Having revealed NERF Ultimate Championship, a multiplayer shooter using the iconic toys, almost exactly a year ago developer Secret Location has now released a new gameplay trailer and a release date. And there isn’t long to wait, coming to Meta Quest 2 in a couple of months.
While the first gameplay trailer back in December offered just a teasing taster of NERF Ultimate Championship’s action the new trailer gives fans an even better look at what’s to come this summer. Players will start in a social lobby before honing their skills on the parkour course, getting a feel for the freedom the arenas will offer, thanks to double jumps and wall running mechanics.
After that, why not step into the shooting range a test all the guns out, from the single-shot weapons to the motorised blasters that need to be revved up first. The trailer then showcases some of the arenas like the Colusseum with a central point that needs to be captured.
Even though NERF Ultimate Championship is action-packed, to keep players coming back for more Secret Location will be releasing multiple seasons of free content. There will be unlockable skins, avatars, blasters, new maps, new game modes, and much more.
“We want NERF Ultimate Championship to be a game that players keep coming back to over time,” said Josh Manricks, Studio Director at Secret Location. “There is a lot of exciting content planned for after release. We’ve captured the social and physical essence of NERF, with intense battles powered by dynamic, fluid movement, as well as some epic NERF blasters made exclusively for the game. All these elements, combined with maps that encourage fast-paced gameplay and constant updates of free content, will offer fans plenty of reasons to keep jumping back in with friends.”
NERF Ultimate Championship is scheduled to launch on 25th August 2022 for Quest 2. From today, eager fans can join the community Discord or head on over to Secret Location’s Dev Blog to learn more about its development. For continued VR updates, keep reading gmw3.
NERF Ultimate Championship is an upcoming VR arena shooter that’s getting ready to launch into closed beta later this month. If you’re looking to go hands-on, there’s still time to sign up for your chance to wall-run and blast your way to victory.
NERF Ultimate Championship is officially heading into closed beta in “mid to late March,” Hasbro and VR studio Secret Location say. “We will be contacting candidates as soon as we’ve matched them with folks in similar time zones and available timeslots.”
For your chance to participate you simply need to fill out a short questionnaire, which will be open until March 15th at 1:00 PM ET (local time here).
The NERF-brand 4v4 team shooter is headed to Quest sometime this year, so you might just get an opportunity to play it before everyone else, and even help guide development.
It seems the studio is selecting some specific criteria for the first round of beta testers—we aren’t sure what that is, so we can’t say for sure. The developers say selected participants should be contacted within a week however, which also includes an invite to the closed beta’s private Discord Server and instructions on the next steps.
We’re looking forward to seeing more of NERF Ultimate Championship in the coming weeks, as developers Secret Location are also known for bullet-hell shooter Blasters of the Universe (2017), VR retelling of Philip K. Dick’s The Great C (2018), and time-bending puzzle game Transpose (2018).
Want to bring those hard trained NERF skills into virtual reality (VR)? Well, besides all the paintball/laser quest clones later this year you’ll be able to challenge your mates in the official NERF Ultimate Championship. Today, developer Secret Location has open sign-ups for the closed beta.
Spots are limited for this initial closed beta so you’ll want to drop your details on the pre-screening survey as quickly as possible. You’ll also need a Meta Quest 2 to take part even though the survey does ask which VR devices you own. “At this stage, the game is still unfinished so we’re looking for valuable feedback from experienced players, however new VR enthusiasts are also welcomed to apply,” Secret Location notes.
The form will be accessible for a couple of weeks until 15th March at 1pm EST, with the playtesting beginning shortly after. When it comes to specifics regarding the closed beta the studio says: “we’ll be running testers through an entire match of our map Colosseum, a capture the point map, with all available blasters. We will be contacting successful candidates as soon as we’ve matched them with players in similar time zones and available timeslots.”
