meta quest gaming showcase – Page 3 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

April 20, 2022

Co-op ‘Ghostbusters VR’ Game Revealed from Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and Developer nDreams

Image courtesy Sony Pictures Virtual Reality

Today at the very end of the Quest Gaming Showcase, Meta announced an upcoming Ghostbusters VR game in development by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality & nDreams, built for four-player co-op.

Can’t say we saw that one coming. At the end of the Quest Gaming Showcase, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg briefly appeared to introduce the world premiere of Ghostbusters VR, an upcoming Quest 2 game built around four player co-op.

Developed by veteran VR studio nDreams and set in San Francisco, CA, Sony Pictures Virtual Reality says players can expect to “solve a deep mystery across a new chapter in the Ghostbusters universe. Track, blast, and trap ghosts in gripping encounters by wielding iconic equipment. Go it alone, or as a team with up to three friends in co-op, in an extensive and engrossing campaign. Continue the Ghostbusters’ legacy, protect the city from fiendish ghosts, and experience all the humor and frights from the beloved franchise.”

nDreams is well known in the VR space as the studio behind titles like Phantom: Covert Ops and Fracked. The studio also just raised a hefty $35 million investment to further expand its VR development and publishing operations.

“With SPVR, we’ve found the perfect teammates to help bring a boundary-pushing multiplayer game to virtual reality,” says Tomas Gillo, Chief Development Officer, nDreams. “In addition, our close collaboration with the creators of the Ghostbusters franchise at Ghost Corps, combined with our extensive experience creating rich, tactile and immersive VR will blow gamers and Ghostbusters fans away.”

Ghostbusters VR is said to be a working title for the time being, and while no specific release date has been announced, Meta said that everything shown at the Quest Gaming Showcase is expected to launch in the next 12 months, presumably including Ghostbusters VR.

The post Co-op ‘Ghostbusters VR’ Game Revealed from Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and Developer nDreams appeared first on Road to VR.

April 20, 2022

Stress Level Zero’s Project 4 is “Bonelab” Coming 2022

Stress Level Zero, the virtual reality (VR) studio behind Boneworks has made mention of its “Project 4” title for a while now without really giving too much away. That changes today with the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase unveiling Bonelab, an adventure game utilising Boneworks‘ physical interaction engine, Marrow.

Boneworks was released a couple of years ago, setting a new standard in physical interaction within a virtual gaming environment. Stress Level Zero has spent this time further refining the engine whilst building out a brand new narrative for Bonelab with this simple synopsis: “Escaping execution, you’ll find yourself in a mysterious underground lab. Uncover the truth about your reality.”

If you’ve played Boneworks then you’ll know the level of interaction Bonelab is set to offer. Whilst fighting, climbing and running will all be part of the gameplay, it’s how you intuitively interact with the environment that should set the title apart from others. This will allow you to get creative with whatever you find, mixing and matching weapons, discovering new routes or finding secrets.

From what’s been shown in the first trailer, Bonelab definitely looks the part, whether that’s fighting enemies, navigating treacherous environments or solving puzzles. There’s a far greater emphasis on action rather than merely playing within a VR sandbox, opening up the gameplay to more VR fans.

Additionally, Bonelab will provide mod support so those who want to get creative be able to build new content, whether that’s a map, weapon, or a new avatar. Mods have become commonplace in PC VR with Half-Life: Alyx a perfect example of what the community can create, greatly extending the shelf life of games.

Bonelab is currently slated to arrive for Meta Quest 2 and PC VR headsets at some point in 2022. Enjoy the debut trailer and for further updates, keep reading gmw3.

April 20, 2022

‘BONELAB’, Successor to the Popular ‘BONEWORKS’, Announced for Quest 2 & PC VR

Formerly known only as ‘Project 4’, developer Stress Level Zero has officially announced BONELAB, the follow-up to its popular VR action sandbox game BONEWORKS. The game is set to launch on Quest 2 and PC VR this year.

