Firmament (2023), the puzzle adventure from MYST creators Cyan, announced they’re finally bringing the game to PSVR 2, making good on their original Kickstarter promise.
The studio announced the news in a Kickstarter update, stating Firmamentmay arrive on PlayStation as early as this fall, which the studio has confirmed will include PSVR 2 support.
“We still have more work to do to get the game running well on the platform and to conform with various platform requirements that we must meet prior to submitting to certification, but we have high hopes that we will be able to ship Firmament on PlayStation this Fall,” the studio says in the update.
Released in this time last year on PC and PC VR headsets, Firmament is very much a spiritual successor to MYST, offering up modern beauty and narrative finesse alongside a ton of environmental puzzles that are sure to make you scratch your head.
While it’s VR implementation feels a little bit like an afterthought, its puzzles and setting are so substantial you may forgive it entirely for feeling a bit like a good VR port of a really great game. Check out our full spoiler-free review on PC to learn more about what make’s Cyan’s latest new IP tick.
Speaking of Cyan games, we’re also waiting to hear more about the upcoming re-release of Riven, which is confirmed to launch this summer on PC VR headsets and Quest.
Firmament was created in the spirit of Myst, the studio’s genre-defining puzzle adventure which maroons you in a strange realm with some very imposing architecture, all of which houses a smorgasbord of some patently challenging puzzles. In this respect, Firmament is kind of an old dog with a few new tricks, as it brings modern beauty and narrative finesse, although the game’s VR implementation sadly feels like a bit of an afterthought.
Firmament Details:
Available On:SteamVR, PSVR 2 (coming later) Release Date: May 11th, 2023 Price: $40 Developer: Cyan Worlds Reviewed On: Quest 2 via Link
Gameplay
Firmament: from Latin firmamentum—that which strengthens or supports. In an ancient cosmological sense, the word was also used to refer to the sky, or the vault of the heavens fixed above Earth. You’ll have plenty of time to ponder meaning that as you teleport between the four realms via the game’s conveniently located conveyance pods, which automagically shuttle you Dr. Who-style atop wind-swept mountains and steampunk botanical gardens just waiting to be explored (and fixed).
Image captured by Road to VR
Firmament dishes out real moments of awe between serving up maddeningly complex puzzles—basically a Cyan Worlds game through and through. The game’s gigantic machines will leave you scratching your head as you run back and forth just to make sure the figurative pilot light is on. While you have some narrative-based voice recordings and found notes to go by, you’re basically on your own when it comes to puzzling, meaning you won’t be babied by a ‘helpful robot’ who feeds answers into your ear. You’ll need to pay close attention to everything, and really get a grip of all the pieces in play before you can make sense of things. Beating your head against puzzles rarely works, so you’ll be greeted by some very familiar frustration if you’ve played any of Cyan’s most recent games, like Obduction or Myst VR.
Anyway, here are some useful hints: Watch out for every ladder. Watch out for every socket. Keep your head on a swivel and mess with everything a little just to see if it moves, but not so much that you scramble puzzles beyond their intended solvability.
Interacting with the world is done by way of activating a swath of standardized sockets, which pair to your hand-held ‘adjunct’ tool—kind of like a remote-controlled sonic screwdriver that lets you tether and interact with machines. Some sockets only have a single function, like opening and closing a door, while others have multiple functions that you’ll need to flip through. More on that in the Immersion section below.
Image courtesy Cyan Worlds
There is a lot of running back and forth, which feels more like a chore in VR than on traditional monitors. That frustration is compounded by moments when I wasn’t sure whether the game was borked, making me wonder whether it was me who screwed up or the game. It seems Firmament came well prepared for this eventuality at least, as you can safely reset back to a central location, which typically also resets puzzles too. While complex and mostly logical, a minority of puzzle solutions can be downright obtuse. I was provided with a solutions guide, which included hints as well as solutions, and I’m not ashamed to say I needed a few of those hints to complete the game, which I did in about nine hours.
In the end the juice is generally worth the squeeze with Firmament, as you’re whisked off to new, even more impressive areas of the game. While the ending left me feeling a little perplexed, the overall level of world-building is extremely high. I only wish I could be more present in the game and given more agency than casting my tether to manipulate glorified on-off buttons.
