Best Must-Have Skyrim VR Mods To Make Tamriel Even More Immersive

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR (PC review / PSVR review) is one of the most expansive video games out there with nearly endless amounts of content. However, it’s not the most immersive from a VR port perspective. Thankfully, the PC modding community is here to fix that.

Skyrim VR Mods: Before We Get Started

Skyrim VR is the type of game that will continue to evolve for years and years to come. The original version of Skyrim first hit PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 nearly 10 years ago and it’s still getting new mods to this day on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Unfortunately, Skyrim VR only has mods for the PC version—not PSVR.

When looking up mods for Skyrim VR on PC there is one important thing to keep in mind: The VR version of Skyrim is based on the Skyrim Special Edition iteration of the game, otherwise known as SSE, and not the original legacy version of Skyrim on PC. Almost all of the Skyrim Special Edition mods will work on Skyrim VR without any trickery needed — you can usually just use them just like you’re playing outside of VR — which is great.

If you’re interested in further expanding your modding and finding even more mods to try out, I highly recommend subscribing to the Skyrim VR subreddit and checking out the Lightweight Lazy List for even more mods and tweaks. There are countless guides, lists, and more on there to check out and people are always releasing new mods and discussing the latest mods they’ve tried.

For my list below, I’ve collected the mods into a handful of subcategories to organize things. First are the required tools and plugins that you need before you can even use most of the other mods on this list. Then we’ve mods I’ve classified as “essential” if you want to get the most out of Skyrim VR, followed by graphics mods, immersion mods, gameplay mods, and “other” mods such as followers and quests.

Preferences, Mod Manager, and Load Order

When it comes to the graphics mods specifically, keep in mind that everyone has different visual preferences so what I list here may not apply to you. Maybe you really love the Vanilla weather effects (if you’re unaware vanilla = unmodded) or maybe you want three different tree mods. That’s up to you, so treat this modding list as a starting point only.

You should also use a Mod Manager to streamline things more. I recommend either Mod Organizer 2 if you’re extremely new to this or Vortex, which is directly connected to Nexus Mods so it’s pretty straightforward as well.

And in regards to Load Order, generally speaking you want to make sure your mods are arranged in order of most general to most specific because if a mod loads later in the list it will overwrite whatever loaded before it if they cover similar areas. For example, if you have a mod that changes all textures in the game and then a specific mod to make the road signs a particular texture, you’d put the road sign mod after the general texture mod. And sometimes there are patches that make mods compatible with each other when they conflict—in those cases make sure patches are loaded after both of the other mods.

For more information on load order, you can read this guide.

Required Tools and Plugins for Skyrim VR Mods

SKSEVR | Nexus Mods Page

This is a script extender which means it’s a mod that unlocks more modding potential for other mods to use. Many of the best mods require you have this one installed already.

SkyUI VR | Github Page

This is technically a UI replacement mod that just makes things a lot better and easer to navigate and the VR version is specifically enhanced for VR. Also, plenty of other mods require this one.

Essential Skyrim VR Mods For Everyone

VRIK | Nexus Mods Page | Tutorial Video

This is the big one. Skyrim VR does not natively have a full-body for your player character while you’re playing. This means you just have two floating hands and if you look down you don’t see anything at all. VRIK fixes that with a full body to look at. In addition, it also includes weapon holstering on your body itself as well as gesture-based spellcasting and equipping gear and spells. All of this is powered by inverse kinematics. Requires SKSEVR and SkyUI.

HIGGS VR | Nexus Mods Page | Installation Video

Combined with VRIK, HIGGS VR truly transforms Skyrim VR into something that almost feels like it was natively made for VR. This mods adds hand collisions, object grabbing so you can just pick up and use items instead of having to navigate to your inventory menu first, and even gravity gloves like in Half-Life: Alyx for picking up things. Requires SKSEVR and SkyUI.

VR FPS Stabilizer | Nexus Mods Page

Regardless of how beefy your PC is Skyrim VR is a taxing game and the more mods you install the higher the demand goes for your system. This mods won’t solve every issue, but it does help maintain a high framerate and help avoid reprojections and FPS spikes. Definite must-have for everyone. Requires SKSEVR.

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch | Nexus Mods Page

This fixes a bunch of bugs that Bethesda never got around to fixing and it applies to the VR edition as well.

Best Immersion Skyrim VR Mods

True 3D Sound | Nexus Mods Page

It’s bizarre that you need to mod this in, but here we are. This mod makes sure that sounds actually come from the proper direction in 3D space when you’re in VR. It makes a huge difference for immersion.

Be Seated VR | Nexus Mods Page

This mod is simple: it lets you sit down and use beds in more places. It’s a pretty nice immersion bonus to actually feel like you’re part of the world more.

Realistic Mining | Nexus Mods Page

This lets you mine rocks by actually swinging your pickaxe.

Natural Locomotion | Steam Page

This isn’t actually a mod, but it’s a plugin that lets you control your character’s movement in VR by moving in real-life. So you can swing your arms or use trackers on your feet to move around instead of the analog stick. Combined with a treadmill or even just jogging in place, it can really feel more immersive that way. It’s the next best thing besides a VR treadmill like the Kat Walk.

Dragonborn Speaks Naturally | Nexus Mods Page

This lets you use your voice to actually read out dialogue options over your mic rather than selecting with the controllers. It’s a bit complicated to setup, but worth it.

SkyVoice Reloaded VR | Nexus Mods Page

You know how in Skyrim your character “shouts” dragon words to do special abilities? Well, this lets you actually say them out loud to activate the powers. It’s a huge immersion benefit.

Best Graphics Skyrim VR Mods

Onyx VR Weathers | Nexus Mods Page

I almost included this one under essentials because of how great and transformative it feels. This is a very lightweight mod that is specifically made for VR to totally revamp the weather and sky to make it all look and feel far, far better.

Noble Skyrim | Nexus Mods Page

This is a massive texture overhaul that improves all of the architecture and some landscapes.

MystiriousDawn’s HD Skyrim Overhaul | Nexus Mods Page

This is the best HD texture overhaul I’ve seen for landscapes that doesn’t massively tank performance at all and works great in VR.

Static Mesh Improvement Mod (SMIM) | Nexus Mods Page

Ever notice how all of the various meshes on random clutter objects look very low-res in Skyrim VR? This fixes that for thousands of objects.

