Fast Travel Games offered a new peek inside its upcoming VR horror game Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife and confirmed a spring 2021 release window for the title.
The new trailer shows a look at “The Shadow” — a guide and narrator throughout the game. Check it out in the new teaser:
A post on Facebook’s Oculus blog from Fast Travel Games creative director Erik Odeldahl offers some new details on the story in the game:
Photographer Ed Miller dies during a mysterious seance and becomes a Wraith, one of the Restless Dead who has unfinished business in the land of the living. Suspended between life and death, Wraiths must deal with the challenges of their new existence, and the trappings of their old lives. Playing as Ed Miller, you must enter the Barclay Mansion – an opulent residence filled with Hollywood decadence and occult research – and use your supernatural Wraith abilities to uncover the horrifying truth about your death and the mansion’s dark history.
Miller is trying to unravel a mystery surrounding what happened to his wife after a séance and The Shadow can, “help you achieve this, or complicate things instead.” In December, Fast Travel revealed 5 minutes of development footage offering a look into the game which is set in the World of Darkness universe.
The game is planned for release on all major headsets, including Oculus Quest, with the updates today confirming the title is slated for release sometime this Spring. We’re looking forward to diving deep into this title in the coming months.
Fast Travel Games gibt auf Twitter Einblicke in die aktuellen Verkäufe ihrer Spiele auf der Oculus Quest 2. Hierbei vergleichen die Entwickler “The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets” und “Apex Construct”
Einblicke in die Verkäufe auf Quest 2
Andreas Juliusson von Fast Travel Games schreibt auf Twitter, dass durch den Release der Quest 2 sich die Beliebtheit der eigenen Titel geändert hätte. Acht Wochen nach dem Start der Oculus Quest 2 habe The Curious Tale 1% mehr Kopien verkauft als Apex. Dies ist zwar auf den ersten Blick nicht viel, jedoch hatte Apex 8 Wochen vor dem Start der Quest 2 ca. 30% mehr Verkäufe als The Curious Tale.
Some proof on how Quest 2 is likely broadening the VR player base:
In the 8 weeks prior to the Quest 2 launch, our hardcore title @ApexConstructVR outsold family friendly @CuriousTaleGame with 30% on the platform.
Ob diese Zahlen darauf zurückzuführen sind, dass die Oculus Quest 2 auch einen besseren Anklang bei einem jüngeren Publikum findet, wissen wir leider nicht. Fast Travel Games sagt, dass mehr Casual-Spieler die VR für sich entdecken würden. Das die Quest 2 ein voller Erfolg ist, bestätigten die Entwickler und Entwicklerinnen ebenfalls. Am Tag der Veröffentlichung der Quest 2 seien die Verkäufe beider Titel um 800% im Vergleich zum Vortag gestiegen.
Taking to Twitter the studio’s Chief Marketing Officer, Andreas Juliusson, revealed that, in the eight weeks since Quest 2’s launch, Curious Tale had outsold Apex by a 1% margin. Tellingly, however, eight weeks before Quest 2’s launch, Apex had outsold Curious Tale by 30%. Note that these are sales strictly over those eight week margins, not lifetime performance.
That said, Juliusson further confirmed to us that Curious Tale has outsold Apex by around 10% so far in 2021, which doesn’t factor in a daily deal for the latter title that pushes that number closer to 20%.
True, Apex Construct is an older game than The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets but consider that, but March of 2020, Apex’s Quest port had outsold the PC VR and PSVR versions combined, and that’s a big jump. Following Quest 2 launch, Juliusson revealed sales of both games were up 800% vs the day before release.
“More “casual” gamers entering VR is a win for everyone,” Juliusson said of Curious Tale’s success in a follow-up tweet. “More headset sales means more revenue for both manufacturers, platform owners & developers = incentives to keep improving & expanding. A broader audience also caters for bigger variety in the games being made going forward.”
Indeed, Fast Travel’s next game is a far cry from the cutesy critters of Curious Tale. The developer is working on Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, a horror title releasing on all headsets this year. Looking past that, the studio says it has yet-more VR-exclusive titles in the works too.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife developer Fast Travel Games has ‘multiple’ new VR exclusive titles in the works.
That is according to Chief Marketing Officer Andreas Juliusson, who tweeted as much last week. “We got multiple VR exclusive games in the making,” Juliusson wrote. “Feels good to write that.”
Juliusson didn’t provide any other hints as to what these titles could be, however. Obviously, one of them is Wraith, the team’s horror debut. Set to arrive early on in 2021, it’s the first VR game set in the World of Darkness universe and the first game based on the Wraiths at all. We recently debuted the first Oculus Quest 2 development footage of the game, which is also coming to PSVR and PC VR.
