Swordsman VR – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 23, 2024

‘Swordsman’ Studio Secures $2.5M to Create New Free-to-Play VR Combat Game

Sinn Studio, the Toronto-based indie behind VR sword-fighting game Swordsman (2020), has secured $2.5 million in a funding round, which is slated to propel the studio as it develops a new free-to-play combat game for VR.

The funding round was led by Hartmann Capital, and includes participation by Boost VC, Republic, Alumni Ventures, Mana Ventures, MetaVision, and angel investors including Chris Ye of Uken Games.

The studio’s next game, which hasn’t been detailed any further than this initial announcement, is said to be player-vs-player (PvP), which will notably depart from Swordsman’s AI-centric combat.

Notably, the studio is pitching it under a free-to-play model which will be driven by the company’s proprietary Combat Engine and its Large Intent Model (LIM), the studio’s neural network which it says is “specially designed to discern and learn from the intricate subtleties of human motion during combat.”

What’s more, Sinn Studio hopes these technologies will “power incredible first-party combat experiences, and one day, our favourite IPs,” says Alek Sinn, Co-Founder & CEO of Sinn Studio.

Released initially in 2020 on Steam, Swordman has since launched on every major VR headset to date, including Quest, PSVR 2, and Pico headsets.

Besides finding a good deal of success on Quest, the game was also ranked among the top 10 most-downloaded PSVR 2 games in 2023 across North America and Europe.

The post ‘Swordsman’ Studio Secures $2.5M to Create New Free-to-Play VR Combat Game appeared first on Road to VR.

June 18, 2022

Swordsman Launches On App Lab For Quest, Alongside Advanced Combat Update

Originally scheduled for a late May release, melee combat game Swordsman VR is now available for Oculus Quest and Meta Quest 2 headsets via App Lab, alongside the advanced combat update launching for all platforms.

The advanced combat update adds over 1,000 new animations made possible by extensive motion capture and improvements to enemy AI prediction. While the game has been available on PC VR and PSVR for a while already, the update is available now for all platforms, coinciding with the Quest release.

On Reddit, the developers also addressed some promised features that are missing from the update, or features that are now no longer available. SinnStudio said that features like finishers, executions and grabbing enemies’ weapons were “affected by the new combat mechanics in significant ways and sadly, we were unable to complete them in time for the update.”

A Quest release for Swordsman VR was confirmed back in October 2021. Initially, developers SinnStudio wanted a full Quest Store release for the game, but Meta asked the studio to “take the direction of an App Lab release to gauge interest.”

It will be interesting to see whether the game picks up interest from the Quest user base, especially given its similarities to other physics-driven combat titles like Blade & Sorcery. We enjoyed parts of Blade & Sorcery, but also found it lacking in some features and encountered performance hitches on Quest 2. It overall felt “still two or three updates away from really escaping its tech demo roots, and … more like a preview both for what the finished product will look like.”

Could Swordsman VR scratch an itch that Blade & Sorcery: Nomad didn’t quite capitalize on? Let us know what you think in the comments.

April 19, 2022

Swordsman VR Comes To Quest Next Month, Advanced Combat Adds 1000+ New Animations

Sinn Studio’s melee combat simulator, Swordsman VR, hits two fresh milestones next month when it comes to Quest with a new update.

The game reaches Quest’s App Lab platform on May 26. On the same day, Sinn Studio will launch the Advanced Combat update for the game on Quest, PSVR and PC VR, which looks to drastically overhaul enemy movement with over 1,000 new animations. The aim is to make combat a more convincing experience, and you can get a taste of some of the work the studio’s put in in this exclusive video below.

To make this update possible, Sinn Studio implemented extensive mocap work into the game. Enemy AI prediction has also been improved to try and give players more of a challenge.

The Quest release in particular will be a crucial moment for the sword sim, especially as we get to stack it up to last year’s release of Blade & Sorcery: Nomad, which was a proficient port of another physically complex game that still had some glaring performance issues. Will Sinn Studio be able to get more mileage out of mobile hardware?

Are you going to be checking out Swordsman VR on Quest or perhaps jumping back in for the Advanced Combat update? Let us know in the comments below!

February 21, 2022

Swordsman VR Quest Version, Advanced Combat Update Nearing Release

Sinn Studios’ Swordsman VR is soon to hit two big milestones.

