Category: cyan

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Cyan’s Upcoming Surreal Adventure ZED Receives new Trailer Ahead of Spring Release

Currently being developed by Eagre Games and Skymap Games is a new surreal adventure experience called ZED, which is being published by Oblivion creator Cyan Ventures. Supporting both standard PC monitors and virtual reality (VR) headsets,  ZED is due for release this Spring. With the launch not far away Cyan has just released an official trailer for the title.

ZED

Very much a twisted puzzle adventure, the trailer gives a good demonstration of the weirdness that the development teams have been creating. A synopsis explains that: “ZED is the story of an artist suffering from dementia — desperately trying to reconnect fragmented memories. The player explores the dreams of the artist’s crumbling mind in hopes of helping him assemble enough meaningful images to leave behind a loving memento and final legacy for his granddaughter.”

“This game is very personal to me,” said Chuck Carter, founder of Eagre Games in a statement. “I had a dear friend and mentor pass a few years back. He suffered from dementia in those final years and my visits to him became the inspiration for ZED. This is not his story, but a broader cautionary tale of not waiting till the end to examine your life.”

ZED

“ZED is just the type of game Cyan Ventures wants to publish, said Rand Miller, CEO, Cyan. “We formed Cyan Ventures because we believe that now is the time to experiment and explore the new possibilities in VR storytelling. Chuck’s very emotional exploration of an artist’s struggle to examine the meaning of his life through the fog of dementia is a provocative approach to narrative gameplay. We’re very excited to have a part in bringing ZED’s moving and inventive narrative to VR and PC.”

Eagre Games has been working on ZED for a while now, having held a successful Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign in 2016. Managing to raise over $50,000 USD, backers will soon be able to enjoy the videogame they supported 3 years ago.

Cyan plans on releasing ZED for PC as well as HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in Spring 2019. When a more concrete release date has been announced VRFocus will let you know.

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Cyan Announces New VR Adventure ‘ZED’, Development Led by ‘Myst’ Creator

Cyan, the studio behind iconic adventure games Myst (1993) and Riven (1997), are putting their stamp of approval on a newly announced VR game from Eagre Games, a studio led by original Myst artist Chuck Carter.

Dubbed ZED, the adventure game is currently under development by Eagre Games and New England-based Skymap Games. Zed will be the first game published by Cyan Ventures, Cyan’s newly formed publishing arm.

Image courtesy Cyan Ventures

Outside of his work on Myst, Carter has worked on 25 other games including many in the Command & Conquer series, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, and Pac-Man World Rally. Carter is also known for his work on a number of non-game projects such as art for TV series Babylon5, NASA, National Geographic, and Scientific American.

Image courtesy Cyan Ventures

To create Zed, the studios have also assembled a cast of industry talent including writers Joe Fielder (Bioshock Infinite, The Flame and the Flood) and David Chen (Metal Gear Solid series, Narcosis). Long-time games industry voice actor Stephen Russell (the Thief and Fallout series) will be lending his voice to the game.

SEE ALSO
Creators of 'Myst' & 'Obduction' Announce VR Steampunk Adventure 'Firmament'

Here’s Cyan’s description of what to expect from Zed:

ZED is the story of an aging artist, lost in regret, and the haze of dementia. Inside the dreamscape of this creative mind come undone, players reassemble the artist’s fragmented memories into a final, lasting legacy: a loving final gift to his unborn granddaughter.

Making its debut with VR support for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and non-VR support for PC, ZED is a surreal trip, with an unexpected narrative that unfolds across fanciful, fractured lands. Spanning regret, reconciliation and redemption, it’s a bittersweet story that’s both deeply personal, and undeniably universal.

Zed is slated to release in Spring 2019, targeting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and non-VR support for PC.

A Steam page is now live, although there’s no pricing information or specific release date yet.

The post Cyan Announces New VR Adventure ‘ZED’, Development Led by ‘Myst’ Creator appeared first on Road to VR.

