‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’ Trailer Reveals Story Behind Quest 3’s Next Big First-party Exclusive

Batman: Arkham Shadow is coming exclusive to Quest 3 sometime later this year, and today we’re getting a peek at the story behind what’s shaping up to be VR’s biggest full-fledged Batman game, and next big first-party exclusive from Meta.

Following the release of Batman: Arkham Shadow‘s teaser trailer in May, developers Camouflaj and Oculus Studios today revealed we’re in for an epic battle to prevent the “Day of Wrath,” set to take place on the Fourth of July.

But first, here’s how the studios describe it at length in a new blog post:

It’s the Fourth of July, and Gotham City is besieged by a new threat: the mysterious Rat King and his cultish devotees. Public officials have been abducted, including Batman associates Commissioner Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. The Rats have pledged to execute them in one week’s time for “crimes committed against the people of Gotham City.”

As widespread rioting engulfs the city, Batman races to prevent this so-called “Day of Wrath,” but it all goes wrong.

Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, you’ll experience the origins of such iconic characters as The Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, and more, as Batman grapples with the contradiction at the core of his identity—the use of force in pursuit of peace.

Notably, we thought we’d be facing off against the Ratcatcher (aka Otis Flannegan) who isn’t canonically referred to as “The Rat King,” so it seems there’s a mystery there yet to uncover. As seen in the trailer, The Rat King looks nearly identical to how the Ratcatcher is portrayed in the comics, including his iconic gas mask.

Whatever the case, we’re in for what promises to be a new VR-native blend of the series’ patented exploration, stealth, and free-flowing combat, which will take us across Gotham to fight various baddies with Batman’s Grapnel Gun, the Batarang, throw smoke bombs, and the ability “glide” behind unsuspecting enemies by grabbing your cape.

The studios say Batman: Arkham Shadow will also include plenty of crime scenes to scour for clues, puzzles to solve, hidden collectibles to uncover, and iconic locations to explore, which is set to include the Monarch Theatre and Bowery.

Developed by Meta’s Camouflaj and Oculus Studios, and created in partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC, Batman: Arkham Shadow is slated to launch exclusively on Quest 3 sometime in late 2024. In the meantime, you can wishlist the game here.

It was also announced that we can expect a gameplay reveal during Gamescom 2024 which will be held in late August.

The post ‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’ Trailer Reveals Story Behind Quest 3’s Next Big First-party Exclusive appeared first on Road to VR.

April 6, 2021

Huge Humble VR Sale Sees Batman, Gorn, Blaston Go For Dirt Cheap

Tons of great PC VR content is going for cheap in the latest Humble VR sale.

Highlights from the selection — which is featured for the rest of this week — include an incredible $4.99 for Batman: Arkham VR. Sure, it’s an older title but it remains one of the most polished in VR to this day. You can also get half off of ever-popular VR hit, Superhot VR, taking it to $12.49. Also don’t miss Free Lives’ ultra-violent combat sim, Gorn, for $9.99 and Resolution Games’ 1-on-1 VR shooter, Blaston, for $6.99.

Humble VR Sale Underway

Looking for something new? The Walking Dead: Onslaught is far from Survios’ best game but, at $17.99, it’s seeing a big discount not too long after launch. In terms of obscure curiosities we’d also recommend Aspyr’s Torn for its visual fidelity and Cortopia’s Down The Rabbit Hole for its innovative approach to third-person VR puzzling.

If you need a little more inspiration make sure to head over to our reviews section and see if anything on sale sits well on our review scales. You never known when you might discover a new favorite.

These are all SteamVR titles, so you’ll be able to access them with just about any PC VR headset (or Oculus Quest 2 with Link/Virtual Desktop). That said make sure to check for native support for your headset in the listings, as sometimes games can run poorly in certain devices they weren’t specifically made for.

Are you going to be picking up anything in the Humble VR sale? Let us know in the comments below!

September 20, 2019

Batman: Arkham VR Gets Surprise Index Controller Support

Get ready to thwip Just like Batman! Wait? Oh, wrong superhero.

But, all the same, you can now do whatever a Batman can with Valve Index Controller support. Batman: Arkham VR just got a surprise update to celebrate Batman Day, which this year recognizes 80 years of gravelly voices, brooding from the rooftops, and employing child soldiers in the war against crime.

