oculus gaming showcase – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

March 30, 2022

The Meta Quest Gaming Showcase Returns in April

Back in the old Oculus days the company would hold big demo presentations at events like GDC or tease a few titles during Connect. Times have changed, last year saw the first-ever Oculus Gaming Showcase combine this into one, seeing the likes of Resident Evil 4 and Lone Echo II take centre stage. For 2022 there’s been a slight name tweak to the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase but the idea remains the same, loads of VR videogame announcements.

The event is set to take place across Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Oculus TV on 20th April 2022 at 10 am PT (6 pm BST). The Oculus Blog (should we keep calling it that?) teases that: “You can expect new game announcements, gameplay first-looks, updates on games coming in the next year, and a whole lot of surprises.”

So that begs the question, what does gmw3 hope to see? Plenty of the “Most Anticipated” list has either arrived or will be shortly, but hopefully, we’ll hear more about Fun Train’s SIN (Safety in Numbers) the follow up to The Exorcist: Legion VR. Also on the list could be NERF Ultimate Championship, Resolution Games’ upcoming Ultimechs or Wands Alliances from Cortopia Studios; so many possibilities.

It’s likely that the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase will be heavily updated oriented much like the 2021 showcase, although a few unexpected titles wouldn’t go amiss. For example, Vertigo Games revealed during Connect that it’s working with Oculus Studios on four new videogames so one of those could appear.

And remember two years ago when Ubisoft announced that the Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell franchises would be coming to Quest, with nothing being heard since. The Meta Quest Gaming Showcase would be an ideal time for a “gameplay first-look”.

Guessing aside, there are only three weeks to go until the showcase so you’ll find out soon enough. Let us know in the comments below which games you’re looking forward to. For further updates keep reading gmw3.

March 30, 2022

Meta’s Quest Gaming Showcase Returns On April 20

The second annual Meta Quest Gaming Showcase will take place on April 20, featuring updates and new game announcements for the Quest platform.

The showcase will begin at 10am PT, hosted Ruth Bram, Executive Producer at Oculus Studios. Meta says the showcase will feature “announcements, gameplay first-looks, updates on games coming in the next year, and a whole lot of surprises.”

Quest Gaming Showcase Returns

Beyond that, there are no specific clues for what to expect, but there are certainly a few things we’re hoping to get updates on. At last year’s Connect, Meta announced that PS2-era classic Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is coming to Quest 2, but we’re yet to hear anything else since. Likewise, we also know that Vertigo Games (developers of After The Fall) is bringing four new games to the Quest in partnership with Oculus Studios, any of which could be revealed at the showcase.

We’re also still waiting to hear more from Stress Level Zero on their Boneworks spin-off for Quest, which has been in development for a while now. Likewise, it’s been pretty dry for Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed VR news since those games were announced in late 2020. While not exclusive to Quest, there’s also a chance we could hear about the upcoming Among Us VR port, which was announced for Quest, PC VR and PSVR at The Game Awards last year.

Here’s hoping for news on all of the above and more. Last year’s show gave us an in-depth look at Resident Evil 4 VR and saw the announcement of Carve Snowboarding, though also largely focused on updates for games that are already available. You can tune in to the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase at 10am PT on April 20 on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Oculus TV. Of course, it won’t be the only VR gaming showcase this year – we’ll be back with the Upload VR Showcase in June. More details soon!

October 30, 2021

Oculus Gaming Showcase Returning For 2022 Show

The Oculus Gaming Showcase will return for a 2022 show in the future.

The Gaming Showcase was introduced earlier this year. It was a video presentation with new game reveals and trailers. In the April 2021 show, we got an in-depth look at Resident Evil 4 VR and Lone Echo II, and saw the announcement of Carve Snowboarding.

Over on Twitter, Meta VP of Play Jason Rubin confirmed that the show would take place in the new year, and not in late 2021. Either way Meta (which is the new corporate name for Facebook) will no doubt have a lot to talk about – the company this week announced that PS2 classic, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is coming to Oculus Quest 2, and After The Fall developer Vertigo Games is producing four new games for the platform too.

There are other lingering question marks, too. Boneworks developer Stress Level Zero is still yet to reveal its new game set in the same universe releasing on SteamVR and Quest, while Ubisoft announced full Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed VR games at last year’s Connect. Plus Meta’s own internal studios like Beat Games and Sanzaru Games are no doubt working away on new projects for the future.