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Cyan Ventures Will Publish VR Narrative Game Zed

Cyan Ventures Will Publish VR Narrative Game Zed

Myst and Riven publisher Cyan has shifted into virtual reality games, and it is moving further in that direction as the publisher of an externally produced VR game dubbed Zed.

The Spokane, Washington-based Cyan has started a new publishing label, Cyan Ventures, to launch games that can foster creative narratives in VR and publish new titles by indie developers. The game is targeted for the PC as well as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets in the spring of 2019

The move is part of Cyan’s ambition to exploit the new medium of VR to make storytelling games more interactive and immersive.

“Like with Myst, we know we are on the edge of something,” said Rand Miller, CEO of Cyan, in an interview with GamesBeat. “VR has a magical feel, where it takes you to another place. It still feels like we need to push it forward. We are saying let’s take the ball and help define this medium.”

Above: Zed is gathering memories for Charlotte.

Image Credit: Eagre/Cyan

Zed is from Eagre Games, which Chuck Carter leads. He is one of the world-building artists who contributed to Cyan’s early games, The Manhole and Myst. He was at Cyan in the early 1990s. He left to work at various publishers such as Activision and Electronic Arts.

Carter worked on games such as Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun, Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm, Emperor: Battle for Dune, Command and Conquer: Yuri’s Revenge and Red Alert 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Snoopy Vs. Red Baron, and Pac-Man World Rally.

About four years ago, he started his own company. He pivoted through some ideas and then began working on Zed. Eagre partnered with Sky Map Games in New Hampshire on Zed.

“It is very much designed to work in VR, and the expertise we are getting from Cyan is a good fit,” said Carter, in an interview. “The journey has been a bit long. I tried with others, but felt Cyan was a much better fit and I am thrilled to be working with Rand again.”

Miller said the experimental nature of Zed, and Carter’s focus on building an immersive 3D world, was interesting. The game will work on Windows PCs, but it is very much designed for VR, Carter said.

“This is more than an indie game experience,” Miller said. “I love making worlds. This is what we do.”

Above: Can you repair a crumbling memory in Zed?

Image Credit: Eagre Games/Cyan

Zed is the story of a man dying of dementia, desperately trying to reconnect broken memories to make a children’s book to leave behind for his yet unborn granddaughter, Charlotte. The experience is a blend of adventure game, narrative storytelling, moving sentiment, and fanciful world exploration.

Zed will put the user into the jumbled geography of a man’s crumbling memory in hopes of assembling enough meaningful images to create a book as a loving memento and final legacy to be remembered by. (Eagre is creating an actual children’s book to go with the game).

“We are trying to put you into the world and the mind of this man,” Carter said. “I don’t think we have seen anything like this in VR before. It touches on a very serious subject, but it also makes you want to explore this man’s life.”

Above: Zed has a VR world for you to explore.

Image Credit: Eagre/Cyan

Zed is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2019 and will be available as a computer title and as a VR title for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

25-year-old Cyan is currently working on its next VR adventure game Firmament. While the VR market has been struggling on the consumer side, Miller said he believes the opportunity for Zed is good.

“The early adopters are looking for things that push their experience in a lot of different ways,” Miller said. “It feels like early multimedia. I know we feel like we can push this in the direction that it should go. The big thing with Zed is the emotional side. We have heard everybody say VR engages your emotions like nothing else. We haven’t seen it in an interactive environment. Zed is trying to see if it can be done. It is a perfect time for this kind of experiment.”

Carter said that he has had writing help on the project from Joe Fielder (BioShock Infinite, The Flame and the Flood) and David Chen (Metal Gear Solid series, Narcosis), as well as others who contributed along the way.

This post by Dean Takahashi originally appeared on VentureBeat.

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The post Cyan Ventures Will Publish VR Narrative Game Zed appeared first on UploadVR.

