Originally starting out as an immersive entertainment platform offering unique series from filmmakers, for the last year or so AmazeVR has gradually moved into concert experiences. The company has just announced that its latest funding round has managed to raise $9.5 million towards this endeavour, with music now the main focus going forward.
Led by Murex Partners, the funding round saw participation from We Ventures, Bass Investment, and Dunamu & Partners as well as existing investors– Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Mirae Asset Capital, Partners Investment and Timewise Investment. “AmazeVR represents the future of music promotion and fan interaction,” said Dohan Kim, the CEO of Timewise Investment.
AmazeVR’s shift into immersive concerts features both digital and physical activations. So fans can watch artists at home through VR headsets but there will also be movie theatre locations with D-BOX seats showcasing content. This is further aided by unique pop-up events thanks to a tour bus fitted with D-BOX seats, recently highlight via a collaboration with Roc Nation R&B/Hip-hop duo Ceraadi.
“Working closely with artists and labels over the past several months, it has become apparent that AmazeVR has the potential to take the music industry into the future while completely reinventing the fan experience,” said Ernest Lee, co-CEO of AmazeVR in a statement. “We’re rapidly building out our artist pipeline and striking broad distribution agreements to bring stellar artist-to-fan engagement to millions of people worldwide.”
“Our efforts are further assisted by interest in the VR market, with Apple preparing to release a VR headset and the Oculus Quest 2 representing a growing percentage of Facebook’s revenue,” Lee continued. “As more and more consumers gain access to VR technologies– be they through headsets, theatres, or even their phones– there is enormous potential for Immersive Concerts.”
With most live events still not taking place AmazeVR is one of a number of companies aiming to keep artists and fans connected. Taking a different approach is Sensorium Galaxywhich is creating an entire social world where superstar DJ’s like David Guetta will be performing. As this segment of the industry continues to gain traction, VRFocus will keep you updated.
There was a sudden spark in the world of virtual reality (VR) this week when reports circulated of an error message appearing on an Xbox Series X that seemed to indicate that VR support could be on the cards. No sooner had the rumour mill kicked into high gear Microsoft quickly debunked the news saying that the information was ‘inaccurate’ and a ‘localisation bug’. One thing made perfectly clear from all this is the fact that even if Microsoft still has no outward intention of Xbox supporting VR, we’d all still love it to happen.
So if you managed to somehow miss the furore a couple of days ago, IGN Italy reported on an error message one of its journalists noticed when installing the new Xbox Wireless Headset which read: “The VR headset needs to be updated.” Naturally, this was instantly flagged because Microsoft has made no mention of VR support in any way, yet there it was “VR headset”. However, the term ‘headset’ can be used for both VR devices and for headphones which can get a little confusing.
With VR really starting to kick-off thanks to Oculus Quest 2 and details about a new PlayStation VR surfacing, it seemed too good to be true that an Xbox VR head-mounted display (HMD) could be in the works. And that bubble was quickly popped by Microsoft, releasing a statement saying: “The description in this error message is inaccurate due to a localization bug. Console VR is not our priority right now.”
So that quickly put the fire out on that piece of short-lived excitement. It still begs the question as to why the Redmond-based company continually refuses to show any interest in console VR when most are still surprised it doesn’t already exist. Sure, the naysayers will point towards it still being niche or even going so far to claim that the technology is dead – which it definitely isn’t – but the lack of VR on Xbox still comes across as a big miss.
Image credit IGN Italy
Those with good memories will remember that it was Microsoft that started the Xbox VR rumours when it revealed Xbox One X (Project Scorpio) back in 2016, with Head of Xbox Phil Spencer actually mentioning VR in his E3 address. After that, VR was very quickly dropped from any Xbox dialogue with Microsoft only talking about the tech in relation to PCs. As we now know this then turned into the Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) system – which hasn’t been that successful really.
But with WMR in one hand and Xbox in the other surely they could’ve worked, especially on the new Xbox Series X? At the moment the focus is more on trying to get enough of the new consoles built than worrying about VR implementation, maybe once the Xbox Series base is established VR might become an option? Having the feature would certainly be another sales point.
Xbox really could do with considering its main rival PlayStation is very much invested in VR. Since launching in 2016 PlayStation VR easily became the top headset, selling millions of units whilst attracting AAA exclusives like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.March 2021 has seen Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) whip up a storm confirming a new headset is on the way followed by images of the “orb” controller with lots of fancy haptic features. The promise of a VR device for PlayStation 5 might not be its main sales feature as customers scramble to get their hands on one, however, this does mean PlayStation 5 has something the Xbox Series X definitely doesn’t.
And quite frankly we all love a bit of competition, it’s healthy and spurs innovation. Microsoft has VR headsets, it bought AltspaceVR, and it bought VR-capable studios like inXile Entertainment and let’s not even get into augmented reality (AR). Plus, just imagine if Xbox’s cloud-streaming service was piped into a standalone headset rather than a mobile phone…oh the possibilities. Hopefully, one day this will be made a reality and Facebook would have some proper competition.