Meta says to expect more information on the Oculus Gaming Showcase 2022 soon. Given this week’s news that the Oculus brand is being replaced on the hardware front and the Quest will soon be known as the Meta Quest, it’s quite possible the event will be called the Meta Gaming Showcase by the time it actually airs.

Of course, UploadVR does its own VR gaming showcase too. And we might just have another up our sleeves before the year is out.

What do you want to see out of the new Oculus Gaming Showcase? Let us know in the comments below!

April 22, 2021

Everything the Oculus Gaming Showcase had to Offer

Yesterday turned out to be a big Oculus Wednesday. First, there was the Oculus Quest flash sale (hopefully you didn’t miss it), then there was the little matter of the Oculus Gaming Showcase. The event was jampacked with announcements, from anticipated updates to brand new virtual reality (VR) titles being revealed. There was a lot to take in, so here are the highlights.

It was a 30 minute whirlwind of information, dispensing with the sort of fluff most other these events have, getting down to the good stuff. That meant lots of VR videogames, some getting updates right away whilst other are coming later this year.

Oculus Gaming Showcase Roundup

Lone Echo II – The long-awaited sci-fi epic is now scheduled for a Summer 2021 launch supporting Oculus Rift!
Resident Evil 4 – There was new footage as well as gameplay details for this Oculus Quest 2 exclusive, weapons will be body mounted and there will be smooth and teleportation options.
Star Wars: Tales From the Galaxy’s Edge: Part 2 – The first teasing details for the second installment, introducing you to a mysterious Ithorian called Dok-Ondar.
Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder – The next campaign for the popular rhythm action shooter, it’ll be set in the Wild West and arrives this summer.
I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar – Schell Games confirmed the spy sequel will support Oculus Quest and Rift which it launches in 2021.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Aftershocks – A massive update for the apocalyptic experience, it’ll continue the story with new missions, collectibles, and hours of gameplay. Due for release in May.
After the Fall – Looking forward to Vertigo Games’ co-op shooter, see it in action with a new gameplay trailer.
Carve Snowboarding – The only completely new videogame to be revealed, Carve Snowboarding sees Chuhai Labs team up with 1080° Snowboarding creator Giles Goddard to get players back on the slopes.
Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister – Released in 2020, Pixel Toys announced that the horde mode was getting a co-op element so you can fight the hordes of Chaos with a mate. Plus, it’s available now as a free update!
The Climb 2 – Another big update, Crytek releases the Freestyle Expansion Pack today, adding six new courses with new gameplay elements to really challenge the best climbers.

And that’s your lot from the first Oculus Gaming showcase. So there’s plenty to look forward to before the end of 2021 and then there’s always Facebook Connect later in the year. For all the latest Oculus updates, keep reading VRFocus.

April 21, 2021

Everything Announced At Today’s Oculus Gaming Showcase

Facebook today hosted its first ever Oculus Gaming Showcase, a Nintendo Direct-style digital presentation for Quest and Rift with new announcements and trailers.

So, what did you miss? Let’s take a look. Don’t forget all of these titles are coming to the Oculus Quest Store and/or the Rift store.

Everything Announced At Oculus Gaming Showcase

Pistol Whip Wild West-Themed Campaign Coming This Summer

Another free update for Pistol Whip is coming later this year with another campaign-like structure!

Warhammer 40: Battle Sister Co-Op Update Launches Today

Finally! Warhammer 40K: Battle Sister’s long-awaited co-op version is now available. Chaos Marines won’t know what hit ’em.

Lone Echo II Comes To Oculus Rift Store This Summer

After a long silence we finally got a new look at Lone Echo II. It’s coming to PC in summer but, sadly, no Quest version confirmed yet.

Resident Evil 4 VR Has Dual-Wielding And Physical Inventory

There was a LOT of new Resi 4 gameplay, only some of it properly captured here. Dual-wielding weapons are in!

I Expect You To Die 2 Coming To Quest, Rift Platforms Later This Year

We’ve seen this trailer before and we’d assumed it’d be coming to Quest and Rift but… now we know!

Carve Snowboarding Coming To Oculus Quest From 1080° Creator

A new snowboarding game from the creator of 1080 Snowboarding! Totally wicked!

After The Fall Is Coming To Oculus Quest, Gameplay Trailer Revealed

After The Fall is gearing up for a long-anticipated launch this summer, and Vertigo finally confirmed it’s coming to Quest too.