NERF Ultimate Championship was unveiled by Secret Location last summer during E3 2021, teasing the Meta Quest exclusive for this year. December saw the first gameplay trailer arrive and it was as colourful and manic as you’d expect a NERF VR videogame to be.
An arena shooter that utilises official NERF blasters, the mechanics will stay close to their toy roots with manual reloading, priming of weapons, revving triggers, dual-wielding capabilities, and unique dart physics to contend with. Plus there are a variety of characters to choose from, each having their own unique traits.
Secret Location hasn’t revealed a release window for NERF Ultimate Championship just yet, when that happens gmw3 will let you know.
Another year is over and what a year 2021 was. Great videogames and awesome new tech but those pandemic issues never subsided so bring on the metaverse. Now isn’t the time to reminisce, now’s the time to look ahead and when it comes to virtual reality (VR) titles on the horizon there is plenty to get excited about. Here are the ones VRFocus is most interested in playing.
Moss: Book II
Make no mistake the original Moss by Polyarc was an awesome VR title so the news that its sequel Moss: Book II is due for release this coming Spring is exciting news.
Continuing the tale of Quill, the little mouse with a big heart, Moss: Book II is a puzzle adventure only confirmed for PlayStation VR at the moment. Having rescued her uncle Argus in the first instalment, this time around Quill must end the merciless rule of the Arcane whilst confronting a winged tyrant hunting her within the hexed castle where her uncle was held captive. Offering new locations and puzzles to solve, Moss: Book II is set to include new features like a nature attunement ability to grow new pathways and a huge hammer to cause some destruction.
Needless to say, Moss: Book II should be on every PlayStation VR owners most wanted list.
Teasing its next project back in November, Ultimechs is going to be a futuristic sports experience mashing together robots with football (soccer). Only a few teasing details have been released so far showcasing rocket-powered fists, 2v2 action and some highly competitive gameplay.
Looking like a far more dynamic experience than Resolution Games’ other competitive sci-fi videogame Blaston, Ultimechs will allow you to move around an arena, giving it a much more esports vibe. Considering the studios’ expertise in this VR field, Ultimechs could well become a “must-have” VR multiplayer next year.
Supported headset(s): ???
Release date: 2022
Ultrawings 2
The original Ultrawings was a beloved classic so there’s plenty of excitement regarding the sequel. Developer Bit Planet Games has spent four years working on Ultrawings 2 and says it’ll be: “3X the gameplay of the original”.
Mixing arcade gameplay with simulator mechanics, Ultrawings 2 is set to feature four planes and one helicopter with hundreds of missions to test your flying skills on. From popping balloons with a dart pistol and stunt plane aerobatics to air-to-air combat shooting down drones in the fighter plane, there should be plenty to keep players entertained. They’ll also have their pick of control schemes. Whether that’s a normal gamepad, using their virtual hands to grab the cockpit controls or going fully immersive using a HOTAS setup, Ultrawings 2 will balance fun with realistic flying.
VRFocus can’t wait to get back into the skies again.
Supported platform(s): Meta Quest, PC VR
Release date: February 2022
Green Hell VR
Creepy Jar’s survival adventure Green Hell is coming to VR headsets thanks to Incuvo in 2022, remastering the control scheme for fully immersive gaming.
Heading to Meta Quest and PC VR headsets – a PlayStation VR version has also been mentioned – Green Hell VR drops you in a lush jungle with all the dangers you’d expect for the Amazon rainforest. Survive by foraging for food, learn how to build shelters, make tools, and craft weapons to defend yourself from whatever lurks in the undergrowth as you try to find a way out.
Being rebuilt for VR means that Green Hell VR has the kind of physical control system you’d expect from Incuvo, wrap your injuries with leaves, draw your bow to kill predators and light fires by sparking rock together. It’s all about enveloping you in the jungle experience so what’s not to look forward to?