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[Update]: Zed: Publisher Cyan veröffentlicht neuen Trailer zum emotionalen VR-Abenteuer

[Update]:

Publisher Cyan hat einen neuen Trailer zum kommenden emotionalen VR-Abenteuer Zed veröffentlicht. Der VR-Titel von Entwicklerstudio Eagre Games und Skymap Games handelt von einem demenzerkrankten Künstler, der ein Erinnerungsstück für seine noch ungeborene Enkeltochter Charlotte erstellen möchte. Dafür reist er durch seine eigenen Gedanken, um das kreative Kinderbuch zu erstellen:

Zed soll im Frühling 2019 für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive auf Steam erscheinen.

(Video: Cyan YouTube)

[Originalartikel vom 16. November 2018]:

Entwicklerstudio Cyan (bekannt für Myst, Riven und Obduction) bleibt der VR-Szene treu. So arbeitet das Studio derzeit nicht nur am hauseigenen Steampunk-VR-Abenteuer Firmament, sondern versucht sich unter dem Namen Cyan Ventures zukünftig auch als Publisher externer Titel. Das Label fokussiert sich auf die Veröffentlichung narrativer VR-Abenteuer von Indie-Studios und kündigt mit Zed bereits die erste Veröffentlichung für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive für 2019 an.

Zed – Cyan Ventures veröffentlicht narratives VR-Abenteuer für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive

Cyan Ventures ist das zukünftige Label zum publishen narrativer VR-Indie-Titel von Cyan. Warum man sich auf die Virtual Reality fokussiert, beschreibt Rand Miller, CEO von Cyan, in einem Interview mit GamesBeat:

“Genau wie bei Myst wissen wir, dass wir vor etwas Besonderem stehen. VR erzeugt dieses magische Gefühl, das dich an einen anderen Ort führt. Aber es fühlt sich immer noch so an, als müssten wir etwas vorantreiben. Also haben wir beschlossen etwas zu tun und dabei zu helfen, das Medium mit zu definieren.”

Mit Zed von Entwicklerstudio Eagre Games kündigte der Publisher seine erste Veröffentlichung für PC, Oculus Rift und HTC Vive an. Der VR-Titel entsteht in Zusammenarbeit mit Sky Map Games.

In Zed geht es um die Geschichte eines demenzerkrankten alten Mannes, der verzweifelt versucht gegen die unbarmherzige Krankheit anzukämpfen. Um seine Gedanken zusammenzuhalten und etwas für die Nachwelt zu hinterlassen, möchte er ein Kinderbuch für seine ungeborene Enkeltochter Charlotte erstellen. So werden die Spieler und Spielerinnen in die Welt des alten Mannes und seine verschwimmenden Gedanken geführt, um wichtige Fotos und Bilder zu sammeln. Dabei werden die wichtigen Lebenspassagen des liebenswürdigen Großvaters noch einmal nach erlebt und schließlich in Form des Werkes für die Ewigkeit und seine Familie konserviert.

Zed-Oculus-Rift-HTC-Vive-Cyan-Ventures

Ein spannender Ansatz, der nicht nur auf die degenerative Erkrankung des Gehirns aufmerksam macht, sondern auch Platz für jede Menge emotionalen Erzählstoff bietet. So beschreibt Chuck Carter den zukünftigen Titel folgendermaßen:

“Wir versuchen, die Spieler und Spielerinnen in die Welt und den Geist dieses Mannes zu führen. Ich glaube nicht, dass man so etwas schon einmal in VR gesehen hat. Der Titel dreht sich um ein sehr ernstes Thema, aber es macht gleichzeitig Lust darauf, die Welt des Mannes zu erforschen.”

Chuck Carter, Leiter von Eagre Games, war früher World-building Artist bei Cyan, Activision und Electronic Arts. Dabei konnte er bereits an bekannten Werken wie unter anderem Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun, C&C: Tiberian Sun Firestorm, C&C: Red Alert 2 und Emperor: Battle for Dune mitwirken.

Zed erscheint im Frühling 2019 für PC, Oculus Rift und HTC Vive.