Realistic Water Two | Nexus Mods Page

Makes water much prettier. That’s about it, but is a pretty big deal since you see water so often in this game.

SkyVRaan | Nexus Mods Page

This mod emulates water reflections and makes all bodies of water look a lot better. It’s directly compatible with the aforementioned mods, Onyx VR Weathers and Realistic Water Two.

Enhanced Vanilla Trees | Nexus Mods Page

Trees in the base game look like garbage but most mods totally redo them or replace them. This mod keeps the same style, just makes them look better.

Ethereal Clouds | Nexus Mods Page

Clouds are prettier. Really looks nice—especially at night—and works with Onyx.

Ethereal Cosmos | Nexus Mods Page

More detail and nuance for space, stars, and constellations at night time. Combined with Ethereal Clouds it really transforms the mood at nighttime in Tamriel.

ELFX | Nexus Mods Page

Complete lighting system overhaul. This makes a massive difference for interior locations and night time visuals.

Total Character Makeover | Nexus Mods Page

This overhauls the textures for characters in the game to generally improve the look of everyone across the board.

ENB + CAS Sharpener | Installation Instructions

This combination will give Skyrim VR a fresh look that is much more vibrant and sharpens the visuals to get rid of the rampant jagged lines you usually see in Vanilla.

Best Gameplay Skyrim VR Mods

Smilodon | Nexus Mods Page

This is a big combat overhaul mod. It changes and adds so much you should just read the Nexus page for more details but I highly recommend it, especially for melee characters.

Location Damage VR | Nexus Mods Page

With this mod, you’ll do different amounts of damage based on which body part you hit on an enemy with your arrows and spells. This sounds minor, but Location Damage VR really improves combat a lot in terms of immersion and realism.

MageVR | Nexus Mods Page

This adds more VR-focused interactions and movements to access and navigate menus. As a mage in Vanilla Skyrim VR you spend a ton of time in menus, so this mod changes that. This is basically essential if you plan on playing a mage or using magic, at all, in any way.

MArc | Nexus Mods Page

This adds arcane archery to the game that more effectively lets you combine magic and archery into one character with things like elemental arrows and archery skills based on various schools of magic.

Best Other Skyrim VR Mods

This list of other mods is entirely based on my own personal preferences, so there is a high chance that you may not even like these things—and that’s okay. Take these recommendations with a grain of salt, if you will.

I’ve played through the opening in Skyrim so many times I can’t really stand it anymore, to be honest, so I always use the Alternate Start mod now for something different. Immersive Citizens is a great mod as well to add more behavior variation to NPCs. For some great follower companion mods, I absolutely love both Inigo and Sofia, who are fully-voiced, and this mod which fleshes out Serana even more from the base game.

To add in new content via Skyrim VR mods like quests and expansions, it’s hard to not recommend Legacy of the Dragonborn, which feels like a proper DLC for the game more than a fan-made mod. I’ve also got a soft spot for Helgen Reborn, which lets you rebuild the city of Helgen after Alduin attacks during the intro, The Forgotten City questline which won a Writer’s Guild award for its script, and of course the excellent Moonpath to Elsweyr, which lets you visit the border of Elsweyr, the home of the Khajiit people.

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a complete list of all recommended Skyrim VR mods because everyone’s needs and wants are different—not to mention more new mods are released all the time. Just look over the list of most popular all-time Skyrim mods for more ideas.

Did we miss any of your favorite Skyrim VR mods? Let us know your other recommendations down in the comments below!

May 28, 2020

Why now is the time for AAA Studios to Consider VR

Following the launch of Half-Life: Alyx and subsequent spikes in virtual reality (VR) adoption rates (more on that later), there’s a real buzz around VR at the moment which is highly encouraging but tempered slightly by one key omission: the lack of AAA videogames in VR. As with most new technologies, game development to date in the VR industry has been almost exclusively the preserve of small, independent studios. The reasons for that are clear: small studios can operate off reduced budgets and so are more willing to experiment with new technologies and game design techniques.

These indie studios have done an incredible job, but it’s undeniable that as the VR space matures and grows the lack of large, highly polished AAA titles, particularly from key third party studios, is a notable weakness in the overall offering. Anyone who’s recently finished Half-Life: Alyx and then craves a similar experience will know that feeling only too well. However, I would argue that now is the perfect time for AAA studios to take the plunge. The key reasons being:

Flatscreen AAA game design has largely stagnated and gamers are desperate for a proper ‘next generation’ experience when the new console generation begins.
Core VR game design principles are now well established and have been successfully implemented in a large range of titles.
The VR install base is now at a healthy, profitable level and is growing quickly.
Unlike in the over-saturated AAA flatscreen space, there is not much competition in the AAA VR space – any new AAA game is a big event.

AAA flatscreen games have lost their sense of wonder and excitement

I’ve been playing a lot of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey during lockdown as I managed to snag it cheaply on Steam during a sale. It’s the first AAA flatscreen game I’ve played in a long time. Its a fun videogame and I’m enjoying it, but I find that it just washes over me and that it very much feels like a game I’ve played before. The incredible amount of polish and craftsmanship on display is impressive, but it can’t help but feel generic and similar to any number of other flatscreen open-world titles. There’s no moment of genuine excitement when I discover a new area, enemy, weapon or mission. There’s no sense of wonder as I’ve seen variations of what it has to offer many times before, just at a lower resolution and graphical fidelity. This is not an issue specific to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Look at any AAA flatscreen videogame released in the last three years and it’s hard to escape the thought that there really hasn’t been much progress – outside of improved visuals and scale – since the PS3/Xbox 360 days.

It’s a well-recognised problem in the AAA space that developers have been struggling with for many years: how do you make the latest iteration of a game feel new and exciting when the input method – a gamepad or mouse and keyboard – is essentially the same as it has been for two decades. How do they make a videogame feel truly next-gen outside of improved graphics? VR is the answer. Half-Life: Alyx demonstrated how powerfully new an established franchise can feel when it leverages the potential of VR. It absolutely felt like a Half-Life game, even down to having a very similar, linear structure to previous outings. However, by being in VR, and leveraging what VR does best (and notably by not taking any big risks with VR mechanics – most of Alyx’s mechanics have been seen before), it is elevated far beyond a typical sequel. The ability to actually stand in City 17 and manipulate objects in that environment with virtual hands while shooting and reloading a gun and using real-world objects like you would in real life instils a sense of presence and wonder into an existing template that is fresh, fun, immersive and feels truly next-gen.

