Owlchemy Labs, das Studio, das auch für Job Simulator und Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality verantwortlich ist, wird in diesem Jahr ein neues Spiel auf den Markt bringen, welches euch samt VR-Brille in den Urlaub schickt. Ursprünglich kündigten die Entwickler den Vacation Simulator Anfang Dezember letzten Jahres an. Ein neuer Tweet kündigt an, dass Owlchemy Labs das Spiel auf der GDC präsentieren wird, die am 19. März beginnt.
Vacation Simulator: Mach mal Pause
Der Vacation Simulator wird optisch und spielerisch vermutlich in eine ähnliche Kerbe schlagen, wie die bereits veröffentlichten VR-Titel der Owlchemy Labs. Anstatt eure Lachmuskeln oder Effektivität zu trainieren, möchte das neuste Erlebnis euch auf einen spannenden Trip ans Meer schicken. Wann das Spiel genau erscheinen wird, ist bisher weiterhin unklar, doch immerhin planen die Entwickler eine Veröffentlichung für die Oculus Rift, HTC Vive und PlayStation VR Headset noch in diesem Jahr. Dass ein Release in diesem Jahr durchaus realistisch ist, zeigt sich durch einen neuen Tweet, in dem das Team verspricht, den Vacation Simulator mit auf GDC (Game Developers Conference) nach San Francisco zu bringen. Somit werden wir in spätestens zwei Wochen neue Informationen zum Titel bekommen.
Die Owlchemy Labs konnten mit dem Job Simulator und Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality im letzten Jahr große Erfolge feiern, die schließlich auch dazu führten, dass Google sich das Team einverleibt hat. Die eigene Messlatte liegt jedoch sehr hoch und wir hoffen, dass uns mehr erwartet, als ein Job Simulator mit anderem Setting.
Over the last few weeks VRFocus has looked at some of the Best HTC Vive Games that have arrived over the past year as well as the Best Games You’ve Never Played. Now it’s time to look at what’s to come over the next 12 months, a brief rundown featuring some of the most interesting and exciting looking videogames developers have in the works for HTC Vive.
With the headset due to celebrate its second anniversary in a few months studios are now settling into the hardware, coming up with evermore inventive, and engrossing virtual reality (VR) experiences, and below VRFocus has picked some of the best.
Sprint Vector – Survios
First revealed during the Game Developers Conference 2017, LA-based virtual reality (VR) developer Survios took a different approach to its next title after the success of first-person shooter (FPS) Raw Data. Sprint Vectoris an obstacle course style videogame where you have to race to the end by using a system which the studio calls Fluid Locomotion, essentially swinging your arms back and forth just like you would when running.
Those interested in getting an early look at Sprint Vector ahead of launch can signup for the free beta at the Sprint Vector website. The beta is slated to start in January 2018 with an official release still to be confirmed.
The American Dream – Samurai Punk
Samurai Punk, the studio behind the popular multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) Screencheat revealed its next project, The American Dream, at PAX West 2016. Described by the studio as a: “Look down the barrel of a future where all your everyday needs are solved with guns,” The American Dream is a satirical trip through a 1950’s world’s fair.
No exact date has yet been confirmed, just that The American Dream will launch in 2018.
Vacation Simulator – Owlchemy Labs
Announced during the recent Game Awards ceremony, Vacation Simulator is the next project from Job Simulator developer Owlchemy Labs. Few details were revealed about the videogame other than a teasing trailer showcasing more fun and frolics, just this time you’re on holiday.
Vacation Simulator has been slated for release at some point in 2018.
Anamorphine – Artifact 5
Anamorphine focuses on pure environmental storytelling, with no dialogue, text, UI or action buttons to speak of. Instead, you move through the story purely through movement and sight, learning about Tyler who struggles with guilt and post-traumatic denial after his wife Elena falls victim to an accident leaving her unable to play the cello.
Fast Travel Games’ first VR title in the form of Apex Construct, a first-person shooter (FPS) set in a futuristic sci-fi world of robots. With synthetic creatures on the prowl its up to you to save the human race using your trusty bow and arrow.