It’s been nearly two and a half years since veteran VR developer Stress Level Zero released Boneworks, a VR action sandbox game that felt like a spiritual relative to the Half-Life and Portal games. Though Boneworks never made it to Quest, its successor—announced today as Bonelab—will launch on Quest 2 and PC VR.

Stress Level Zero revealed Bonelab today at the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, where it showed off the first gameplay footage for the new title.

The Bonelab announcement trailer above shows us the game is very much a direct continuation of the first, featuring similar gameplay elements, enemies, and environments. It’s also teased that the original game’s ‘Arena’ and ‘Trials’ modes will return.

Image courtesy Stress Level Zero

Bonelab is said to be “built on its predecessor, pairing a brand new story with two years of innovation and interaction engine progress,” according to the developer.

The ‘interaction engine’ mentioned there is the underlying physics system that was at the heart of the original Boneworks. With nearly everything in the game being physically interactive, the system could really feel magical at times… but could just as easily fall victim to physics jankiness, as we wrote about in our review of the game.

With ‘two years of innovation’ since then, hopefully Bonelab will deliver a more consistently satisfying experience with less of the jank. Here’s a clip showing some satisfying physics destruction from the new system:

Developer Stress Level Zero also announced that Bonelab will support mods, which it says will allow you to “enhance your experience with new maps, new weapons, and new avatars.” Mods were something that felt sorely missing in the original Boneworks so we’re glad to hear they’ll be included, though it isn’t clear whether mods will be more limited on Quest 2 compared to the PC VR version of the game.

And one more thing we’re looking forward to from Bonelab is the game’s soundtrack (considering how great the original was). The developer confirmed to Road to VR that composer Michael Wyckoff is returning to score a brand new soundtrack for Bonelab (the first taste of which is heard in the game’s announcement trailer above).

The release date for Bonelab set for 2022 on Quest 2 and PC VR, but a specific launch date has not be revealed.

The post ‘BONELAB’, Successor to the Popular ‘BONEWORKS’, Announced for Quest 2 & PC VR appeared first on Road to VR.

April 20, 2022

Beat Saber Electronic Mixtape Announced: Deadmau5, Marshmello, Zedd & More

Meta just announced Beat Saber’s next set of DLC tracks at today’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase. The Beat Saber Electronic Mixtape will feature 10 hits from artists like Deadmau5, Zedd, Marshmello and more.

Most DLC packs for Beat Saber focus solely on one artist, but this pack will be the second DLC ‘mixtape’ release which features an array of different artists from one period.

Here’s the full tracklist of the Electronic Mixtape:

Waiting All Night (feat. Ella Eyre) by Rudimental
Witchcraft by Pendulum
Icarus by Madeon
Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff (feat. Rob Swire) by Deadmau5
Alone by Marshmello
Stay the Night (feat. Hayley Williams) by Zedd
Sandstorm by Darude
The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim
Freestyler by Bomfunk MC
Animals by Martin Garrix

As you can see, there are some big names and hits in the pack, but perhaps the most prominent is Sandstorm by Darude. IT’s one of the most iconic electronic songs of all time and a huge internet hit/meme track. In other words, it could be a perfect addition to the Beat Saber catalog.

The Electronic Mixtape release date follows on from the Fall Out Boy DLC, released last month, and has no confirmed release date as of yet. That being said, the time between announcement and release for Beat Saber DLCs tends to be pretty short, so expect to see it sooner rather than later.

As usual, the pack will be available across all platforms — Quest, Rift, PSVR and Steam — for a bundled price of $12.99 or an individual track price of $1.99 each.

This was just one announcement from today’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase — keep an eye out for news on more releases and updates to come.

April 20, 2022

Resident Evil 4’s The Mercenaries Mode Out Now as Free Update

The virtual reality (VR) version of Resident Evil 4 has been a big success for Armature Studio, picking up several awards since its release last year. But there was one notable omission from the launch, that of The Mercenaries mode. Today, as part of the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase that has been put right, with the mode now available as a free update.

