Category: Devolver Digital

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Gladiator Sim ‘GORN’ Launches on PSVR Today, Including Less Violent ‘Piñata Mode’

GORN (2019), the comically violent VR combat game, has finally made its way to PSVR. Starting today you’ll be able to clobber a near-endless supply of teetering barbarians—and living room TVs if you don’t watch where you swing those Move controllers.

Update (May 19th, 2020): GORN is now available on PSVR, priced at $20 on the PlayStation Store.

Update (May 5th, 2020): Officially launched out of Early Access on PC VR headsets in July 2019, the hyper-violent gladiator sim GORN is finally making its way to PSVR on May 19th.

Announced via the PS blog, this will also include the previously seen ‘piñata mode’, which turns all of the comically oversized enemies into paper, replete with candy that falls out when you hit them.

Check out the new trailer below. Yes, that’s a rap video featuring a fictitious barbarian language (and yes, it’s awesome).

Original Article (July 9th, 2019): The physics-based gladiator sim—available on Steam (Rift, Vive, Index) and the Oculus Store (Rift)—is slated to leave Early Access on July 18th.

Free Lives, the team also behind Broforce (2015) and Genital Jousting (2018), haven’t spoken yet about what updates they’ll be bringing to the full version of the game when it launches next week, although a Free Lives developer took to Reddit to say that new content was ‘definitely’ coming at launch.

Earlier this year, the studio released their biggest update yet, dubbed ‘The Teachings of ODALBE’, which reworked the progression and unlock system of the game’s campaign. The Teachings of ODALBE arrived in February (and a hotfix one month later), however at the time Free Lives didn’t consider the campaign as properly finalized, so we’d expect the studio will bring yet more polish to the campaign as a part of their launch day content.

Otherwise, it’s still a mystery what GORN has in store—maybe more giant crab-bros? We’ll be keeping our eyes open, so check back soon for more info on launch day.

The post Gladiator Sim ‘GORN’ Launches on PSVR Today, Including Less Violent ‘Piñata Mode’ appeared first on Road to VR.

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Gory Gladiator Sim GORN to Leave Early Access Next Week

Developer Free Lives released the rather brutal virtual reality (VR) gladiator simulator GORN onto Steam Early Access two years ago. Yesterday, the studio announced that an official launch will be taking place next week and that new content would feature.

GORN

To mark the announcement Free Lives released a short teaser trailer showing one of the muscle-bound gladiators preparing for battle, putting on his helmet, grabbing a sword and waiting for the arena door to open. And at the very end a release date, Thursday 18th July. And that’s all (it was a teaser) with no other details of what players can expect.

The studio did take to Reddit to say the release would definitely feature new content but didn’t elaborate. Due to the nature of the title, the bloodshed will likely get even more ridiculous. The last major update for GORN ‘The Teachings of ODALBE’  occurred in February, adding the Death Pit arena whilst reworking the progression and unlock system of the campaign.

Previously, the studio has mentioned plans to port GORN to PlayStation VR. There still hasn’t been any indication when this may happen, however, once the fully released on PC VR a console version may not be too far away.

Ludicrous in its gameplay, GORN takes the ancient sport of gladiatorial combat and combines it with a game engine that’s bloody and funny in equal measure. Players are able to gleefully decapitate, dismember, smash, stab, rip or slice opponents to bits using all manner of melee weapons, from a simple knife through to axes, maces, bows and much more.

And it’s not just weapons opponents have to watch out for. Players can employ various environmental hazards to impale the poorly animated enemies, or become a crab and use the claws to separate head from shoulders.

Certainly not one for younger players, as Free Lives release further details ahead of next weeks launch, VRFocus will keep you updated.

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The Crab Champion Comes To GORN In New Update

Ludicrously violent virtual reality (VR) gladiator simulator title GORN has announced a new update that brings a whole new level of crustacean released combat to the arena. Alongside the new crab related features in the update a rather unique trailer that includes a ‘Diss Track’ has been released and the title is coming to the Oculus store.

GORN Crab Update

The new crab update brings a new champion to the arena in the foam of The Crustacean Crusader known as ‘The Shellbeast’ which is more commonly known as the one and only, crab. Alongside the inclusion of a new champion, players will be able to use the new crab claw caestus to defeat their enemies in the style of the mighty crab. Reach out and grab enemies with crushing power unseen in the title to date and then bring a swift end to them as you close your grip.