Valve has been a prominent player in the virtual reality (VR) industry, from its SteamVR tracking system to its current Valve Index headset which launched in 2019. This week has seen the publication of a new patent, highlighting ideas for designs that include new head mounts, a wireless version and standalone head-mounted displays (HMD).
Valve filed the patent back in September 2020, just over a year after the launch of the Index headset, indicating the company is still interested in expanding its VR hardware business. There are three distinct areas that are being looked at, improving the comfort of the headset, making it more flexible with antennas for wireless connectivity or going completely standalone with all the processing done on board.
When it comes to comfort the designs offer various knobs to adjust the device to your head, there’s even one with a sprung, hinged system (top image) where the pad would nestle under the occipital lobe for support. It all looks a little bulky but it is a patent after all.
As for the wireless/standalone designs the patent has them more evenly balanced with components in both the front and back. “The back of the HMD may include a compartment having wireless transceivers, a battery, microphones, input/output devices, and/’or other components to permit operation,” states the filing. It would make sense that Valve would head down this route as while the Index is an excellent headset, once you’ve tried a wireless system going back to a cable does fell a bit clunky.
Whether these new designs will be put into production remains to be seen as plenty of patents rarely do. If that does happen VRFocus will keep you updated on the latest details.
At the end of January 2021, Facebook held its usual Q4 earnings call for the previous year. CEO Mark Zuckerberg positively discussed Oculus Quest 2’s holiday sales, mentioning how they’d: “done more than any other company” to make virtual reality (VR) a mainstream technology. Facebook is most certainly dominating even as it moves towards a singular headset as its sole piece of VR hardware and its not stopping, with the surprise confirmation that a follow-up was already in the works. So that inevitably begs the question, what would an Oculus Quest 3 offer and how would it advance the industry?
It’s no surprise that Facebook is working on the next standalone iteration as hardware can take years to develop – the original Oculus Quest from 2019 was first shown in 2016 as the Santa Cruz prototype – it was more the open honesty about it. Apple, for instance, is known to be working on a high-end VR headset yet all the details so far have come from unnamed sources; the company has yet to officially confirm reports. It seems Zuckerberg’s attitude was more along the lines of ‘Quest 2 is a hit, of course, we’ll make another.’ And why not, he fervently talks about the technology and has ploughed significant money into it. Obviously, that has meant Facebook creating a monopoly which not all the industry is happy about, but that’s a discussion for another time.
Oculus Quest 2 is almost 5 months old and by all accounts – not just Facebook – it’s been really good for VR as a whole. Developers have seen revenue in the millions and detailed stats like monthly active players tripling. So 2021 bodes well for the device, benefiting from both its easy to use nature as well as the current global situation where most are having to stay home and find new avenues of entertainment. Starting at £299 with a lighter, smaller form factor; no need for an external PC and crisper displays, the headset ticks all the right boxes. And then there are features like hand tracking which have barely been explored.
Oculus Quest 3 – or whatever Facebook decides to call it – will definitely carry on the standalone ethos the company has developed over the last couple of years. While it still wants to offer versatility via its Link system, the untethered quality which will be the core focus. 4K resolution displays should be the entry-level for this third iteration, as companies like Pico already offer 4K models which provide stunning visuals. Less clear is whether the new device will come with LCD or OLED displays. Fast-switch LCD’s can be found in Oculus Quest 2 and Valve Index which help them achieve high refresh rates, yet OLED is the clear winner when it comes to blacks. Play one of the many VR horror titles like Blair Witch: Oculus Quest Editionon an original Quest (OLED) and Quest 2 to see what a difference it makes.
Form factor is unlikely to radically change – no VR sunglasses just yet – small savings in weight and balance will occur, helping improve the comfort factor for longer sessions. When it comes to duration hopefully the standard device will push past 3 hours without having to buy an accessory like the Elite Strap. In fact, a balanced headset straight out the box with a rear battery would be ideal as the current setup is a little front heavy still.
But these suggestions don’t advance the industry enough, merely refinements like the Oculus Rift S. The future headset needs to increase that feeling of presence and immersion. Eye-tracking is one of the more feasible additions, providing avatars that can be expressive in social situations. Another benefit would be foveated rendering so whatever mobile processor is inside can easily achieve those 4K visuals. Quest’s hand tracking would need an upgrade, solving issues like occlusion so that your hands don’t suddenly disappear when they cross over. Ultraleap is doing some interesting work in this area. It’s working with Qualcomm to optimise hand tracking on the Snapdragon XR2 platform which currently rests at the heart of Oculus Quest 2. The tech will come to Qualcomm’s reference design so there’s a long shot it could filter through. More likely is Facebook developing its own method.
Expanding upon the tracking theme and those expressive avatars, facial tracking or at the very least recording mouth movements. AI could fill in as virtual beings like Lucy showcase, yet if we’re all having to remotely connect to one another for a family get together or when attending a virtual event, the way a face conveys emotion is vital. If Oculus Quest is the mainstream headset then surely that’s a necessary piece of the puzzle.