Immersion
Firmament is a sumptuous and potentially beautiful game that I wish I could be more present in. My aging GTX 1080 was able to play along decently on medium graphics settings in most areas, which is more than I can say for Obduction. Still, some of the inherent beauty of the game is marred by jagged edges and a muddiness in some areas that feel like it’s really pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. My GPU, which is probably the minimum spec for VR at this point, was much happier sipping along on all low settings, so make sure to curb your expectations if you’re running an older or less powerful setups like mine.
I touched on some of the frustration of puzzle solving above, or rather, when solving puzzles goes wrong, but there’s another frustration that has more to do with level design, and not whether things are actually working properly. While slick and in line with ‘AAA’ games in terms of graphics, level design is still very much rooted in the studio’s point-and-click past, which means you’ll have less physical agency than you’d probably think is rational given the expectation of working hands and feet.
Image captured by Road to VR
In VR, I’m used to being able to not only do what I can in physical reality, like climbing and jumping, but even more. Some of the game’s level design feels like a step backwards in terms of what should be logically possible, like scrambling over a simple banister railing, or sidestepping a box to get to another area. I know that’s part and parcel of the studio’s puzzle style, but if I’m not offered some explanation beyond “no, you just can’t because of reasons,” it negatively impacts my perception of the inherent solidity of the world around me.
And while the world is so rich with possibility, the only meaningful way to interact with it is by using your adjunct tool to manipulate sockets, save a single other tool you’re given that disperses ice and other crusty bits in your way. This raises the question whether Firmament is making good use of VR beyond giving you a more immersive view of the game. Sadly, it doesn’t. It feels more like a flatscreen game with an optional VR mode that hasn’t really informed many of the game’s puzzles or much of its level design. While the amount of backtracking from place to place isn’t such an issue on traditional monitors, it feels way more like a chore in VR.
Image captured by Road to VR
And yet, all of the frustrations of Firmament never seemed to completely overwhelm me. The game’s score is excellent, complementing both its strong voice acting and mostly well-reasoned narrative. I only wish it were just a little more sympathetic to the modern VR gamer, and a little less of an optional mode that basically works, but not as well as you’d hope.
Comfort
The game’s a bit at odds with standard VR movement schemes. While teleport and smooth movement are options, the game default movement scheme puts turning on one stick, and forward movement on another—something I’m not generally used to. Besides a few cart ride-style vehicles, the game is ultimately comfortable enough for most players.
Last month we got an eyeful of Cyan’s upcoming VR puzzle adventure Firmament in an extended preview trailer that showed off some of the game’s impressively looming set pieces. Now, prepping for the game’s May 18th release on PC VR, the studio released its first look at some of the game’s puzzle mechanics.
There are a few new things shown in the video that we haven’t seen before, notably what appears to be the final version of the most important tool to your puzzle-adventuring.
Called an ‘Adjunct’, the tool lets you interface with the various devices strewn about the Realm of Firmament, which Cyan says will help you on your quest to unlocking the secrets this place holds.
Image captured via video courtesy Cyan
We previously saw the Adjunct very briefly in Firmament’s initial Kickstarter video, although it wasn’t clear at the time what it was, or whether or not it would be a one-off object. Whatever the case, it’s clear now that the adjunct is a mainstay that ostensibly works like and extension of the player’s arm.
Also, it appears the ability to shoot the bit from the holder has let Cyan develop a wider range of far-flung puzzles, as you can manipulate locks and various receptacles you wouldn’t be able to physically reach otherwise.
Firmament is launching for PC VR headsets and traditional monitors via Steam on May 18th. In the new Steam page, the studio reveals a few more tidbits of info about the narrative and structure of the game:
You are not entirely alone in Firmament. In addition to The Adjunct, you are joined by a mysterious apparition, who has a story of her own to share with you. As you explore you will be introduced to 3 Realms – each with secrets and mysteries to reveal. What purpose do the Realms serve? Can the spirit who accompanies you be trusted?
Are the realms of Firmament abandoned? What are these giant, mysterious machines scattered throughout the world? What is their purpose? What part do you play in this grand mystery? Explore, Discover, Solve, and Reveal the mystery for yourself by playing Firmament!