Like other champions in the arena, the Crab will put up a tough fight but can easily be defeated if you aim your attacks and remove each of its limbs in order to claim victory. With its bone crushing power and thick armor, this new champion will put up a real challenge but should you overcome it the glory will be massive.

GORN Crab Update

On top of that, players will now find that enemies have the option to wear heavy armor which can make fights a lot interesting. A revamped arena also comes in this new update allowing for some changes to the gameplay and the usual assortment of bug fixes and performance improvements will see the title running better than ever. Of course, the ludicrously violent gameplay of GORN is already providing plenty of laughs for players already so the new crab update takes it to a whole new level.

In honor of the update, the development team at Free Lives have release a new trailer which you can enjoy below, featuring the beloved ROKIBE diss track, ‘KIROIM ES BEKI’ from recording artist BE KIROOD.

Earlier this year GORN got a big update that brought numerous new features and improvements to the title and with the new Crab update, players will have even more hours of entertainment to enjoy. Available now on Steam and the Oculus store, the title also has a 25% discount at the minute to celebrate the launch of the new update making it a perfect time to jump into the arena.

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Review: Block’hood VR

Building your own city has long been a source of fascination. Since the days of the original Sim City and its assorted successors, videogame fans have taken joy in carefully constructing a settlement and helping it grow, or sending in Godzilla to smash it to bits. Can Block’hood VR bring that joy to virtual reality (VR)?

Block’hood was originally released in 2D desktop format for PC back in summer 2017. Though the title was well-received, many users complained of some persistent issues.

The goal in Block’hood VR is to build and maintain a city. Unlock many other city-sims, however, you do not build outward, but rather upwards. As a result, you need to consider the needs of your prospective community in order to create an ecosystem that works.

Building houses and green spaces is only the start of your responsibilities. You must also develop a means to creating power, water, jobs and transport. There are an astonishing number of block types available, all of which have a different function, advantage and disadvantage. If you create too much industry, your little colony will collapse in a haze of smog, but too much green space means your town doesn’t have the industry to sustain itself.

It quickly becomes a balancing act, with one wrong block in the wrong place tipping the balance and making it all fall to bits like a city made of Jenga blocks. For a title billed as relaxing, there is very little that is peaceful as you try to respond fast enough to the need of your residents before an unrecoverable cascade begins.

This does bring to light one of the major disadvantages of Block’hood VR – controller jitter. In a title where getting the right block in the right position is vital, the player needs remarkably steady hands in order to get it right.

The graphics have a pleasant retro look and feel, though they are smoothly rendered and convey exactly the right feel, despite the blocky nature. The music is peaceful and soothing, which sometimes feels a bit at odds with the frenetic pace as you advance your budding civilisation.

Challenge mode is more satisfying in many ways, certainly less frustrating. In challenge mode you have a limited number of blocks and a set goal to reach. This feels a bit like playing with Lego blocks in many ways, and results in the same level of enjoyment, despite the aforementioned controller jitter. Having the set blocks saves you from the overwhelming frustration of seeing your heard work go down the drain due to a misplaced building.

Block’hood VR provides quite a bit of entertainment value, and works reasonably well in VR. However, it does lack the depth of hardcore city-building sims such as Cities: Skylines. The challenge mode is great, and makes for a good puzzle game, but the persistent controller issues and lack of ability to micro-manage and get into the guts of your mini city means it feels a little shallow.

In addition, the precarious balancing act of needs and wishes once your city gets to a certain size is tailor-made for causing vast frustration and does have an unfortunate tendency to break the gameplay flow.

Those looking for a causal city-building experience might take satisfaction in it if they can master the late-game balancing, and fans of puzzle games will doubtless enjoy challenge mode. Hardcore city-planners will likely be too frustrated by the lack of depth, but it might be worth a look for them anyway.

60%

Awesome

  • Verdict
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Calming Building Experience Block’hood Comes to VR

Celebrated publisher Devolver Digital and developer Plethora Project think that the world could use a bit more peace and quiet, and a lot more creating instead of destroying. As such, they have brought award-winning neighbourhood building simulator Block’hood into virtual reality (VR).