All this being said, don’t go and sell your Oculus Quest 2 just yet. Facebook has churned out six headsets in the last five years with only 17 months between Oculus Quest and Quest 2 so VRFocuswould expect a 2022 launch for any new model. Also, it would need to upgrade whilst keeping the cost relatively the same as that £300 is a nice sweet spot, keeping it out the region of PlayStation 5 which could well see a new PlayStation VR by that point. Which is important, as the one thing lacking at the moment is actual competition, a driving factor in any tech sector.
While 2020 may have been rubbish when it comes to almost everything, virtual reality (VR) developers have provided some awesome content to fill the time. So now it’s time to look ahead and see what the next 12 months will bring.
There’s no shortage of VR titles already slated for 2021, some have moved over from last year whilst others are looking to make their mark. Those such as Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creedand Splinter Cell don’t make the main list as these aren’t expected anytime soon.
Hitman 3
The main videogame a lot of PlayStation VR players are likely to be looking forward to, Hitman 3 arrives in a few weeks, the only title on this list with an actual launch date.
Putting you back into the shoes of the infamous assassin, Hitman 3 is fully VR compatible across its main campaign as well as its four other modes. Developer IO Interactive is making it possible to bring the two previous instalment’s maps – if you own Hitman 1 and 2 – into the third edition so you can play them in VR. Plus, the PlayStation 4 version will freely upgrade to the PlayStation 5 edition, whilst the PS5 version comes with a digital PS4 copy so there’s no need to worry which console you own.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR
Release date: 20th January 2021
Lone Echo 2
Announced as an Oculus Rift exclusive back in 2018, originally Lone Echo II had been slated for 2019. Over the course of 2020, a couple of updates were released noting that work was still ongoing as the team adjusted to working remotely but it was clear from the last one the videogame wasn’t going to make it this year.
The single-player sci-fi adventure, Lone Echo II continues the story where you play a robot called Jack who needs to help Captain Olivia Rhodes survive the perils of space. Exclusive to the Oculus Store, it’s worth taking a look at the original even if titles like Half-Life: Alyx have now surpassed it.
As there’s no actual release date just yet, Lone Echo II could well arrive after Oculus Rift S is discontinued so there’s little doubt it’ll be Oculus Quest (via Oculus Link) compatible.
A horror title with a twist, Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlifelooks to be quite an intriguing experience. Set within the World of Darkness universe, you play as a wraith stuck in the mysterious Barclay mansion with the ability to walk through walls and pick items up remotely.
This being a horror videogame, just because you’re a wraith doesn’t mean to say there aren’t nasty beings lurking in the darkness. In fact, they’re called Spectres and they stalk your every footstep. Suspense is key here, there doesn’t look to be any combat just exploration, puzzle-solving and hiding when appropriate.
Supported headsets: Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index & PlayStation VR.
Release date: Early 2021
Maskmaker
From the team that brought you A Fisherman’s Tale, InnerspaceVR is working on a puzzle adventure called Maskmaker. Set in a realm ruled by the titular character, you’re his apprentice, learning his secret, magical ways of making masks. These are no ordinary masks, allowing you to freely explore 8 levels ‘biomes’ and discover their secrets.
As an apprentice, you’ll have to learn to build various masks from blueprints using materials you find. Eventually, you’ll be given free rein to make your own designs, although the studio hasn’t revealed what will happen when you do. Grander in scope than InnerspaceVR’s previous projects, Maskmaker is expected early next year.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Q1 2021
Low-Fi
Iris VR Inc. – the team behind Technolust – held a successful Kickstarter back in 2019 for its ambitious cyberpunk project Low-Fi, which supports both VR and non-VR gameplay. An epic sci-fi adventure where you play a cop patrolling the dark crime-ridden streets of city-block 303, you’re able to choose between keeping law and order or exploiting its seedy underbelly.
While the Kickstarter offered backers access to the development build depending on which tier they purchased, that early access was then made available to everyone. Low-Fi is available on itch.io for $35 USD, once the videogame is ready to launch you’ll get a Steam key.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index & Windows Mixed Reality.
Only a few teasing details of the gameplay have been revealed so far such as the image below and that the action will be a mix of melee combat and powerful, motion-based spellcasting. One aspect Carbon Studio has been detailing is the storyline through a selection of dev blog’s over on Steam. If the team’s recent The Wizards – Dark Times game is anything to go by Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall is in good hands.
Supported headsets: PC VR & Oculus Quest
Release date: 2021
After the Fall
Another videogame falling foul of remote working in 2020, Vertigo Games’ After the Fall is its next big blockbuster shooter. Originally unveiled during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019, the studio has released few updates over the past year, the main one being the delay.
A promising action-packed FPS from what’s been shown so far, the studio behind Arizona Sunshine is heading for chillier climes for this adventure. Not to some northern outpost, rather Los Angeles set in a desolate future consumed by climate change and where most of the population have turned into monsters because of a designer drug. Survival will require scavenging for parts to build deadly weapons and other tools.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Early 2021
The Climb 2
Revealed during Facebook Connect in September, Crytek’s free-climbing sequel was slated for an Oculus Quest launch by the end of 2020. Nothing has been heard of The Climb 2 since then including a reason for the delay.
