The Pistol Whip Smoke & Thunder Update Arrives Next Week

Pistol Whip: Smoke and Thunder

Cloudhead Games has been teasing Pistol Whip’s next campaign Smoke & Thunder for a few months now, dropping players into a wild west-themed experience with lots of additional content. Today, the studio has announced that the Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder update will arrive in a weeks time.

Pistol Whip Smoke & Thunder

Just like Pistol Whip’s first cinematic campaign 2089, Smoke & Thunder will feature five scenes taking players on a story-driven journey revolving around sisters Jessie (Victoria Hogan, Kingdom Come: Deliverance) and Tess (Avalon Penrose, Hades). In between each scene, the narrative will play out via illustrated cutscenes created by comic artist Fico Ossio, and colourist Raciel Avila. 

Smoke & Thunder won’t simply sport an original story and snazzy theme, it’ll feature tracks from The Heavy, Black Pistol Fire, Bones UK, Devora, and Magic Sword. There will be new pistols for that ultimate gunslinger feel, perfect for taking down the new enemies and final boss.

Once the campaign is complete you can then head on over to the new Arcade mode to play both 2089 and Smoke & Thunder‘s scenes. The difference this time is the ability to choose whatever weapon and modifier you want for an endless stream of combinations.

Pistol Whip Smoke & Thunder

Don’t forget, as Cloudhead Games previously revealed, the Smoke & Thunder update will also include the new Styles sandbox system. This is where you’ll really get to mix up the gameplay experience in Pistol Whip, creating new setups with a preferred weapons type and five modifiers. This will see the inclusion of Brawler, transforming the previous No Ammo modifier into a new melee mode.

There is one final change to Pistol Whip and that’s the price. The Smoke & Thunder update will launch next Thursday, 12th August and will be free to existing Pistol Whip owners. The core videogame itself can still be bought for $24.99 USD across all platforms until 15th August. After that date, the Pistol Whip price will be increased to $29.99 to help support the creation of more content. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Pistol Whip, reporting back with the latest updates. 

First Footage Released of Pistol Whip’s New Style System

Pistol Whip

Cloudhead Games’ Pistol Whip became an instant hit when it first arrived back in 2019, providing visceral rhythm action gameplay found nowhere else. Content has been regularly added including a five-stage campaign but this summer the videogame is going to get a whole new lease of life. Previously teased as “The Concierge” update, that name has now been dropped as Cloudhead Games reveals the new Pistol Whip Style System.

Pistol Whip

If you’re well-acquainted with Pistol Whip then you’ll know it has a unique visual and gameplay, shooting enemies to some thumping tunes. If you wanted to mix things up there were the modifiers activating dual wielding guns, the removal of aim assist and much more. The new Pistol Whip Style System will allow you to remix scenes in a multitude of ways.

Essentially, a “Style” is a preset which contains three variables, Weapon Type (determines weapon behaviour), 5 x Modifiers (alter gameplay mechanics) and then the Intensity rating. After selecting a scene you’ll see the Style menu to the left where you browse various styles across four categories Basics, Featured, Trending and Favourites. These styles have been curated by the developers as well as the community. The Featured section for example will recommend two new styles every week if you just want to start playing right away.

Or for those that want to create their own you have the customise mode. Here you can modify a preexisting style or build a brand new one. Cloudhead Games will also introduce a new mod called Bullet Hell where enemies unleash massive volleys of projectiles to really keep you ducking for cover. Additionally, all the campaign scenes can be played with any style.

Pistol Whip

So when does the new Style System arrive? As Cloudhead Games revealed back in April as part of its Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder announcement, both the new campaign and feature set land together this summer. So not only do you get new ways to experience Pistol Whip but there will be a whole new Wild West campaign to enjoy.

Take a look at the announcement video below to see the Pistol Whip Style System in action. As further updates are revealed, VRFocus will let you know.

Pistol Whip Wild West-Themed Campaign Coming This Summer

Yee haw cowboys! Pistol Whip’s new wild west-themed campaign, Smoke & Thunder, drops as a free update this summer for Quest and Rift platforms.

Smoke & Thunder is wild west-themed and will be the second in a series of new narrative-driven mini campaigns added as free updates for Cloudhead Games’ rhythm-based shooter. It follows on from the epic Terminator-themed 2089 campaign that was added last December.

Just like 2089, Smoke & Thunder features five new ‘scenes’ (Pistol Whip’s name for a level or track) and will tell “the tale of two sisters set in the Wild West where trains, tech, and explosions set the scene for some exciting surprises.”