In the game’s Kickstarter November update, Cyan said Firmament is also set to come to PSVR 2, PS4 and PS5 at some point “down the line.” There’s no word on whether Quest 2 will ever get a native version of the game, i.e. one that can be played without a PC and Link or Air Link.
Sony has revealed the price and launch date for PSVR 2 in addition to its launch day lineup for PSVR 2. There’s a ton of stuff coming down the pipeline though as we approach the February 22nd launch of PSVR 2, so check out our mega roundup of everything confirmed both by Sony and indie developers looking to target PSVR 2.
There is a ton of overlap with the list of launch day titles announced by Sony. We overhauled this article to include those in addition to games that have been confirmed to arrive at some point on the headset.
We have what seems to be a fairly complete list of PSVR 2 games. Below, you’ll see our top picks along with their trailers and descriptions. The remaining list is available at the bottom of the article.
Top PSVR 2 Highlights
Gran Turismo 7 – [Launch Day]
Gran Turismo 7 will support PSVR 2 at the headset’s launch via a free upgrade for existing owners. The VR implementation looks like a big upgrade over what we saw in GT Sport. Not much else to say ‘sides vroom vroom.
Moss & Moss: Book II – [Launch Day]
Polyarc announced that both Moss and the sequel Moss: Book II are set to be launch titles on PSVR 2 when it releases in February next year, which follows the adventures of a pint-sized hero named Quill who journeys through a world fraught with enemies and plenty of puzzles to boot.
Both are said to include more visual detail such as lighting and texture improvements. Making use of PSVR 2’s hardware, players can expect eye-tracking to highlight key items, a two-controller setup, improved haptics, and adaptive triggers for added immersion when picking up items.
Horizon Call of the Mountain – [Launch Day]
Horizon Call of the Mountain isn’t a log flume ride or hollow VR “experience” like the trailer might suggest. Nay, developed by Sony’s first-party Guerrilla Games and Firesprite Studios, the first VR take on the Horizon universe is going to be an honest to goodness story campaign the devs say will take around seven hours to complete, along with some “additional content” included in the game.
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – [Launch Day]
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is an action-adventure experience where you’ll take on the role of a droid repair technician operating near the Outer Rim. First introduced on Meta Quest in 2020, this will be the first time this run-and-gun, Star Wars-flavored adventure will be available outside of the Meta ecosystem.
Capcom is bringing Resident Evil Village to PSVR 2, and it says the game will provide “an even deeper immersive experience by taking full advantage of the vivid graphics possible with the headset’s 4K HDR display, PlayStation VR2’s eye tracking, PS5’s 3D Audio and more.” Lady Dimitrescu awaits in this free DLC update to the base game!
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is already available on Quest 2, although this particular version is a classic zombie shooter of another stripe. The game coming to PSVR 2 is actually the remake, so we’re getting all new everything this time around and not just uprezzed textures. We’re hoping the VR support is as good as the Quest 2 version, and decidedly better than RE7 Biohazard, which wasn’t bad, but it is showing its age since it was released in 2017.
Demeo – [Launch Day]
Created by VR veteran Resolution Games, Demeo is a VR take on a tabletop RPG dungeon crawler. It has fared remarkably well on Quest 2 and PC VR headsets since release in 2021, which is in part thanks to its basement-themed, D&D-style action that lets you unite with friends for a tactical gaming night from afar.
Paddle through the ice caves in Antarctica, kayak with dolphins in Costa Rica, conquer a thunderstorm in Norway and discover the canyons of Australia. In Kayak VR: Mirage, made exclusively for VR, you can explore these real-world locations with photorealistic graphics.
No Man’s Sky – [Before End of March]
The redemption story continues, as Hello Games vows to bring its space exploration simulator to PSVR 2, including all of the successive patches and DLC drops that took it from procedurally generated empty shell to a universe truly brimming with possibilities.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 – [Before end of March]
This is a full-fat sequel to VR’s most popular games as of late, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. Like the first in the series, you’ll scrounge around a post-apocalyptic New Orleans that’s not only brimming with the undead, but also rival gangs that you can choose to join or battle. Physics-based combat, low ammo supplies, and a very touchy stamina system means you’ll need to think long and hard before running into that crowd of walkers.