The update adds full support for Valve’s new controllers. That means the controller’s finger tracking should work inside the experience. That means you can finally give Joker the finger and do even more elaborate Adam West-inspired sexy Bat-dances in front of the mirror.

Elsewhere, the game also implemented an OpenVR Mesh, which could apparently give some users a “small performance increase”.

It’s surprising to see the game get an update this significant so far after release. Batman: Arkham VR first released on PSVR all the way back in 2016 and came to PSVR the year later. If developer Rocksteady is able to update the game with the latest VR tech, could it perhaps still be working on new VR titles?

Arkham VR remains one of the most polished VR experiences out there, so we certainly hope so. It’s actually been a busy year for Batman in VR. Back at Comic-Con in July fans could go on a VR skydiving trip with the caped crusader. I also saw a curious experience mixing AR and VR all the way back at MWC.

If you’re looking for more Index-fuelled superheroics, Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home tie-in recently got support for the controllers too.

The post Batman: Arkham VR Gets Surprise Index Controller Support appeared first on UploadVR.

July 16, 2019

5 Great VR Games That Can Be Played With One Hand

VR could make gaming more accessible than it’s ever been before.

But, in the industry’s nascent stage, it is fair to say accessibility isn’t always the top priority for some developers. Most games, for example, require two hands to play, when many could be just as easily played with one if they added some control shortcuts.

So we thought it was about time we rounded up some of the best VR experiences you can play with one hand. For the most part, these are games that simply don’t require two handed interactions rather than apps that were specifically built for one hand. Where necessary, we’ve also outlined the limitations of playing with one hand, but overall we still think these are worth a go.

Superhot – Rift/Vive/Index/Quest/PSVR

Superhot is probably about as close to a VR classic as it currently gets. Fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest VR games to play with one hand. In this first-person action game, time moves only when you do. So not only can you wield a variety of pistols, knives and projectiles with one hand, the game will also move at a pace that suits you. In fact, we wouldn’t even say this made the game any harder.

Batman: Arkham VR – Rift/Vive/Index/PSVR

The Dark Knight’s debut VR adventure remains one of the most polished and immersive VR experiences you can have nearly three years on from launch. In Arkham VR you put on the cowl and detective your way through a narrative-driven adventure. The game is much more interested in puzzles and scene-setting, with light interactions that won’t feel too unnatural if you rely on one hand. It’s about as friction-free as one-handed VR gaming gets.

Beat Saber – Rift/Vive/Index/Quest/PSVR (Not all songs/Expert only)

VR’s most popular game includes the welcome addition of a one-handed mode. You can ditch the color-coded gameplay and start swiping away at every beat in front of you. There are two drawbacks here, though. Firstly lots of the songs released since Beat Saber’s initial launch don’t support one-handed mode. More importantly, though, you can only play songs on Expert. That’s a pretty steep learning curve if you’re jumping into the game for the first time, but you can use no fail modes to help you practice.

Star Wars: Vader Immortal Episode 1 (Lightsaber Dojo Only)

Sadly Vader Immortal’s story mode requires two hands at specific points to progress. But the game’s robust wave-based combat mode can thankfully be played with one hand. 40 waves of combat await you here and, believe us, it’s no slouch. To conquer the laser-firing, sword-swinging droids you’ll need to keep your wits about you and learn how to block and retaliate with force. This is one of the most enjoyable one-handed VR experiences you can have, though you can’t remove the appearance of the second hand.

A Fisherman’s Tale – Rift/Vive/Index/PSVR

InnerspaceVR’s wonderful little puzzler is an accessible and thoughtfully paced adventure. You solve some truly mind-bending challenges by interacting with yourself in a sort of weird Russian doll VR simulator. This offers some of VR’s most amazing sights and trippy challenges, all of which can be enjoyed using one hand.

The post 5 Great VR Games That Can Be Played With One Hand appeared first on UploadVR.

June 24, 2018

Something For The Weekend: Steam Summer Sale VR Deals

With the Steam Summer Sale in full swing it is time for VRFocus to bring you a number of deals on virtual reality (VR) titles. With so many titles on sale during this period it can be hard to find something to new to pick up and play. Below you will find ten titles that are sure to peak your interest and keep you entertained. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

Hover Junkers

Why not engage in some multiplayer first-person shooter action where you ride around on your own hover ship in this intense and stylish title. Pilot your own ship building defenses around the edge from all manner of objects as you then walk, duck, dodge and aim in gunfights that will put your skills to the test. With both player-versus-player modes and coop wave-based modes, Hover Junkers is a unique title that has something for everyone.