The studio will be bringing Apex Construct to PlayStation VR first, followed by PC releases including HTC Vive, although dates have yet to be confirmed.
Bebylon: Battle Royale – Kite & Lightning
Kite & Lightning’s Bebylon: Battle Royale has appeared numerous times on VRFocus although the last time was way back in 2016. The videogame’s core gameplay revolves around a multiplayer combat arena where you control babies who fight it out for supremacy. There’s more to the experience than just fighting however, with the studio an entire virtual world.
It’s been a long time coming but Bebylon: Battle Royale should be appearing early 2018.
In Death – Sólfar Studios
EVEREST VR developer Sólfar Studios revealed just last month that its next VR experience would be somewhat different to the educational, mountaineering videogame. In Death is a first person shooter (FPS) with roguelike elements and a distinctly medieval flavour, with a game world that’s procedurally generated.
Currently In Death only has a release window of 2018.
Alice’s Lullaby: Albino Lullaby Episode 2 – Ape Law
Last September Ape Law announced a slight re-brand of its horror videogame Albino Lullaby, calling it Alice’s Lullaby instead. Whilst keeping the same weird and wonderful design as before, the second episode will see improvements such as player driven pacing – so no cut scenes, more objects to interact with, five new characters, and ‘Buck’s Clicker’ which bends time and space.
Ape Law has confirmed that Alice’s Lullaby will launch on22nd March 2018.
Space Junkies – Ubisoft
Continuing Ubisoft’s support of VR, the Star Trek: Bridge Crew studio announced during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2017 a low-gravity multiplayer VR shooter called Space Junkies. Described as a fast-paced arena shooter that lets players put on jet packs to fly around destructible environments so the arena can change and react to player actions.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars – Konami Digital Entertainment
Lastly there’s Konami’s Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars, a remastered version of the original title released for PlayStation 2 in 2002 where VR players will be able to enter JEHUTY’s cockpit for some first-person combat action.
Without any major VR hardware releases on the radar for this year, 2018 is shaping up to be a time for content to shine. We’ve rounded up a list of 20-something VR games launching in 2018 that we’re excited about, covering all three major VR systems: PSVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Ace Combat 7
Platform: PSVR (2018)
While Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7 is advertising “exclusive VR features” instead of straight VR support (meaning the campaign isn’t playable in VR), we’re still excited to strap into either Osean or Erusean jets as the two fictional superpowers duke it out in the skies. Who knows, maybe it’ll be wildly awesome?
ARK Park is a multiplayer adventure game based on the world of ARK:Survival Evolved (2017). While it may have been delayed by the China-based Snail Games from the previously slated late 2017 release, the mix of dinosaur-themed factual and fictional elements has certainly tickled our curiosity. Also: you can ride a dinosaur.
The world needs more fighting babies. To provide this insatiable need for post-natal, pre-toddler carnage, the immensely capable VR studio Kite & Lightning are developing a VR melee party brawler that puts ridiculously dressed infants into kart-based Smash Bros-style combat. We haven’t had a hands-on yet, but the studio has promised a 2018 release, so we’re sure to get one soon enough.
Brass Tactics
Platform: Rift (February 28, 2018)
This VR multiplayer/singleplayer real-time strategy game comes from Hidden Path Entertainment, the minds behind Defense Grid 2: Enhanced VR Edition (2016) and Age of Empires II: HD Edition (2013).Who hasn’t dreamt about bringing their favorite tabletop game to life, and ordering armies of miniature soldiers to ultimate victory?
This online 2-player co-op strategic shooter will force you to take cover as you make your way across a war-torn fictional Eastern European city. While you won’t get the free-wheeling locomotion options like many shooters, instead giving you a sort of ‘on-rails’ point-to-point automatic movement, the strength and amount of enemies will make you think twice before selecting a cover position for fear or getting shot to bits by a machine gun-welding baddies.