Supported platform(s): Meta Quest, PC VR
Release date: Q1 2022
NERF Ultimate Championship
Another multiplayer with some exciting potential is NERF Ultimate Championship for Meta Quest. Initially unveiled during E3 2021 by Secret Location, the first proper look at the arena shooter came only a few short weeks ago with a gameplay reveal trailer.
A 4 vs 4, team-based VR experience, NERF Ultimate Championship will encourage players to navigate arenas in a parkour-like fashion with plenty of wall running and jumping. Of course, this being an official NERF tie-in players will have access to a wide variety of NERF blasters to choose from, each featuring manual reloading, revving triggers, dual-wielding capabilities. There’s also unique dart physics to be aware of.
From the looks of it, NERF Ultimate Championship is going to take all those regular NERF battles and up the action, in ways only VR can.
Supported platform(s): Meta Quest
Release date: 2022
Hubris
Originally due for release this year, Cyborn’s rather gorgeous Hubris is now due to hit PC VR headsets at some point next year. Aiming for very high-end, sci-fi VR adventuring, Hubris looks like it could very well be the Lone Echo II of 2022.
Promising a fully explorable world where you can climb, swim, jump and run around as you please, VRFocusdemoed Hubris a couple of months ago, finding a promising experience that was very pretty to look at. Visuals aside, there was plenty of physical activity where you could climb cliff faces, swim underwater and harpoon creatures as well as platforming sections.
One route that Cyborn has said it’s taking with the videogame is that it’ll be episodic, which may or may not work in its favour. If you’ve ever wanted Halo in VR – and who hasn’t? – then Hubris may just fill that hole, so long as there’s enough of it.
Supported platform(s): PC VR, PlayStation VR
Release date: 2022
SIN
Love your horror? SIN is the follow up to the popular The Exorcist: Legion VR where you play as a detective going up against demonic forces. Fun Train has teamed up with Pocket Money Games for this project. SIN stands for “Safety in Numbers” and as that implies you won’t be alone this time around.
No gameplay details have been revealed just yet but SIN will continue the narrative from the previous episodes, so it’s going to be scary at the very least. Teaming up with a friend – or braving it solo – SIN is the only horror VRFocusknows of for 2022 and should be in good hands.
Supported platform(s): Meta Quest, PlayStation VR
Release date: Late 2022
Wanderer
Another one delayed from 2021, Wanderer is a joint project between New Zealand-based studios M Theory and Oddboy.
Wanderer is a time-travelling adventure with a talking watch where you have to visit particular points in history in a bid to save the world. Exploring historical, futuristic and post-apocalyptic settings, you’ll take to the stage in 1969 for an epic musical performance, uncover traitors and crack codes during WWII; help inventor Nikola Tesla prepare his machinery, and step onto the moon.
Wanderer is one of the more unique prospects for 2022, a fascinating narrative alongside time-hopping puzzles and some lovely looking locations.
Supported platform(s): PC VR, PlayStation VR
Release date: 27th January 2022
Hitman 3
An exclusive PlayStation VR release – where VR is concerned – in January 2021, IO Interactive’s infamous assassin will eventually make its way to PC VR headsets in the coming 12 months.
Continuing the Hitman storyline, Hitman 3 features five gameplay modes: a full campaign, Elusive Targets, Escalations, Contracts Mode and Sniper Assassin, all of which can be played in VR. It’s been the studio’s most successful Hitman videogame with 50 million players stepping into the shoes of Agent 47.
However, unlike the PlayStation version that’s only compatible with the DualShock controller, and therefore lacks that extra bit of immersive freedom the PC VR edition won’t, and that’s really exciting. IO Interactive has worked on motion controller support, already showcasing Hitman 3 working with Valve Index controllers. This means dual-wielding weapons and other interactions that make VR so immersive will be present in this edition.
Supported platform(s): PC VR
Release date: 2022
Little Cities
And finally a far more casual strategy VR title. Being built by indie team Purple Yonder with publishing support from nDreams (Fracked, Phantom: Covert Ops), Little Cities is a laid back city-building experience for Meta Quest.