Just like before you’ll need a head for heights, assailing cliff faces whilst looking for the best route up. This time around, however, it won’t just be scenic views of the ocean and countryside you’ll be able to enjoy, it’ll take you into cities to scale massive skyscrapers like you’re Tom Cruise in a Mission Impossible movie. Hopefully, more news will come available in early 2021.
Supported headsets: Oculus Quest
Release date: ‘Coming Soon’
Sniper Elite VR
Bringing its popular sniping franchise into VR, Rebellion has teamed up with Coatsink and Just Add Water on the production of Sniper Elite VR. A single-player, story-driven campaign takes you to Italy during World War 2, helping the Italian resistance to rid Sicily of the Nazi’s.
You’ll be exploring scenic locations, finding the best spots to snipe enemies or when necessary employing sub-machine guns, pistols and other weapons at close range. And let’s not forget about the infamous X-ray kill camera to really make those long-range shots standout. While no official release date has been mentioned, having demoed Sniper Elite VR in 2019 VRFocus has its fingers crossed this might appear in 2021.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: ‘Coming Soon’
Unplugged
Rhythm-action videogames can be awesome fun and Unplugged from Anotherway and Vertigo Games looks like it could be a blast. It’s also the only title here which uses Oculus Quest’s hand tracking feature for some air guitar rock and roll.
So far a couple of teasing videos featuring Searching for the Truth by The Electric Alley and Roadie by Tenacious D have showcased the gameplay no guitar controllers needed. You’ll score points and build combos when playing well or booed and beer hurled at you when you mess up.
After four years the PlayStation VR is still going which is an accomplishment considering the lifespan of most virtual reality (VR) headsets. Even with PlayStation 5 now available, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has ensured continued compatibility whether you’re new to VR or not. For PlayStation VR owners there’s been plenty of content to choose from in 2020, so here’s 10 of the best.
Unlike previous years, PlayStation VR’s dominance has wained and with it, all the exclusives the platform was known for. There are still a couple on the list below, but most of the titles now tend to be multi-platform. That’s no bad thing as there are some great videogames on offer.
The Best PSVR Games of 2020
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
Let’s start with an exclusive though, in fact, PlayStation VR’s biggest exclusive of the year, Marvel’s Iron Man VR. After a series of delays developer Camouflaj released the highly anticipated title during the summer, providing players with the first proper chance to don the famous suit.
With a pair of PlayStation Move controllers you can take to the skies to battle new enemies, learning how to use the Repulsor Jets to dodge enemy attacks as well as shoot them. As the campaign progresses you can customise the suit with various offensive and defensive capabilities to suit the missions. This is the closest to being Iron Man you’ll ever get.
Paper Beast
One of the more unusual VR experience to arrive this year, Pixel Reef’s Paper Beastis a surreal puzzle adventure inside a world created from big data. In this simulated ecosystem, bizarre creatures have come to life, exhibiting similar characteristics to real-world animals.
The main campaign revolves around interacting with the creatures and environment to solve the various challenges, providing some awe-inspiring visuals along the way. In addition to the campaign, there’s a sandbox mode where you can build your own worlds. One of those videogames which showcase how unique VR can be.
Final Assault
Originally released last year for PC VR headsets, after much work Phaser Lock Interactive managed to bring WWII strategy game Final Assault to PlayStation VR.
With a single-player campaign as well as cross-platform multiplayer, Final Assault is fully featured when it comes to content. You command ground and aerial troops like a table-top boardgame, dropping them in to lead an attack or setup defensive positions before pushing forward. The aim being to destroy your opponents base. Lots of fun if you like real-time strategy (RTS) titles.
Pixel Ripped 1995
When it comes to retro nostalgia in VR ARVORE’s Pixel Ripped series has got you covered. The latest is Pixel Ripped 1995, taking you back 25 years to a time where sprites were transitioning into 3D graphics.
Considered a golden era for videogames, Pixel Ripped 1995 features six levels containing nods to titles such as Streets of Rage, Mortal Kombat, Road Rash, Star Fox, Sonic the Hedgehog, Castlevania and many more. You play as Dot who needs to vanquish her arch enemy the evil Cyblin Lord, aided by a 9-year-old videogame fan called David. Gameplay jumps between 2D and 3D, where you have to deal with challenges both onscreen and off. Certain to put a smile on any players face.
Gorn
Not one for younger players unless you go straight into the settings to switch the gore off, Gorn is pure over-the-top violence in a comedic, cartoon style. You’re a gladiator and the aim here is to survive brutal arena fights using whatever weapons come to hand (or just use your hands).
No crimson paint is spared as you break bones and dismember opponents with knives, axes, maces, bows and even environmental obstacles. Everything has a bouncy, ragdoll effect, so enemies can be flung around whilst the weapons wobble around like giant sponges. Addictive in its simplicity, Gorn is also quite the workout due to the physical exertion of beating cartoon gladiators senseless.
Dreams
One for those who love to be creative as well as play videogames, Dreams was a major launch for PlayStation 4 early in the year, with VR support added a few months later.
Developer Media Molecule has created a title where you can play its own single-player experience as well as those from the rest of the Dreams community. If you want to delve deeper then there’s a massive selection of tools to build whatever you want, from a simple art piece to a videogame which can be shared with the world. A videogame with limitless possibilities.
