On his LinkedIn page under experience, Shabestari lists the aforementioned games and then also lists an ‘Unannounced Title (PSVR 2)’.
Firewall: Zero Hour launched in 2018, exclusive to PSVR, and was one of the most successful and popular multiplayer titles on the platform. After Firewall, the studio released Solaris: Offworld Combat in 2021 for Quest, PSVR and PC VR titles.
It’s now been over a year since the release of Solaris. The wording on the LinkedIn page implies that the next unannounced title could be exclusive (either fully or at least at launch) to PSVR 2. Given this, could the studio be working on a sequel to Firewall as an exclusive for PSVR 2? Or if not a Firewall sequel, perhaps the title is simply a new IP for the headset, available at launch or soon after?
Playful Corp’s plucky little fox Lucky was virtual reality’s (VR) original mascot when Lucky’s Tale launched alongside the Oculus Rift in 2016, proving that third-person videogames do have a place in VR. Today, six years after the initial release Lucky’s Tale is now available for PlayStation VR.
This isn’t quite the same version from 2016 though, with the 2022 PlayStation VR edition getting some modern enhancements. Featuring the new Lucky character model from New Super Lucky’s Tale, the PSVR version has been ported from Playful Corp’s remaster that arrived for Meta Quest 2 and SteamVR a few months back.
So what else does the remaster include? Well, the team has Lucky’s Tale a fresh coat of paint, focusing on updating the visuals and audio. PlayStation VR players will still be able to run, jump, climb, and spin their way through this colourful landscape as they fight to save Lucky’s friend Piggy from the monstrously tentacled Glorp.
Players will encounter Glorp’s minions along the way, utilising that tale for maximum damage. Lucky’s Tale isn’t just about fighting bad guys, players will also have to keep an eye out for all the hidden secrets littered throughout the game, tucked away in every corner.
In our 2016 review of Lucky’s Tale gmw3 said: “The titular fox’s moveset and control system is clearly borrowed from Super Mario 64, while the coloured coin hunt is reminiscent of Super Mario World‘s red coins…Is this an issue? Well, no. If you’re going to create a videogame that adheres strictly to established genre formulae, why not follow the example of the most celebrated examples? It’s familiar and comfortable.”
Lucky’s Tale is available now for PlayStation VR retailing for $19.99 USD. For further updates on the latest PSVR titles, keep reading gmw3.
When you think about it some of the biggest videogame franchises have been built around a singular character, Mario, Sonic, Master Chief. Say these names and most players will instantly know them and reminisce about spending far too much time in these digital worlds. Yet virtual reality (VR) doesn’t have quite the same heritage when it comes to standout characters, mainly because you are the character. There is a small selection that bucks this trend, top of the list being Quill from Polyarc’s Moss series. And now the second instalment has arrived, Moss: Book II, taking the tiny mouse on another adventure that retains all the charm of the original.
Moss was an instant hit back in 2018 so the sequel doesn’t play with that formula too much, rather doing what all good sequels should; refine and expand. You still play as The Reader, a looming ghostly figure in the Moss universe who becomes a pivotal part of the story, controlling not only the heroine Quill but also far more than ever before. It’s this connection with the world of Moss that Polyarc has truly grown, because as the interactivity in VR games has increased Moss: Book II has followed suit.
But how do you increase interactivity in a videogame-like Moss: Book II when your only input method is a DualShock 4 controller? By bringing the environment to life, taking those gorgeous environments the series is known for and adding an even greater selection of elements to touch. Most of which are important to the gameplay and figuring out the vast variety of puzzles Moss: Book II has throughout the campaign.
Controlling that blue orb just like the first instalment, the new interactions range from growing vines walls for Quill to climb to pulling out vines to create new walkways. The method is simple yet it encourages you to begin leaning into the environments which need to be closely inspected for secrets. Moss: Book II has even more up its sleeve where new mechanics are concerned, as Quill now has a trio of weaponry to unlock. Beginning with the original green blade, Chakrams help you deal ranged damage whilst the previously revealed hammer is slow, heavy but sure does pack a punch.
With these selectable via a new inventory system on the touchpad, Moss: Book II’s combat is as playful and enjoyable as ever. Quill can unleash a wave of combo attacks with a few quick button presses whilst being light on her feet for evasive manoeuvres. Even when surrounded by several enemies Quill has plenty of skills up her sleeve, she is a very dextrous mouse after all. Each of the weapons has a unique charge ability, that can be used in battle or for those environmental puzzles. The blade activates a blue dash to cross chasms or hit a row of opponents whilst the Chakrams can be charged into one giant weapon, great for smashing distant objects. The hammer has the most useful ability, creating a giant ghostly version that you can bring crashing down on switches and groups of enemies.