You’ll be able to construct complex cities that require residential areas, areas for commerce as well as industrial zones, all carefully balanced to make the populace happy. Specialist buildings such as network phone towers, schools, hospitals, police stations and more all add to the success of your city but they each only cover a certain radius so making sure they’re in an optimal spot is crucial.
Demoing one map from Little Cities, VRFocus found a delightful little city management experience that offered promising gameplay for fans of non-action oriented VR videogames.
We’re looking forward to a ton of new games this year, as newcomers and trusted names in VR development alike are prepping to release bigger and better VR experiences.
Here we look at our most anticipated titles that are scheduled to release in 2022. We’ve ordered games according to their confirmed release dates, then the rash of titles sporting the ever-nebulous ‘coming in 2022’ release window, and then games that we have our eyes on (TBA). We update this article regularly, so make sure to check back for updated info.
Cities VR
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: Fast Travel Games
Release date: April 28th, 2022
Studiodescription: Be the mayor in Cities: VR, the ultimate VR city-building and management simulator. Design neighborhoods, construct buildings, direct the flow of traffic – all while you handle economics, emergency services, and more. Step inside this VR adaptation of the leading city-builder, Cities: Skylines.
Little Cities
Platform: Quest & Quest 2
Developer: Purple Yonder
Release date: May 12th, 2022
Studiodescription: Get ready to escape to the charming world of Little Cities, the cozy VR city creation game. Start with a simple road, carefully place your residential, commercial, or industrial zones and then watch the citizens move in! But keeping them happy is the only way to help your cities grow.
The Last Clockwinder
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Pontoco
Release date: Summer 2022
Studiodescription: A VR game about building contraptions out of your own clones in a cozy sci-fi world.
Ruinsmagus
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: CharacterBank
Release date: Summer 2022
Studiodescription: Beneath the quaint streets and alleyways of Grand Amnis lies a vast labyrinth of ruins, long-forgotten by those above. In RUINSMAGUS, journey deep into this hidden subterranean realm in search of precious and powerful artifacts. Unravel the secrets of a lost age and grow from a novice wizard into a powerful, spell-wielding Magus in this narrative-driven action JRPG that includes 26 fully-voiced quests—featuring the vocal talents of Naomi Ohzora, Ai Maeda, Eiji Takemoto, and more.
MOTHERGUNSHIP: FORGE
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Terrible Posture Games
Release date: June 2022
Studiodescription: Craft. Shoot. Die. Repeat. Forge absurdly powerful guns and fight through the belly of a metal alien monstrosity in this VR FPS roguelite follow up to MOTHERGUNSHIP. Wanna build a rocket-firing-shotgun or a toxic spike-ball-launcher? Unleash your inner mad scientist, then take on the MOTHERGUNSHIP.
NFL PRO ERA
Platform: Quest 2, PSVR
Developer: StatusPro
Release date: Fall 2022
Studiodescription: NFL PRO ERA uses NFL game data to create the most authentic on-the-field NFL VR experience to-date. Lead your team to a Super Bowl, improve your QB skills by participating in drills, or play catch virtually with your friends in your favorite NFL stadium. Read the defense, run the offense and make the plays just like the pros do on Sundays—and see whether you have what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Espire 2
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: Digital Lode
Release date: November 2022
Studiodescription: Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to ultimately locate and stop the launch of an untraceable, supersonic missile, a true doomsday device. Wield an array of high-tech gadgets as you go behind enemy lines and try to save the world for a second time.
Tea for God
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: void room
Release date: Late 2022
Studiodescription: VR adventure that allows infinite movement within your own place. Customise your experience. Make it an intense shooter, a roguelite explorer, a relaxing trek.
The Exorcist Legion: SIN
Platform: Quest, PSVR
Developer: Fun Train
Release date: Late 2022
Studiodescription: As the sequel to The Exorcist: Legion VR, the game advances the chilling storyline and mythology with both single player and co-operative gameplay as well as some other mechanics and play styles never seen before in a horror co-op game.
Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventures
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Stardust Collective
Release date: Late 2022
Studiodescription: ZIGGY’S COSMIC ADVENTURES is a fully immersive cockpit VR game set in a stunning universe. Fight your way through the solar system amidst intense arcade combat, navigate through treacherous space environments, and feel the rush of scrambling to manage your ship’s systems.
Among Us
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Schell Games
Release date: holiday 2022
Studiodescription: Among Us VR will keep what made the original party game so awesome. Players attempt to get their spaceship in working order, priming the shields or diverting power to various subsystems. Easy enough—except one or more members of the Crew are secretly Impostors, tasked with sabotaging and killing off the crew. Among Us at its best involves everyone accusing everyone, with the Crew trying to ejectImpostors from the airlock and Impostors trying to get Crewmates to turn on each other. Nobody is above suspicion.
Propagation: Paradise Hotel
Platform: PC VR
Developer: WanadevStudio
Release date: End of 2022
Studiodescription: Live an intense VR survival horror adventure with gripping storytelling, in which you will explore dark environments, make terrifying encounters and get your adrenaline pumping. Will you find your way out of the Paradise Hotel alive?
“Coming in 2022”
BONELAB
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Stress Level Zero
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Sentenced to death, you embody an outcast escaping fate. Discovering a pathway to a hidden underground research facility. A series of challenging experiments and discoveries await. A road to the truth calls from the void.
Ghostbusters VR
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: nDreams, Sony Pictures
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Head to San Francisco and start your very own Ghostbusters HQ. With a trusty proton pack on your back and a P.K.E. meter in-hand, you have everything you need to track, blast, and trap ghosts—and begin to unravel a mysterious conspiracy that threatens the entire city. You can go it alone, or grab up to three friends for a true Ghostbusters crew experience.
Red Matter 2
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: Vertical Robot
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Red Matter 2 picks up right where the previous game left off. You might’ve escaped the titular red matter last time, but you certainly haven’t stopped it. Doing so will take you across the solar system, from a base on our own moon to a space station orbiting above Saturn’s rings, and beyond. Uncover dark secrets and do your best to halt the red matter’s spread and save humanity.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: Skydance Interactive
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Continue your journey through a changed New Orleans, one that’s even more dangerous than before. Expect fewer resources, more walkers, and a new and bloodthirsty threat that will hunt you across the city. Scrounge up whatever you can to survive—and be careful. Your choices matter now more than ever.
Studiodescription: COMPOUND (Pre-Alpha) is a randomized rogue-lite, free-roaming shooter for VR veterans. Duck and dodge around enemy fire in a tough-as-nails retro FPS with multiple locomotion options.
Super Kit: To The Top
Platform: PSVR, PC VR(?)
Developer: Electric Hat Games
Release date: 2022
Description: Electric Hat hasn’t said much about the game outside of the official trailer, but looking at the video it’s apparent Super Kit is focusing again on high-flying parkour with the addition of some combat elements and some very slick-looking environments that recall games like Jet Set Radio, Mirror’s Edge, and The Climb 2.
Paradox of Hope VR
Platform: PC VR
Developer: Monkey-With-a-Bomb
Release date: Coming to Early Access “soon”
Studiodescription: Paradox of Hope is an immersive single-player VR shooter with survival and horror elements. Explore mysterious metro mazes of post-apocalyptic Moscow, use stealth or combat approach to achieve your goal, upgrade your equipment and arsenal, and enjoy the atmospheric moments of stalker’s life.
Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom VR
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2
Developer: Maze Theory
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Step into the gritty streets of 1920s Birmingham and London and explore iconic locations from the show, including The Garrison pub, Charlie’s Yard and Shelby’s Betting Shop, as you take down rivals and move up in the world.
Vertigo 2
Platform: PC VR
Developer: Zulubo Productions
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Vertigo 2 is a single-player VR adventure. Explore the depths of the vast Quantum Reactor as you descend to finish your journey home.