Hover Junkers is available now for £9.44 (GBP) down from the usual £26.99.

Apex Construct

“Despite some minor gripes, its clear that Apex Construct represents the way forward for VR videogames, an absorbing, intriguing experience that draws you in with a rich world complete with its own history and mysteries to be unravelled as well as a fluid combat system. Apex Construct is the standard by which future VR titles will be judged, and an indicator that VR has stepped up its game.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s review of Apex Construct.

Apex Construct is currently available for £16.74 (GBP) down from £24.99.

Subnautica

Why not descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril in Subnautica, an open world survival game set completely under water. You will need to explore, craft, harvest and survive by any means possible in this massive title where anything could be lurking in the depths. One more, the title is fully playable in VR meaning you can truly immersive yourself in the wide, uncharted ocean.

Subnautica is available now on for £15.59 (GBP) down from £19.49.

GalGun VR*

Grab your VR headset and your gun and get ready to hunt demons and spread love in one of the more, different, VR titles on this list. As angels and demons keep messing with highschool life, it falls down to you to put things right and deal with being the most popular guy around, fending off a rush of girls who are madly in love with you. Using your Pheromone Shot your need to give them all euphoria along with getting rid of any demons that might be causing trouble. Can you save the day and maybe find true love along the way or will you fall to the rush of love from these girls?

Gal*Gun VR is available now for £15.40 (GBP) on sale from the usual £22.99.

Katana X

“Katana X is a sword simulation action game designed specifically for VR utilizing tracked motion controls. It’s a highly accessible game that is easy to get into and strangely addicting once you start. This game takes real physical skill of body control and hand–eye coordination to get high scores. If you like motion gaming, swordplay, and having a serious workout session, this is the game for you.”

Katana X is only £3.87 (GBP) down from £5.79.

Battlezone Gold Edition

“Battlezone is arcade VR action at its finest, with options galore allowing players to uniquely hone their combat strategies. With both extensive single-player and multiplayer modes there’s enough here for countless hours of gameplay, so you can comfortably sit cocooned inside these rolling machines of destruction and never get bored, because quite frankly, it’s too much fun.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of Battlezone.

Battlezone Gold Edition is available now for £14.99 (GBP) down from £29.99.

Batman: Arkham VR

Become the night and experience Gotham City through the eyes of the world’s greatest detective in an all new Arkham mystery. Immersive yourself in the shoes of the Dark Knight and learn what it means to be Batman. Can you solve the mystery using all your skills and gadgets?

Batman: Arkham VR is currently £7.49 (GBP) down from £14.99.

Audioshield

“Block the beats! Audioshield puts you at the point of impact for every hit in your songs. Block incoming orbs with your shields and feel the music. Works with any song file, plus online music streaming and Song of the Day.”

Audioshield is currently on sale for £7.49 (GBP) down from £14.99.

TO THE TOP

Experience the thrill of platforming in VR as TO THE TOP gives you the freedom to explore an environment with superhuman abilities. With over 35 levels to complete with new obstacles and challenges, can you make it through each of them and complete for the fastest time? Climb, jump, explore and enjoy your journey through a visually stunning environment as you try to reach the top.

TO THE TOP is currently available for £11.61 (GBP) down from £15.49.

Job Simulator

“Making good use of the HTC Vive’s roomscale without demanding an excessive playspace, Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives is a great starting point for both Owlchemy Labs and users set to experience their first taste of modern VR. It’s humorous and inviting without ever truly being too taxing, and the potential for expansion is nigh-on unlimited. Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to jump into VR and a great advertisement for the fact that virtual worlds don’t necessarily need to lean towards photorealism to be immersive.” – Read VRFocus’ Editor Kevin Joyce’s review of Job Simulator.

Job Simulator is available for only £11.61 (GBP) right now on sale from £15.49.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.

February 11, 2018

Something For The Weekend: DOOM VFR, Fallout 4 And Gal*Gun VR, All On Sale Now

The weekend is here again, and once again we’ve got a big bundle of videogames for you to ogle. These are all on sale and you might not see them this cheap again for a while, so if you’re looking for something light on the wallet but with plenty of entertainment value, take a look below.