Pistol Whip
Another 2019 title which finally made it to PlayStation VR, Cloudhead Games’ Pistol Whip is a rhythm-action videogame like no other. Evoking films like John Wick you can become an action-movie badass, shooting enemies and dodging to a thumping soundtrack.
With 15 on-rail ‘Scenes’, the gameplay is intense and physical, encouraging you to move out the way of bullets whilst firing off as many of your own. The visuals are just as dramatic, creating an all-encompassing experience which will make you sweat. Plus there are plenty of modifiers to make things harder whilst upping that score for top leaderboard positions. Then early next year PlayStation VR owners will be treated to free DLC Pistol Whip 2089.
It’s all about melee combat, fighting through the procedural world of Rokar where each run-through isn’t quite the same but you can become stronger in the process. Attack, block and parry relentless foes. Should you fail then returning to the hub means you can upgrade weapons or select new ones to change your strategy. Energetic like Gorn, however, Until You Fall requires far more precision.
Star Wars: Squadrons
This videogame needs little introduction as it was the major release in October, strapping pilots into either Rebel or Imperial ships to battle in that far off galaxy. While you don’t necessarily need to be a fan of the franchise, it certainly helps when playing Star Wars Squadrons.
With single-player and multiplayer modes, in the story-driven campaign, you swap between the two opposing faction’s narratives, jumping into a selection of craft like the X-Wing or Tie Fighter. Over in multiplayer you have those same options, teaming up in a crew to take down Capital ships or engage in online dogfights. Great if you’re after a more comfortable, sat down VR experience.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
As the chaos of 2020 has managed to avoid a zombie apocalypse why not put yourself into one voluntarily with The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. A survival game set within a partially flooded New Orleans, make new friends, enemies and take down a few walkers along the way.
As a drifter you encounter warring factions vying for the few resources which remain whilst trying to scavenge your own in the derelict buildings and streets. Craft useful items and new weapons, blades are silent but will tire you out where guns have great stopping power as well as attracting attention. Outside of the main campaign, there’s The Trial horde mode if you just want some arcade action, killing waves of walkers. Plenty to keep you entertained and for practising those survival skills.
It’s been quite the year for the Oculus Quest platform, both positive and controversial. The standalone headset has gone from strength to strength with a growing catalogue of videogames and let’s not forget about the arrival of Oculus Quest 2. Whether you’re new to VR or not, here are VRFocus’ recommendations from 2020.
Below you’ll find 10 of the best videogames for Oculus Quest and this list is by no means exhaustive. It really was difficult narrowing down the selection and there are many more great titles on the store.
The Best Oculus Quest Games of 2020
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
For those who love a good zombie apocalypse Skydance Interactive’s The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is worth a look. Having to survive the mean streets of New Orleans, you’ll deal with dangerous humans and walkers alike. Scavenge houses for useful parts to keep you healthy or to craft more weapons, whilst uncovering the underlying storyline.
Go in silent with blades or a bow to avoid attracting attention or make some noise with pistols, rifles and more – just be ready for the horde. Plus in January 2021 a free horde mode ‘The Trial’ will provide wave-based action.
Cubism
Simple, elegant puzzle gaming, Cubismis the work of solo developer Thomas Van Bouwel. Featuring 60 puzzles, twist and turn them to try and fit the various colourful pieces inside. Easy to pick up yet difficult to put down Cubism is an indie gem to enjoy.
Blair Witch: Oculus Quest Edition
The horror genre has been well represented in VR and Bloober Team’s Blair Witch: Oculus Quest Edition is a great example why you should avoid the woods at night. Taking the standard 2019 title and giving it a VR twist, you have to explore the creepy woodland looking for a missing lad.
Along the way you have to deal with some strange events as well as your characters own PTSD and panic attacks. Lucky, by your side is your faithful pooch Bullet who can find hidden items as well as alert you to danger. Full of suspense and puzzles to solve, this isn’t for the faint of heart.
Until You Fall
When you just want a pure arcade hack-n-slash Schell Games’ Until You Fallis an energetic roguelite which ticks all the right boxes. Set in the neon fantasy world of Rokar you play a Rune Knight tasked with ridding the land of evil.
Gameplay revolves around runs through the world which changes each time due to procedurally generated levels. Combat is melee based, where you buy and upgrade various swords and knives adapt and conquer each run. Die and you return to the beginning a try again. Hectic and brutal, this is one videogame to get your heart pumping.
Population: One
Mixing the massive battle royale genre with VR’s interactive gameplay is Population: One. Taking place across one giant map which supports 18 players, across six squads with three players each, drop pods launch you onto the battlefield to see who can survive the longest.
Weapons and useful items are littered throughout the world as well as resources to build quick platforms for defensive and offensive capabilities. You can also climb anything you want and then glide across the map to gain an advantage. A relentless first-person shooter (FPS), one to keep you entertained for hours.
Phantom: Covert Ops
For a far more subtle shooter where you can be as stealthy or gung-ho as you like then nDreams’ Phantom: Covert Ops is a good choice. Playing as an elite operative infiltrating an enemy base, the unique element here is that you’re entirely confined to a kayak throughout.