Ultimechs
Platform: “major VR platforms”
Developer: Resolution Games
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: Ultimechs is the multiplayer VR gaming experience from Resolution Games that will be coming to major VR platforms next year. As the thrill of professional athletics meets the precision of purpose-built machines, Ultimechs welcomes players into the sport of the future to compete for victory. If you don’t have the speed, precision and rocketry that it takes to defeat your opponents, you’re done for.
The Last Worker
Platform: PC VR, Quest
Developer: Oiffy, Wolf & Wood Interactive
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: The Last Worker is a first person narrative adventure centered around our struggle in an increasingly automated world.
Nerf Ultimate Championship
Platform: Quest 2
Developer: Secret Location
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: NERF Ultimate Championship is a competitive multiplayer game that brings NERF battles into an electrifying competition only possible in virtual reality. Gear up with a wide range of new and classic blasters as you leap around fantastic arenas in intense 4v4 team matches. Soak in the sound of roaring fans and master your skills as you begin your journey to become the Ultimate NERF Champion.
Samurai Slaughter House
Platform: PC VR, Quest 2, PSVR
Developer: Tab Games
Release date: 2022
Studiodescription: VR-only physics-based combat game. Use stealth and creativity or brute force to take on your foes in a vast physics based sandbox. Battle both humans and demons while exploring a large metroidvania-style open world. Collect items and power up your character. Explore towns and interact with NPCs.
Update (April 21st, 2022): We’ve cycled out a number of previously released games, and plugged in a few more promising titles set to come out this year. If you have any suggestions or tips, let us know in the comments below.
What VR game are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!
One of the more unusual virtual reality (VR) announcements to come out of E3 2021 was Nerf Ultimate Championship by Secret Location. Continuing the raft of new gameplay videos today, Secret Location has just released the first footage of Nerf Ultimate Championship in action.
As you’d expect from a virtual reality (VR) videogame based on a toy, Nerf Ultimate Championship is a team-based multiplayer shooter pitting two teams of four against one another. While everyone can choose from a wide range of official Nerf blasters, the gameplay will feature plenty of fluid movement with parkour elements and double jumping.
The mechanics will be kept realistic with manual reloading, priming of weapons, revving triggers, dual-wielding capabilities, and unique dart physics to factor in. During Hasbro PulseCon back in October, several characters were unveiled including Float, Vault, and Clash.
“We’re super excited to finally give fans a brief glimpse of gameplay,” said Josh Manricks, Studio Director at Secret Location in a statement. “One of our biggest goals was to amp up the high physicality and fun competition that characterizes NERF to this new medium, and we can’t wait for VR fans to experience the game’s intense action and spectacular arenas. We are also looking forward to opening up some opportunities for the community to get into the game and do some beta testing with the team early in the new year.”
“NERF battles are great in real life, but we thought to ourselves ‘what would take a NERF battle to that next level’. This brought us to empowering players to do things they can’t in real life, like wall running and double jumping. Players can flow through the levels like a world-class parkour athlete, ” lead Game Designer Michael Sandercock adds. “We want NERF Ultimate Championship to feel like an enhanced and larger-than-life NERF Battle. All our blasters have a unique blasting pattern, with dart fall off and some variability to the dart flight.”
Nerf Ultimate Championship is expected to arrive for the Meta Quest platform sometime in 2022. Take a look at the first gameplay footage below and for further updates, keep reading VRFocus.
So the traditionally ‘biggest videogame event of the year’, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 has now concluded and it was a very mixed bag of announcements wasn’t it? Heavyweights like Microsoft/Bethesda and Nintendo certainly helped carry the show when it came to all the normal fair, whilst quirkier entries from Limited Run Games gave the event some much-needed frivolity. As for all the virtual reality (VR) news, there were some updates, too few surprises and some glaring omissions which could’ve stolen the show.