Over the weekend the studio took to Reddit to offer a small update on the game’s coming content and Quest version. For the latter, the team confirmed that a Quest release date would be revealed sometime in March. The game will be launching on App Lab, though it’s already available on PSVR and PC VR.

Swordsman VR Quest And Advanced Combat Coming

Sinn Studio also shared a quick teaser for its upcoming Advanced Combat update, focusing on the mocap work its putting into it. As the game’s roadmap explains, this update will feature a more intricate battle system with improved stab physics, holsters to store weapons, and a damage system that is able to specify where a player’s attack lands.

We’ll also see the addition of a female playable character and the ability to grab an opponent’s weapon as they hold it.

These are promising updates for the VR melee game, which takes after the likes of Gorn and Blade & Sorcery. We’ll be especially interested to see if Sinn Studio can maintain that level of physical complexity on the Quest platform.

Will you be trying out Swordsman VR on Quest? Or are you waiting for the Advanced Combat update on PSVR or PC VR? Let us know in the comments below!

October 8, 2021

Physics-based Combat Sim ‘Swordsman’ Coming to Oculus Quest Next Year

Swordsman (2020), the physics-based combat sim for PSVR and PC VR headsets, is bringing its bloody sandbox battles to Oculus Quest at some point next year.

Developers Sinn Studio announced in a recent tweet that Swordsman is slated to arrive on Oculus App Lab in early 2022.

The team says they’re were in discussions with Facebook about an official Quest Store release, however they’ve since been advised to release via App Lab “to gauge the Quest interest in Swordsman.”

“We want our Quest community to know that we worked extremely hard to ensure a direct Quest store release; however, we’re equally as excited to share Swordsman with all of you on App Lab,” Sinn Studio says.

Sinn Studio says the Quest version is said to be approximately similar quality to the PSVR version. In September, Swordsman was ranked the number three most-downloaded game on PSVR in the US, and fourth in Europe.

Although it got a rocky start on Steam when it initially launched there in September 2020, giving it a ‘Mixed’ user ranking, it’s since been upgraded to a ‘Mostly Positive’ by users as of late.

If the game’s roadmap is any indication, when it launches on Quest we’ll also be looking forward to a host of improvements and new features too. Right now it appears the team is working on a new map, weapons, skins, and “improved blood & gore.”

The post Physics-based Combat Sim ‘Swordsman’ Coming to Oculus Quest Next Year appeared first on Road to VR.

October 6, 2021

Physics-Driven Melee Combat Game Swordsman VR Coming To Oculus Quest

SinnStudio’s physics-driven melee combat game, Swordsman VR, is coming to Oculus Quest soon via App Lab.

The studio just confirmed the news on Twitter. You can expect to see the game hit the standalone headset in early 2022. SinnStudio had hoped to bring the game to the full Oculus Store but, in their words, Facebook asked the studio to “take the direction of an App Lab release to gauge interest” in the Quest version.

Swordsman VR is already available on PSVR and PC VR headsets and has proved popular thanks to its physics-driven combat that’s similar to other VR games like Blade and Sorcery. That means blades make the kind of contact with bodies and other swords that you’d expect, often with bloody results. We’ve seen a lot of VR games follow this template with great results.

Since launch last year, SinnStudio has continued to refine and expand the experience. Most recently it released an Advanced Weapons update that included improved handling, and it’s also added fist-fighting and other weapon types. The updates aren’t stopping, as SinnStudio plans to release a Halloween-themed update soon. As for the Quest version, the studio said to expect similar quality to the existing versions of the game.

Swordsman might not be alone on the Oculus Quest front – Blade and Sorcery developer WarpFrog is also looking into bringing the game to Oculus Quest 2, though if that happens it will likely leave the original Quest behind.

July 13, 2020

New Swordsman VR Gameplay Showcases Some Brutal Combat

Sinn Studio, the virtual reality (VR) developer behind titles such as first-person shooter (FPS) Warzone is currently in the process of creating a very different experience, a medieval combat videogame called Swordsman VR. Announced back in May, the team has recently released new beta gameplay footage of the melee combat.

The footage is a compilation from the private beta the studio held back in May, providing the best chance yet to see how the close-quarters combat is shaping up. While a video can’t portray that feeling of being in VR and the swing of a sword, Swordsman VR certainly looks like the bloody brawler you’d expect it to be.