So you can silently paddle through waterways, hide in reeds, and then snipe enemies to complete the task. Or with some C4 and the assault rifle tear the place up, your call. Completing mission-specific objectives or finding hidden secrets will unlock levels in the Challenge Mode, so there’s more to keep you entertained after the campaign is over.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted
The only other horror title on this list, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted goes for the classic jump scare, using it to great effect. A compilation of all the previous Five Nights at Freddy’s plus some made for VR content, all the levels are bite-sized mini-games where you have to survive the night.
With killer animatronics hunting you down encounters can include playing a security guard keeping an eye on monitors or crawling into claustrophobic ventilation systems to repair them. You know they’re coming, but it doesn’t make it any less scary!
Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale
Pure multiplayer madness for up to four people, Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale is all about preparing delicious lunches for your customers. They all have their own preferences with some more exacting than others, so it’s up to you and your team to deliver, no one person has all the ingredients. Therefore good communication and some speedy chopping skills are in order.
You have access to a fridge full of ingredients as well as a grills to toast (or burn) ingredients. Plus you’ll need to clear and clean plates as no customer wants their sandwich on a dirty plate. There’s also a single-player mode where you can team up with a kitchen robot assistant to tackle the various campaign levels. Good clean/messy fun.
In Death: Unchained
In a similar roguelite vein to Until They Fall, In Death: Unchained has procedural levels and single run-throughs where death puts you right back at the start, a little wiser and a little stronger. Here though, all you have is a bow – a crossbow can be unlocked – and an assortment of magical arrows to take down Templar Knights, demons, evil monks and other unearthly creatures.
One for those who love a challenge, there’s plenty to keep you entertained as the developer has just released a new gameplay mode called ‘Siege of Heaven’. Plus, like many on this list if you have an Oculus Quest 2 there are visual enhancements which make the world more impressive.
The Room VR: A Dark Matter
Fireproof Games took its hugely popular mobile series The Room and built The Room VR: A Dark Matter specifically for VR gaming. With an original storyline set in London, circa 1908, you play a detective called to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a renown Egyptologist from the British Institute of Archaeology.
Que elaborate puzzles, dark magic and fantastical gadgets to aid the investigation. These are all fully interactive to help engross you in each element plus the gameplay uses specific teleportation points so it should be a very comfortable experience for all players.
What a year it has been for the XR industry, with both highs and lows felt across the board as companies deal with remote working conditions, lockdown restrictions and much more. So in October VRFocus decided to launch its very first awards showcase, celebrating the best of what the industry has to offer; all with a little twist, public voting. So now it’s time to reveal who the lucky winners are.
Dubbed The Better-Than-Reality Awards, there were eight categories up for grabs, ranging from the consumer-focused ‘Best VR Game of 2020’ to business solutions and rising stars in the XR space.
Whilst some categories were almost dead certs having redefined AAA VR gaming, there were still a few surprises considering all the winners were chosen by the public.
“For us, building a Half-Life game from the ground up for Alyx was always about bringing that universe back in an exciting way, and to do that through VR was a rewarding process. But the positive feedback from fans of Half-Life is truly the most rewarding part, and we are just super grateful for the community support,” said Robin Walker, Programmer / Designer at Valve Software.
“We are extremely honoured that STYLY received the Best AR App award, and we are incredibly grateful for this recognition from VR Focus and the AR community. STYLY continues to move forward, taking on new challenges in XR. We are very proud to be designing and building a new XR world in Tokyo, Japan, with incredible XR artists and content creators from around the World,” said Ryohei Watanabe, CMO of Psychic VR Lab Co., Ltd. “It is an ambitious goal, but we are incredibly excited to bring VR, AR, and MR content together in a spectacular showcase in the heart of Tokyo. We hope that everyone can come to Japan to enjoy this XR world. Once again, we are honored and grateful for receiving this award, and thank you to everyone who helped make STYLY the Best AR App!”
“We are thrilled that VRFocus’ readers named Transformers: VR Battle Arena as their favourite location-based VR experience in a category filled with such worthy competition,” noted Vander Caballero, CEO of Minority Media. “This just goes to show the power of a great brand and social gameplay in attracting players, even in these challenging times.”
“I’m truly honoured to receive the Top XR Influencer 2020 award! Thank you! My mission with MRTV though is not to “influence” my viewers but rather to give them all the information they need so they can make their own educated purchasing decisions!,” said MRTV’s Sebastian Ang. “Therefore I’d rather call myself an XR Content Creator! This award shows me that the community appreciates independent XR content on YouTube! Thanks again to everyone who voted for MRTV!”
“It’s a huge honour to take home the award of Favourite VR headset for Oculus Quest 2. We’ve seen an incredible response from the VR community since launch in October, and to know this award was voted for by the public means a lot. We’re looking forward to delivering more incredible Quest 2 content in 2021 for people to experience,” said Rangaprabhu Parthasarathy, Product Manager, Oculus Quest 2.