Aside from that, we’re not sure what else Fast Travel is working on. The Stockholm-based studio made its debut with 2017’s Apex Construct, a first-person adventure that never got a sequel, and the team also worked on The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets and Budget Cuts 2. Could we see the developer continue on with any one of these series? Or will it turn its efforts to a new IP or brand tie-in once more?
We’ll be eager to see what’s next for the studio, then. What are you hoping Fast Travel Games is working on? Let us know in the comments below!
If there’s one videogame virtual reality (VR) horror fans will likely be looking forward to in 2021 then Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is probably it. Set to support most major platforms, the studio has released a new video showcasing footage from the Oculus Quest 2 version.
The video is split into five segments listing the title’s various plus points, from being a wraith who can walk through walls to its rich narrative and suspenseful gameplay. Narrated by Fast Travel Games Andreas Juliusson, each talking point is accompanied by development footage shot on the Oculus Quest 2. It might not be final launch quality but it gives you a good idea of what to expect.
As the footage takes you through various areas of the Barclay mansion, some such as the projector room have been seen before. Yet there are plenty of areas that have not, and it gives a much better impression of how large the mansion is and the amount of exploration involved.
You also get to see some of the special abilities and interactive elements you’ll be able to employ to help work out what’s going on as well as hiding from the Spectres stalking your every footstep. Abilites include Wraith Grasp to pickup distant objects or Insubstantiality – the walking through walls trick.
If you’re a World of Darkness fan, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife shares the same universe as Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. This VR version will also be the first time the Wraith’s perspective has been made available.
While the new video may concentrate on the Oculus Quest 2 version, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will also support Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and PlayStation VR when is arrives early next year. As previously reported, the Oculus versions will support cross-buy via the Oculus Store.
For further updates on Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, keep reading VRFocus.
Halloween may be over for 2020 but virtual reality (VR) horror never sleeps with Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife due for release in early 2021. The studio has been slowly drip-feeding new info since its summer unveiling, the latest being storyline details as well as a couple of new location images.
The Gazebo, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife
Set in the sinister-looking Barclay Mansion which has a terrifying history, in Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife you actually embody one of these wandering spirits but there’s been little revealed as to why. Until now that is, as you’ll play as Ed Miller, a photographer who came to the mansion with his wife Rachel to document a seance. Of course, something went terribly wrong, Rachel disappeared and with Ed dyed during the event.
The videogame starts with Ed entering the mansion again, albeit this time as a Wraithstuck in the Shadowlands. Now with supernatural powers at his disposal, Ed wants to uncover the truth about his death, find Rachel as well as solve the mysteries of the mansion.
As part of this process you’ll have to utilise Ed’s camera to reveal important clues hidden in the sprawling mansion. You’ll be able to find hidden secrets and unlock memories of past occurrences by photographing certain objects. It won’t just be the interior of the mansion and its many interconnected floors and rooms you’ll be able to explore as the grounds will also be accessible. As previously revealed, just because you’re a wraith doesn’t mean to say there aren’t darker entities lurking in the shadows, so you’ll have to hide when the time comes.
The Seance Room, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife.
While the previous trailer showcased some of the gameplay Fast Travel Games has also released a couple of environment concept art images highlighting the Seance Room where it all went wrong and The Gazebo which doesn’t look at all inviting.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will be an early 2021 release, supporting Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and PlayStation VR. Oculus Quest and Rift will also feature cross-buy support. For further updates on this World of Darkness inspired horror, keep reading VRFocus.
As part of VRFocus’ current Better-Than-Reality-Awards, each category features an industry ambassador to delve into a particular aspect of their subject. Today, Apex Construct developer Fast Travel Games discusses location-based entertainment (LBE) VR gaming. Of course, don’t forget to cast your vote in TheBetter-Than-Reality-Awardsnow.
LBE virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within simulated environments, which operate in a specific location like theme parks, arcades, entertainment centres, and even movie theatres. While home VR gaming already offers highly immersive experiences, LBE VR raises the bar by offering streamlined options to play with a group of friends in the same physical location, allowing you to use your whole body while engaging with the content and often provides an unmatched level of graphical fidelity to further boost the quality perception.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife | Fast Travel Games
Alongside home VR gaming, the LBR VR industry grew rapidly from 2016 onward. According to Greenlight Insights, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality market research, the LBE VR market amounted to $3.6 billion with a growth rate of 44% worldwide in 2019. This year, LBE VR was in a position to quite literally “explode”: Greenlight initially estimated that the market would grow to a $34.6 billion business, almost a x10 increase vs the year prior which would have been a fantastic performance for such a relatively young industry.