This week we’ve got Fallout 4 VR, DOOM VFR, Skyfront VR, Gal*Gun VR and a bunch more, so browse below for everything you could’ve ever wanted from your virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD).

Skyfront VR

Skyfront VR screenshot

VR videogames often need new modes of locomotion, and Skyfront VR tackles that problem while leaving all the others in the dust. Shoot to move, shoot to shoot and hunt down your enemies in a fully 3D environment you can fly around.

Skyfront VR is now only £9.29.

Batman: Arkham VR

BATMANAVR_1080_(1).jpg

Become the Bat. In this adventure with the caped crusader you really feel like the world’s greatest detective as your piece together crime scenes using his advanced technology.

Batman: Arkham VR is now £8.99.

Gal*Gun VR

Gal*Gun VR screenshot

Bring girls to euphoria and spread your pheromones in one of the most questionable VR titles that will send your heart doki doki over a bunch of waifus.

Gal*Gun VR is now only £15.40.

Eagle Flight

If you haven’t heard of Eagle Flight then you’re in for a world of pure wonder as you feel the adrenaline from swooping through town, cities and forests.

Eagle Flight is now £17.49.

Superhot VR

superhot vr - first screenshots 8

Feel your heart beat in your ears in what has to be the most intense shooter in VR. Your movements effect time itself in this high octane gunslinger.

Superhot VR is now £12.72.

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality

rick and morty 1

If you’ve been eager to hold a plumbus in your own hand, then this Rick and Morty VR experience is pretty much essential – and somehow, the events are even canon to show. Now that’s schwifty!

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is now £16.09.

Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope

Serious Sam is our last hope. Again. The guy is just never done shooting down alien scum, and in this game they just won’t stop charging at him, leaving you to smash through waves of alien creatures while shooting countless bullets.

Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope is now £14.99.

Fallout 4 VR

Fallout 4 VR screenshot

You’ve already played in the world of Fallout 4, but have you played in VR? Strapping in to the HTC Vive gives Fallout 4 a completely different vibe from what you’ve experienced before, as you shoot down mutants in the most immersive way yet.

Fallout 4 VR is now £27.99.

DOOM VFR

DOOM VFR screenshot

DOOM VFR might look familiar, but it’s not just the game you’ve already played. A brand new campaign built just for VR, with incredible new movement options and some massive weapons. If you need more demon slaying, this is the best place for it.

DOOM VFR is now £13.99.

To The Top

This game is all explained in the title. Use your hands to climb and bounce yourself through a variety of stages that’ll see you inside volcanoes and hovering over massive gaps. Not one for vertigo sufferers.

To The Top is now £11.39.

We collate all the best sales and cheap videogames every weekend here on VRFocus, so make sure to check back for even more offers next week at the same time!

January 14, 2018

Something for the Weekend: Ten Best PlayStation VR Discounts

It’s the weekend, and you want to spend some time plugged deep into your PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD) and enjoy some virtual reality (VR) gaming, right? Right, so we’ve collected a bunch of interesting VR videogames and experiences that you can enjoy right now at a discounted price.

Just take a look below and see if something catches your eye…

NBA 2KVR Experience

Being an all-star on the court is a tough job, but someone has to do it, and in NBA 2KVR Experience, it can be you. You can play a variety of basketball minigames with, um, Gatorade product branding included. Paul George will give you tips too, so that’s nice.

NBA 2KVR Experience is £6.49, down from £11.99.

Gran Turismo Sport

Does this need an introduction? Gran Turismo Sport brings all the realism the series is known for into VR, with high speed races and tense overtakes included. Definitely the most immersive VR console racing experience.

Gran Turismo Sport is now 30% off at £34.99, but you can save an extra 10% with PS Plus.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

Yep, it’s Tamriel, but not quite as you know. Cutting across the snowy mountains on a horse is a completely different experience in VR, as you swing your PS Move controllers to cut down enemies and wield fiery spells in the palm of your hand.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is now £39.99, down from £49.99.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7 - Family

The return to horror roots in Resident Evil 7 was a great success, and the creepy Baker family is beloved by a legion of fans, although ask someone who played the game in VR how they feel, and their reaction might be different. The intense immersive experience just might give you nightmares because of how scary it can be, and now you can get spooked at a discounted price.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is now £14.99, down from £19.99.