The Good
Let’s start with the good stuff and there were some highlights worth mentioning. A Township Tale by Australian team Alta was definitely one of them. A big open-world role-playing game (RPG) that has been available direct from the studio for PC VR headsets for a little while now is getting a native port to Oculus Quest. A virtual server can be created for up to eight friends to team-up, choose various classes and explore the world together. Most importantly, there’s not long to wait for A Township Tale which arrives on 15th July.
When it came to updates Cloudhead Games’ Pistol Whip didn’t disappoint by officially unveiling the new Style System to mix up the rhythm action gameplay. It’ll be a bumper summer update as it’ll be combined with the new Smoke & Thunder campaign.
Another update that VRFocus is looking forward to and isn’t too far away is Waltz of the Wizard: Natural Magic. This is a magical videogame that seems to keep going and going, with developer Aldin Dynamics constantly enhancing the title. The update will add new ways to cast magic spells and offer new locations to explore and fight monsters in.
Looking ahead into next there’s the visceral Samurai Slaughter House by Tab Games. Instantly bringing back memories of MadWorld for Wii thanks to the black and white aesthetic, Samurai Slaughter House is a physics-based combat where the only splash of colour comes from the enemies blood. It’s coming to PC VR headsets in 2022.
The Dull
Then there were the announcements which really didn’t feel like proper E3 news, lots of brief videos with a bit more gameplay but no launch dates or anything really tasty.
Green Hell VR,Song in the Smoke, Rhythm or the Universe: Ionia, and Against are all exciting projects which saw new footage arrive or went behind the scenes yet there was no wow factor, nothing that jumped out genuinely new.
The same could be said for Windlands 2 finally coming to PlayStation VR this summer, a whole three years after its original debut for Oculus Rift. It’s nice for PlayStation VR owners to get access as well as a physical version, however, there was no mention of new content to spice up the reveal.
And then there was NERF. The next project from Secret Location, NERF Ultimate Championship only provided a teasing cinematic trailer for the 2022 shooter. A surprise, most definitely. A good one, well we’ll have to wait and see.
The Glaringly Absent
So what was missing, or more accurately, what were we hoping to see that never materialised? There were three VR titles VRFocus was hoping to see appear in the press conferences, two from Ubisoft in the form of Splinter Cell VR and Assassin’s Creed VR, and Resident Evil 4 from Capcom.
Only revealed back in April and the first confirmed Oculus Quest 2 exclusive, Resident Evil 4 is a collaborative effort between Capcom and Oculus Studios to bring one of the best versions in the franchise into VR. It being reworked for the standalone headset with new controls allowing you to dual wield guns and melee weapons for the first time. The last update came during the Oculus Gaming Showcase which was only a couple of months away so some new footage would’ve been nice. A released date definitely wasn’t expected, with a 2021 launch currently earmarked a date will likely arrive during Facebook Connect.
Splinter Cell VR and Assassin’s Creed VR, on the other hand, is a very different scenario. These were both teased by Ubisoft at Facebook Connect in 2020 and nothing has been heard of them since. If ever there was a time to drop some details it would be E3 week. Any info on either of them would’ve been the big VR reveal of the week, instead, Ubisoft’s big news was a sequel, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope for Nintendo Switch – loved the original so that’s a bonus.
Keep that VR chin up
Don’t dispair though, this isn’t the end of VR. This summer has some awesome VR videogames on the way like Sniper Elite VRfrom Rebellion and Just Add Water, Fracked by nDreams, Winds & Leaves by Trebuchet, and Song in the Smoke from 17-BIT. Plus Resolution Games has Realm of the Rat King DLC for Demeo coming or if there’s a Zero Latency location near you there’s always Far Cry VR.
Hasbro and VR studio Secret Location announced at UploadVR’s Summer Showcase that its long-awaited Nerf-brand multiplayer shooter is coming to Meta Quest 2 in August. They also threw out a new trailer that drills a little deeper into Nerf Ultimate Championship’s gameplay, weapons, and locomotion.