Just imagine what Ubisoft could do with Splinter Cell or Assassin’s Creed in VR, or Rockstar with Grand Theft Auto or Activision with Call of Duty. As discussed further in this piece, the building blocks are already there. In many ways, it’s the simplest way for the big studios to breathe new life into their existing franchises.

Core VR game design principles have now been established

Crucially for AAA developers, many key VR mechanics have already been discovered and tested with a sizable player base and so they wouldn’t be starting with a blank piece of paper. Movement in VR can be implemented effectively via smooth locomotion or teleportation. There are well-established comfort settings for those who suffer from motion sickness. Climbing is huge fun in VR and numerous videogames have been built around that core mechanic. Gunplay in VR is realistic and intuitive and games like Boneworks, Pavlov VR and Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades have shown how immersive it is to use a virtual gun just like you would a real life gun. Inventory systems, physics simulations, hand interactions, throwing and sword fighting have all been implemented in numerous videogames and so there is a blueprint for how to successfully incorporate these mechanics into a VR experience.

Hell, one really simple way for a AAA studio to effectively implement VR into their franchise would be to buy an existing VR engine and use that as the foundation for their game. Imagine a Call of Duty that is built off of the Boneworks physics engine and gunplay. That’s a mouth-watering prospect. The key point here is that we’re now several years into VR development and a lot of the significant design barriers to entry have been removed.

The install base is already sizeable and growing at a fast pace

As has been widely reported, the latest Steam survey pointed to some highly encouraging VR adoption figures during April 2020. Even with coronavirus supply shortages making it difficult to buy a headset – the Valve Index has been sold out for months and Oculus headsets have only just come back to the market – the launch of Half-Life: Alyx saw almost a million additional VR users connecting headsets to Steam VR over the previous month and overall the userbase has been growing rapidly month on month over the past year.

This huge spike in users now means that it’s estimated that 1.91% of Steam users actively use a VR headset which equates to roughly 2.7 million VR users on Steam (and it’s worth noting that a considerable amount of Oculus PC VR users don’t use Steam). Sony has sold over 5 million PlayStation VR headsets and while Oculus has never been forthcoming with sales numbers we know the Quest has been a big success – Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that “Quest is selling as fast as we can make them”. All of this is to say that across the various platforms there is a significant amount of existing users and crucially the install base is growing rapidly month-on-month. With the next generation of consoles around the corner and with Sony reportedly committing to a PlayStation VR 2, Oculus seemingly about to bring out a new headset and Valve fully supporting VR, not only is there a sizeable market already but it looks highly probable that it will be an exponentially bigger one in the coming years.

Any AAA VR release will be a BIG event

As of today, we’ve only really had one proper AAA title in VR – Half-Life: Alyx. Lone Echo, Asgard’s Wrath, Blood & Truth and Stormland come close, but in reality the scale of those projects and the teams that worked on them were relatively small compared to a flatscreen AAA project. I’m also not including AAA titles that have been adapted for VR – such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR and Fallout 4 VR– as while enjoyable they weren’t built from the ground up for VR and so don’t fully take advantage of what the technology has to offer.

As such, and as seen with the release of Half-Life: Alyx, a AAA release is a big event in both the VR space and in the broader gaming community as players react (sometimes not so positively) to seeing a beloved franchise in a new medium. The VR community were hyping Half-Life: Alyx for months before its release and the gaming community is still talking about it now, mainly due to how it’s unlike anything anyone’s seen before. With so many AAA games releasing in the flatscreen market – most have annual releases – gamers find it hard to keep up with and play each AAA release and they have in many ways lost that ‘big event’ release buzz.

Half-Life: Alyx has reportedly sold over 1 million units since its launch at the end of March, it was played by over 40,000 players concurrently on Steam just after launch and was also watched by 300,000 Twitch viewers on release day – by far the most viewed VR title ever and comparable, and in many cases surpassing, AAA flatscreen games. Furthermore, the amount of press coverage and articles written about Half-Life: Alyx has been huge. Sure, some of this has been down to the return of a gaming franchise that hasn’t had a release for over 10 years but much of it is due to the decision Valve made to make it in VR. There has been a big and enduring buzz around the game and it has felt like a real video game milestone event.

VR as part of the AAA space

This is all not to say that somehow AAA VR videogames should replace indie VR titles or that we should no longer have flatscreen AAA games. There is, of course, a place for both of them in the wider gaming ecosystem – I’ve enjoyed Assassins Creed Odyssey and find it relaxing, and we need indies to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – but it’s undeniable that flatscreen AAA games have lost some of their wonder and excitement and a bump in resolution and fidelity will not be enough to provide that crucial next-gen experience. Whilst at one stage developing in VR was a daunting prospect, the core mechanics have now been worked out and there’s a healthy and rapidly growing user base that’s craving AAA content. It’s time for the big studios to get involved.

May 23, 2020

How To Play Skyrim VR On Oculus Quest – What You Need And The Best Options

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still one of the largest, most immersive, and greatest VR games out there. It may not have been designed with VR in mind when it originally released back in 2011, but this VR adaptation does a serviceable job of shoving Tamriel’s northernmost region into VR headsets.

Now Skyrim VR of course released first on PSVR, but then later came to PC VR headsets — including mods. As a result, it’s still one of the most exciting games to play because the active modding community continues to deliver amazing updates. Here’s how to install mods if you’re curious.

Last year we covered an early (and outdated) method of streaming PC VR content to Oculus Quest using RiftCat and VRidge, but it’s far from the ideal method these days. So the rest of this article will cover how to play Skyrim VR on Oculus Quest, the best options out there, and what you need to make it happen.

What You Need To Play Skyrim VR On Oculus Quest

For the most part, in order to play Skyrim VR on Oculus Quest you just need good internet and a VR-ready PC, in addition to your Quest headset. But let’s get into the specifics of what the “recommended” specs look like in order to run Skyrim VR comfortably:

Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB / AMD RX Vega 56 8GB

Going above and beyond these settings is of course encouraged so that you can take full advantage of the Skyrim VR modding community and try to negate any performance concerns.

