Category: Gearbox Software

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New Cinematic Trailer for Borderlands 2 VR Showcases Maya Character

There’s less than a month to go until Gearbox Software and 2K Games launch Borderlands 2 VR exclusively for PlayStation VR. In preparation for its rollout – and to further tempt virtual reality (VR) players into buying it – the studios have released a new cinematic trailer to enjoy.

Borderlands VR - Screenshot

As you may expect from a Borderlands 2 VR trailer there’s plenty of action with character Maya demonstrating the PlayStation Move controllers, punching and kicking enemies far and wide. And when a bit of melee action gets boring then there’s always a trusty gun or two to play with, or how about some telekinetic powers to juggle enemies with.

There’s no actual gameplay footage in this new video unfortunately, you’ll find that in the launch announcement trailer from last month. There’s likely to be several more character videos incoming so keep an eye out for more.

Borderlands 2 VR is set for release on 14th December 2018, retailing for $49.99 USD, via PlayStation Store. A dynamic PlayStation theme will also be available to those who pre-order the title in advance.

Borderlands VR - Keyart

The original Borderlands 2 came out six years ago and was a massive hit for Gearbox Software. The new VR version features the original characters as well as adding new options including reworked skill trees that keep the single-player VR focus in mind and new features that play off the VR environment, such as “BAMF Time” – BadAss Mega Fun Time – which is Borderlands’ own take bullet-time from The Matrix films.

Over the last six years, the studio has released 10 DLC packs to expand the original’s gameplay. Unfortunately, Gearbox Software has confirmed that the VR version won’t include any of the DLC when it arrives in December.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Borderlands 2 VR, reporting back with any further updates.

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No DLC Included In Borderlands 2 VR At Launch

The announcement last month that Gearbox Software were bringing its hugely successful Borderlands franchise into virtual reality (VR) generated a great deal of excitement from the fanbase. Borderlands 2 VR is set to release before the end of 2018, but it seems only the bae game will be included in the launch.

The developer confirmed on Twitter that Borderlands 2 VR will not include the original title’s downloadable content (DLC) when it launches on the PlayStation VR. The official Borderlands Twitter confirmed that the VR version will be ‘the full core game’ with the ‘original four vault hunters’.

Borderlands VR - Screenshot

There were a total of 10 DLC packs added to Borderlands 2 after its launch, four of which added more story content, while two others added in two new playable characters. There is as of yet no word on if Gearbox are planning on releasing the DLC at a later date.

The base campaign includes roughly 30 hours of content, as well as sidequests and other missions which can absorb time. The VR version is single-player only, removing the four-player co-operative multiplayer present in the original release.

Curiously, while the title will support the PlayStation Move and Dual Shock 4, there is no planned support for the PlayStation Aim controller, which many fans have expressed disappointment about, considering how weapon-focussed much of Borderlands 2 is.

The developer has also said that there are no firm plans to bring any of the other Borderlands titles into VR, though added a cryptic ‘for now’ to the end of that statement, indicating this could change if Borderlands 2 VR does particularly well.

Borderlands VR - Screenshot

The VR version is planning to include some new and revised features, such as a re-worked skill tree, as a bullet-time feature referred to as ‘BAMF Time’ which has been specifically designed to complements the VR environment.

For future coverage of Borderlands 2 VR and other upcoming VR titles, keep checking back with VRFocus.

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‘Borderlands 2’ Coming to PSVR in December, Pre-orders Now Available

2K and Gearbox Software, the studios behind the Borderlands franchise, are bringing the critically acclaimed Borderlands 2 to PSVR this December.

Announced today on the PlayStation blog, PSVR users are getting a special treat before Christmas that will let you play the full game in VR. The game is slated to launch December 14th.

The VR implementation was developed in-house by Gearbox Software, the developers behind the franchise.

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Image courtesy 2K, Gearbox Software
Image courtesy 2K, Gearbox Software
Image courtesy 2K, Gearbox Software
Image courtesy 2K, Gearbox Software
Image courtesy 2K, Gearbox Software

According to series publisher 2K, Borderlands 2 VR “brings the iconic shooting-looting world of Pandora to life like never before, as you virtually become a treasure-seeking Vault Hunter facing off against the galaxy’s most charming psychopathic dictator – Handsome Jack – with nothing but your arsenal of 87 bazillion guns.”

The developers have promised an all new ‘Slow-Mo’ ability, and a teleportation-based movement scheme. The information surrounding the VR implementation is still thin on the ground, so it seems there’s still plenty to learn in the months to come.

Pre-order are now available at PlayStation Store, priced at $50.

The post ‘Borderlands 2’ Coming to PSVR in December, Pre-orders Now Available appeared first on Road to VR.

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Pandora Goes Virtual As Gearbox Announce Borderlands 2 VR for PlayStation VR

Vault Hunters of Pandora we’ve got some surprise news for you, courtesy of the team at Gearbox. Out of quite literally nowhere, the team has confirmed that not only will we be getting Borderlands 2 in virtual reality (VR) but we’ll even be getting it before the end of the year.

Borderlands VR - ScreenshotBorderlands 2 was a huge hit for Gearbox Software and publisher 2K Games when it came out six years ago, and since that time the franchise has been revisited on several occasions, notably in 2016’s The Handsome Collection – which turns out to have been the catalyst to bring the title in its entirety to VR.