Firewall Ultra
It’s not clear how much “new” content we’re getting right out of the bat with First Contact’s next Firewall game, which like the original promises tactical squad-based shooting action across a host of maps, although Firewall Ultra is decidedly the future of the franchise. We can expect to see legacy maps, characters and weapons, but also updates for more of everything down the line.
Walkabout Mini Golf
Indie VR studio Mighty Coconut announced its smash success VR mini-golfing game Walkabout Mini Golf is making its way to PSVR 2. Arguably one of VR’s most favorite social gaming experiences, Walkabout Mini Golf is said to arrive on PSVR 2 “soon”, which is set to include cross-play with all supported versions of the game; this includes versions available through Steam, Meta Quest Store, Viveport, and Pico’s European-facing digital store.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR – [Before End of March]
Supermassive Games revealed The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, or what it calls a “fast-paced roller coaster action-horror-shooter where every move you make, and everything you see, could mean the difference between life and death.” Set inside the sinister world of The Dark Pictures Anthology, Switchback VR makes good use of headset eye-tracking: some enemies only move when you blink (Visine not included).
Crossfire: Sierra Squad
Smilegate tossed out a trailer to a brand-new VR game called Crossfire: Sierra Squad, a first-person shooter in the Crossfire universe. The game is played either solo or in co-op mode with up to 4 players on a team as you battle against AI baddies. The studio says there are 39 types of weapons including pistols, rifles, throwable – and throw back-able – grenades and sniper rifles with revolutionary scope mechanics give you plenty of options to dispatch 17 types of enemies.
The Light Brigade – [Launch Day]
Funktronic Labs showed off a new single-player roguelike game called The Light Brigade which it says is “filled with immersive gunplay and moody mystery.” Uncover the mystery of the gloomy ‘Sunken World’ as you climb the ranks of the titular Light Brigade, unlock firearms and unique spells. The Light Brigade will be available for pre-order starting November 15th.
C-Smash VRS
Sega’s futuristic block-breaker, which you might remember from its launch on Dreamcast in 2001 or in arcades throughout Europe and Japan, is being reimagined for PSVR 2 with C-Smash VRS. It’s set to bring an immersive twist to Cosmic Smash’s low gravity squash-meets-blockbreaker gameplay, including single player, co-op, and 1v1 multiplayer modes—that’s what the ‘VRS’ stands for, both virtual reality and versus. Demo out March 23rd. Launch later this year.
Behemoth
Sink into an all new world of danger, survival, and mystery from Skydance Interactive, the creators behind The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. In Behemoth, take on the role of a diseased wanderer lost in the frigid Forsaken Lands. Overcome dangerous environments, deadly warriors, and towering Behemoths using immersive, weighty VR combat and life-like physics. Travel through strange, otherworldly environments and overcome all, no matter how large, that stands in your way. Late 2023.
Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue [Launch Day]
tinyBuild Games and Steel Wool Studios (Five Nights at Freddy’s) announced a VR take on viral indie hit Hello Neighbor, which is coming to both PSVR and PSVR 2 with cross-buy. “Mr. Peterson’s creepy house takes on a new level of immersion in VR, and there is nothing quite as scary as actually seeing that familiar shadow tower over you just before everything goes black,” tinyBuild says.
Pistol Whip VR – [Launch Day]
Cloudhead Games is bringing a free PSVR 2 upgrade to the PSVR version of its award-winning physical action-rhythm game where thrilling gunplay and dynamic tracks collide, creating a dreamscape world for players to blast, duck, and dodge their way through to become the ultimate action hero.
Cities VR – Enhanced Edition – [Launch Day]
With its intial launch on Quest earlier this year, Fast Travel Games managed to bring Cities: Skylines to VR, albeit in a slightly smaller package to run on VR hardware. Smaller, as in the size of your city: you’re actually a Godzilla-sized goliath towering over your little town as you manage all of its buildings and keep up with city planning.
Cosmonious High – [Launch Day]
Owlchemy Labs is known for highly interactive, super approachable VR games, such as award-winning titles Job Simulator and its sequel Vacation Simulator. This one went live a few months ago on Quest and PC VR headsets, and we can’t wait to see PSVR 2’s eye-tracking bring our avatars to life.