(Quellen: Venture Beat | Video: Cyan YouTube)

Der Beitrag [Update]: Zed: Publisher Cyan veröffentlicht neuen Trailer zum emotionalen VR-Abenteuer zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

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PlayStation VR Version of Obduction has a Confirmed Release Date

Last year Cyan Inc. – the team behind puzzle classics Myst and Riven – launched Obduction for PlayStation 4, having released the PC version in 2016 with virtual reality (VR) support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The studio said at the time PlayStation VR support was planned, revealing today that it’ll be available next week.  

Obduction is a big sci-fi adventure with players able to explore exotic and strange alien worlds, and just like its forebears solve ever increasing puzzles and challenges as they try to make it home. But with each choice made players have to remember that they all have substantial consequences.

The PlayStation VR version of Obduction will be no different to the main console version, with all the bonus content still included.

“When we launched the PlayStation version we were already hard at work on the PS VR version, but we’ve been working to make the experience as good as possible,” said Cyan Inc. founder and CEO Rand Miller in a PlayStation blog post. “It’s especially exciting for us, because there are so many people with PS VR systems who can now experience Obduction in it’s virtual reality glory. VR adds so much of a sense of really being in our worlds.”

Obduction screenshot

Obduction began back in 2013 as a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign looking to raise $1,100,000 USD. The Kickstarter was hugely successful raising just over $1,300,000 and hitting the stretch goal of VR support for the Oculus Rift.

In addition to the PlayStation VR version of Obduction Cyan Inc. has been working on another VR title Firmament. Unveiled in March, the official website merely states: “The game of Firmament is a resplendent, magical, journey — a monumental voyage through four diverse and curious realms, working in concert with an ever-present, clockwork companion, and the support and instruction of a long-dead, ethereal mentor.”

Obduction will be available for PlayStation VR on Tuesday, 8th May. If you already own the PlayStation 4 version it’ll be a free update. As Cyan Inc. reveals further details about its VR projects VRFocus will keep you updated.

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Creators of ‘Myst’ & ‘Obduction’ Announce VR Steampunk Adventure ‘Firmament’

Cyan, the studio behind Myst (1993) and Obduction (2017), announced they’re working on a new steampunk adventure game called Firmament.

The studio is keeping specifics under wraps for now, including target headset, launch date, etc. Cyan calls it a “resplendent, magical, journey — a monumental voyage through four diverse and curious realms, working in concert with an ever-present, clockwork companion, and the support and instruction of a long-dead, ethereal mentor.”

While it’s hard to tell much of anything from the trailer itself, the setting appears to be Cyan’s usual repertoire of raw, open spaces mixed with massive (and puzzling) machinery.

vitae dilationem afferre requirit firmamentum – or in English, ‘prolongation of life requires support’.

Firmament appears on the list of available demos at GDC 2018 (Mar 19-23), so we’ll probably know more in the next few weeks.

The post Creators of ‘Myst’ & ‘Obduction’ Announce VR Steampunk Adventure ‘Firmament’ appeared first on Road to VR.

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Developers of Myst Reveal Upcoming VR Title Firmament

The developers behind Myst and Obduction have announced their next virtual reality (VR) game with the reveal of Firmament.

Firmament 01

Though details are currently thin on what players can expect from Firmament the announcement of the title is an exciting one given the work of developer Cyan in the past. Having released Obduction back in 2016, which was the successor to Myst, developer Cyan has clearly been hard at work on this new title. Said to be a “new VR experience” the titles website describes it as a “resplendent, magical, journey” and a “new steampunk adventure”. Players will be sent on a “monumental voyage through four diverse and curious realms, working in concert with an ever-present, clockwork companion, and the support and instruction of a long-dead, ethereal mentor.”

Firmament 02

The released teaser trailer clocks in at just under two and a half minutes, showing off plenty of stunning environments and interesting steampunk elements. The narrative that is delivered in the voice-over creates a tense atmosphere full of mystery and questions just waiting to be answered. With mentions of some sort of ‘arrival’ it seems that players will need to uncover the truth of what is happening in this cold, harsh world and find the answers they seek. With Firmament planned to be a VR release it can be expected that exploring every possible space and interacting with everything will be required.

