Die neue Multiplayer-Variante des Spiels ist aktuell für den PC nur im Store von Microsoft verfügbar. Diese Version bietet seit 20. Dezember 2020 nun eine Unterstützung für VR-Brillen an. Alle anderen Plattformen und Stores sollen Das Multiplayer Update (Connected) im Sommer 2021 erhalten.
Wenn ihr eine Oculus Rift oder HTC Vive an eurem PC angeschlossen habt, sollte euch das Spiel beim nächsten Start automatisch fragen, ob ihr in VR starten wollt. Andere VR-Brillen werden ggf. auch unterstützt, jedoch garantiert das Team hier keine Zuverlässigkeit. Den Game Pass von Microsoft gibt es derzeit für einen Euro für drei Monate.
Wir haben Tetris Effect: Connected mit der Oculus Quest 2 ausprobiert und sind beeindruckt vom Spiel. Leider könnt ihr den Multiplayer-Modus nur online nutzen und nicht gegen Spielende am selbe PC am Monitor antreten. Eventuell ein Feature, was jedoch früher oder später noch nachgereicht werden wird. Alle Infos zum VR-Update findet ihr hier.
Game Pass for PC now features games that offer optional VR support, meaning that players can download and play VR titles available on Game Pass for just a $9.99 monthly subscription.
With the addition of Tetris Effect Connected and the VR update for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Game Pass for PC now supports VR for games that offer an optional VR mode.
Game Pass for PC launched in 2019 and offers a service similar to Netflix but for video games — instead of owning games, you can download, play and retain access to them for as long as you keep your monthly subscription running. The service originated as Xbox Game Pass for Microsoft’s consoles only, but eventually expanded out to PC. The number of games available on the service has rapidly grown over the last few years, and includes all of Microsoft’s first party titles and some significant third parties titles as well, including complementary access to EA Play’s subscription offerings.
Up until recently, there were no prominent games on Game Pass for PC that offered optional VR support. However, with the recent VR update for Microsoft Flight Simulator and the addition of Tetris Effect Connected to the Game Pass library, users now have access to two fantastic titles that can be played in VR with a Game Pass subscription.
Given that Game Pass operates as part of a different ecosystem to SteamVR and the Oculus Store, there was a chance that VR support would not launch correctly or work as intended. However, we were able to launch both Microsoft Flight Simulator and Tetris Effect Connected in VR mode with ease, using an Oculus Quest 2 while playing the Game Pass versions of the titles.
For Flight Simulator, you can switch to VR mode in the main menu while your headset is connected. For Tetris Effect, connect your headset before launching the game and it will bring up a dialogue box on launch asking if you’d like to play in regular or VR mode.
With reports of questionable performance and high hardware requirements for Flight Simulator’s VR mode, Game Pass’ monthly subscription option is probably appealing to people who want to try the game in VR on their system without committing to purchasing the whole game just yet.
Game Pass for PC is available through the Xbox app for Windows 10 and features a rotating selection of titles, so other games with VR support might become available on the service in the future. While there’s a chance that third party games like Tetris Effect might leave the service in the future, Microsoft’s first party titles, such as Flight Simulator, should remain available indefinitely.
Have you tried a VR game using Game Pass for PC? Let us know in the comments below.
Not all game genres make immediate sense for VR, but some of the very best VR games out there don’t initially sound like good ideas on paper. Here are 7 VR games in unexpected genres that are, actually, pretty good.
Considering Virtual Reality’s immersive nature, it’s hard to argue that some gaming genres naturally fit VR better than others. This is particularly true within rhythm, fitness, FPS and horror games, which all lend themselves favorably to first-person gameplay. Whether you’ve been working up a sweat in Beat Saber to your favorite songs, shooting up enemies in Onward or subjecting yourself to ghostly terrors within Phasmophobia, there’s been no lack of options for fans of these genres.
Modern VR is more accessible than ever, thanks to efforts like Oculus Quest 2, and having moved past those formative years, developers are continuously getting more creative. Genres we wouldn’t normally expect to work within this space have begun making an impact, bringing us some fine experiences worth looking into. From battle royales to visual novels, these are some of the best examples we’ve seen of this so far in no particular order.
We talk a lot about Tetris Effect on UploadVR but there’s good reason for it: it’s absolutely incredible. Having made its way to PSVR, Oculus Quest, PC and Game Pass, no one could’ve expected news of a VR version back in 2018, but it’s a concept which translated surprisingly well. Created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, best known for working on Rez and upcoming title Humanity, it retained Tetris’ classic gameplay formula, seeing you clear lines by filling a box with shapes, and incorporated that into a stunning cinematic aesthetic. Backed up by an incredible soundtrack and recently implemented multiplayer support, we’d strongly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already.