Zenith: The Last City – [Launch Day]
From Ramen VR comes the PSVR 2 version of its Kickstarter success story, the MMORPG know as Zenith: The Last City. Promised to be a day-one launch title, there are hundreds of hours of content to chew through in this well-realized VR native.
After The Fall – [Launch Day]
Launched on PC VR, Quest and the original PSVR, Vertigo Games is bringing an enhanced version of the co-op zombie shooter to PSVR 2. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s essentially Left4Dead, but in VR, letting you sweep through levels with friends and strangers as you mow down massive hordes of zombioid baddies. Upgrade your stuff, come back for more.
Jurassic World Aftermath Collection – [Launch Day]
Coatsink originally brought this two-part psychological dino-thriller to Quest, making for a heart-pounding game of cat-and-mouse with a gaggle of Raptor baddies. Use your eyes and ears to alert you to impending doom, and hide from certain death if you can, Make sure to check out our spoiler-free review of both part 1 and 2 on Quest to see what’s in store.
Altair Breaker – [Launch Day]
Initially released on Steam and PSVR, Altair Breker is a map-based sword fighting game from the makers of Swords of Gargantua, Thirdverse. You can team up with three other friends or go it alone as you for an adventure that the studio says its for “players who want to experience stylish sword-fighting action and feel like the hero in an anime world.”
The Last Clockwinder – [Launch Day]
The Last Clockwinder is a puzzle automation game about making synchronized machines out of your own clones. Your mission is to repair the Clocktower: an ancient haven for the galaxy’s plants and seeds that’s fallen into disrepair. It won our PC VR Game of the Year 2022, so it definitively will find a good home on the very capable PSVR 2.
Fantasvision 202X – [Launch Day]
Originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2000, Fantavision is a puzzle game based on the theme of fireworks. The game returns in an all-new title for PS VR2 powered by the Unreal Engine. The game is an artistic combination of action, shooting, strategy, and puzzles. The PSVR 2 headset and PSVR 2 Sense controller provides an immersive experience for you to fill the star-studded sky with sparkling fireworks.
The Tale of Onogoro – [Launch Day]
Amata K.K, creator of the escape adventure Last Labyrinth, returns with a co-op tale. Originally launched on Quest, PSVR 2 players will soon find themselves thrust into an all-too real parallel world where danger and mystery await. You’ll join forces with Hal, a shrine maiden who lives on the island of Onogoro. She’s not alone on the island: five giant, lethal Kami inhabit this isle as well.
Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate – [Launch Day]
Marine city, Astrum Close. Crime rate: 0.001%. In this idyllic metropolis, dreams are utilized to ensure crime is prevented before it even happens. The founder of this so-called paradise is killed in an unprecedented, theoretically impossible incident. Special Supervisor Hal Scion is assigned to this extraordinary case and tasked with unraveling the mystery threatening to plunge the city into disaster.
Other Games Announced for PSVR 2
2MD: VR Football Unleashed All-Star – Truant Pixel
Across the Valley – FusionPlay
Affected: The Asylum – Fallen Planet Studios
Aliens VR – Survios
Alvo – Mardonpol
Afterlife VR – Split Light Studio
Another Fisherman’s Tale – Innerspace VR and Veritgo Games
Among Us VR – Schell Games and Innersloth
Awesome Asteroids – Strange Games Studios
Beat Saber – Beat Games
Before Your Eyes – Skybound Interactive
Black Top Hoops – Vinci Games
Black Trail – Red Horizon
Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder – VRKiwi
Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition – Survios
Desperate: Vladivostok – MIROWIN, PM Studios
Distortion VR – Future Mental Games
Do Not Open – Nox Noctis
Drums Rock – Garage 51
Dropship Commander – Strange Games Studios
Engram – Maze Theory
Firmament – Cyan Worlds
The Exorcist Legion VR: Sin – Pocket Money Games
Galaxy Karts – VR Monkey
Garden of the Sea – Neat Corporation
Ghostbusters VR – nDreams, Sony Pictures Virtual Reality (SPVR)
Ghosts of Tabor – Combat Waffle
Golf+ – Golfscope Inc
GORN – Devolver Digital
Green Hell VR – Incuvo
Grimlord – MetalCat Interactive Technology
Hellsplit Arena – DeepType Games
Hubris – Cyborn
Hypestacks – Squirrel Bytes
Job Simulator – Owlchemy
Kayak VR: Mirage – Better Than Life
Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat! – Gemdrops, Inc.