The only real downside to the new weapon selection is being able to switch between them quickly. This is most notable mid-battle, as it becomes quite finicky hitting the touchpad and then selecting whichever weapon you want whilst ensuring Quill doesn’t get hurt. Being able to stick each weapon on the D-pad would’ve been so much simpler – albeit less involved.
Moss: Book II is equal parts action and puzzle-solving, every new area is one giant conundrum to explore and navigate with Polyarc squeezing a generous amount of variety into them. Much like the original, puzzles are environmental, generally tasking you with finding the right path without falling off the ledge and into a seemingly bottomless pit. Yet none of them is too taxing that you’d need a great deal of help as they rarely extend beyond the viewable landscape in front of you. This does aid the flow of Moss: Book II’s narrative yet lacks the satisfaction of completing a brain teaser.
Moss: Book II’s real hook is in its ability to create an emotional bond with Quill, this little plucky mouse. The overall animation is excellent with Quill’s being exceptional. From the way she dodges an attack to the scuttling of her hind legs when she’s trying to climb a high ledge, Quill is alive more than any other VR character. She’ll also put a hand up for a random high-five or you can scratch her head – which she loves – providing delightful little moments in between all the action.
In addition to the animation, all the levels are magnificent to look at, from huge sprawling vistas teasing castles in the background to tightly cramped underground environments, Moss: Book II is a visual feast. These are mainly 180-degree dioramas that encourage you to lean in and inspect them. You have to, in fact. There are scrolls to find and Relic Dust to collect, which you won’t spot by sitting back on the sofa all the time. Plus, it makes playing the game super comfortable as the camera remains static the entire time.
Alas, this does mean PlayStation VR tracking issues can come into play. Getting a closer inspection can make the environment a bit jittery and there were times when Quill was quite far away to comfortably lean in and activate an ability. Then there was always having to remember to keep the controller’s front light facing towards the camera. If not the blue orb that you control can drift and there was the odd occasion where Quill would miss her landing mark because of this.
Moss: Book II builds upon its forebear in so many ways making a hugely worthwhile sequel. Taking around 5-6 hours to complete without collecting everything Moss: Book II isn’t a huge VR game yet it’s a satisfying experience. Whilst not particularly difficult, stepping into Moss and teaming up with Quill is a delight once again, with polished gameplay, more interactivity and visuals you can’t help but soak in. The main problem really is that Moss: Book II ends a bit too soon, as you won’t want it to be over.
A new job listing for VR workout app Supernatural confirms that the team is looking to bring the fitness title across to PSVR on both PS4 and PS5.
Spotted on Twitter by @Zuby_Tech, job listings on Supernatural’s LinkedIn page are advertising for a number of positions, including a Senior Software Engingeer for VR on PlayStation platforms.
The part of the description that specifically mentions PlayStation platforms reads as follows:
Supernatural is seeking a Senior Software Engineer with expertise working on Playstation consoles (Playstation 4, Playstation 5) to lead development and support as we seek to expand the ecosystem footprint of Supernatural onto PSVR. You will be a force-multiplier working across a wide spectrum of VR client-side concerns helping to refine our architecture and best practices to ensure a correct level of platform abstraction where appropriate, and Playstation-specific approaches where required.
Before this, there was no inkling that Supernatural would move to any other platform besides Quest, let alone PSVR. The app isn’t even available on Meta’s PC VR platform for Rift.
It’s unknown whether the reported anti-trust probe may have influenced Meta’s plans for Supernatural, or whether the app was always set to make its way to PSVR regardless.
Either way, it’s an interesting precedent that suggests not all of Meta’s acquisitions will result in platform exclusivity for associated apps. Beat Saber, Popluation: One and other Meta-owned games are available on other platforms, but those versions already existed before their respective acquisitions.
Polyarc’s Moss: Book II was one of the few virtual reality (VR) videogames to make gmw3’s “Most Anticipated for 2022” list, continuing the tale of Quill and her fight against an evil menace. Today, the team has announced that the PlayStation VR exclusive is due to launch in a couple of weeks.
Since teasing Moss: Book II last summer Polyarc has revealed that the sequel will continue the story of Quill who saved her uncle Argus in the previous game, and now faces a new winged tyrant as well as other beasties. New foes mean new features with Quill able to utilise new special abilities and equipment.
One of these is the new hammer, a massive piece of equipment that Quill can only just wield. In new footage shown during a press briefing, Quill can use the hammer to smash boxes and lightly armoured enemies. Or, to help solve puzzles at specific locations or to break apart very well armoured foes, the player can also join in and smash the hammer down with greater force.
Another previously shown mechanic that gmw3 got to see more of was the nature attunement ability. This allows you to grab specific areas of the environment and stretch out a vine, opening up new pathways for Quill. It’s another part of Polyarc’s efforts to immerse players in the Moss world, rather than merely looking on they can influence it as well.