Block’hood aims to allow the creation of diverse environments and ecosystems. Players will be able to don a VR headset and explore the possibilities offered by the over 200 building blocks which are available within the title.

Players will be able to arrange and combine blocks into unique designs to create a neighbourhood, and then watch as the implications of the design unfold. Additional resources will always be needed to unlock new blocks, configurations or new, more prosperous types of neighbourhood.

Users will need to keep a close eye on their city, as their carefully constructions will start to decay if they run low on resources and then become a drain on the units all around them. If not addressed, this can cascade through the entire city.

The original developer Plethora Project worked together with Devolver Digital and General Arcade to remaster Block’hood into a VR experience that will allow players to create a living, breathing urban ecosystem. The VR version has added elements such as a dynamic VR view and a recreated control scheme that takes advantage of tracked motion controllers like the Oculus Touch and HTC Vive wands.

Interested players and amateur city planners can find the title on Steam for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Normally priced at £11.39 (GBP) the title is currently available with a 10% discount during launch week, bringing the price down to £10.25. A further 10% discount is available for users who already own the standard, non-VR version of Block’hood.

The trailer for Block’hood VR is available to view below. VRFocus will continue to keep you updated on the latest VR news and releases.

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GORN Gets Even Bigger With Big Things Update

Over-the-top violence and copious amounts of mangled body parts have been the trademark of GORN since it was released. Apparently developer Free Lives and publisher Developer Digital are believers in the concept of ‘Go Big or Go Home’ judging by the upcoming Big Things update.

GORN is ostensibly a gladiator simulator in virtual reality (VR) featuring a suitably ridiculous combat engine that allows players to gleefully, smash, stab, rip or slice opponents to bits in a shower of blood and body parts using a variety of weapons such as knives, axes, maces and bows.

The Big Things update will be the third major update released for the title, and the development team are promising that this update will be the biggest yet. The first addition is a new opponent in the form of tag-team Giant and Mitch. Giant lives up to his name, while Mitch is smaller, but also quicker and sneakier, making them a pairing sure to prove a challenge to even experiences gladiators. Players will also be able to access new weapons, all of which are suitably oversized, the Great Axe, Chainblade and Throwing Shield.

The arena itself will be undergoing something of an overhaul as well, with a new larger location that offers more room to manoeuvre as well as tricky environmental hazards that can be used to the player’s advantage if they are careful.

Other new additions include a new crossbow companion and a Nightmare difficulty mode for those really wanting to push themselves. For those who are concerned about the effect of all this ultraviolence might have on impressionable minds, a Low Violence mode will also be made available in the new update.

Until Monday 26th February 2018, GORN will be available at 25% off as part of the Steam Weekend Deal. The Big Things update is available for free to all current GORN players. Further information can be found on the Steam store page.

Further news on updates and offers for VR titles will be here on VRFocus.

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Croteam’s Serious Sam 3 VR Now Available (Update)

Croteam’s Serious Sam 3 VR Now Available (Update)

Update: Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE is now available for purchase on Steam for $35.99 (that includes a 10% launch discount, normally it’s $39.99) with support for both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift with Touch.

Original: Hot off the back of the release of The Talos Principle VR, it looks like Croteam’s next VR port will be here very, very soon.

A listing for Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE, which was announced earlier this year, recently popped up on Steam and confirms that the game will be releasing on November 9th. We’re reaching out to Croteam and publisher Devolver Digital to make sure that’s 100% the case, but it’d be a little weird to suddenly post a Steam listing saying your game releases tomorrow if that isn’t really the case.

The Steam page also includes the first trailer for the game in action, which you can see above. It looks exactly like you’d expect: a straight up port of the fast-paced action game for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, much like the ports of the first two games were. It’s set to offer the usual cooperative and single-player modes, the former of which can be played with those using the traditional version of the game.

The game’s release also means Croteam will have ported all of its 3D games to VR now, which begs the question: what’s next? The developer recently moved its full VR game, Serious Sam: The Last Encounter, out of Early Access (and we loved it), so we’re not sure what else is on the table. Could we perhaps see a VR version of the upcoming The Talos Principle 2 launch day and date with the standard version of the game? Or could the developer now turn its attention to PlayStation VR (PSVR) ports of its existing VR titles?

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