The Last Worker – Wired Productions
LONN – SixSense Studios
LOW FI – Iris VR
Madison – Bloodious Games
Medieval Dynasty – RenderCube
Mixture – Played With Fire
Neolithic Dawn – James Bellian
NFL Pro Era – StatusPro, Inc.
Nock: Bow + Arrow Soccer – Normal VR
Pavlov – Vankrupt Games
Project Lousianna: The Bounds VR – Build the Light Studio
Propagation Paradise Hotel – Wannadev Studio
Puzzling Places – Realities.io
Ragnarock – WanadevStudio
Requisition – Arcadia VR
Rez Infinite – Enhance
Rezzil Player – Rezzil
Runner – Truant Pixel
Samurai Slaughter House – Tab Games
Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok – Zojoi LLC. and Azure Drop Studios
Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded – XR Games and Sony Pictures VR (SPVR)
Unannounced PSVR 2 Games
Archiact sci-fi game
Firesprite horror game
Vitruvius VR sci-fi game
Update (February 21st, 2023): Sony keeps pumping out the blogpost features leading up to the big launch of PSVR 2 for February 22nd. Many of these have been marked with launch-day releases, which we’ve rounded up here, now tallying 40+ titles coming to PSVR 2.
We’ll be updating this list continuously, so check back soon!
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below so we can include it in our list!
Your next confirmed PSVR 2 game is Firmament, the newest title from the developer of Myst.
You might have heard of Firmament already. It was actually announced all the way back in 2018 (and we even played it back then). In 2019, the game launched a Kickstarter campaign, where it raised just shy of $1.5 million. It is developer Cyan Worlds’ latest expansion of the adventure formula it helped shape with 1993’s Myst and subsequent follow-ups including Obduction and 2020’s Myst remake. Last we heard, the game had been delayed to 2022 but expanded in scope.
Firmament PSVR 2 Version Confirmed
But, in an update today (first spotted by Distrito XR), Cyan confirmed the game is now coming to PS5 and will have support for PSVR 2 to boot. The PS5 version will release this year but PSVR 2 support may arrive later down the line depending on when Sony’s headset actually ends up launching. This makes Firmament one of only a handful of officially confirmed PSVR 2 games, including the recently-revealed Horizon Call of the Mountain. Keep track of every confirmed and rumored game for the platform right here.
Firmament actually passed a stretch goal for PSVR support during the original campaign but, while the game is still planned for PS4, Cyan also confirmed that PSVR 1 integration was no longer possible. In its stead, anyone that backed the PlayStation tier for the campaign will be given both the PS4 and PS5 version, meaning they’ll eventually get PSVR 2 support instead.
The game’s also coming to PC, where it will support more headsets. Given the project started before the launch of the original Quest, and the fact that the PSVR version has been canceled, we wouldn’t expect a release on Meta’s standalone headset either.
Will you still be looking to play Firmament on PSVR 2? Let us know in the comments below.
First released back in 1993, Cyan Worlds’ classic adventure game originally launched for Mac OS and spearheaded the boom of the CD-ROM. The game sees you travel to the island of Myst via a special book. Utilizing point-and-click mechanics, it became an incredible success with 6 million copies sold, leading to sequels, adaptations, and numerous ports, most recently on Nintendo Switch back in May. Remakes also followed that allowed for free roaming with further interactivity as well as a slew of follow-ups from other studios taking heavy inspiration.
Cyan Worlds’ first VR game, Obduction, is a sort of spiritual successor to Myst and applies many of the principles and ideas it popularized in the 90s to a modern VR game setting. Since then Cyan has published VR games like Zen and continues working on their next new project, Firmament. In the meantime though, we’re getting a full-blown remake of Myst specifically for VR
Confirmed this will be “built completely from the ground up for Oculus Quest”, this new edition also promises “modern art, sound, interactions, and optional puzzle randomization for those who are up for a greater challenge”.