Update (June 9th, 2022): Nerf Ultimate Championship is coming to Quest 2 on August 25th, the studios reveal. Secret Location also shows off some of the game’s wall-running action, double jumping, and shooting mechanics in the new ‘World Overview’ trailer. Check it out below:
Original Article (June 15th, 2021): Called Nerf Ultimate Championship, the arena shooter is said to offer what Secret Location calls “a wide range of new and classic blasters as you leap around fantastic arenas in intense head-to-head team matches.”
“Soak in the sound of roaring fans and master your skills as you begin your journey to become the Ultimate NERF Champion,” the studio says on the game’s official website.
The game, which was revealed in UploadVR’s E3 showcase, is still somewhat of a mystery beyond that description; the trailer below doesn’t show any gameplay (see update). Considering the Facebook/Oculus branding, we’re supposing the Quest platform holder will act as the game’s publisher, possibly making it a Quest exclusive.
Secret Location is known for a number of high-quality VR games and experiences including bullet-hell shooter Blasters of the Universe (2017), a VR retelling of Philip K. Dick’s The Great C (2018) and time-bending puzzle game Transpose (2018).
It’s been a couple of years since Secret Location’s last virtual reality (VR) title Transpose but the studio is probably better known for its bullet hell shooter Blasters of the Universe. For the start of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 today, Secret Location has begun teasing its next project, NERF Ultimate Championship.
Collaborating with NERF to bring those classic battles all kids know and love into VR, NERF Ultimate Championship is about digitally recreating that excitement pitting players against each other in team-based wars. Players will be able to select from a range of NERF blasters before heading into an arena to leap around and dodge darts in an effort to win the quick, physical matches.
“NERF Ultimate Championship marks an important milestone for us as the first collaboration with our new parent company Hasbro,” said, Kathryn Rawson, VP Content, Secret Location in a statement. “Everyone on the team is excited to bring those epic Nerf battles from our childhood into the immersive world of VR and to the growing Oculus Quest audience when the game launches next year.”
Outside of the arena players will be able to customise their avatars and blasters with plenty of vibrant designs the brand is known for. NERF fans will get a chance to go hands-on with the videogame later this year as Secret Location will be hosting exclusive playtest sessions.
“We are thrilled to partner with Secret Location to take our legacy brand NERF to new heights through the immersion of virtual reality,” stated Scott Ozarski, Brand Manager, Global Brand Marketing for NERF. “It translates the imaginative play, high physicality and fun competition that characterizes the property to an all-new and exciting medium for our fans.”
NERF Ultimate Championship is going to be an Oculus Quest by the looks of it, due to arrive for the standalone headset at some point in 2022. Check out the teaser trailer below although there’s no gameplay footage at the moment. As and when further details for NERF Ultimate Championship are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.
Nerf’s brand of foam warfare is coming to VR. Nerf Ultimate Championship heads to Oculus Quest in 2022.
Blasters of the Universe developer Secret Location announced the project at the Upload VR Showcase today. We saw a short teaser of the game where a set of characters load up some iconic weapons. Check it out below.
Ultimate Championship will be a competitive multiplayer shooter in which players wield both new and classic Nerf designs in arena-based battles. Fans will cheer you from the side as you go head-to-head in team-based matches. Games are intended to be fast-paced.
“NERF Ultimate Championship marks an important milestone for us as the first collaboration with our new parent company Hasbro,” Kathryn Rawson, VP Content at Secret Location, said in a prepared statement. “Everyone on the team is excited to bring those epic Nerf battles from our childhood into the immersive world of VR and to the growing Oculus Quest audience when the game launches next year.”
And that’s it for now. There’s plenty more to learn about the game but we’ll have to wait until we’re closer to its 2022 launch to hear more.
Are you looking forward to Nerf Ultimate Championship? Let us know in the comments below!