Though we didn’t think Tokyo Chronos’ attempt to bring visual novels into VR justified using the technology, developers MyDearest expanded upon that initial premise nicely last month with its sequel, ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos. Featuring a brand-new story, ALTDEUS took us 300 years into Earth’s future, as humanity is forced to flee underground by strange creatures called Meteoras. Playing a mech pilot named Chloe, its down to you to protect humanity from these monsters and your decisions determine just how this story unfolds. It isn’t as immersive as other VR games, but it still makes for a captivating story worth looking into.
Sony have been one of VR’s biggest backers since PSVR’s original launch back in 2016a nd Astro Bot: Rescue Mission was part of their increasing 1st party push. It saw us teaming up with Captain Astro, searching for his lost crew after they become scattered in a spaceship attack as we travelled across 5 separate worlds. Astro Bot made for an excellent platforming experience and by utilizing VR, it offered players a 360° view to help uncover hidden secrets in each level. Setting the standard for platformers that Ven VR Adventure recently attempted to follow, it’s an excellent entry point for younger audiences too and is highly worth going back to.
Developed by Twisted Pixel Games, Path of the Warrior was utterly shameless about its influences when it launched in 2019 and if you ever played Streets of Rage (or any 90’s style Beat ‘Em Up to be honest), you’d know exactly what to expect here. Set within Rage City across five levels, the premise is simple: get into fights with bad guys, pick up weapons to assist you, take down bosses and that’s it. Though it felt rather shallow in places, you couldn’t deny the fun concept within and with co-op multiplayer also included, Path of the Warrior is worth checking out.
We’ve seen a few racing games come to VR in the last few years, putting us in the driver’s seat with simulators like Project Cars 2 to Sony’s futuristic Wipeout Omega Collection. Arguably though, the most unique take arrived back in 2018 with Sprint Vector on PSVR and PC. Developed by Survios’, this sprinting game has you run through a series of racecourses, swinging your arms to simulate that motion. Coming with cross-platform multiplayer that supports 8 players, it remains a highly enjoyable obstacle-avoidance racer that also provides a great workout in the process.
You can’t escape battle royale games these days but despite their growing presence, they’ve largely remained confined to traditional platforms. We’d seen a few VR attempts like Virtual Battlegrounds but the genre doesn’t feel like it ever really came into its own until POPULATION: ONE arrived back in November of last year. Developed by BigBox VR Inc. for Quest and PC, the aim is to become the last team standing, battling it out within 18-player lobbies. Brining us fast-paced gameplay that felt incredibly smooth, it comes with a word of caution if you’re susceptible to motion sickness (and if you are, we have some tips) but otherwise comes recommended.
Crytek’s The Climb is a much older title than the rest here, having released during the Oculus Rift launch window, but it showcased just what VR could achieve early on. Released in 2016 on Oculus Rift and later for Oculus Quest, it allowed players to explore three settings to climb between: Alps, Bay and Canyon. There’s a fine rock-climbing game within, one which won’t be to everyone’s tastes and is likely to be overshadowed once The Climb 2 arrives, but it executes this simple premise beautifully and still holds up in 2021.
What are some of your picks for VR games in genres that you wouldn’t initially think would be a good for VR? Let us know down in the comments below!
By itself, the single-player Tetris Effect is a very good videogame but the upcoming multiplayer addition will help to give the title that competitive edge. Initially revealed this past summer, today, Enhance Games and The Tetris Company have announced the five all-new multiplayer modes due to be released.
The first is called ‘Connected’ – a nod to the title – introducing a co-op mode where three players are able to team up and connect their Matrix playfields in an effort to beat AI-controlled bosses. These bosses each have their own particular attacks called ‘Blitzes’ which have an array of effects from removing the hold piece to halting rotations and even adding blocks which need to be cleared twice. A variation of this mode is ‘Connect Vs’ where a fourth player can join in as the boss.
Then there’s ‘Zone Battle’, a PvP match using standard Tetris rules. But there is a twist, the time-stopping Zone mechanic which Tetris Effect’s single-player introduced. So that means once a player can activate the ‘Zone’ they’ll have the chance to build up to 22 lines before they get sent their opponents way.
The third mode is ‘Score Attack’ where two players compete separately to see who can get the best score. A variation of this mode comes in the form of ‘Classic Score Attack’ which rolls the aesthetics and gameplay back 30 years. Paying homage to pro-Tetris competitions the mode removes the Hard Drop and Hold Queue abilities, Tetriminos lockdown immediately when they touch a surface and Tetrimino’s generate randomly.