You can grab Skyrim VR on Steam at its regular price of $59.99 or wait on a sale.

Skyrim VR_20171115121712

Skyrim VR On Quest: Wired vs. Wireless

There are two fundamentally different ways to play a PC VR game on an Oculus Quest headset. You can plug it into your PC directly using a USB-C cable via the Oculus Link feature, which tells your computer to treat the Quest like a Rift S essentially, or you can stream PC VR content to your Quest wirelessly. Interacting with VR content in this way requires a very strong 5Ghz WiFi connection to avoid latency issues.

Naturally, there are pros and cons to both approaches. The major benefit of playing PC VR games on Quest with a wire is a dedicated connection that ensures higher graphical fidelity and avoids added latency. The quality of the streamed solution is extremely dependent on the quality of your WiFi router and the strength of your connection. But then in the case of the wireless streaming method, it’s difficult to articulate just how amazing the added value of wireless roomscale movement is. It’s truly a game changer.

To see comparisons wit ha single game focused on Link vs. PC VR content streaming on Quest, check out this breakdown of Half-Life: Alyx.

Oculus Link Cable Recommendations

If you have a VR-ready PC that also meets the minimum requirements for Skyrim VR and want to go the direct cable route, make sure that the PC also meets all compatibility requirements for Oculus Link. Then, the only other physical equipment you’ll need is a USB-C cord that is compatible with Oculus Link.

The easiest option to adopt with the least hassle is the official Oculus Link Cable, available to purchase from Facebook. It is a 5m, fibre optic cable that is relatively thin and provides good flexibility, with USB-C connectors on both ends.

The official cable is pretty much guaranteed to work, provided you have a USB-C port on your computer that is the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard. If you only have USB-A ports, you’ll need to buy a USB A to C adapter to use the official cord. Make sure that both the adaptor and the USB-A port on your computer are USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Recently, Facebook also upgraded the Oculus Link platform so that USB 2.0 cables will work as well and as a result, all USB 3.0 cables have even higher fidelity than before.

For options other than the official Oculus Link Cable, check out our article on building a USB cable solution that works with Oculus Link. And for instructions on how to use Oculus Link with your Quest to access PC VR content, check out this Link-dedicated guide.

Virtual Desktop Wireless PC VR Streaming For Quest

First and foremost, you will need to purchase and download Virtual Desktop from the Oculus Store for Quest.

However, the default store version of Virtual Desktop does not allow you to stream games to the headset wirelessly. To do that, you’ll need to sideload a patched version of the app using SideQuest, which enables the functionality, after you’ve already bought and installed the official version.

If you don’t know how to sideload or use SideQuest, you can check out our guide on the matter here. You can find and install the alternate Virtual Desktop app by searching for it in the ‘Games and Apps’ section of SideQuest. The sideloaded version of Virtual Desktop still checks for a valid app licence, which is why you’ll need to buy the Oculus Store version first. This patch was released by the actual creator of Virtual Desktop, so it’s a legit download.

Once you have the sideloaded version of Virtual Desktop installed, you will also need to install the streamer app on the same PC from which you want to stream Skyrim VR. This is available on the Virtual Desktop website.

With the streaming app installed and opened, enter your Oculus username into the Streamer app’s menu on your PC.

Then, launch Virtual Desktop on your Oculus Quest and enter SteamVR to play Skyrim VR or any other PC VR game wirelessly from your Quest.

However, there are some important caveats: Virtual Desktop is not as much of a ‘works-out-of-the-box’ solution as Oculus Link. You’ll likely need to do some tweaking to adjust the performance, visuals, and latency depending on your personal internet quality and router configuration.

Some users get great visual fidelity with very low latency through Virtual Desktop, while others struggle to get consistent performance. It will all depend on the quality of you internal connection between your router, PC and Oculus Quest.

Here are some things to check to ensure optimal performance:

Make sure that your Quest is connected to a 5Ghz network.
Make sure that your PC is connected to your router via ethernet and not Wi-Fi.
Try to play as close to your router as possible, with minimal physical interference from walls, furniture and the like.

In our experience, we’ve found your mileage with Virtual Desktop can vary greatly depending on your equipment and setup. There may also be additional steps which we’ve seen recommended by others – such as changing security settings on your router – that may improve you performance even more. You’ll just have to see what’s required for your situation and setup.

That should cover the basics of how to play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR on the Oculus Quest using Oculus Link or Virtual Desktop. Any questions? Put them down in the comments and we’ll see if we can help out.

The post How To Play Skyrim VR On Oculus Quest – What You Need And The Best Options appeared first on UploadVR.

March 10, 2020

Could Realistic, Advanced Physics be the Gameplay Differentiator to Take VR Mainstream?

Sometimes, it’s difficult to put your finger on why and how virtual reality (VR) gaming differs to traditional gaming. Of course, there’s the obvious immersion point – in VR you’re actually in the game rather than viewing it – but what about gameplay mechanics? How do they really differ? The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR and Fallout 4 VR are amazingly immersive in VR but, outside of being able to move your weapons in independent directions, is the core gameplay any different from their flatscreen incarnations?

Boneworks A growing trend in the VR scene has been the rise of titles that attempt to utilise realistic physics-driven interaction systems as core gameplay mechanics. This trend began with games like H3VR and Gorn and has gained momentum recently through titles such as Blade & Sorcery, Boneworks and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. These videogames are based around employing consistent, universal and realistic physics rules to every object in an experience so that when a player manipulates or uses that object it reacts realistically (or at least consistently) to both the player’s input and all other objects and masses in the VR space. It feels very much like the next step on the evolutionary path of VR gaming and one that truly differentiates it from traditional gaming.

Adding weight and mass to thin air!

What does this mean in practice? In the titles mentioned above, not only can almost every item in their worlds be picked up, moved, thrown and manipulated but there is also an attempt to give each item weight and mass. Quite a difficult thing to pull off convincingly when in the real world the player is just pushing air particles around! When I pick up a huge axe in a videogame like Blade & Sorcery there is a realistic approximation of its weight. I can’t just pick up this axe with one hand and waggle it around weightlessly. It has realistic physics and it will droop uselessly if I use it with one hand, greatly diminishing its damage potential if I try to hit an enemy (as would be the case in real life). Rather, I need to pick it up with two hands and mime slow swings like it has actual weight. This sounds unintuitive but it’s anything but. It’s actually a lot of fun and surprisingly effective at making you believe you’re swinging around a hulking great piece of metal. Furthermore, if I swing the axe at a wall it will bounce off it rather than just glide through. If I hit a pot it will smash. If I crunch it into a competitor gladiator’s arm it will (gruesomely) dismember them!