It comes after news that their other VR project, Firmament, has been delayed until 2022, and recent years have seen the studio pushing virtual reality with Obduction, alongside their own publishing venture. As such, we reached out for an interview with Cyan Worlds CEO, Rand Miller, who was kind enough to tell us more about this exciting new evolution of the classic IP.
Myst VR: Modernizing a PC Gaming Classic
Henry Stockdale, UploadVR: Firstly, thank you for joining me here, I’m a big fan of the original Myst. For any readers unaware of your game, could you please introduce yourselves?
Rand Miller: Sure! I’m Rand Miller. My brother and I created the original Myst game in 1993. It did pretty well. I’m still actively involved in Cyan, the company we formed, and Cyan has continued to focus on creating narrative-rich, exploration games.
UploadVR: Myst is such an iconic adventure game, one we’ve seen numerous ports, sequels and remakes for previously. What inspired you to create a VR edition?
Miller: VR is just such a no-brainer for Myst. The whole idea of the game has always been to lose yourself in that virtual world. Over the years, the technology has provided better and better ways for us to make the experience more immersive – and VR is definitely a giant leap.
UploadVR: We previously saw Myst updated in 2014 with realMyst: Masterpiece Edition. Was there a reason you’ve built this VR edition from the ground up, as opposed to adding VR support for that?
Rand: 2014 is like 100 years ago in tech years. 🙂 Since that time we’ve learned a lot, and we’ve gained experience in various development environments. Our Creative Director Eric Anderson, and Development Director Hannah Gamiel both felt like it would be best for the product to build it from the ground up in the Unreal Engine. It was important for them that this Myst version not just include VR for various platforms, but that it serve as the graphical and interactive high water mark for all Myst versions moving forward, It truly is a complete reconstruction from the ground up.
UploadVR: Compared to previous editions, how does Myst VR play, can we expect any big differences to gameplay?
Rand: There are quite a few variations from the original Myst. Most of them have to do with taking advantage of VR hand controllers and playing in VR space. For example, to enter the combination to the safe in the cabin the player doesn’t just push a button – they grab a knob and turn it. So much more natural. Also, VR necessitates building parts of the world differently – like making interactive items in an area that are easily reached whether players are standing or sitting. We didn’t want to force players to bend down to interact with controls. We also made some global choices on things like doors – they all slide to open and close. This avoids that VR frustration where you pull on a hinged door and it opens awkwardly into you.
UploadVR: It’s also been confirmed that the VR edition will feature optional puzzle randomisation. Can you give us more details about how this works?
Rand: When you start a new game you have the option to play the game without the solutions that have been around since the original version. I must admit that I love the fact that I have most of the puzzle solutions memorized, but it definitely means that I don’t really experience the full game. This option gives a little more opportunity to play Myst with fresh eyes.
UploadVR: Cyan Studios has built up a reputation within VR recently through games like Obduction and the upcoming Firmament, alongside your publishing arm Cyan Ventures. Your studio is clearly invested in the technology, but what are your thoughts on the current state of virtual reality?
Rand: When I experienced VR on a Vive for the first time several years ago, it was clear that it was something special. Not just the sense of being in a space with 6 degrees of freedom, but the incredible use of hand controllers. But of course it was still expensive enough to be somewhat of a niche market. From Cyan’s point of view, we weren’t as interested in compromising the Myst experience for VR that didn’t have 6DOF or hand controllers. We started making VR games (like Obduction) and we learned so much with the experience, but we continued to wait for a sweet spot that would have the power to present Myst well, with 6DOF and hand controls, at an accessible price point so we wouldn’t exclude large numbers of our fans. From our point of view, the Quest was a turning point. We feel like the Quest as a baseline for the current state of VR has made VR a viable option for indie developers like us, and we’re pivoting in various ways to see where VR leads.
UploadVR: Was there anything you’ve learned from Obduction’s development that’s been applied here?
Rand: Where do I begin? We learned so much – the hard way. Probably the most important take-away was that designing the game for flat first, with VR in mind, was not ideal. It would have been much easier to implement the VR version by designing for VR with flat in mind. That’s the approach we’re taking with Myst, and with Firmament, our second Kickstarter game, and it’s already improved the development experience.
UploadVR: Within Cyan’s recent Kickstarter update, we were told that the innovations and optimizations being made for Myst would also benefit Firmament. Could you tell us how?
