‘Budget Cuts’ for PSVR Now Delayed Until September

Neat Corporation, the team behind Budget Cuts (2018), originally wanted to bring its VR stealth adventure to PSVR back in May. After a delay due to the global slowdown, which pushed that date to July 10th, the studio is again marking a definitive launch date in stone: September 25th.

Update (July 3rd, 2020): Neat Corp has released a PS blogpost outlining its new September 25th release date. Ostensibly as a form of recompense, the studio has also built a new PSVR-exclusive level called ‘Panopticon’.


Update (May 7th, 2020): Neat Corp has announced in a recent tweet that Budget Cuts for PSVR won’t be launching in May 2020 as previously planned. The delay, which is due to the global slowdown, is pushing the release to July 10th. We’re glad to hear that the team is taking the extra time to nail it down, and continue on with their work in these uncertain times.


Update (March 23rd. 2020): – Neat Corporation, Coatsink, and Perp Games today announced that the original Budget Cuts will be coming to PSVR on May 15th with a simultaneous digital and physical release. There’s still no word on whether a Quest version is still in the mix.

Original article (January 20th, 2019): Budget Cuts puts you in the hum-drum world of an endless office complex. Just as you’re about to die of boredom, a fax comes through that warns you of impending doom. All of the humans in the office have been mysteriously replaced by worker drones, and it’s your job to get past the deadly security bots with only throwing knives and your trusty portal-style teleportation gun to figure out what happened.

While we genuinely liked the game, unfortunately it was plagued with performance issues early on which actually forced the team to reschedule launch well after reviews were already out in a bid to smooth over some of the game-breaking bugs that made their way to some reviewers.

That said, Neat Corp has plenty to do to get the physics-based stealth game in shape for the decreased graphical and CPU power of the PS4. Another hurdle to jump over will invariably be the PS Camera’s smaller, front-facing tracking volume that will no doubt require users to make heavy use of snap-turning locomotion in addition to the game’s native teleportation scheme.

Whatever the case may be, we’re hoping it does well enough to bring the game to Oculus Quest, because it’s clear a virtually unlimited tracking volume would be an insane addition to a game that gets you dodging, ducking, and cowering under virtual desks for your life.

The post ‘Budget Cuts’ for PSVR Now Delayed Until September appeared first on Road to VR.

Brainseed Factory’s PlayStation VR Puzzler Squishies Gets Physical This Spring

German indie developer Brainseed Factory launch virtual reality (VR) puzzle platformer Squishies for PlayStation VR a couple of months ago. Today, the team has announced a collaboration with Perp Games to bring the videogame to retail stores this Spring. 

Squishies

Squishies takes place in a joyful, vibrant world which Brainseed Factory has designed to be easily navigated using PlayStation Move controllers. The challenge is to help the squishie characters get home by manoeuvering them around a series of ever more complex and hazardous levels, pushing and pulling from one side of the maze to the other, all while earning medals, gathering crystals, climbing slopes, and avoiding pitfalls.

There are 100 levels across five worlds to complete in the main campaign mode, and when things get tough you can always use power-ups, alien technology and helpful creatures to get by. Once completed – or even before then – you can build your own levels using the same tools that Brainseed Factory used to build the videogame. Once completed the levels can then be shared with friends and the rest of the world using an online store.

Of the announcement, Bilal Chbib, Producer and Game Designer at Brainseed Factory said in a statement: “We have big plans for our little Squishies, and working with an experienced partner like Perp to bring the game to the beloved box is definitely a great step forward.”

Announcing the first Perp Games title in 2019, Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games went on to add: “Squishies is a great puzzle game, that uses the Move controllers in a unique and intuitive way.   We really love the level editor and think fans will have great fun creating new levels to share to the community.”

Squishies will get a physical release in Spring 2019 for PlayStation VR owners in EU territories, with a North American date to be announced. Of course, you can buy Squishies digitally now, via the US PlayStation Store for $24.99 USD, or the EU PlayStation Store has the title discounted 20 percent, dropping the price from £19.99 GBP to £15.99. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Squishies, reporting back with any further future updates.

Become a Badass Ninja When Sairento VR Hits PlayStation VR in Q1 2019

For those that have the stomach for all the jumping, wall running and mid-air acrobatics, Mixed Realms’ Sairento VR is one of the more interesting first-person shooters (FPS) available for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Having garnered a strong fan base since its Early Access debut back in 2016, the studio has just announced it’ll be expanding support to PlayStation VR in Q1 2019.