Enemies can be parried and blocked with either your sword or shield, and when an opening presents itself blades can be plunged in between gaps in armour. There’s also a magical element to Swordsman VR where players rock attacks to knock over enemies or enchant their weapons to inflict elemental damage.

It won’t purely be human AI opponents players will be facing as the video also unveils some sort of demonic knight, most likely a boss, who seems fairly formidable.

Sinn Studio has already released fairly extensive details for Swordsman VR. The title features a narrative where Earth’s mightiest warriors have to band together to fight an other-worldly menace: The Jötunn. This means that players can select their character from a range of cultures, from Knights and Vikings to Mongols and Samurai, all with their own particular traits.

While the videogame may have magical elements the main weapon handling mechanics are designed to be realistic. Whether you prefer a two-handed broadsword, sword and shield combo or dual-wielding two short swords, they’ll each have different weights to modify their speed and damage capabilities.

As progression is made players will be able to utilise the Blacksmith, the Armorer and the Skill Master to improve their odds. Customisation options range from the Blacksmith selling new weapons to the Skill Master who helps unlock new character stats and special abilities.

Swordsman VR is slated to launch this summer for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR headsets. As further details are released, VRFocus will let you know.

May 20, 2020

First Screenshots & Gameplay Released for Swordsman VR

At the beginning of the month, Sinn Studio unveiled details for its next virtual reality (VR) title, Swordsman VR. Teasing a singular image and some gameplay info, the team has now released alpha gameplay footage showing Swordsman VR in action as well as plenty of screenshots.

The story is set a thousand years ago, with the ancient world is plagued by an other-worldly invader: The Jötunn. So Earth’s mightiest warriors band together to fight the menace, a hero emerging who is an expert in melee combat, The Swordsman.

Swordsman VR is a medieval combat experience where you can select various character classes (or “cultures” as they’re called), grab weapons, shields and armour and then step into arenas to fight an assortment of enemies and bosses.

Knights, Vikings, Mongols and Samurai cultures are all on offer, providing over 100 different fighter variations. Swordsman VR is designed to be physical and realistic so weapons will handle differently due to weight, centres of mass and size. This also means attacks need to be calculated to land a damaging blow, or else they just be a blunt hit.

“Our bottom-line goal with this game was to give the player not only a sense of immersion with fancy physics-based weapons and combat but to give them worthy and intelligent opponents that make fights feel real and a progression system that lets them customize a character ‘build’ that suits their playstyle,” said Sinn Studio in a statement.

The progression system is based around three NPCs, the Blacksmith, the Armorer and the Skill Master. Each will allow you to customise your experience in their own way, the Blacksmith sells weapons while the Skill Master helps unlock new character stats and special abilities.

Last week the studio began a closed beta for Swordsman VR on PC, and today is the last day for signups. Fill out this form if you’re interested in testing the early alpha version.

Sinn Studio currently expects Swordsman VR to launch this summer, supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR headsets. Check out the gameplay teaser below and for further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

May 5, 2020

Warzone Developer Unveils Next Project Swordsman VR

Virtual reality (VR) studio Sinn Studio has released three titles up to now, the most recent being 2018’s Warzone, a cross-platform multiplayer shooter. This week the studio has teased the first details of its next project, a medieval combat experience called Swordsman VR.

From the details released so far, Swordsman VR is going to be a story-driven, arena-based brawler focused on physical combat for PC VR headsets and PlayStation VR.

Over on Reddit, the studio mentions that: “The game features 6 combat environments, 5 boss fights, 4 different cultures (Knights, Vikings, Mongols and Samurai, plus a final boss), dozens of unique interactive weapons, shields and bonus boss items, and a progression system with player stats and abilities to let you customize your character builds for a unique experience based on your fighting style.”

Further details are expected to arrive next week alongside the opening of applications for a closed beta. Interested players can apply for the beta on Friday, 15th May – purely PC only – by heading to Sinn Studio’s Discord Channel. A commencement date for the beta has yet to be confirmed but the team has said it won’t be long after applications go live. The beta is expected to last a couple of weeks.

As for an actual launch date for Swordsman VR, Sinn Studio aims for a multiplatform release this summer, noting on Discord: “We want to release on all platforms simultaneously and Sony is going to be the bottleneck.”

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Sinn Studio and Swordsman VR, reporting back with further updates.