In addition to Smoke & Thunder, the update will also include The Concierge campaign, which was meant to launch in late 2020 but was then pushed back to 2021. There’s not much info on what to expect from The Concierge, but here’s how it’s described on the Oculus blog:

This update will release alongside The Concierge, which will unlock total customization for Pistol Whip players. Whether you prefer bottomless burst pistols or dodging through levels as a no-ammo pacifist, seemingly endless combinations of weapons and modifiers for every level will allow you to truly hone your play style. Compete in the ever-changing featured styles with multi-platform leaderboards, or dive in and build your own. The Concierge always has what you need.

Both Smoke & Thunder and The Concierge will drop in the same update for Pistol Whip, coming this summer. Keep an eye out for more details soon.

Enjoy Summer Gun Slinging With Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder on Oculus Quest & Rift

Pistol Whip: Smoke and Thunder

During the Game Developers Conference (GDC) back in March, Cloudhead Games’ CEO, Denny Unger teased details of Pistol Whip’s next campaign, indicating that it could be set in the Wild West. That’s very much the case with the studio confirming Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder will be coming to Oculus Quest and Rift during the summer.

Pistol Whip: Smoke and Thunder

Just like Pistol Whip: 2089, this new action-packed campaign will be set across five scenes (stages) with the storyline involving a pair of sisters. Few other details have been released so far, but expect to encounter plenty of explosions, trains and, of course, some pistol-whipping in what could be Pistol Whip’s least neon-drenched experience yet.

The launch of Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder will also herald the arrival of The Concierge update Cloudhead Games originally mentioned last year. While Pistol Whip does feature gameplay modifiers and gun customisation options, The Concierge is set to take those options to a whole new level. “Whether you prefer bottomless burst pistols or dodging through levels as a no-ammo pacifist, seemingly endless combinations of weapons and modifiers for every level will allow you to truly hone your play style,” notes a blog post. In addition to the customisation options, you’ll be able to compete in the multi-platform leaderboards which will have ever-changing featured styles.

For the sound of it, Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder and The Concierge will be Pistol Whip’s biggest content update to date, greatly rounding out the experience for new and seasoned players. The Pistol Whip 2089 campaign was free DLC so that could well be the case again, VRFocus expects Cloudhead Games might do the same again.

Pistol Whip

The rhythm action shooter has been a big success for Cloudhead Games since the initial launch in 2019. VRFocus  thoroughly enjoyed playing Pistol Whip, saying in its review: “Pistol Whip is huge amounts of fun even on the easiest difficulty setting, suitable for VR players no matter their skill level.”

Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder is part of the Oculus Gaming Showcase, the first time Facebook has held such an event, mainly due to events such as GDC unable to take place. Summer 2021 is going to be a big one for the Oculus platform so keep reading VRFocus for all the latest updates.

‘Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder’ & ‘Concierge’ Expansion Teased for Summer Release

Similar to the previously released Pistol Whip ‘2089’ expansion, the game is due to get another free expansion called ‘Smoke & Thunder’ which will bring five new levels tied together by a short narrative with a Wild West vibe. The update will also bring ‘The Concierge’ which is said to drastically expand the game’s modifiers, allowing players to come up with new and more challenging ways to play.

Launched earlier this year, Pistol Whip ‘2089’ was a free, five-level expansion to the game which also brought new gameplay ideas and a light narrative illustrated with graphic-novel style art. Check out our review here.

Pistol Whip ‘Smoke & Thunder’ will be a similar expansion, with five new levels that follow a different narrative, in which “trains, tech, and explosions set the scene for some exciting surprises,” says developer Cloudhead Games. The studio revealed a teaser today for the upcoming expansion during the Oculus Gaming Showcase.

In addition to the ‘Smoke & Thunder’ expansion, the update will also bring ‘The Concierge’, which the studio says will “unlock total customization for Pistol Whip players.” The Concierge will seemingly rework the existing modifier options while introducing new ones.

“Whether you prefer bottomless burst pistols or dodging through levels as a no-ammo pacifist, seemingly endless combinations of weapons and modifiers for every level will allow you to truly hone your play style.”

Further, it sounds like ‘The Concierge’ will present pre-made modifier sets which will have their own leaderboards, and those sets will rotate on a regular basis, giving players fresh competition to chase.

Both Pistol Whip ‘Smoke & Thunder’ and ‘The Concierge’ are set to launch this Summer.

The post ‘Pistol Whip: Smoke & Thunder’ & ‘Concierge’ Expansion Teased for Summer Release appeared first on Road to VR.