SUPERHOT VR

superhot vr - first screenshots 8

The inventive FPS SUPERHOT is even more intense and immersive than ever in VR, and now you can get it at a discounted price. Fire guns and move in slow motion as you predict your enemy’s movements to overcome any challenge.

SUPERHOT VR has a 42% discount putting it at £11.49, but with PS Plus you can get an extra 15% discount.

Batman: Arkham VR

batman arkham vr screen

Batman is self-explanatory. The caped crusader takes a more methodical approach in this VR investigative caper, where you put yourself behind the mask.

Batman Arkham VR is now £9.49, down from £15.99.

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone

EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone art

The complete and expanded version of the most impressive and intense space shooter around, EVE Valkyrie, is now cheaper than ever, with all 5 previous updates. Not bad at all.

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone is now £11.99, down from £24.99.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

You’ll need good friends for this one. You need to deactivate a bomb, but solving the various puzzles and contraptions in order to make it safe is going to require a lot of teamwork.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is now only £5.79, down from £11.99.

Farpoint

Farpoint screenshot

Farpoint is the impressive alien shooting romp through space that’ll make you feel like a futuristic space marine, especially if you use the PlayStation VR Aim controller.

Farpoint is now only £15.99, down from £24.99.

Tekken 7

Tekken 7 Akuma screenshot

Well, Tekken 7 certainly isn’t much of a VR experience, as you only really get to view a few battles in VR, and can’t expect that to entertain for long – but it’s a great fighting experience, and one well worth the money at this price point.

Tekken 7 is now only £29.99, down from £49.99.

April 29, 2017

Watch the First two Missions of Batman: Arkham VR

Batman: Arkham VR is proving to be hugely popular, both on PlayStation VR and the recently released PC edition compatible with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. VRFocus has spent a considerable amount of time with the videogame, and today brings you two new gameplay videos.

Played on the Oculus Rift with Oculus Touch, the videos below showcase the first and second mission sequences from Batman: Arkham VR, respectively. Watch as the team uncover the secrets behind the murder of Batman’s former sidekick Robin, now operating solo as Nightwing, and attempt to pursue his killer. Batman: Arkham VR is designed to push the qualities of the hero as ‘the world’s greatest detective’, and these first two sequences from the videogame give you a taste of exactly how that unfolds.

Batman: Arkham VR is now available for Oculus Rift with Oculus Touch, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, and VRFocus will bring you more coverage of this hugely popular title in the near future.

April 25, 2017

Nvidia Releases Game Ready Drivers for Rick and Morty, Wilson’s Heart and Batman

Following on from Nvidia and Oculus’ announcement earlier today regarding free software when purchasing GTX graphic cards and Oculus Rift, Nvidia has now rolled out several game ready drivers optimised for specific virtual reality (VR) titles.

Today’s update see’s the recently launched Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, and the as yet unreleased Wilson’s Heart and Batman Arkham VR both getting support.

The release of game ready drivers has become a common occurrence with Nvidia, as the company aims to deliver the best possible experience by optimizing performance and latency. Due to the qualities of VR, the technology much more susceptible issues and bugs that can make an videogame either uncomfortable or very difficult to play.

batman arkham vr screen

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality launched last week for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, receiving widespread acclaim. VRFocus reviewed the title, giving it a maximum five stars, saying: “Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is a madcap, fun filled adventure from start to finish, perfectly suiting VR’s qualities, it should not be missed.” Players find themselves cast as a clone of Morty and if they’re familiar with the cartoon series will know that all sorts of strange and weird things are just around the corner.

Wilson’s Heart is a first-person psychological thriller from Twisted Pixel Games. Due for release today, the title is set in a grim 1940’s hospital. Cast as Robert Wilson who wakes up to find his heart is missing, instead replaced by some mysterious device, players need to uncover the truth in a place where not all is what it seems.

While Batman Arkham VR really needs no introduction. Originally released for PlayStation VR last year, the title is due to launch on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive today, allowing players to step into the shoes of the world’s greatest detective.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Nvidia, reporting back with the latest announcements.