“We’re extremely excited that FitXR has been announced as the winner of the Most Promising XR Startup award, as given by VRFocus. This is a great win for us so thanks to everyone for their votes and continual support for FitXR,” said Sam Cole, CEO & co-founder, FitXR. “We’re focused on continuing our mission of creating a virtual reality exercise experience that remains fun and effective at its core and have lots of exciting updates in store for the FitXR platform in 2021. Next year is going to be huge so keep your eyes peeled!
Congratulations to all of VRFocus’ The Better-Than-Reality Awards winners and their contribution to the industry. Best of luck to everyone for 2021!
It’s been just over two weeks since Facebook launched the Oculus Quest 2 and by all accounts its been a big success (mostly). The latest confirmation of this comes from CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself, revealing that pre-orders of the new headset had easily outstripped the original Oculus Quest.
He was speaking to investors during Facebook’s Q3 earnings call, saying: “We launched Quest 2, our most advanced virtual reality headset, right in time for the holidays. It delivers a real sense of presence — like you’re right there with another person or in another place — and we’ve worked to make it accessible to more people. It’s lighter, faster, has a sharper screen, and a new price point of just $300. Pre-orders have outpaced the original Quest pre-orders by more than 5x and have surpassed our expectations.”
As usual, there’s been no mention of units sold but Zuckerberg did go onto discuss the team’s plans for the future: “The big milestone that I’m focused on here is we want to get to 10 million active units,” adding: “the ecosystem will really be able to be self-sustaining…it will really economically make sense for independent developers to prioritize the Oculus platform above alternative gaming platforms.”
While there has been plenty of online discussion about Facebook’s latest VR policies such as account integration, the feedback from reviewer’s including VRFocus has been generally very positive, finding that the new design exceeds expectations thanks to a better display and lighter construction.
When it comes to developers many have released updates to pre-existing titles, utilising the extra horsepower to make their videogames look even better. They’ve also been vocal about the uptick in sales. Fast Travel Games for example tweeted that unit sales for Apex Construct and The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets: “were up 800% vs. the day before.”
Those ‘active units’ Zuckerberg mentions will mostly fall upon Oculus Quest 2 as Facebook has previously announced that Oculus Quest, Oculus Go and Oculus Rift S are or will be discontinued.
As Facebook continues its VR and AR expansion plans, VRFocus will keep you updated.
The last 18 months have been an exciting time for the virtual reality (VR) industry, with one headset above all dominating; Facebook’s Oculus Quest. The standalone headset promised what all VR enthusiasts had been wanting for years, full wireless freedom, no cables or the hassle of external sensors to worry about. Well, the time has come to improve upon that design with the Oculus Quest 2, a lighter, more powerful headset which aims to cement Facebook at the top of the VR mountain.
First Impressions
Oculus Quest 2 instantly wins points for the fact that it further reduces the cost of entry into VR, with the 64GB model coming in at £299 GBP/$299 USD, £100 cheaper than the original. And for those who want more storage, the 256GB version is £399/$399, still not a bad price for full-blown 6 degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) VR.
What’s nice to see is the move away from the monolithic black plastic block to a far more eye-catching two-tone, black and white design. This gives the Oculus Quest 2 a refreshing aesthetic, inviting and dare I say it trendier look to help appeal to a mainstream audience, not just the die-hard VR fans. The quality can be seen throughout, from the box presentation to the build of the headset and controllers, Oculus Quest 2 feels like the premium product it should be.
The Headset
Oculus Quest 2 has seen a major overhaul both inside and out, yet all the improvements are merely enhancements over the original rather than trying to do something new or groundbreaking, much like the Oculus Rift S did. At its heart is the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform, actually designed for XR hardware rather than the original Quest’s Snapdragon 835 processor found in smartphones.
Whilst this is already being put to good use with developers rolling out enhancements for previously released videogames, much like consoles I expect the best is yet to come. Further leveraging Oculus Quest 2’s potential, titles will become richer, more expansive experiences, especially as the standalone headset will become Facebook’s only VR device after the Oculus Rift S is discontinued in 2021.
Weight
What you get for your money is a smaller, lighter VR headset, in turn feeling comfier as there’s less weight on your face, dropping down from 571g to 503g. It is still front heavy but that reduction is enough so that longer gameplay sessions don’t feel as gruelling on your face. In turn that meant it was enjoyable delving into big titles that offered grand adventures, the only cut off being the battery life. Likewise, when it came to really active titles such as Beat Saber, not having all that weight bobbing up and down made getting into the rhythm far less of a challenge.
This weight saving isn’t purely on the front as Oculus Quest 2 now features a soft strap than a rigid one. The overhead velcro strap is still there but gone are the side adjustments in favour of a system at the rear. Personal preference whether this is an improvement, I found the new design comfortable and easy to adjust, plus it makes the headset far more portable and simple to stow away. The only real concern with the soft strap and the off-white colour is that of cleanliness. The past few weeks with the device haven’t made it that dirty but over time I’d imagine this is going to get grubby.
When it comes to battery life not much has changed. The battery spec hasn’t been released but just like the original Oculus Quest 2 will give you between 2-3 hours, completely dependent on whether you’re watching videos of playing games. Mostly, I got just over 2 hours playing videogames before having to recharge.