Sairento VR new screenshot 2

Mixed Realms has teamed up with Perp Games to make the release possible, with the latter’s expertise in bringing VR videogames to physical retailers being used to provide PlayStation VR owners with the choice of a digital download or on disk.

On the announcement Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games said in a statement, “As one of the best-selling PC based VR games ever released, PSVR fans are in for a real treat.  It is a great honour to release the physical version of Sairento and to work with such a talented group of developers as Mixed Realms.”

Sairento VR takes the action up a notch by combining both ranged gunplay and close-quarters melee combat, with somersaults, multiple jumps, side flips, wall runs, and power slides, allowing players to hack, slash, duck, and weave through hordes of enemies.

SairentoVR

At their disposal are an arsenal of weapons includes katanas, guns, bows, kunais and throwing glaives which can be enhanced with items called relics. Additionally, players also possess the ability to slow time down, enabling them to gracefully switch from one artistic execution to another.

“We are very pleased to have found a reliable partner in Perp Games to bring our game to PSVR gamers in the US, Europe and the Middle East,” said Aldric Chang, CEO of Mixed Realms. “We are confident that with their strong repertoire, fans of Sairento will soon be able to get their hands on a physical copy in retail stores in these countries.”

Check out VRFocus’ PC VR review of Sairento VR for more game details. When Perp Games and Mixed Realms reveal a specific release date in 2019, VRFocus will let you know.

Have a Happy Perpmas With Perp Games This Festive Season on PlayStation VR

Christmas is almost upon us and today’s the day where you get to open that first door on your festive calendar. To celebrate the season Perp Games is holding a Perpmas Advent Calendar event over the next 24 days with lots of goodies for gamers to win.

Perp Games is best known for publishing 19 PlayStation VR videogames in physical form, from its first release VR Karts to its most recent Paper Dolls, the company has a wide variety of titles under its belt.

For its month-long competition, Perp Games will be giving away VR videogames galore via its YouTube channel. To kick the whole thing off today’s giveaway is a big one with all of those titles bundled together in one box for one lucky person to win.

The full roster of PlayStation VR videogames on offer:

All you need to do to win this massive bundle is two things, subscribe to the Perp Games YouTube channel, then in the comments section let them know which of their videogames you most want to play and why.

You’ll need to get your entry in before Monday 3rd, 12pm BST, with Perp Games announcing the winner during its third video which will be released on the same day.

And don’t forget to check the channel each day as with each new video released will be a new chance to win. For further updates from Perp Games, keep reading VRFocus.

Smash Hit Plunder to Receive US Physical Release on PlayStation VR

British virtual reality (VR) indie developer Triangular Pixels launched its long-awaited dungeon demolition title Smash it Plunder for PlayStation VR last month. Today, the studio has announced that North American gamers will be able to buy the videogame in physical form from retailers in December.

Smash Hit Plunder is a comical co-operative adventure where players can throw, shake, eat, burn and generally annihilate everything in sight. Players find themselves cast as a young mage inside sprawling ghost-infested Castle Carvasso. Having inherited this medieval home the castle is then magically locked up by a ghostly debt collector and it’s up to the player to wreak havoc throughout the grounds to find enough hidden treasure to pay off the debt and win back their home.

The campaign itself is split into three modes, each offering its own unique challenges. For example, players can race against the clock in Treasure Hunt to gather as much loot as possible within the time limit, comb the grounds for a specific piece of treasure in Scavenger Hunt, or explore the castle at their own pace in Free Play. Additionally, each of these modes can be played in local co-op, bringing a friend along to help in the challenges.

“The couch co-op experience is an important aspect of gaming for many people, and Smash Hit Plunder really succeeds in translating that for the VR medium,” says Mickey Torode, director of publishing at Perp Games. “The game can be a cathartic single-player campaign, but also offers a high-energy multiplayer arena to team up with or challenge friends.”

Smash Hit Plunder

Alongside the co-op modes, Smash Hit Plunder also features up to four-person verses modes, enabling three players to challenge the VR Mage in special dungeons with Poltergeist Panic or Jewel Duel modes.

Thanks to Perp Games, Smash Hit Plunder will be available from North American retails on 14th December, retailing for $29.99 USD. For any further updates on the title, keep reading VRFocus.

VR Horror Paper Dolls to See EU Retail Release in December

Chinese publisher Winking Entertainment launched its most recent title, virtual reality (VR) horror Paper Dolls on PlayStation VR just in time for Halloween. Now, thanks to a collaboration with Perp Games, Paper Dolls will be coming to EU retail stores in December.