The Mercenaries mode is essentially a wave-based horde mode for Resident Evil 4, adding loads more content to the survival horror. Just like the main game, The Mercenaries has been entirely rebuilt for VR by Armature Studios in collaboration with Capcom and Oculus Studios. Pick a character, each of which has its own loadout, and then try to rack up as many points as possible on each map by killing enemies.

Take on the maps as Leon, Resident Evil 4’s protagonist or try one of the other characters from the campaign. Step in the shoes of the mysterious Ada Wong or try Krauser, one of the later bosses. Or there’s Hunk, a specialist operative and Wesker, the main villain found throughout the franchise.

The difference here is that the VR edition features exclusive content so even Resi 4 veterans can enjoy a new playthrough. Meta Quest 2 will sport its own online leaderboards for each of the maps so you can challenge players worldwide. Plus, there are 20 all-new Challenges to complete. These offer harder scenarios to survive whilst tempting you with bigger rewards. For example, you might only have the use of a knife, a fog that impairs your vision or tighter time restrictions. Complete them and you’ll be rewarded with bonuses like Golden Gun skins, Big Head mode, a black-and-white Classic Horror Mode, and more. Even better, these can be used in the main campaign.

If you’ve got a Meta Quest 2 but have not bought the videogame then take a look at gmw3‘s review of Resident Evil 4, which said: “Resident Evil 4 on Oculus Quest 2 is a testament to Armature’s VR skills whilst highlighting the difficulties in bringing an almost 20-year-old videogame into VR. With the immersion settings on full whack, running around monster-filled castles was thoroughly engrossing and genuinely tense at points.”

You shouldn’t need an excuse to step back into Resident Evil 4 but with The Mercenaries now available there’s a great reason to. For further updates from the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, keep reading gmw3.

April 20, 2022

‘Resident Evil 4’ for Quest 2 Gets The Mercenaries DLC Today

Image courtesy Armature Studio, Capcom, Oculus Studios

Meta announced at its Quest Gaming Showcase today that Resident Evil 4 (2021), the official VR port which came to Quest 2 last year, is getting a surprise launch of ‘The Mercenaries’ DLC today.

For the uninitiated, The Mercenaries is a minigame—available across all previous versions—which essentially acts as a time trial mode. You’re tasked with killing as many enemies as possible before the clock runs down.

In the mode you’re given the choice of five playable characters, each with their own weapons and abilities. Players make their way through standalone versions of a few levels and dispatch regular enemies and bosses, making for a nice bit of content once you’ve had your fill of the main campaign.

Developers Armature Studio says The Mercenaries has been “entirely rebuilt for VR,” created in partnership with Oculus Studios and Capcom.

In this version of The Mercenaries, players can compete for spots on ranked online leaderboards, and take on 20 all-new tasks in a Challenges mode, which include what Armature calls “wild scenarios and restricted conditions for completing levels to ramp up the intensity.”

“Some examples include getting high scores using nothing but a knife, a mysterious fog impairing your vision, or even special circumstances that restrict time even further. By completing Challenges, you’ll unlock all sorts of awesome things like a Big Head Mode, black-and-white Classic Horror Mode, or even new Golden Gun skins that were custom-made for VR players. All of those can be used in the main game as well as Challenges mode.”

The Mercenaries is a free update, and arrives today to all owners of the game on Quest 2.

The post ‘Resident Evil 4’ for Quest 2 Gets The Mercenaries DLC Today appeared first on Road to VR.

April 20, 2022

New Cities VR Trailer Focuses On Building & Managing Your City

A new trailer for Cities VR focuses on options for managing and building your city, ahead of the game’s release next week.

While we’ve received a plethora of trailers for Cities VR in the lead up to release, this one gives us the clearest and most comprehensive look at the management and design systems in the game. You can check it out in the video embedded below.

As you would expect, a lot of these look directly ripped from the original game, just adapted for VR. There will be different modes of zoning, custom scenery and decoration options, utility management with power lines and water pipes, budget and income adjustments, and much more.