Realistic, advanced physics take VR immersion and gameplay to the next level

When we talk about realistic physics simulation this is what we mean. While it might not seem like the most obvious selling point for VR – “realistic physics” doesn’t exactly scream must play – the benefits are immense. Firstly, it adds hugely to the overall immersion. Visually placing you in an environment is one thing in VR, but when you’re placed in a space and then each object you touch, grab or swing reacts as you expect, and has its own physicality and weight, it’s amazing how your brain can be tricked into believing that what is in front of you is somehow real and actually there. I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the first few areas of Boneworks simply overturning tables, pushing over filing cabinets and picking up and throwing computer screens. It’s just so much fun to simply exist and mess around in a VR space when you can grab and manipulate all the in-game objects around you.

Secondly, and very much in line with the trend we’ve seen in VR gaming during 2019 and early 2020, there are endlessly entertaining ways to incorporate realistic and consistent physics into gameplay mechanics that facilitate player creativity and expression. The most obvious example is through weapons. When your weapons and your enemies have weight and presence it’s remarkable how many ways to tackle combat situations present themselves. Suddenly, every cool move you’ve seen in a sword and shield or gun-based action film is there for you to emulate. A quick search on YouTube for Sword & Sorcery’s best kills will throw up all manner of complicated and convoluted (and, it has to be said, cool) melee combat sequences which show a whole range of sword, axe, knife and pike sequences that are equal parts shocking and thrilling in their brutality and creativity. On the less gruesome side, if that machine gun now has weight and presence in-game (as in Boneworks), not only can you use it to shoot an enemy (as you would in any videogame), but it can become a multi-purpose tool; one you can use to push open doors or hook over a ledge to use as a climbing aid or as a bar on a zip line.

There’s an almost endless amount of ways you can manipulate these believable in-game props to come up with creative and original ways to defeat enemies, overcome puzzles or navigate parts of the environment. This level of interactivity is just not possible in traditional 2D videogames. They are bound by input methods on a gamepad or keyboard and there’s only a limited number of possible combinations. When motion controls are coupled with in-game objects and weapons that have physicality, the combinations of possible manipulations and consequences are nearly endless and don’t have to be pre-programmed.

Advanced physics are more than just realistic gore

So far I’ve focused on combat but physics-based gameplay lends itself equally well to a whole multitude of titles. Gadgeteer is a great example of how consistent and realistic physics can enhance a VR puzzle videogame. Each lego-like piece that you use to create reaction contraptions (think Rube Goldberg machines) revolves around realistic physics and how one piece interacts with another. The fact that in VR all of these pieces can be touched, pushed, lifted and manipulated like you would in real life lends Gadgeteer an incredible tactility while also allowing various tracks to be flexibly laid out in full 3D spaces. Being able to pick up and handle each intricate piece like you would in the real world, while also seeing them react to other objects as you expect and anticipate, based on your inherent understanding of how real-world physics work, makes the game incredibly easy to pick up and play and in no time at all you’re able to create elaborate chain reaction machines that will surprise you with their scope.

The challenges of implementing realistic physics

So why don’t all VR games incorporate advanced physics simulations and why haven’t they since VR first appeared? Well, for one thing, these physics are difficult and complicated to bake into a videogame. It takes developers many, many hours of development time to understand how to implement these physics and to work through all the various permutations of how each object in a game reacts to another.

The second consideration when implementing realistic physics is how far to take them. Just because a VR title has astonishingly realistic physics doesn’t necessarily make it a fun videogame. Arguably, Boneworks has the best recreation of realistic physics we’ve yet seen but there are moments when it can be annoying from a design perspective. There have been numerous times when I’m running through a level only to find that my character’s foot is stuck on a pavement curb and so I can’t move. Likewise, my gun has often smashed into a corner as I try to round it quickly or a limb gets stuck in a large grating. This also points to another issue with implementing realistic physics in VR: ’jank’. All VR physics titles that I’ve played so far have janky moments and you’ll often see an object react strangely or an enemy contorted into bizarre positions or tripping over the smallest item. Glitches and bugs are part and parcel for implementing these complex systems but it can still be immersion breaking to see some of the ridiculous scenarios thrown up.

Will Half-Life: Alyx find the perfect balance?

So, there are clearly some steps that need to be taken to find the right balance between implementing realistic physics-driven gameplay while keeping a videogame fun, accessible and polished. We’ve already seen this happen to some extent with The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners, which provided a slightly watered down physics simulation when compared to Boneworks or Blade & Sorcery, but still made sure that key object iteration and combat had that immersive physicality and weight. More excitingly though, Half-Life: Alyx, which is only weeks away from launch, seems to elegantly combine detailed, realistic object interaction and physics simulations with immense polish and accessibility. If it nails that balance we really could be on the cusp of a VR gaming revolution – one heavily based around realistic physics that will provide unheard of levels of player interaction and will be hard for a mainstream gaming audience to resist.

December 4, 2019

UK Game Charts Indicate a Bumper Black Friday Weekend for PlayStation VR

It isn’t often that VRFocus reports on virtual reality (VR) videogames making the UK charts with the last time being Blood & Truth which hit the number one spot back in May. The Black Friday sales weekend definitely shook things up as GfK has just released its Ukie Games Charts, with three VR titles making the top 20.

PlayStation VR 2019 Mega Pack This will be thanks to PlayStation VR’s big sales savings which saw the Starter Pack reduced to £179.99 GBP – down from £259.99 – while the PlayStation VR Mega Pack 2019 was only £209.99 – normally £299.99. And it just so happens that three of those videogames in the Mega Pack made the top 20, while the other two made the top 40.

PlayStation VR Worlds – 14th place
Astro Bot Rescue Mission – 18th place
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR – 20th place
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard – 23rd place
Everybody’s Golf VR – 25th place.