Freestyle Expansion Pack Coming To The Climb 2 Tomorrow In Free Update

New free content is coming to The Climb 2 tomorrow!

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Aftershocks Update Revealed

Another free update is coming to The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners next month!

What was your favorite news from the Oculus Gaming Showcase? Let us know in the comments below!

April 21, 2021

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Aftershocks Update Arrives in May

Skydance Interactive’s The Walking Dead: Saint & Sinners became one of the biggest virtual reality (VR) titles of 2020, enabling fans to step into the zombie apocalypse and try to survive a flood ridden New Orleans. Since the initial launch, the developer has brought the title to numerous headsets including Oculus Quest as well as offering more action through The Trial horde mode. Today, during the Oculus Gaming Showcase, Skydance has unveiled the next chapter, Aftershocks.

From the trailer that’s been released the update continues the campaign narrative where you were trying to find a fabled place called ‘The Reserve’, a sort after military cache full of weapons, ammunition, food and other supplies. A stockpile from The Reserve has appeared which means everyone living is after it.

Promising hours more gameplay The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Aftershocks will have new missions, hidden collectables, and new survival tools to aid the journey. “Accessible to those who have completed The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners campaign, this free update continues Skydance Interactive’s commitment to continue delivering more exciting content to the hit VR game and players can expect one of the most content-rich experiences in VR today with easily over 20 hours of game time,” notes Skydance Entertainment in a statement.

That’s not all fans of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners have to look forward to. Even more content is on the way with the studio planning to reveal details later in the year.

Reviewing The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners VRFocus said: “From the very beginning, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners offers a satisfying zombie experience that’s hard to match. Titles like Arizona Sunshine easily fill that need for straight-up arcade action, for when you want a living dead apocalypse with a bit more depth then The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is your new go-to videogame.”

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Aftershocks is scheduled to launch on 20th May 2021 as a free update. Even though the announcement was part of the Oculus Gaming Showcase the Aftershocks update will be for all platforms including Steam and PlayStation VR. VRFocus will report back and update the article accordingly.

April 21, 2021

The Climb 2 Freestyle Expansion Pack Launches Tomorrow

It may have seen a bit of a delay in its launch but Crytek’s The Climb 2 certainly delivered when it arrived in March for Oculus Quest. As part of the Oculus Gaming Showcase today, Crytek has announced that a new content update is due to arrive tomorrow, Thursday 22nd April, the Freestyle Expansion Pack.

The update will put your climbing skills to the test because there won’t be any checkpoints to rely on. Plus, you’re encouraged to not use any chalk when climbing any of the levels, you’ll be awarded bonus points if manage to. Rather than the scenic views you get to enjoy in the main campaign, the pack will feature the same minimalist design of the training levels but it’ll still offer both ‘casual’ and ‘professional’ gameplay modes.

Crytek will be launching the Freestyle Expansion Pack in two parts, with 12 levels in total, six arriving tomorrow and the rest at a later (unannounced) date.

Additionally, even The Climb 2 is getting in on VR’s rhythm action craze. The update will introduce: “rhythm-based climbing where you’ll see disappearing grips along your route, requiring you to learn the grip patterns to the beat of a background track to progress through,” notes the Oculus Blog.

With the launch of The Climb 2 Crytek challenged players to scale 15 new maps which included a cityscape for the first time. New gameplay elements like dynamic ropes, containers, ladders, and climbing equipment react to your weight for greater realism, whilst ledges can crumble and some even cause damage by reducing your grip quicker.

VRFocus’ review of The Climb 2 found the experience: “continues that simple, addictive gameplay that just draws you in, easy for newcomers to get to grips with whilst veterans should find enough new content to keep them happy. Crytek’s return to VR has been long overdue.”

The Climb 2 Freestyle Expansion Pack will arrive tomorrow as a free update for owners. Cast your eyes over the trailer below and when more content becomes available, VRFocus will let you know.

April 21, 2021

Freestyle Expansion Pack Coming To The Climb 2 Tomorrow In Free Update

At the Oculus Gaming Showcase today, Crytek announced the Freestyle Expansion Pack for The Climb 2. The pack will release in two parts, starting with a free update tomorrow.