Cities VR is one of two city-building games releasing for Quest headsets in the next few weeks. Cities VR is set to launch on Quest 2 on April 28 for $29.99. The other, Little Cities, was scheduled originally for release this week, on April 21. However, the developers announced yesterday that the game is being pushed to a ‘quieter week’ in May, so that it can get the attention it deserves and won’t be overshadowed by all of the big announcements from today’s Quest Gaming Showcase. Little Cities will now release on May 12, for both the original Quest and Quest 2.

We tried Little Cities earlier this month and found it to be a pleasant experience, but wondered if later levels will offer the challenge players want from a city-building simulator. While we haven’t had the chance to try Cities VR yet, the game looks much more focused on bringing the detailed simulation and management aspects of the original game, Cities Skylines, to its VR counterpart.

Cities VR releases April 28 for Quest 2 headsets for $29.99 and is available to pre-order with a 10% discount now.

April 20, 2022

Adventure Into the World of Moss: Book II This Summer on Meta Quest 2

PlayStation VR hasn’t exactly had a stellar lineup of videogames this year but one that certainly did was Polyarc’s Moss: Book II. The developer has been coy regarding the other platforms it would eventually bring support to but it was always assumed Meta Quest 2 would be on the roster. The Meta Quest Gaming Showcase has confirmed that today, earmarking this summer for launch.

Quill, the central character in the Moss franchise has always been one of the most beloved in VR. A plucky little hero fighting against small and giant monsters alike, she’s a mouse with personality, forming a bond with you – called The Reader – through high fives and other non-verbal actions.

Moss: Book II directly continues on from the storyline of the original, with Quill just having saved her uncle Argus but now facing an even bigger threat. So you’ll have to venture deep into the hexed castle of the Arcane to fight new enemies, solve clever environmental puzzles and unlock secrets hidden just out of sight.

Gorgeous to look at thanks to each area serving as a buzzing diorama filled with life, Quill not only has her sword for this adventure, she’ll also be able to wield a colossal hammer – big for her anyway – to smash open armoured enemies or utilise Chakrams to hit them from afar. Polyarc has also employed new mechanics to further immerse players in the world of Moss, pulling out vines so Quill can reach new areas or helping bring the hammer down on giant switches.

In gmw3’s PlayStation VR review of Moss: Book II we said: “Whilst not particularly difficult, stepping into Moss and teaming up with Quill is a delight once again, with polished gameplay, more interactivity and visuals you can’t help but soak in. The main problem really is that Moss: Book II ends a bit too soon, as you won’t want it to be over.”

Having won multiple awards from organisations including The Game Awards, Bafta, and GDC, Moss: Book II is an exciting addition to Meta Quest 2’s summer launch lineup, when a date is revealed gmw3 will let you know.

April 20, 2022June 28, 2022

JRPG ‘Ruinsmagus’ to Release on Quest 2 & SteamVR Next Week

CharacterBank today announced that its JRPG RUINSMAGUS is launching next week, coming to Quest 2 and PC VR headsets via Steam.

Update (June 28th, 2022): In a Japanese language tweet, CharacterBank today announced that Ruinsmagus is headed to Quest and SteamVR on Friday, July 8th.

The studio has also thrown out links for both the Quest and SteamVR version so you can wishlist today. The original article follows below:

Image courtesy CharacterBank

Original Article (April 20, 2022): In RUINSMAGUS, you venture beneath the alleyways of Grand Amnis, a town that sits atop a vast labyrinth of ruins, long-forgotten by those above. In search of precious and powerful artifacts, you journey into the heart of the ruins and unravel the secrets of a lost age.

Starting out as a humble novice wizard, you learn more powerful spells on your path to becoming a ‘Magus’. In total, the studio says there are 14 unique types of magic available across three major categories: Charge Magic, Skill Magic, and Special Deadly Magic. The game also features nine armor, gauntlet, and shield types – and 13 items (including potions, injections, and grenades).