With a proven track record and a stunning reveal Cyan clearly know how to get people excited for a release. Though no further details are available beyond the teaser trailer and the rather bare-bones website, Firmament is already shaping up to be a title worth keeping an eye on. With the focus on VR from the get go, it is possible that the title will be an outstanding experience but until gameplay is released and VRFocus can get hands on, that is up for debate.You can see the teaser trailer for yourself below.

Currently there are no details on a release window or potential platforms but you can be sure that these details will be released in due course and covered here on VRFocus.

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Something For The Weekend: Swords, Sorcery, Sport & Steam

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday consigned to oblivion for another year… or at least until we look at our bank statements at any rate… it’s back to our usual trip through the stores in Something for the Weekend. This week VRFocus is looking at Steam for anything playable on any of the supported head mounted displays (HMDs). Be it the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift, the OSVR or even Windows Mixed Reality headsets that are both up for grabs and available with a good percentage of money off. So let’s see below just what you can get, for how much and on what right now.

Obduction screenshotObduction

Compatibility: HTC Vive & Oculus Rift

Whenever you get a film nowadays it always says at some point in the trailer ‘from the makers of [blank]’ with blank filled in by some other film someone on the higher ups has been involved in. Videogames tend not to do that, concentrating on the big name producers alone. Obduction bucks the trend by wearing its ‘from the creators of Myst‘ badge proudly. And if your game was created by the people behind Myst… well you would, wouldn’t you?

“Abducted far across the universe, you find yourself on a broken alien landscape with odd pieces of Earth. Explore, uncover, solve, and find a way to make it home.”

Obduction is currently at 50% off until December 4th 2017, and you can get it now at £11.99 (GBP) as opposed the usual £23.99

Don't Knock Twice Screenshot 08Don’t Knock Twice

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

We might be getting into all things winter but that doesn’t mean you can’t also get a scare. Beginning yesterday and continuing all the way until December 15th 2017, Wales Interactive’s Don’t Knock Twice is also available at a 50% discount. Bringing the total to £7.99 (GBP) from £15.99.

“For a true horror experience you have to be almost defenceless, surviving in the darkness with that glimmer of hope you’ll escape, listening to every creak and whistle of the wind wondering what’s around the corner. If that sounds like your type of VR videogame then Wales Interactive’s Don’t Knock Twice might be just what you want, possibly.” – Peter Graham, VRFocus‘ Review

SportsBar VR

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

The former Pool Nation VR just announced their biggest update ever with cross-play and other updates and not only that you can get it for a third off on Steam until December 8th.

Always a favourite of VRFocus since its early days, we reviewed it back in March and it received a five star review from Editor Kevin Joyce. “[SportsBar VR] isn’t simply a VR recreation of a pool table, balls and a ruleset. It is, in fact, a virtual environment for players to enjoy a game of pool in, as well as a number of other entertainment activities. It’s more than the name suggests, and because of this [SportsBar VR] is one of the most enjoyable experiences currently available for the HTC Vive.”

SportsBar VR is currently available for £10.04 (GBP) from £14.99.

Eternity Warriors VR

Compatibility: Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

One for virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), this Early Access title from Vanimals Games has its roots outside of VR. The original Eternity Warriors having launched six years ago on smartphones. Since that time it has had three sequels and this version looks to continue the first-person hack and slash tradition.

Previewing the title back in September VRFocus described it as “a hoot” and you can get Eternity Warriors at 20% off on Steam until December 12th 2017. With a price of £8.79 (GBP) from £10.99.

Lucid Trips

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

The developers describe Lucid Trips as “a Virtual Reality experience which takes places in planetary dream worlds. You explore an artistically designed surrounding with a completely new concept, defining and navigating your avatar in a distinctive way, using hand motion controllers.”

Another Early Access videogame, it is available at £2.79 (GBP) from £5.59 – or half price – until December 7th.