April 25, 2017

VR vs. 365 (Sort Of)

Welcome to VR vs, your weekly column from ‘the other one’ at VRFocus which is celebrating its first anniversary under my stewardship tomorrow. Has it really been that long? I’d like to say I can scarcely believe it, but those in virtual reality (VR) – especially those on the news sites – will tell you working in VR means working. It’s been a long year of long hours. If it isn’t a year quite yet for the column it feels likes a good half dozen for me.

We’ve discussed quite a few topics during that time together so I thought it’d be good to revisit a few of them and see how the situation has changed during the last year.

Before we get to that though some housekeeping to do:

Re: Palmer Luckey – no I’m not going to write another column about him just because he’s back from the beyond. Good grief I’ve done so enough this last year. I did have a good chuckle though when I saw his Twitter avatar change to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars right when he says “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” Clever. And horrendously nerdy. I love it. Moreover the fact that he is working to bring VR games to reality is exactly what I’d hoped he’d do. I look forward to seeing what Palmer does next. (I hereby bagsy “What Palmer Did Next” as an article title for some time later.)

Also from last week, as I predicted the VR ‘0 Days’ image I edited went everywhere. The article didn’t but small victories I guess? Thanks to the groups who subsequently added the article as the source. As for the rest, well…

Dear VR groups posting the '0 Days' image around. You're welcome. *facepalm* pic.twitter.com/Q7L4LoZP6u

— Kevin Eva (@thekevineva) April 19, 2017

VR vs. Sport’s Virtual Future

Well things have certainly come along here at a pace haven’t they? Within the last year the likes of Jaunt and Next VR as well as other companies have brought us everything from the Superbowl, to NCAA’s March Madness and the Grand National. Yes, we’re still operating under a more highlights-centric programme slate but the amount of sports already being shown in VR or thinking about how it could be used to get fans closer to the action is so much bigger than a year ago.

Cameras are becoming better and cheaper, more services and audiences are being targeted. Within the next year I suspect we’ll have maybe not a dedicated channel but perhaps a dedicated highlight programme announced by a mainstream (that word again) tv network or sports channel. Like a VR version of Grandstand, SportsCenter, or Trans World Sport

In the meantime there’s so much sport news we’ve seen fit to introduce our own regular feature covering it every Saturday. So be sure to check that out.

VR vs. E3 2016 In Absentia

So E3 last year was much more like it for VR as opposed to 2015’s effort which was more akin to a repressed fart in the middle of the night. Since my own little ‘awards from afar’ we’ve seen a number of things happen to those mentioned. Kitchen became Resident Evil VII: biohazard and seems to have convinced a lot of people about VR. Honestly, that was something I didn’t see happening. But having a well known gaming brand come to VR and be a success – a big one, by all accounts – is huge for the medium.

We’ve now got Fallout 4 VR on the way once more for this year’s E3 and I can only wonder how they have improved things from a year ago. People got really excited by the news, but they really need to have done a lot of work on it from 2016. Time might make you nostalgic but let’s not forget Fallout 4 VR was kind of disappointing in it’s first showing.

As for Batman Arkham VR, whilst I doubt we’ll see anything new it would be nice with a PC version on the way. I’d be up for a twisted Scarecrow case in VR, you can imagine what’d happen if the team really cut loose with that.

VR vs. Everybody?

It’s sad to see that, regretfully, the situation between console and PC has not improved much. Which is not to say it has not gotten any better at all. It feels like it is at least moving towards a ‘live and let live’ situation. Which is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp wireless controller.

When it comes to the inter-PC fan war that wages whenever anything comes out on on head-mounted display (HMD) however, boy has that gotten worse. Heaven help you if you come out on the Oculus Rift but not the HTC Vive or the Vive but not the Rift. Prepare for a world of pain, as the reactions range between only two states: disappointment and utter blind fury.

The lack of perspective to some responses continues to do VR no favors and it remains somewhat ironic that for every person annoyed about the two big headsets on PC and how VR should not be heading in a console wars like direction there are five other people being derogatory to ‘the other side’.

Three items. One showing great success, one to be hopeful about and one that leaves me a little disappointed. So what does the rest of 2017 hold? Well a number of my predicitions from the new year are looking pretty good right now. I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing though. In some cases it certainly isn’t. For now it is time to take stock before the madness of E3, Gamescom et al begins. Next week we’ll be returning to the subject of people not getting along. But this time from the other side of the fence. You’ll see what I mean next week.

Thanks for putting up with me on this for a year. Here’s to the next one.