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CharcterBank says the single-player adventure includes 26 quests, which feature the vocal talents of Naomi Ohzora, Ai Maeda, Eiji Takemoto, and more. In true JRPG fashion, RUINSMAGUS is being voiced entirely in Japanese, with optional English or Japanese subtitles.

In the new trailer, the studio says RUINSMAGUS is “coming soon,” (see update) which we hope is sooner than their last release window of “later this year.” Rebounding from an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign from last year, to bring the game to life the Kyoto-based studio inked a deal with Mastiff, an American publisher with offices in San Francisco and Tokyo.

The post JRPG ‘Ruinsmagus’ to Release on Quest 2 & SteamVR Next Week appeared first on Road to VR.

April 20, 2022June 9, 2022

‘Moss: Book II’ to Release on Quest 2 Next Month

Having received a strong reception on PSVR back at the end of March, Moss: Book II from developer Polyarc is now set to release on Quest 2 starting next month.

Update (June 9th, 2022): Polyarc today announced during UploadVR’s Summer Showcase that Moss: Book II is exiting PSVR exclusivity and coming to Quest 2 on July 21st.

In addition, Polyarc has today opened pre-orders for the Moss: Book II Official Soundtrack (OST), composed by two-time BAFTA award-winning composer Jason Graves. The original article announcing its summer launch window follows below:

Original Article (April 21st, 2022): Action-platformer Moss originally launched as a timed exclusive on PSVR back in 2018, but just four months later it made its way to PC VR too (eventually landing on the original Quest in 2019). And now it looks like the sequel, Moss: Book II, which first launched for PSVR on April 5th this year, is set for a similarly quick jump to another platform.

Today during the Quest Gaming Showcase, developer Polyarc announced that Moss: Book II is due for a release date on Quest 2 this summer (a PC VR version, however, has not yet been announced). The studio also showed the first look at the game as it will look on Quest 2.

Assuming that the trailer is showing an accurate representation of the game’s geometric and texture detail as it will run on Quest 2… it appears pretty darn close to what the game looks like even when backed by the more powerful PS4/PS5.

In fact, Moss: Book II is likely to look sharper on Quest 2’s higher resolution display (1,832 × 1,920 [3.5MP] per-eye) compared to PSVR’s rather dated display (960 × 1,080 [1.0MP] per-eye). That could be a boon for this game in particular, as Moss: Book II’s beautifully composed mouse-sized environments contain intricate details that could be easier to appreciate with the higher resolution display—though we’ll have to see if the game’s textures on Quest 2 can hold up to that added scrutiny.

Moss: Book II on PSVR picks up precisely where the original Moss left off—meaning, if you’re planning to play Book II, you should probably start with the original game first. Luckily, if you find yourself in that boat, the original Moss is conveniently 20% off on the Quest store.

In our review of Moss: Book II on PSVR we scored the game 8.5 out of 10 and summarized it as such:

Moss: Book II is a direct continuation of the first game in both story and core mechanics. Generally speaking, it’s a longer and better experience than the original Moss thanks to the introduction of new weapons, mechanics, and more intriguing puzzles. The game is polished to the brim with stellar art direction, with each segment of the game being its own detailed diorama with top notch composition. Sound is strong and animations are superb throughout, with one of the game’s enjoyable boss fights showcasing Polyarc’s animation prowess in particular. Though the ‘narrated book’ story structure may have hindered the impact of the story and characters, Moss: Book II is a well rounded adventure you won’t want to miss.

So when will it launch? Well, Polyarc has only given Moss: Book II on Quest 2 a “Summer 2022” release date so far (see update). However, the original game launched on its first non-PSVR platform exactly 120 days after its initial release. 120 days from the PSVR release date of Moss: Book II would put us out to August 2nd. Conveniently that’s also a Tuesday (a common day for major game releases), which happens to be the same day of the week that the original Moss and Moss: Book II both launched on. So until we hear a more specific date from the studio, that’ll be our best guess!

The post ‘Moss: Book II’ to Release on Quest 2 Next Month appeared first on Road to VR.