Which isn’t bad considering the rest of the company on the charts. This provides a decent indicator of how popular VR is becoming in the UK and that PlayStation VR still retains a dominant role 3 years after launch. 2019 has seen PC VR rivals upgrade their hardware with inside-out tracking, new controllers and more, yet Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is still happy with the PlayStation VR design, with no apparent urge to update the headset just yet – although patents have indicated possible plans.

PlayStation VR

The Ukie Games Charts only go up to 30th November, excluding the Sunday and Cyber Monday sales days, so those numbers are likely to shift, hopefully in a positive direction.

Don’t expect any other indicators of VR sales as companies like Facebook/Oculus are renown for staying tight-lipped on units sales. Reports from the US have suggested the sales weekend has gone well with Oculus Quest selling out at major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, pushing up resale values in the process. However, Oculus Quest wasn’t discounted, only offered with Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series. It was Oculus Rift S and Oculus Go which both saw chunky $50 savings.

VRFocus will continue to report on the health and growth of the VR industry as further information is made available.

February 12, 2019

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Scoops Steam’s Game of the Year

Steam recently announced the winners for its 2018 Steam Awards, with users of the platform having complete control over which videogames won – unlike other awards events no judges were needed. As such the Steam Awards didn’t nominate any particular titles, either virtual reality (VR) or non-VR based, it was purely on the votes the experiences received. And it was none other than Bethesda’s monster role-playing game (RPG) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR that scooped the top honour for the VR category.

Steam Awards BestVRgameWallpaper

Actual figures haven’t been released but PC VR owners have certainly enjoyed playing the open world adventure all over again in VR – and VRFocus did to giving it a full five-stars in our review which said: “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR’s level of immersion is simply fantastic,” whilst adding “for those who dreamed of a truly immersive role-playing experience, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VRis simply the best opportunity available today.”

There were four other VR titles in the running, social app VRChat, the highly addictive rhythm action experience Beat Saber, Bethesda’s other big open-world RPG Fallout 4 VR and time-bending shooter SUPERHOT VR. With the exception of VRChat, the other three are regular award stalwarts with Beat Saber most recently picking up PlayStation.Blog’s ‘Best PS VR Experience’ 2018 and Sony Interactive Entertainment’s most downloaded VR title for PlayStation VR in Europe during.

Beat Games’ Beat Saber is also up for ‘Best VR/AR Game’ in the 19th annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) as part of the 2019 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March.

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

As for the other categories, none of them featured any VR experiences, with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds securing the top Game of the Year award. Other winners included Grand Theft Auto V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Assassin’s Creed Odyessy and Rocket League.

There are going to be plenty more awards as the year rolls on. To keep up with all the VR nominations and winners keep reading VRFocus.

November 30, 2018

PlayStation VR Mega Pack Bundle Coming to EU With 5 Games

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) are well known for putting together interesting deals and bundles for virtual reality (VR) headset PlayStation VR. A lot tend to be North American-based like the recent Borderlands 2 VR and Beat Saber Bundle, but now European customers will be getting their own specialised offer. SIE has announced the PlayStation VR Mega Pack bundle which will feature five top titles.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission - Screenshot (E3 2018)

The new bundle will include the headset, PlayStation Camera, and voucher codes to digitally download the following five titles: Astro Bot Rescue Mission, WipEout Omega Collection, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, Doom VFR, and PlayStation VR Worlds.

That’s quite the variety of gameplay types, with the excellent Astro Bot Rescue Mission probably the most sought after of the bunch since it launched in October with rave reviews. VRFocus gave it a solid four stars in our review saying: “it is a great old-school platformer for the VR era, bringing some of the best features of both 2D and 3D platformers of old and incorporating VR in a way that doesn’t feel awkward. This is a fun, lighthearted way to spend some time in VR, and worth checking out.”

WipEout Omega Collection naturally offers a much more intense experience thanks to its blisteringly fast racing speeds, so it’s well worth playing after you’ve got used to VR somewhat.

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is where a lot of gamers will likely spend their time as it offers the most gameplay time, with its heavy role-playing game (RPG) mechanics there’s plenty to see and do in this massive VR experience.

Or for those after a bit more visceral, gun-toting videogame then Doom VFR has all that you need. Gaining a full five stars in VRFocus’ review, we said: “Ultimately DOOM VFR stands as a fine example of just what can be achieved with the FPS genre in VR as of today, lining-up against Robo Recall as an action-heavy experience that throws the rulebook out of the window.”

Lastly there’s original launch title PlayStation VR Worlds, which features a selection of smaller games and is a great way of introducing people to the VR experience.

The PlayStation VR Mega Pack bundle is due to launch in the UK on Monday 3rd December and 4th December in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. No official price has yet been given although some retailers have it listed for €329.00 EUR/ £290 GBP (most likely a place holder). When the official price is announced VRFocus will let you know.

November 18, 2018

Something for the Weekend: PlayStation VR Black Friday EU Savings

It’s that special time of year again where every retailer goes discount crazy in the run-up to Christmas. Attracting customers with offers and discounts galore – some better than others. While Black Friday may still be a few days away, the EU PlayStation Store started its offerings on Friday just gone, so it seemed apt to feature those deals today. All these deals end at 11.59pm GMT on Monday 26th November 2018.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission

A platform title from the team at Sony Japan Studio, Astro Bot Rescue Mission was well received when it launched last month for PlayStation VR. VRFocus commented in its review: “While Astro Bot Rescue Mission isn’t quite as charming as Moss, or as superbly crafted as Mario Odyssey, it is a great old-school platformer for the VR era, bringing some of the best features of both 2D and 3D platformers of old and incorporating VR in a way that doesn’t feel awkward. This is a fun, lighthearted way to spend some time in VR, and worth checking out.”

Astro Bot Rescue Mission is on sale for £19.99 GBP, reduced from £34.99.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Christmas 2017 proved to be a bumper year for VR content, with Bethesda releasing DOOM VFR and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR. Even though the latter videogame was a few years old by then the addition of VR proved to be a wise choice, with VRFocus writing in its review: “for those who dreamed of a truly immersive role-playing experience, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VRis simply the best opportunity available today.”

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is on sale for £19.99, reduced from £47.99.

SUPERHOT VR

SUPERHOT VR originally launched on Oculus Rift with Touch support before being ported to HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. The title has seen near-universal acclaim due to its particular gameplay style where time only moves when you do. So there’s plenty of slow-mo bullet dodging and gunplay as you try to kill enemies.