Borderlands 2 VR brings with it not only the original characters but new features including reworked skill trees that keep the single-player VR focus in mind and new features that play off the VR environment, such as “BAMF Time” – BadAss Mega Fun Time – which is Borderlands’ own take bullet-time from The Matrix films.  While combat while in a vehicle will also become much more intuitive.

Speaking on the PlayStation Blog, Producer Brian Burlseon explains the decision in more detail. “As soon as we brought the game to PS4 as part of The Handsome Collection in 2016, our brains immediately began cranking on how we could bring the experience to VR and take advantage of PSVR’s capabilities. We all have spent years immersed in the world and these characters, so we were excited to utilise the PSVR to bring everyone in even deeper.”

Borderlands VR - ScreenshotPrepare for looting and shooting with gazillions of guns on December 14th 2018 for $49.99 (USD).  A dynamic PlayStation theme will also be available to those who pre-order the title in advance. A trailer has also been released, and you can check that out below the announced key features list.

Key Features:

Virtually Step onto Pandora: Step into the boots of a treasure-seeking Vault Hunter armed with 87 bazillion possible guns on a quest to line your pockets with loot and free Pandora from Handsome Jack’s clutches. Blast bandits with real-world aiming, punch bullymongs in the mouth, find the perfect gun inside a life-sized treasure chest and inspect it from every angle. Catch-a-Ride and race across Pandora in first-person view and experience the thrill of a psycho running toward you with grenade in-hand yelling, “Boom time!”

Virtually Slow Time: Borderlands 2 VR includes new features unique to the VR experience to empower Vault Hunters in their fight against Handsome Jack. With Bad Ass Mega Fun Time (aka BAMF Time), players can use this new slow-mo ability to literally slow the speed of the game temporarily to set up their next attack. In addition, with the option to Teleport, players can glide across Pandora as gracefully as Claptrap (if he had grace).

Borderlands VR - ScreenshotBecome a Virtual Vault Hunter: Take on the role of one of four playable classes – Siren, Commando, Gunzerker and Assassin – each with unique combat styles and updated skills that leverage the new VR functionality, including the new BAMF Time ability. Whether crushing enemies with Maya’s Siren powers, calling in Sabre Turret reinforcements as Axton, feeling the heft of dual-wielded machine guns as Salvador, or the satisfying swing of Zer0’s sword in an enemy’s back, Borderlands 2 VR immerses players like never before.

Experience Virtual Improvements: For the first time ever, players can experience the sublime exhilaration of driving around the Borderlands in first-person perspective – accelerating and steering with the joystick and aiming the vehicle’s weapons with their headset. With the use of the motion controllers and headset, players can interact with the menu systems in a new and intuitive way for the platform, easily navigating through the menus by pointing, clicking, dragging and dropping. Players will also have the choice of preferred movement styles. Whether that’s the VR popular pointed-teleportation, or the classic direct movement style with joysticks – your experience should feel good for VR and true to form of classic Borderlands.

Borderlands VR - ScreenshotGet Virtually Rich: Borderlands VR brings shoot-and-loot mechanics to VR with bazillions of procedurally-generated guns and gear, each with their own capabilities and modifiers. Procedurally-generated shields, grenades, relics, class mods and more round out your Vault Hunter’s arsenal for maximum power and mayhem.

VRFocus will bring you news on everything Borderlands 2 VR as soon as we hear anything else.

 

 

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Borderlands Dev Gearbox Is Working On A ‘Key VR’ Game

Borderlands Dev Gearbox Is Working On A ‘Key VR’ Game

Fans of first-person shooter (FPS) specialist Gearbox Software have been very vocal about what they want to see next from the studio: the next installment in the popular Borderlands franchise. VR enthusiasts, however, will be happy to learn the team as a project for headsets in the works too.

The SMU Guildhall, a Texas-based university specializing in videogame development, this month announced that 16 of its students had been hired by Gearbox to work on an unannounced VR videogame. According to CEO Randy Pitchford this will be a custom-built team that will work on a “key Virtual Reality project” at the company’s HQ in Frisco, Texas. No details about the game itself have been announced that this time. We’d certainly welcome a VR game set in the team’s mad world of Borderlands, though.

SMU Guildhall revealed those joining Gearbox as artists Devanshu Bishnoi, Nina Davis, Taylor Gallagher, Taylor McCart, and Mace Mulleady; designers Michael Feffer, Alexandre Foures, Steve Kocher, Jacob Lavender, and Sam Pate; producer Mario Rodriguez; and programmers Taylor Bishop, Nicholas Dorbin, Benjamin D. Gibson, Clay Howell, and K. Komal Shashank.

Each of these students has worked on VR projects before, such as SMU’s Mouse Playhouse, an Unreal Engine 4 project in which players build a course for a mouse to navigate and grab some cheese, with an assortment of other minigames also available.

Though Gearbox is best known for Borderlands, a role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world, it’s worked on several major franchises over the years, including Half-Life and its own Brothers in Arms series. Most recently the studio released online shooter Battleborn.

There’s no word yet on when we might see Gearbox’s VR project, though E3 is right around the corner. Perhaps the studio might have a surprise in store for then?

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