VRFocus gave the PC VR edition of Tetris Effect a full five-star review, saying: “Tetris Effect has lost none of the prime gameplay quality that the series is known for, it’s still as addictive and difficult to stop playing as ever. Quite frankly, Tetris Effect is the best version of Tetris. Just as important, the title suits experienced and new VR players alike.”
Tetris Effect: Connected will get an exclusive timed launched for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 PC (Microsoft Store), as well as Game Pass on 10th November 2020. The multiplayer expansion will then hit PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PC on Epic Games Store and Oculus Quest during summer 2021.
For further updates on Tetris Effect: Connected, keep reading VRFocus.
During the Xbox Series X Showcase from Microsoft today, Enhance unveiled an upcoming multiplayer edition of Tetris Effect called Tetris Effect: Connected.
We confirmed this new version of the game will also include VR support on all relevant platforms, but it’s coming first to Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC this year.
This new edition, Tetris Effect: Connected, is releasing first on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via the Windows Store this holiday — plus it’ll be on Game Pass, includes cross-play on all three Microsoft platforms, and is a Smart Delivery title between Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
We emailed Enhance to confirm that it’ll have VR support on PC via the Windows Store and they said that it indeed would: “Windows 10 PC will include all the features of the existing PC version, including VR support.”
Furthermore, Tetris Effect: Connected is also coming to all other current platforms in summer 2021 as a free update if you own the existing game already. When asked, Enhance listed off these platforms specifically as, “PS4/PSVR, Oculus Quest, Epic Games PC.” It’s unclear if those versions will include cross-play as well.
Notably, Tetris Effect: Connected introduces all-new game modes like Zone Battle and the co-op Connected mode. In Zone Battle you’ll battle players in a shakeup of 1-on-1 matches mixed with the Zone mechanic from Tetris Effect.
In the cooperative Connected mode up to three players can “connect” their play fields together and play one large board, as shown at the end of the trailer and in the image above, while working to take down CPU bosses.
You can get Tetris Effect: Connected on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via the Windows Store (includes VR on PC) this holiday season. It’s also coming to PS4/PSVR, Oculus Quest, and the Epic Games Store on PC in summer 2021 as a free update to the existing game.
Let us know what you think down in the comments below!
Virtual Reality might be one of gaming’s most immersive ways to play but it remains a niche platform.
[UploadVR regularly commissions freelance writers to review products, write stories, and contribute op-ed pieces to the site. This article is an opinion-based listicle from the perspective of the writer.]
That’s mostly attributable to a high price barrier. Though efforts from Sony such as PlayStation VR and Facebook’s Oculus Quest have helped, the price still helps explain why AAA publishers are reluctant to invest in fully-fledged original experiences. As a result, much of the time, VR is incorporated as an optional experience within existing non-VR titles instead.
On the other side, developers have also adapted VR games to more conventional platforms, providing them a larger audience. Whether it’s launching with both options, porting to VR-less platforms, or patching in a desktop mode, the inclusion of both methods can make great experiences more widely accessible.
With some developers seeking to unify both audiences, here are some of the best examples we’ve seen yet for great non-VR games with must-play VR support.
CCP Games have seen huge success with EVE Online. Released in 2003, EVE became renowned for its vast scale, seeing players compete for virtual supremacy and bringing some fascinating stories with it. Looking to branch out their universe, CCP then released VR title Eve: Valkyrie back in 2016, a multiplayer dogfighter with heavy emphasis on PvP missions. Over a year later, Valkyrie’s Warzone update was released, bringing a desktop mode that removed previous VR requirements. It’s campaign was sadly short-lived but bringing some enjoyable gameplay, it’s an exhilarating experience worth revisiting for quick space thrills.
Several studios have tried recreating the intensity of floating through outer space via virtual reality and back in 2017, Anshar Studios’ Detached was among them. Featuring PvP multiplayer as well as a separate campaign, it’s an incredibly lonely experience that saw you separated from your ship, left to explore an abandoned space station to survive. Its zero gravity antics proved nauseating in places and, trying to broaden its user base, Anshar developed a non-VR version in 2018, easing the experience but losing that immersion. With benefits to both formats, Detached proved an enjoyable title that’s worth looking into.
Five Nights At Freddy’s: Help Wanted (Switch Non-VR, PC / PC VR, PS4 / PSVR, and Quest)
When Five Nights At Freddy’s launched in 2014, few expected it to become the hit sensation we see today. Originally developed by Scott Cawthon, this horror series saw you playing an overnight security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, trying to survive against a group of deadly animatronic characters. Spawning six main sequels, FNAF expanded into VR last year with Help Wanted, featuring 50 minigames based off its previous entries. It saw positive reception and quickly became a best-selling VR title but, not wanting to leave any fans out, developers released a non-VR release six months later, landing on PS4, PC and Switch.