SUPERHOT VR is on sale for £11.99, reduced from £19.99.

Eagle Flight

Eagle Flight is another Oculus Rift which arrived in October before making its way to PlayStation VR and HTC Vive by the end of 2016. Set fifty years after humans vanished from the face of the Earth, wildlife and nature have reclaimed the cities, with players taking to the skies of Paris for a selection of single-player and multiplayer modes.

Eagle Flight is on sale for £9.99, reduced from £34.99.

Eve: Valkyrie – Warzone

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone is a first-person spaceship shooter that puts you in the cockpit for intense multiplayer space combat. The Warzone expansion also includes all five previous free updates: Carrier Assault, Joint Strike, Gatecrash, Wormholes, and Groundrush.

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone is on sale for £9.49, reduced from £24.99.

Farpoint

Farpoint is a sci-fi adventure where you find yourself stranded on an alien world filled with all sorts of nasty hostiles. While Farpoint will work with PlayStation VR’s standard control methods when the title launched it tended to be packaged with the PlayStation Aim controller, which is still the best way to play the experience.

Farpoint is on sale for £7.99, reduced from £24.99.

Firewall Zero Hour

Another title that benefits from owning PlayStation Aim, Firewall Zero Hour is a team-based online multiplayer from First Contact Entertainment. Receiving a five-star review from VRFocus, we said: “Firewall Zero Hour has managed to avoid many of the common pitfalls of VR online multiplayer’s and add its own interesting twist to the military FPS genre. The lobby system could use some improvements, but otherwise its a finely crafted title that will be of great interest to FPS fans.”

Firewall Zero Hour is on sale for £15.99, reduced from £34.99.

Robinson: The Journey

Robinson: The Journey casts players as Robin, a boy that’s left stranded on an alien world called Tyson III after his ship crash lands. But Robin isn’t alone, he’s accompanied by an AI companion called HIGS, and together they must survive the harsh environment and dangerous inhabitants as they search for the lost crew, solving puzzles and unearthing the planet’s secrets along the way.

Robinson: The Journey is on sale for £9.79, reduced from £44.99.

Archangel

Archangel is set on a world ravaged by natural disasters. Players take on the role of a pilot in the United States Free Forces, a resistance group fighting a tyrannical United States government which has removed all freedoms from its citizens. Stepping into a massive mech, players will take the fight to HUMNX, a private conglomerate that controls what little is left of a ravaged America.

Archangel is on sale for £11.99, reduced from £29.99.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Star Trek: Bridge Crew features both single-player and multiplayer options – although VRFocus did state in its review that the videogame was all about the multiplayer. You get to play in one of four roles, Captain, Helm, Tactical or Engineering, each with its own particular job to do. Once chosen, you and your teammates then head out into space to complete a variety of missions.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew is on sale for £14.99, reduced from £29.99.

September 9, 2018

Something For The Weekend: PlayStation VR Discounts Across The Board

Once again its time for another entry of Something for the Weekend, the weekly series where VRFocus bring you a number of deals on virtual reality (VR) titles. September moving along nicely and though the weather in the UK doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be, that doesn’t stop the deals on VR titles from coming. This week we have a look at the PlayStation Store to list some of the best deals currently available. This includes mind-bending puzzle adventures, charming tales about friendship and even going for a dive, there is sure to be something for everyone. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

18 Floors

Experience a suspenseful and thrilling VR puzzle adventure in this title that will have you traveling to a time-bending black hole to discover the true identity of Andrea, Queen of Noah Star. Along the way you will also come face-to-face with a galactic conspiracy and need to try and keep yourself focuses on this fantastic journey that will require puzzle solving skills and focus.

18 Floors is available now for £7.99 (GBP) down from the usual £11.99.

Unearthing Mars 2 - image3

Unearthing Mars

“As Co-Pilot of the retrieval team, the player will have the full experience of a space explorer on Mars. Unearthing Mars provides hours of unique gameplay experiences, ranging from navigating a landing craft through a sandstorm to driving a Mars rover. From puzzle-solving to first-person shooting, the game will allow players to resolve challenges from a variety of game genres.”

Unearthing Mars is available now for only £4.99 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Along Together

Become a kid’s imaginary friend in this charming title that will see you guiding them through extraordinary worlds in a journey to find their missing dog. Players will need to harness the power of imagination to lift trees, move boulders, power incredible machines, and create new paths where there are none to follow. Along Together is a charming experience that will be sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Along Together is available now for £7.99 (GBP) down from £15.99.

SUPERHYPERCUBE

“SUPERHYPERCUBE seems like the love child between Rez Infinite and Tetris, psychedelic, neon rich visuals with a puzzle mechanic that’s difficult to put down. If you’re after something that little bit different for your HTC Vive this holiday season, take a look at SUPERHYPERCUBE.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of SUPERHYPERCUBE.

SUPERHYPERCUBE is available now for £4.99 (GBP) down from £11.99.

The Walker

“The Walker was selected for the China Hero Project by Sony, representing the highest level of Chinese game development. It also received the 2017 Golden Plume award for Best VR Game. A VR action-shooter, The Walker offers a unique 360° all-directional monster-slaying experience for FPS and zombie fans. The story takes place in old Shanghai, where undead exorcists have traditional weapons at their disposal, as well as magical Chinese talismans.”

The Walker is available now for £9.99 (GBP) down from £15.99.

Sneaky Bears

The world is under attack and it falls to you to save the day. When a horde of evil teddy bears lead by an evil mastermind bear named Frank come for you, it will take all sorts of weapons to be able to stop them and put an end to the evil plan that they have started. On your mission you’ll also need to rescue the innocent Panda teddy bears that Frank and his minions have taken hostage as well so get ready for a fight.

Sneaky Bears is available now for £3.69 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

“The achievement made by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is one by way of both hardware and design to capitalise upon this. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR’s level of immersion is simply fantastic, and while Bethesda Softworks could well have gone the route of DOOM VFR and created a shorter spin-off experience, developing a brand new The Elder Scrolls instalment specifically for VR would have taken many years and far too much in the way of resources for what is still a nascent audience. As it stands some may find the price point of the videogame a bitter pill to swallow, but for those who dreamed of a truly immersive role-playing experience, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is simply the best opportunity available today.” – Read VRFocus’ Editor Kevin Joyce’s review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is on sale now for £24.99 (GBP) down from £49.99.

