sets off for a snowy, mysterious village on the hunt for Chris Redfield, who appears to have been a very bad boy. The game will feature more open spaces than 7, with a greater emphasis on combat. Let’s hope we get to see all of that in VR when it launches next year.
Gran Turismo 7
Another series with unfinished business in the VR arena. Gran Turismo Sport, the PS4 iteration of the racing sim, featured incredibly immersive but desperately slim PSVR support. But yesterday’s reveal of Gran Turismo 7 brought with it renewed hope that we’ll get a full driving simulator in VR on PS5.
In fact, in a 2019 interview Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi said that the first and most obvious jump Gran Turismo could make with a new console was in VR. “The first thing that’s going to be affected by more power is VR,” the developer said. “I don’t think that there’s anything else that requires that much processing power.” Based on those comments alone, eventual PSVR support for Gran Turismo 7 seems likely.
Deathloop
Why Deathloop of all the games featured at the show yesterday? Because developer Arkane — best known for the Dishonored series — has been experimenting with the platform, as seen in the additional VR modes for 2017’s Prey. That makes it at least a little more suited for PSVR support than many of the other games on show.
In this first-person shooter, you play a prisoner trapped on an island where everyone is out to kill you. Every time you die you wake up ready for the hunt to start all over again. There’s a touch of Arkane’s signature sorcery to it, with powers like telekinesis and teleporting, two things that work incredibly well in VR. We’ll be keeping a keen eye on this one.
Astro’s Playroom
What is Astro Bot without VR? That’s the terrible question Sony had us reckoning with when Astro’s Playroom was revealed last night. Granted, it doesn’t sound like this is a full sequel to the best PSVR game; Astro’s Playroom is a pack-in title for PS5 with four worlds to explore (similar to how Playroom and Playroom VR came free with PS4 and PSVR).
But, all the same, we’re hoping to see a VR version of this. Even if it doesn’t quite take advantage of VR hardware like Rescue Mission does, returning to this adorable world is a must on PS5. If not Astro’s Playroom, then surely a full PSVR sequel is on the way.
Grand Theft Auto V
Let’s end on a curveball. Yes, GTAV is heading into its third console generation on PS5, and we’ve been promised improved visuals and more updates to Grand Theft Auto Online. But surely the most significant update Rockstar could implement here is full PSVR support?
It sounds ambitious and we really doubt it would happen, but the keen interest in the recent GTAV mod surely proves it could be done. We can’t think of a better way for Sony to kickstart a new generation of VR.
Clearly the team is tying itself closely to the character after two critically acclaimed games – Rescue Mission remains at the top of our Best PSVR Games list and free PS5 launch title, Astro’s Playroom, has been very well recieved. Doucet noted that Team Asobi is now “growing” but will still focus on “fun, colorful games for all ages.”