The Freestyle Expansion Pack will add a whopping 12 new levels to the game, split over two separate parts. The first part, with six of those new levels, will be available in a free update for the game that launches tomorrow. The new levels will have both casual and professional modes, but there’s not any checkpoints throughout them. Additionally, you can get bonus points for completing them without using any chalk.

That’s not all though — Crytek also said that a new “rhythm-based climbing” mechanic is dropping as part of the update. “You’ll see disappearing grips along your route, requiring you to learn the grip patterns to the beat of a background track to progress through.” We’re unsure if this new mode applies to just the new expansion pack or all existing levels, but we’ll find out tomorrow.

The Climb 2 launched early last month after being advertised and announced alongside the Quest 2 launch mid-2020. Here’s a snippet of our review:

The Climb 2 is held back visually by its target platform, but it more than makes up for it with some thrilling climbs, incredible vistas, and excellent new game mechanics to really help keep you grounded. I don’t have a fear of heights or anything like that, but I absolutely did feel my stomach fall in fear when peeking out over the ledge a few times. It may not be as pretty as it could be with some poor texture quality here and there, but my arms are sore and I had a blast so it’s hard to say that affected my experience all that much overall.

You can read the rest of our review here.

The first part of the Freestyle Expansion Pack for The Climb 2 launches tomorrow.

April 21, 2021

A Winter Downhill Wonderland Awaits in Carve Snowboarding

If you’re of a certain age, remember 90’s gaming and owned an N64 then you may recall 1080° Snowboarding, one of the platform’s best sporting titles and seen as a benchmark for future games of that ilk. Well, one of its creators, Giles Goddard has teamed up with Chuhai Labs to create a spiritual successor in virtual reality (VR), Carve Snowboarding.

Announced during the Oculus Gaming Showcase today, Carve Snowboarding is set to offer all the thrills and highspeed excitement of this extreme sport, hurtling down mountains, performing giant leaps, grinding rails and pulling tricks to win big. Details so far come from the first announcement trailer, highlighting some of the courses, gameplay, and a few additional extras.

Carve Snowboarding will have a nice wooden hut as your base of operations by the looks of things, with an old-school boombox allowing you to swap tapes out so you can listen to tunes on the slopes. A selection of snowboards are on the wall so you’ll be able to mix and match between those, although it’s unclear if the variances are purely cosmetic. On the far wall looking like a big screen TV is the list of the main options, selecting the courses and gameplay modes such as Time Attack. You’ll also have a per pooch to keep you company.

The big question regarding a videogame like Carve Snowboarding is how well the studio manages to translate actual snowboarding into VR whilst ensuring a comfortable experience. Probably the best example so far is Early Access PC VR title Terje Haakonsen’s Powder VR which offers both arcade and simulation styles. At this early stage, Carve Snowboarding seems to be a more arcade-style experience.

At the moment there are no other details for Carve Snowboarding, such as when it might be arriving and whether it’ll be a PC VR or native Oculus Quest title.

The Oculus Gaming Showcase has been filled with updates and new info on currently known VR projects but Carve Snowboarding was the first brand new one to be revealed. As further updates are released for the snowboarding title, VRFocus will let you know.

April 21, 2021

I Expect You To Die 2 Coming To Quest, Rift Platforms Later This Year

Schell Games announced that I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar will launch on the Oculus Quest and Rift platforms later this year.

The game was featured as part of the Oculus Gaming Showcase today, but there wasn’t a huge amount of new information given — even the trailer featured in the showcase was the same as the original announcement trailer, embedded below, with some new Oculus branding at the end.

The sequel to Shell Games’ successful spy-themed puzzler was announced in January with a targeted release later this year. No platforms were mentioned in the announcement, but the original made its way to just about every major VR headset across PC VR, PSVR and Quest.

At today’s showcase, Shell Games confirmed that I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar will be launching on Oculus platforms, but we already know it’s coming to PSVR too. A SteamVR version seems all but certain, but no confirmation yet.

Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games, spoke a bit about the Oculus release in a prepared statement. “I Expect You To Die experienced remarkable success on Oculus platforms, and we’re excited to announce I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar will be available for Oculus gamers later this year. Our fanbase on Oculus helped us reach incredible milestones with the original title, and our team is looking forward to providing new and returning Secret Agents with an engaging, story-driven experience.”

The game will continue the story from the first title, with players going deep undercover to stop Zoraxis’ moves towards world domination.

You can read more about I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar in our exclusive interview with Schell Games from February.