Polyarc has also confirmed that there are going to be more of the big set pieces like the final fight from the first instalment. So expect to encounter more bosses on Quill’s next adventure. No creatures have been unveiled but a teasing colossal hammer did make an appearance.
In addition to the videogame, the studio has also teamed up with artist Kyle Sauter to created a limited edition 11”x17”, 4-color screen printed poster that can be found on Amazon for $25 USD. “For this poster I wanted to capture a moment of action frozen in time,” said Sauter. “Quill leaps into battle as a swarm of Arcane enemies close in.”
Moss: Book II is scheduled to arrive for PlayStation VR on 31st March 2022. For further updates keep reading gmw3.
United States import records from late 2021 onward show that Sony Interactive Entertainment has shipped thousands of boxes containing developer kits from Asia to the US. The exact contents of the boxes hasn’t been specified, however Sony’s next-gen PlayStation VR 2 headset is a very likely candidate.
As first reported by TweakTown, Sony has shipped 2,374 cartons containing “DEVELOPMENT KIT[s] FOR INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE,” starting back in October 2021.
January 2022 – 434 CTN (cartons), 4730 kg, Japan -> Oakland, CA
December 2021 – 980 CTN, 8712 kg, Japan -> Oakland, CA
November 2021 – 480 CTN, 5218 kg, Japan -> Oakland, CA
October 2021 – 240 CTN, 2612 kg, Korea -> Oakland, CA
October 2021 – 240 CTN, 2612 kg, Japan -> Oakland, CA
Granted, records don’t specify which dev kit is inside the box, however we can make a few educated guesses.
Platform holders like Sony typically distribute dev kits to a handful of select studios months before launch so they can properly target the new hardware. PSVR 2 is rumored to release in early 2023, so the clock is ticking for studios to make the best use of all the new tech packed into Sony’s next-gen headset, including eye-tracking, face haptics and its new Sense controllers.
PlayStation 5 released in November 2020 and continues to lag in production due to the global chip shortage, so it’s unlikely Sony is shipping additional PS5 consoles to developers at this late stage.
Sony also hasn’t announced any other console, like a PlayStation 5 Pro. Given the ongoing supply chain problem with microprocessors, a surprise PS5 Pro launch seems like a non-starter considering PS5 is still in high demand and relatively little supply.
WanadevStudio announced the news in a tweet last week, confirming that the rhythm-based drumming game will be brought over to the PSVR ecosystem after launching for Quest and PC VR platforms last year.
Last year #Ragnarock has come to #metaquest. This year we are facing a new challenge porting to #PSVR
There’s no confirmed date or window for the PSVR port yet — the studio only said that last year they worked on the Quest version of the game and this year they are “facing a new challenge” to bring Ragnarok to PSVR. So hopefully sometime this year is still on the cards.
The studio also noted that it will “do [its] best to make it cross-platform for you.”
Ragnarock is a Viking-themed rhythm game that sees you bang drums to the beat of the music aboard a Viking ship — the boat’s crew will row in time with each of your bangs, moving the boat down closer to the finish. We named it one of the best rhythm and music games available for Quest, so we can’t wait for PSVR players to get their hands on it soon.
A couple of weeks ago gmw3reported on British developer Coatsink having several virtual reality (VR) projects in the works which included a PlayStation VR2 launch title. Also mentioned was Shadow Point, a story-driven puzzle title that was originally an Oculus Quest launch game. Today, Coatsink has confirmed that Shadow Point is coming to PlayStation VR later this month.
Shadow Point gained a lot of notoriety early on all thanks to the participation of Sir Patrick Stewart, who narrates throughout reading the journal of Edgar Mansfield. A theme Coatsink has continued through most of its VR videogames harking back to the early days of Esper which featured the vocal talents of Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead). Most recently the studio is known for Jurassic World Aftermath.
The PlayStation VR launch will feature all 80+ mind-bending puzzles that require gravity manipulation, playing with your own shadow, peer into alternate realities and more. As the title suggests, playing and manipulating light to create shadows is Shadow Point’s core mechanic, finding the right angles and depth to complete the puzzles.
To enable as much freedom as possible Coatsink has ensured Shadow Point is compatible with the PlayStation Move controllers as well as being suitable for seated or standing gameplay.
Reviewing the Meta Quest version of Shadow Pointgmw3 found the videogame to be: “a suitably well-accomplished puzzle experience…there’s enough here to provide a good few hours of entertainment without breaking a sweat”
Coatsink will release Shadow Point for PlayStation VR on 22nd March 2022 retailing for $19.99 USD, £14.99 GBP, €19.99 EUR. Check out the new trailer below and for further updates keep reading gmw3.
, Playstation 5