Visuals
Alongside the Snapdragon XR2, on of Oculus Quest 2’s major features is its new display, providing what Facebook calls an ‘almost 4K display’. That comes from a fast-switch LCD providing a resolution of 1832×1920 per eye as well as 50% more pixels to reduce the dreaded screen door effect. This improvement is instantly noticeable, completely removing the screen door effect whilst crisping up videogame graphics on both enhanced and standard Quest titles. The visual quality hasn’t just been improved by the display, as the Fresnel lenses do also appear to have been tweaked to aid clarity – although god rays do appear, usually in higher contrast loading screens.
Like any LCD display, however, it can’t compete with the black levels of the Oculus Quest’s OLED panel. Not great for dark horror videogames, the trade-off ensures a comfortable experience with less digital effects from constantly moving your head.
One feature which has always been a hot topic in VR is interpupillary distance (IPD). On the original Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest this adjustment was manual, so you could easily fine tune the setting. Oculus Rift S went digital – to great uproar – whilst the Oculus Quest 2 has gone for an entirely different method. The IPD is physically adjustable between three settings 58, 63 and 68mm. With a numbered indicator between the lenses you have to grab and move them which is a little weird due to a bit of force being required. This also stops you seeing the image as you make the adjustment, having to take the headset off each time. It’s an unusual compromise seeing as though the first system worked really well.
Facebook has said these three settings should cover the majority of users. Having an IPD of about 67mm the widest setting did suffice but there’s likely going to be some which don’t fit into this bracket.
Audio
And then there’s the audio. Oculus Quest 2 still uses the piping system down the strap arms to provide spatial sound which works much the same as the original. There’s certainly an improvement at the lower end, from gun fire to bass in music, the drivers do pack a bit more wallop. You’re still best off using headphones if you can to truly immerse yourself in an experience, with the headset now only sporting one 3.5mm headphone jack on the left-hand side rather than two.
The Controllers
Just as important as viewing a virtual world is how you interact with it. Oculus Quest 2 may have hand tracking yet for most titles the Oculus Touch controllers are the main input source. Just like the headset, these have seen a notable redesign, in fact, harking back to the Oculus Rift CV1 controllers.
They’re bigger than before with a more substantial grip as well as offering a circular faceplate which has a nicer resting area for the thumb – great if you’ve got larger hands. This has given Facebook more room to improve the haptics which are more powerful. It is a shame that the cross-hatching has been removed, with smooth plastic in its place. The absence is most noticeable in really active videogames, having to hold the controllers that little bit tighter. On the flip side, the battery cover no longer uses magnets so it does stay firmly closed – an annoying flaw on the previous version.
Most impressive though is the battery life. Facebook has said the single AA should last 4x as long, and so far that seems to be right. After several weeks of use, the battery indicator had only dropped to 90% with the pre-supplied battery.
The Content
With an all-new home to start from you’ve got Oculus Quest’s ever-growing library of videogames and apps to enjoy, with plenty of classics to enjoy.
What’s missing is content to really test the hand tracking feature. It’s mostly used in Oculus home and other first-party apps. Only a few titles like The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets and Tsuro: The Game of the Path actually use it to any degree.
And let’s not forget about Oculus Link, hooking the Oculus Quest 2 up to a PC to play content from platforms such as SteamVR. Opening up a whole new world of content, the feature is still in beta and generally works ok. It does need to be improved with the onset of Oculus Rift S’ discontinuation. You’ll also need to buy a long USB-C cable as the one supplied isn’t long enough to support the feature.
Facebook Login
Let’s address this controversial issue. All new customers to the Oculus platform or those upgrading to Oculus Quest 2 will now have to use their Facebook account to log in. Oculus accounts are no longer being offered, although if you do already have one then the merging process can be delayed until 1st January 2023.
Designed to provide one social ecosystem, if you love VR but have resisted social media then this is where it gets tricky. Buy an Oculus Quest 2 and you have no choice in setting up a Facebook account as the two are now intertwined. It’s long been expected and now unavoidable.
Because of this VR users have to adhere to Facebook’s policies when it comes to community conduct. Fall foul of these and at worse your account will be suspended, in turn, stopping you from playing all that VR content you’ve bought, hence the big furore. Now, this is unlikely to affect many owners but the fact remains it’s still there, putting off those who were keen on the platform before.
Verdict
So does all of this add up to a more capable machine? It most certainly does. Oculus Quest 2 offers a better experience in every way, and for a cheaper price! Possibly not enough for current Oculus Quest owners to jump on an upgrade unless you’re really keen but certainly even more tempting for new arrivals or those coming from alternate hardware.
Just be aware that there’s no expandable storage so while the 64GB is more than enough now, games are expected to get bigger. There are also all the accessories to consider such as the Elite Strap. VRFocus didn’t have these for review but the Elite Strap with Battery pack which supposedly doubles gameplay duration will likely be tempting for VR enthusiasts and we’ll review that as soon as possible.
The login issue is now here to stay so if it bothers you then a SteamVR headset is a good bet. Otherwise, if you have a Facebook account and want a good wireless VR headset, then you can’t go wrong with Oculus Quest 2.