Paper Dolls packshot

Paper Dolls is a scary puzzle-based adventure inspired by Chinese mythology. You play a father of a young daughter who has been taken to an old and abandoned house. She goes missing and it’s up to you to find her. In the process you must cling to life, surviving all costs to learn more about the Qing Dynasty and the omnipresent enemy lingering throughout the dilapidated mansion.

With a new movement system developed specifically for Paper Dolls, Winking Entertainment states that the single-player campaign features around 15 hours of gameplay.

Perp Games is synonymous with bringing PlayStation VR titles to retail stores, with past videogames including TornDownward Spiral: Horus Station, Apex Construct, Blind, Moss and several more.

Speaking about the partnership with Perp Games, Ran Wang , VP of Winking Entertainment says: “Perp Games is doing an excellent job in releasing VR games physically. We are very excited to continue the partnership with Perp Games and bring our new games to more players.”

paper dolls img2

On publishing Paper Dolls, Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games had this to say: “Winking Entertainment really are leading the way in the PSVR market and it is great to be continuing our relationship with them. Paper Dolls is, in my opinion, one of the most spine-chilling titles on PSVR.”

Paper Dolls will see a physical release on 7th December at EU retail locations, with further territories to be announced. When that happens, VRFocus will let you know.

The Mysterious World of Torn Arrives on European Shelves for PlayStation VR

Aspyr Media launched its debut virtual reality (VR) title Torn back in August, bringing the puzzle adventure to Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. As VRFocus previously reported, the studio collaborated with Perp Games to bring a physical release to retail shelves just for PlayStation VR, with European territories seeing copies hit stores today.

Torn

Torn is a dark, science-fiction mystery inspired by The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, where you play Katherine Patterson, a video blogger looking to uncover the secrets of an abandoned mansion. Previously owned by Dr Lawrence Talbot who mysteriously disappeared, you need to solve the various puzzles that stand in your way, uncovering the storyline as you alternate between Talbot’s mansion and another dimension known as ‘The Parallel’.

All the puzzles are manipulated using the ‘Gravity Tool’, a special device created by Talbot. This enables you to interact with a lot of the environment, being able to throw tables, chairs, and even pianos with the flick of a wrist.

VRFocus reviewed the PC version of Torngiving it a commendable four stars whilst saying: “Torn is a beautiful title to look and showcases a premium level of detail and quality that’s only ever found in a few VR titles. The puzzles themselves maybe on the simple side and the ending is somewhat underwhelming yet that doesn’t detract from the wonderful adventure as a whole, with Torn evoking a charming strangeness that carries you through.”

Torn

Of the physical release announcement, Michael Blair, Director of Sales at Aspyr Media says in a statement: “We were inspired by the feeling of Black Mirror and the Twilight Zone, and wanted to create a truly dark and unexpected cinematic gaming experience in VR. Torn pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in VR, and we can’t wait for gamers to discover the secrets of the Mansion.”

“Dark; atmospheric; moody; mysterious. This is what VR gaming is all about,” said Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games. “Fans of VR are in for a huge treat and we are extremely proud to be releasing Torn as a physical product.”

Torn is now available at EU retailers on PlayStation VR with a North American release to follow. For further updates keep reading VRFocus.

Zen Studios VR Collection Announces Free DLC

Publisher Perp Games have now released the Zen Studios VR Collection is now available in Europe for the PlayStation VR, with a North American release set to follow. The publisher has also revealed that the title will come bundled with free DLC for Pinball FX 2 VR.

Zen Studios VR Collection is a bundle of virtual reality videogames from Zen Studios, which includes Out of Ammo, CastleStorm Virtual Reality, Infinite Minigolf VR and Pinball FX2 VR. Developer Zen Studios and publisher Perp Games have now announced that additional tables for Pinball FX2 VR will be included in DLC.

The initial release of Pinball FX2 VR in the Zen Studios VR Collection included three tables. With the release of the downloadable content, that number will be increased up to eight tables, with the addition of the Pinball FX 2 VR Season 1 Pack.

The Season 1 Pack is being released at no extra charge to customers, and includes the following tables:

• Wild West Rampage

• Castlestorm

• Biolab

• Paranormal

• Earth Defense

Vice President of Publishing, Mel Kirk says “We see how virtual reality is changing the future of gaming and Zen is excited to be a leading developer and publisher in quality VR titles. We couldn’t wait to get this fun VR collection into the hands of more PlayStation VR gamers by expanding into the box retail market and Perp Games helped make this possible.”

Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games says: “Zen Studios is one of the market leaders in bringing fun and exciting product to PlayStation VR. We are delighted that we can bring these titles to the boxed retail market and allow all those people who prefer Physical Product to experience these four great games.”

PinballFX2VRSeasonOnePack_Paranormal Screenshot

The new tables are in addition to previously announced tables, Secrets of the Deep, Mars and Epic Quest. For future coverage of Zen Studios VR Collection and other new and upcoming VR titles, keep checking back with VRFocus.

Downward Spiral: Horus Station to get a Physical Release in November

Last month saw 3rd Eye Studios launch its virtual reality (VR) sci-fi thriller Downward Spiral: Horus Station for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR. Today the studio has announced a partnership with Perp Games to bring the title to retail stores, starting in November with Europe followed by North America in the near future.

Downward spiral horus station screen 1

Offering a core single-player adventure where players find themselves on a deserted space station, Downward Spiral: Horus Station is a zero-g thriller with players having to solve puzzles and unlock the story through environmental clues – there are no cut-scenes or dialogue in the videogame.

Whilst investigating, players will find out that they’re not completely alone on the station which is why they they need to find  maintenance hardware on the ship, such as bolt throwers, rail guns and arc wielders to help solve the puzzles and fight back against oncoming threats.

Downward Spiral: Horus Station will be available for PlayStation VR at retail in Europe on 9th November, with a USA release to follow. “We think Horus Station is something special and are very much looking forward to seeing it physically in stores,” 3rd Eye Studios Co-Founder, Tapio Vierros said in a statement. “From the outset, Perp Games looked like an ideal partner to make that happen, and it has been a pleasant experience to work with them.”

Downward Spiral: Horus Station

“We love 3rd Eye Studios approach to gaming.  So many new and exciting ideas are packed into Downward Spiral: Horus Station. From the amazing Zero Gravity movement to the eerie silence of the abandoned space station, the game is simply mind blowing,” adds Rob Edwards, MD of Perp Games.

Alongside the singleplayer you can always team up with a mate in the co-op mode, or go head to head with the PvP multiplayer.

VRFocus reviewed the PC version of Downward Spiral: Horus Station, giving it a solid four stars, commenting: “Downward Spiral: Horus Station does exactly what it needed to, presenting a far grander and more engaging instalment to the VR series.” For further updates from 3rd Eye Studios keep reading VRFocus.

Tear it up Next Week When Triangular Pixels Release Smash Hit Plunder

British indie developer Triangular Pixels has been working on its PlayStation VR title Smash Hit Plunder since 2014. After four years of work the team are this week nearing the end, with a launch date planned for this Friday, 5th October 2018.

Smash Hit Plunder

Smash Hit Plunder is a light-hearted physics-based tear-it-up experience inside a haunted medieval castle. As the studio explains it: You play as a mage – you think you’ve just inherited the castle of your dreams from your family, but actually it’s been magically locked up by a ghostly debt collector. Now it’s down to you to find enough hidden treasure in the castle to pay off the debt…”

Featuring sprawling dungeons filled with treasures to find, players will be able to fight ghosts, munch on food, start the odd fire or two and generally cause a bit of chaos. Smash Hit Plunder includes a full narrative, five game modes and progression unlocks.

This isn’t purely a single-player experience either. Thanks to PlayStation VR’s social screen feature a friend can join in the adventure during ‘Treasure Rush’, ‘Scavenger Hunt’ or ‘Free Play’. For even more multiplayer fun up to four players can go head-to-head in hide-and-seek ‘Poltergeist Panic’ or fight for possession in ‘Jewel Duel’.

Smash Hit Plunder

Being the Cornish-based studio that they are, Triangular Pixels has even included support for Kernewek, the Cornish language. Katie Goode, Creative Director of Triangular Pixels said: “Being based in Cornwall, we saw that it was important to support local culture. Cornwall is a magical place and was of great inspiration while making the game – and some of our levels may be recognisable to the its residents. We wanted to do our part in keeping the local language alive and allowing our neighbours read in their own language.”

Smash Hit Plunder will be available both digitally via PlayStation Store and physically in stores thanks to Perp Games. You can pre-order the title from Amazon and GAME for £24.99 GBP. For any further updates from Triangular Pixels keep reading VRFocus, and of course keep an eye out for our review.