Floor Plan: Hands-on Edition Screenshot 2

Floor Plan

Looking for a puzzle adventure videogame that place place entirely inside an elevator? Then this is the one for you. Go floor to floor, find items, and meet a bizarre cast of characters and discover the relationships between the different things in the building to uncover the secrets within.

Floor Plan is available now for £2.99 (GBP) down from £4.99.

RollerCoaster Legends

“Speed off on an eight-minute rollercoaster journey only possible in virtual reality. Visit the Temple of Poseidon, the River Styx, Tartarus, and the Palace of Hades, by zipping up and down daring drops and twists while sitting on your couch. RollerCoaster Legends is a mythology based rollercoaster featuring icons from Greek mythology, including the Minotaur, Kronos, Charon, and Hades. Enjoy the thrills of a gigantic rollercoaster in a location only possible to visit through your VR headset.”

RollerCoaster Legends is on sale now for £2.49 (GBP) down from the usual £3.99.

gran turismo sport screenshot 2

Gran Turismo Sport

Get ready to feel the thrill of driving and the dizzying rush of acceleration as you get behind the wheel of the worlds fastest cars in intense races. Do you have what it takes to become the master of the sport and raise through the ranks to become the greatest racer there ever was? Gran Turismo Sport offers a truly immersive way to experience Motorsport’s and is a must have for fans.

Gran Turismo Sport is available now for £15.99 (GBP) down from £49.99.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.

July 8, 2018

Something For The Weekend: Sizzling Hot PlayStation VR Deals

It’s hot, but you all know that as the summer heat keeps up the pressure. So what better way to escape the heat then to lose yourself inside some immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. VRFocus is back once again with another entry of Something for the Weekend, which brings together a number of different titles to help you find your next favourite title. This time we take a look at the PlayStation store to hunt down some of the best offers on PlayStation VR titles that cover a wide range of genres. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

2MD: VR Football

It comes down to the last two minutes of a match and it is up to you to make the wining score. Think you can do that? Well, in 2MD: VR Football you’ll have to. From developer Truant Pixel, players jump into the final two minutes of an American Football match and step into the shoes of a quarterback. Draw up a plan, call the shots, make the throw, hand-off or even just run for that last minute touchdown. It’s an intense, action packed two minutes.

2MD: VR Football is available now for £7.39 (GBP) down from the usual £9.99.

Headmaster Keeper

Headmaster

“All in all Headmaster is a well put together title that the majority of VR gamers will find enjoyable. It does feel a bit 2016 in its gameplay offerings, with VR having moved on leaps and bounds in terms of the depth of content available. Headmaster is a tongue in cheek experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously, supplying light hearted fun mixed with good physics, and that’s no bad thing.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of Headmaster.

Headmaster is available now for £4.99 (GBP) down from £15.99.

Hex Tunnel

“Enter another dimension and master the elements to become a supreme being. With arcade, chaos and ultra modes in procedural stages ensures a unique experience. Avoid all surfaces and reach the exit to be victorious.”

Hex Tunnel is only £2.49 (GBP) down from £3.99.

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Blasters of the Universe

“For those that’ve become rightly bored with wave shooters Blasters of the Universe offers that spark of light, reminding us why this genre became popular in the first place. The entire theme, visual aesthetics and gameplay make Blasters of the Universe a joy to play, just be prepared to swear and curse – possibly throw a controller – as that heart disappears because you didn’t see that one laser bolt soon enough.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Wrtier Peter Graham’s review of Blasters of the Universe.

Blasters of the Universe is available now for £6.49 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Konrad the Kitten

If you want to escape the everyday life and space time with a cute kitten then this is the title for you. Meet Konrad, the cute kitten that needs a helping hand and lots of love. Feed him, take him on a hot-air-balloon ride and keep him happy with a wide range of activities and tools to play with. Featuring a number of mini-games and a large range of accessories to dress Konrad up in, any fan of kittens is sure to have a blast with this title.

Konrad the Kitten is available now for £7.99 (GBP) down from £11.99.

Pirate Flight (VR)

What if you could be a pirate and fly through the skies? Well, in Pirate Flight (VR) you can do just that. Designed to be an accessible title for anyone to play, players will be able to fly, race, and shoot across three worlds and 90 missions. With no landing or complex controllers, flying has never been so simple. The title also includes dragons so really, what more could you want?

Pirate Flight (VR) is available now for Oculus Go for £7.39 (GBP) down from £11.99 with an extra 10% discount available for PlayStation Plus members.

Island time VR 5

Island Time VR

“After a ruckus journey at sea, you are shipwrecked on a tiny island. Using your wit, ingenuity and the advice of your new buddy, Carl the Crab, you’ve gotta find a way to keep yourself from starving and survive as long as possible. Craft tools, fend off creatures, try to signal an airplane… or you could just give up and die? …Maybe, just enjoy the sunset while you can. Almost makes you forget that you’re in a desperate struggle against your own mortality.”

Island Time VR is currently £6.49 (GBP) down from £11.59.

The American Dream

“There’s so much to like about The American Dream that it feels like nagging when pointing out its faults. Some of you will love its humour and points of view on guns, but many will notice there’s not a massive amount to do, with hidden stars on each stage the only real reason to give it another go. There’s no doubt that The American Dream’s commentary on American gun culture will rile some, particularly at this point in the political landscape, nevertheless as a VR experience it’s certain worth your consideration.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of The American Dream.

The American Dream is currently on sale for £11.99 (GBP) down from £15.99 with PlayStation Plus members saving an extra 25%.

Ultrawings

Jump in and take to the skies in this open world experience where you’ll pilot multiple aircraft to complete a variety of missions and challenges. Pop balloons as you fly through the air, snap the best photos, execute perfect landings and flt courses to earn the highest score. If you want to feel the thrill of flying high in the air then Ultrawings is for you.

Ultrawings is currently available for £8.99 (GBP) down from £17.99.

Skyrim VR: VRFocus' Adventuring Life screenshot

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is available now for £32.49 (GBP) down from £49.99 with PlayStation Plus members saving an extra 35%.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.