However, just like with cinemas and sport arenas, the situation with COVID-19 has massively impacted LBE VR companies in 2020. Not only completely halting the expected growth, but the impact the virus has had on our behaviour in regards to crowd gatherings and health precautions has also led to many LBE VR companies shifting focus towards home VR entertainment or completely new business areas. “We went from a relatively healthy business to zero revenue”, SandboxVE CEO Steve Zhao said in June this year. “We have to rethink our strategy.”
The Void is considered to be one of the most prominent companies in the LBE VR industry today. Operating since 2015 and running VR centres in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, The Void is known world-wide for their LBE VR experiences based on popular franchises like Ghostbusters and Star Wars. Still closed due to the coronavirus, on the official website you can now read: “COVID-19 is affecting all of us – as employees, travellers and communities – in a constantly evolving environment and in unprecedented ways. As a result, our terminals are remaining closed for everybody’s safety and to support our local health officials and government leaders.”
Most businesses, not only LBR VR, are affected negatively whenever there is a high level of uncertainty on the market and it is safe to say that COVID-19 has brought a kind of uncertainty we have rarely seen before, changing our everyday lives and how we go about the most mundane of tasks – like going to the food store or greeting someone on the street. I for one hope for a day when LBE VR can pick itself up again and keep building on the already impressive experiences offered. All the nominees in the ‘Best LBE Experience’ category have brought highly immersive content to life in an industry currently suffering badly. Given this, they are all winners in my book.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife got a creepy new trailer this week. We sat down with Fast Travel Games’ Erik Odeldahl to unearth the secrets that lie within.
Wraith is a VR horror game set in the World of Darkness universe. Players take control of a Wraith in the grim confines of Barclay Mansion and set about investigating a gruesome mystery. Odeldahl shared six crucial insights into the game to give you an idea of what to expect.
Powers Are Unlocked Through Progression
Yesterday’s trailer came with the reveal of some of the player’s powers, like the ability to walk through walls and manipulate objects from afar. But you won’t have access to all these powers when you first boot up Wraith.
“The powers are all unlocked through progression in the game,” Odeldahl revealed. “They are tied to our protagonist’s insights and growth, the gradual discovery of his role in the story and in the mansion. All powers open up new avenues for you to explore, both in terms of environments and systems. In the beginning, you will take your first steps as a Wraith after having died for a reason you will find out while playing the game, with almost no powers at all.
“Finding the right balance between giving the player more options, and not making them too powerful is… well, a balance. Besides the Wraith powers, there are also other things you find in the game that give you even more options, but we’re not talking about those just yet!”
Enemies Will Always Be Stronger Than You…
Like many great horror games, combat is not a focus in Wraith. Fast Travel wants you feeling vulnerable and in danger every time you dare to open a door in the mansion.
“The player will find ways to defend themselves in some ways, but this is not a game where you can “win” against your enemies,” Odeldahl revealed. “They are always stronger and more dangerous than you. Using caution and elements in the environment, and sometimes plain out hide, are all important actions to make sure the Spectres do not see you, and to be able to progress deeper into the mansion.”
…But You Have Some Tricks Up Your Sleeve
You’ll have to rely on your wits and powers if you want to survive, then. Wraith’s powers won’t just be for progression in puzzles and environments, but can also come in handy for survival.
“The enemies in the game are Spectres, spirits of the dead that have lost all touch with their humanity,” Odeldahl explained. “They do rely on vision, but also hearing, so making sure you don’t make too much noise is very important. But maybe you can use that against them somehow? Once you unlock the ability to make yourself insubstantial you can definitely use that to escape them. The problem is that they might also have that power…”
You’ll Have A Subconscious Companion
Yesterday’s trailer showed ghostly projects that help flesh out the events that piece together the game’s main story. It’s one of the main ways Wraith will reveal its plot, but not the only means. You won’t be entirely alone in this horror experience – you’ll have a voice to help guide you along the way.
“The other main element that helps deliver the plot, is the protagonist’s own dark subconscious called the Shadow. The Shadow functions as the companion throughout the experience, it will talk to you and sometimes help push you towards different objectives or understand certain circumstances. But that’s not saying the Shadow should be trusted all the time…”
Barclay Mansion Isn’t Your Usual Horror Setting
When you hear a game is set in a mansion, you immediately think back to classics like Resident Evil and assume you’ll know what to expect. But leave your preconceptions at the door of Barclay Mansion as there is far more than meets the eye.