The Wizards screenshotThe Wizards

Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality

Another Early Access videogame, this time from Carbon Studios and set in a land of magic and enchantment. You, the player, take on the role of a young sorcerer tasked with defending the realm from an army of rampaging creatures. You’ll need to rely on your magical arsenal of elemental spells (lightning bolts, fireballs, etc) and your defensive skills in order to survive and expell the foul orcs and goblins threatening your home.

 

Presently available at £11.99 (GBP) from £14.99, The Wizards is currently discounted on Steam by 20% until December 7th 2017.

Titanic VR Cover Art VR Landscape imageTitanic VR

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

A relatively new release on Steam, the title by Immersive VR Education takes you underwater to explore the wreck of the famed passenger liner. Discover secrets, artefacts and unlock upgrades to go deeper inside the once thought ‘unsinkable’ vessel.

Titanic VR is available on Steam for £11.69 (GBP), a 40% discount.

Unknightly

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

A title we’re actually yet to feature on VRFocus, but one we’ll no doubt be looking at in the future. Developers Portal Studios describe the title as “a medieval VR stealth game designed from the ground up for VR. You play the role of a former member of the Knight’s Order. You have thrown betrayed and thrown into prison by someone very close to you. But by who? Hungry for revenge and fortune you seek to uncover the identity of those who double-crossed you, gain insight into their motives and eventually set the record straight.”

Currently in Early Access, Unknightly has a 40% discount on its regular price of £15.49 until December 7th. Meaning you can pick it up for only £9.29.

Space Panic: Room Escape

Compatibility: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

As the name likely suggests Space Panic: Room Escape is a VR escape room videogame, developed by Xefier Games. Set in the future aboard a space station, your freedom is at stake and you’ll need to solve a number of fiendish puzzles in order to secure your escape.

Space Panic: Room Escape can be purchased through Steam for £3.49 (GBP), 30% off its regular cost of £4.99.

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Obduction includes PlayStation 4 Theme, Available Now

Cyan Inc.’s hugely popular Obduction is now available for PlayStation 4, including PlayStation VR compatibility, following a hugely successful PC release earlier this year. Inspired by classic adventure videogame titles Myst and Riven, Obduction offers alien landscapes for exploration as you test your logic in a variety of puzzles.

Obduction screenshotObduction began life as a Kickstarter project, which resulted in a funding total of just over $1,300,000 USD back in 2013. Since then, the title has launched on PC with virtual reality (VR) compatibility and Mac, which will also be updated with HTC Vive support. The PlayStation VR release joins the line-up complete with PlayStation Move compatibility.

As part of the digital package for Obduction, those who choose to download the title will also receive five exclusive PlayStation 4 avatars as well as a bonus theme. The downloadable package weighs in at 9GB, and is priced at $29.99 USD on the PlayStation Store.

Obduction is compatible with PlayStation VR as standard, though can also be played without the head-mounted display (HMD). VRFocus will keep you updated with future VR works from Cyan Inc.

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Cyan Confirms Release Date for Obduction on PlayStation VR

Today, Cyan Inc., the indie studio most well known for creating best-selling games, Myst and Riven, has announced that’s its sci-fi adventure puzzle videogame, Obduction, will be coming to PlayStation VR on Tuesday, 29th August 2017.

Originally starting life as a Kickstarter project, the campaign raised just over $1,300,000 USD in 2013. The title saw a PC release in 2016, before coming to Oculus Rift a few months later. Toward the end of 2017, Cyan confirmed that it would be expanding support to Oculus Touch, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR in 2017, with the first two seeing a release in March.

Obduction screenshot

The PlayStation VR release looks to be exactly the same as the other headsets, with no additional content included. There are however some pre-order bonuses for players, with exclusive themes and avatars on offer.

“It’s been almost two decades since we created a product for console, and we couldn’t be happier about our return to PlayStation. We’ve been working really hard to craft a special Obduction experience for both PS4 and PSVR, and we’re so excited to get Obduction to our PlayStation fans,“ said Rand Miller, CEO of Cyan, Inc. in a statement.

When Obduction launches for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR on 29th August it’ll cost $29.99.

Checkout the new trailer below, and for any further updates keep reading VRFocus.