Tequila Works made a name for themselves most recently with Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son but back in 2017, they were hard at work releasing The Invisible Hours. Invited to a mysterious mansion by Nikola Telsa, each guest holds a murky past, many of whom are looking to make amends. Playing as disgraced detective Gustaf Gustav, we find Tesla has been murdered by another guest and it’s up to you to discover the truth. Receiving strong reviews, Tequila Works soon developed a non-VR version, releasing a free patch six months later and it proved just as satisfying.
The Persistence recently became a multiplatform release but two years ago, developers Firesprite made waves on PSVR with their former exclusive. Finding your spaceship stranded in deep space and overrun by demonic creatures, you played the crew’s sole survivor, Zimri Elder, trying to make it through this horrific onslaught. Incorporating FPS and roguelike mechanics, death is a minor obstacle, finding Zimri cloned back to life each time and no two playthroughs are identical, changing the spaceship layout on each run. Now withVR optional on PC/PS4, it’s a great choice for horror fans.
Tetris should require no introduction to most. With differently shaped blocks known as Tetrominos falling downward, you aim to clear lines by filling them up, earning points for speed. Since arriving in 1984, Tetris has seen many different releases, but news of a VR version surprised many in 2018. Helmed by Rez producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, TetrisEffect retained the classic gameplay formula but split stages into three cinematic sections, activated by clearing a set number of lines. Bringing us stunning visuals and an excellent soundtrack, it launched with support for both VR and non-VR and comes highly recommended.
It’s been three years since VRChat first launched but even now this free-to-play title retains a significant following. Featuring gameplay reminiscent of Second Life, VRChat is a user-driven experience, allowing players to create their own worlds, avatars and custom content. It may be surprising considering the name but VRChat isn’t limited to virtual reality, including a desktop mode so anyone can join, albeit with control limitations. Not every world caters to desktop users but ultimately, this experience comes down to you. Whether you’re looking to socialize, play some games or something else, there’s plenty of fun to be found.
There are undoubtedly countless others that we could have included. What are some of your picks for the best VR games that also have non-VR support?
The moment many of you have been waiting for since becoming hypnotized with one of 2018’s best VR games is here; the Tetris Effect soundtrack is now online.
The full soundtrack is available digitally on YouTube Music, Amazon and Google Play. Hopefully a Spotify version will allow along shortly, though there’s nothing yet. The soundtrack had started shipping out on vinyl to customers over the past week.
This is great news for those of us that have been listening to Tetris Effect’s transfixing soundtrack on YouTube by the level for the past year. The game, developed by Enhance, features a number of unique environments that create drastically different tones as you play through the campaign. The soundtrack features 40 songs including the game’s iconic opening track, Connected (Yours Forever).
Normally, the game will adapt the music to how well you’re planning and how intense the level is getting. But the Tetris Effect soundtrack allows you to listen to the clean, unedited original mixes for the first time.
Tetris Effect launched on PSVR in 2018 before coming to PC VR headsets in 2019. Earlier this month it also launched on Oculus Quest. We love every version of the game, but Ian was especially enamored with the Quest version, which allowed him to go and enjoy the game outside. The game also works on standard displays. But, even though it might sound silly, the immersion provided in VR genuinely makes it a more engrossing experience.
Will you be chilling out to the Tetris Effect soundtrack today? Let us know in the comments below!
I’m a life-long fan of the iconic line-making game Tetris and I was excited to see it come to VR with the release of Tetris Effect in 2018 on PlayStation 4. I’ll admit, however, its move into VR didn’t really settle right with me. That is, until I played it through on Oculus Quest.
Don’t get me wrong, I adored the entire soothing journey on PS4 despite the availability of a PSVR headset sitting right there. I also tried Tetris Effect from the Epic Games Store on Valve Index for a bit before I decided that it just didn’t feel right, and never went back. With PSVR, I knew I didn’t want to see the screen door effect instead of the beautiful environments in crisp high definition. With Valve Index, I knew the cord was snaking across my living room to my seat on the couch. I was vaguely aware that at any time my relaxing moment in VR could be cut short by one of my kids tripping across the wire.
But on Oculus Quest, I found a comfy spot in the shade outside and immediately melted into a nirvana state in VR.
This is the third time we’ve reviewed Tetris Effect in VR and, in summary, everything about the last two reviews holds up here on Quest.