“First I want to say that the Barclay Mansion is far from the classical gothic mansion that we often see in horror games!” Odeldahl reasoned. “Instead, it is a modern building filled with Hollywood decadence and occult research… As for the size, it’s pretty big! Exploring its many different rooms and floors is an integral part of the main experience so we do not want to give too much away, but there is indeed a light Metroidvania element in the game that lets the player access areas previously inaccessible, once certain Wraith powers have been acquired. We are also adding quite a lot of background story to the different characters and the Spectres, that might not be required to unravel in order to just complete the game… but that will give the player a better understanding of the story and the mystery.”
The Horror Won’t Just Be Cheap Jump Scares
Odeldahl makes clear that the scares will dig in deep under your skin – no cheap thrills here.
“Well, I want to make one thing clear: Afterlife will be scary. Very scary. We even have trouble finishing our own playtest sessions sometimes! That said, we are not going for an experience filled with cheap jump scares – instead, we are aiming more towards tension and
suspense, the “under-your-skin” kind of horror, which is what Wraith: The Oblivion is all about. The player WILL, of course, be shocked at times, but the horror elements really go into all parts of the game.
“Being a Wraith does not mean you have the advantage against the threats inside the mansion however. On the contrary – you need to use both stealth and elements in the environment to proceed in the game. Of course, this is a game primarily made for horror game fans but there is also a heavy focus on making the gameplay fun and the narrative interesting, so I think Afterlife will feel extremely rewarding also for players who simply enjoy a strong story with interesting characters and who love to explore an interconnected and unique mansion.”
There Will Be World Of Darkness Easter Eggs
Wraith, if you didn’t know, is set in the World of Darkness universe, first envisioned for tabletop gaming. But the series has crossed over with videogame before, including the Vampire: Masquerade series. Die-hard World of Darkness fans can expect some nods to the wider lore here.
Says Odeldahl: “This is something we are not quite ready to talk about just yet, but let’s put it like this: If you intend to fully explore every nook and cranny of the Barclay Mansion, there might just be an easter egg or two that fans of World of Darkness find interesting…”
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife hits Quest, PC VR and PSVR in early 2021.
To date, Fast Travel Games has either created or helped create virtual reality (VR) titles which are colourful (Apex Construct), comedic (Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency) or light in nature (The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets). Its next project looks to be very different, stepping into the horror genre with Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife.
Only teasing hints about the videogame have been revealed so far, such as the trailer below. The story is set in the World of Darkness universe (Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse) inside Barclay mansion – which looks like it’ll be filled with horrors.
But you won’t be playing some hero trying to save the day or an unwitting victim looking for an escape. Instead, you’ll be playing from the perspective of an undead Wraith, however, this doesn’t mean your safe from the sounds of it.
The original Wraith: The Oblivion was a tabletop role playing game (RPG) created in 1994. As a ghost stuck in a grim realm players could then try to ascend into a better afterlife or succumb to the Oblivion (with plenty of complicated gameplay in between). It remains to be seen how closely the studio tries to stick to this.
“I am a massive fan of games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Alien: Isolation, and have always felt that the kind of narrative-driven, exploration-focused horror these titles deliver would be perfect for VR,” said Erik Odeldahl, Creative Director at Fast Travel Games in a statement.
Sean Greaney, Brand Manager for World of Darkness at Paradox Interactive added: “We’re excited to be taking our first steps from the Skinlands toward Stygia in World of Darkness version 5 in such an innovative and appropriate medium.”
Currently, there’s no official release date but Fast Travel Games has said Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will support ‘all major VR platforms’. As for actual gameplay, you’ll have to wait until August for a glimpse of the project, likely in time for the digital Gamescom Now event – which takes place between 27th -30th.
As and when further details arise for Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, VRFocus will let you know.
Fast Travel Games, the studio behind Apex Construct (2018) and Budget Cuts 2 (2019), today announced its next VR project, a horror game based in the ‘World of Darkness’ universe called Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife.
Fans of the World of Darkness universe and its many tabletop role-playing games are no doubt familiar with Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is said to follow in the footsteps of its 1994-era tabletop RPG namesake by placing you in the modern Barclay Mansion and putting you in the ghostly shoes of a Wraith who unravels the mysteries “that await beyond the Shroud.”
Erik Odeldahl, Creative Director at Fast Travel Games, says that horror games such as Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Alien: Isolation have influenced the studio to create a similar “narrative-driven, exploration-focused” horror title in the World of Darkness universe.
The game, which doesn’t have a release date yet, is slated to arrive on “all major VR platforms,” Fast Travel says.
A gameplay reveal and details are said to arrive during the Gamescom Now, which starts August 27th. Hopefully we’ll be getting a release date then too.
In the 8 weeks prior to the Quest 2 launch, our hardcore title 
In the 8 weeks that followed, Curious outsold Apex with 1%. 