Rand: Well, so many ways. I’ll start with our art pipeline. We learned an amazing amount during Obduction and built some tools that helped streamline the asset production. But we took the entire exercise and based our Myst production on it, seeing how it played out in the whole process. As a result we’ve been able to tune our ability to build assets quickly and beautifully, but that still run well on various platforms. Myst has allowed us to test and hone that process. Then there is the variety of things we’re learning about interface elements in VR that started with Obduction and is proving valuable as we improve on Myst. These lessons are already playing a part in how Firmament is being developed.
UploadVR: So far, Myst is confirmed for Oculus Quest at launch on December 10th. Is this just for the original headset or can we expect an enhanced version on Quest 2?
Rand: The version of Myst that launches for Quest, plays even faster on the Quest 2, but it’s a similar experience. We’ll be looking into specific options for improvements for the Quest 2 after launch.
UploadVR: We know that the PC edition is planned to release after the Quest version launches, including 2D and Rift support, but when can we expect this to happen?
Rand: We can’t say for sure, but we’ve been building the high-end assets simultaneously to make the development of the other platforms relatively straightforward. With that said, I expect it’ll take several months to tune and polish the PC based VR and 2D versions.
UploadVR: Do you plan to release a PlayStation VR edition?
Rand: We’d love to release versions of Myst for as many platforms as we can. But as an indie company it’s wise for us to see how our planned versions do before making other specific commitments.
UploadVR: Lastly, is there any message you’d like to share with Myst’s fans?
Rand: We have the best fans in the world! We’ve waited to make Myst for VR until it could be experienced by as many of our fans as possible, and I can’t wait for them to experience Myst the way I’ve had the chance to for the last few months. The adventure becomes your world now more than ever!
We first learned about Myst getting the VR treatment back at the first-annual Facebook Connect in September of this year. It’s exciting, but not necessarily surprising given Cyan’s previous development of Obduction and Firmament, as well as publishing titles like Zed.
Arguably, Myst is the most important PC game of all-time. It ushered in a new era of gaming, legitimized the CD-ROM, and pushed boundaries in bold new directions. In many ways, VR is aiming to do the same thing for video games and technology as a whole, so it’s fitting that Myst would bring it all full-circle with a true made-for-VR adaptation.
The official Facebook blog post explains further:
“Reimagined and built from the ground up for VR, Myst lets you explore a beautiful island shrouded in mystery and intrigue. With new art, sound, interactions, updated accessibility, and optional puzzle randomization, newcomers and loyal fans alike are in for a treat. Purchase of the game will also include an exclusive Myst-themed Oculus home environment.”
Last year Cyan Worlds – the studio behind Myst, Riven & Obduction – held a successful Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign for a new project called Firmament, raising over £1.3 million USD in the process. A launch was initially slated for this month, however, a recent campaign update has now pushed that window back massively.
From its initial outset Firmament was always billed as a grand narrative adventure and as development has continued the team notes: “we wanted to build out a richer world, new kinds of gameplay, and a bigger story arc.”
So of course expanding upon the original idea means delays, a very long delay in fact: “With that in mind, Firmament’s Estimated Delivery date of July 2020 was- as it turns out- a wildly optimistic one,” explains a Kickstarter update post. We know some of you had your heart’s set on playing Firmament this summer, and we’re genuinely sorry that you’re not going to be able to play it yet! We’re really bummed about that too!
“Although there is no Release Date to announce today, we can tell you a couple things with some level of certainty: Firmament is not coming in 2020. And unless the stars align (which we all know happens rarely in game development), it is unlikely that Firmament will be coming in 2021.”
That means 2022 at the earliest. While that does mean quite a wait for backers, Cyan Worlds does have a good legacy of titles rather than some fly-by-night studio. “We’re making something bigger than a studio our size would ordinarily be able to produce, and because we’re an indie without a deep pool of publisher money to draw from, the only way we can accomplish something ambitious like Firmament is to invest extra time it will take to do the work.”
For the Kickstarter Cyan Worlds confirmed there would be support for a range of platforms including VR headsets like Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. The way the market is moving currently in two years a whole new selection of devices are likely to be available possibly including PlayStation VR 2.
As the studio continues to release further updates on Firmament, VRFocus will let you know.