“So, yes, this is indeed Tetris… in VR. But, by applying its unmatched strand of spectacular visual and musical flair, Enhance creates something with a powerful, compelling and entirely unexpected hypnotism to it. For some of you, that’ll be enough to lay down the cash without a second thought. For others, I could wax lyrical until my face goes blue and you still wouldn’t reach for your wallet. But for those of you teetering on the fence? Go on, make the jump; this is a really, really great way to celebrate an all-time great.”
“…all of this is just slightly sharper inside practically every PC VR headset over PSVR. If you own an Index, then the winning combination of incredible screen clarity and crystal-clear off-ear headphones will bring Tetris Effect to a new level. But even on Rift S, Vive or otherwise, it’s an appreciated step up.
It’s still the case that some levels are a little harder to focus on in VR, but never to a point that should cause any concern. Tetris Effect in VR is a transcendent spectacle, a thriving biome that takes on a life of its own. Rarely has VR felt this organic. High praise for a fresh take on a gaming staple perhaps but play a level and I’d dare you to disagree with me.”
So how does the jump to the standalone hold up? Well, that’s an explanation told in two parts. First, it seems some of the visual effects that flourished so well elsewhere were sacrificed for the Quest port. You can see it in the comparison video below with things like smoke effects that seem far less detailed on Quest.
Second, though, I wouldn’t call these sacrifices dealbreakers — in fact, I would still call the Quest version the definitive way to play Tetris Effect in VR for one simple reason. Feeling the wind of an outdoor breeze on your skin while particles fly by and drums beat near your head is a moment of serenity you’re not likely to find indoors. Playing Tetris Effect that way is a real prospect with an Oculus Quest — and an utter joy — that would be very hard to achieve with a console or PC tethering you to the house.
One other note about the Quest port that’s worth keeping in mind is that the developers recommend wearing headphones and that’s certainly the right call. Nonetheless, the built-in audio solution on Quest held up relatively well with Tetris Effect as compared with some other Quest titles.
There’s no doubt that Tetris is one of the most iconic videogame franchises, ported to most platforms over the years in some form or another whilst inspiring countless more copies. The latest and one of the best versions was 2018’s Tetris Effect for PlayStation VR which added a whole new visual and audible dynamic. Today, it’s the turn of Oculus Quest to offer this absorbing experience.
Tetris Effect offers the same core, addictive gameplay experience the series is known for, fitting waves of tetriminos to make lines across the game board and score as many points as possible.
What Tetris Effectdoes is up the wow factor to give you a stunning puzzle experience. A combined effort between Enhance Games, Resonair and Monstars Inc., completing lines and particular stages will affect the music and visuals around you, becoming more elaborate and intense as you progress.
For such a simple title Tetris Effect features plenty of content, incorporating 30+ stages and over 10 challenging modes to tackle. From Journey Mode which is the main campaign to Marathon Mode which tasks you with getting the best score you can within a 150-line limit. Additionally, a special ‘Weekend Ritual’ event will take place each weekend for 24 hours. Participating players have to earn points towards a collective goal, if that’s reached then they’ll be rewarded with a special in-game avatar.
It also includes new features like the ‘Zone’ mechanic. Using this you can stop time and Tetriminos falling, helping you get out of a possible game over situation or just rack up extra Line Clears for bonus scoring rewards.
VRFocus gave the PC VR edition of Tetris Effect a full five-star review, saying: “Tetris Effect has lost none of the prime gameplay quality that the series is known for, it’s still as addictive and difficult to stop playing as ever. Quite frankly, Tetris Effect is the best version of Tetris. Just as important, the title suits experienced and new VR players alike.”
Tetris Effect will provide hours and hours of entertainment for Oculus Quest owners stuck indoors. For further updates on the title, keep reading VRFocus.
Tetris Effect (2018) first released on PlayStation 4 and PSVR in late 2018, later coming to PC via the Epic Store, which included support for SteamVR headsets. Now the award-winning stacker puzzle game is available on Oculus Quest starting today.
Created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi and the team behind Rez Infinite and Lumines, Tetris Effect delivers some pretty familiar gameplay while at the same time surrounding the player with fully three-dimensional, reactive worlds.
Tetris Effect boasts 30+ stages and 10+ modes, where the so-called ‘Tetriminos’ pulse and dance to the beat, backgrounds change as you play, and a bevy of dynamic music molds around the player as you slip into a flow state.
With today’s release on Quest, a new feature is coming to the game as well, namely the all-new ‘Zone’ mechanic which lets players stop time (and Tetriminos) when you find yourself in a sticky situation.
Tetris Effect launches today on the Oculus Store for Quest, priced at $30.