Budget Cuts
Platform: Rift, Vive (2018)
Already offering a wildly successful demo the ninja assassin-style Budget Cuts puts heavy emphasis on stealth combat. Set to release sometime in 2018, indie studio Neat Corporation surely picked up some important pointers when they were invited to collaborate with Valve last year—the results of which we can’t wait to see. Seriously. Play the demo now if you haven’t already.
Echo Combat
Platform: Rift (2018)
As if Ready at Dawn’s singleplayer adventure Lone Echo (2017) and free multiplayer sports game Echo Arena (2017) weren’t cool enough, the studio is also bringing out a combat-focused, zero-G game in 2018. Demos aren’t in the wild yet, but if it’s coming from the studio that produced Road to VR’s Best Rift Game of 2017, we’ll be mashing F5 on Oculus’ blog in anticipation of seeing and hearing more.
Firewall: Zero Hours VR
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Revealed at PSX 2017 recently, Firewall Zero Hour is a team-based, tactical multiplayer FPS coming exclusively to PSVR this year. The game is said to support both DualShock and PS Aim, although the developers haven’t made mention of PS Move controllers yet. Either way, this attack/defend shooter looks to fuse VR with some classic assault-style games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.
Golem
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Originally teased at PSX 2015 with a slated release for an October 2016, High Wire Games’Golem is finally coming to PSVR. In Golem, you play as an adventurous kid who has been seriously injured. You are stuck at home in your bed, dreaming of exploring the outside world. The minds behind the game are ex-Bungie staffers, including Halo composer Marty O’Donnell.
Although it’s been a while since we played, and things have surely changed, check out 6 minutes of gameplay here.
Marvel Powers United VR
Platform: Rift (2018)
Created by Oculus and Sanzaru Games (behind titles like VR Sports Challenge and Ripcoil), there’s plenty of ways to battle in this Marvel-themed arena brawler. Turn into the Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, Captain Marvel, Deadpool, and many more as you battle enemies in online multiplayer arena battles that let you wield real super powers.
From Disruptive Games comes a multiplayer action-packed hero shooter that transforms you into a titan, letting you use your massive size and firepower to compete with others in a quest to become a god. The game is said to come with free locomotion, destructible environments, and put heavy emphasis on strategic gameplay.
Moss
Platform: PSVR (February 2018)
A charming third-person action-adventure puzzle game from Polyarc, Moss gives you control of the small but fierce mouse named Quill. With a tiny sword in hand, you vanquish pint-sized enemies as you solve large puzzles. There’s a free demo available already on the second PSVR demo disc, so there’s no reason not to fall in love with little Quill already.
The result of a successful Kickstarter in 2015, Pixel Ripped has been in development well before consumer headsets released. Heavy on nostalgia, the game tosses you into the world of 1989 as Nicola. Going ‘one level deeper’ into the virtual world, you incarnate a heroine named Dot who is on a quest to return the magical rock that contains the soul of Dot’s world, Adventureland, which has been stolen by the Cyblin Master. Cyblin has other plans though as he tries to break into the Nicola’s ‘real’ world.
Space Junkies
Platform: Rift, Vive (Spring 2018)
From Ubisoft Montpelier, Space Junkies is an upcoming zero-G multiplayer shooter that puts straight into team-based or deathmatch-style combat. Yes, there are light sabers, but the focus is ultimately on the game’s impressive assortment of guns. Visuals are really polished, and from what we’ve played, so is the overall deathmatch concept.
Sprint Vector is a racing game that has integrated a unique locomotion arm-swinging locomotion style that moves you forward through a Mario Kart-style race course. Hailing from Raw Data developer Survios, we had a lot of fun in trying out the fast-paced, nausea-free racer.
From Playful Corp comes another third-person platformer, albeit less boisterous and family-oriented than the studio’s last VR game, Lucky’s Tale (2016). With some puzzles thrown in for good measure, you guide a mysterious traveler on her way through a subterranean landscape. She soon discovers advanced alien technology, is stalked by an ominous beast lurking in the shadows, and finally has a very close encounter with a giant being of unknown origin.
The Inpatient
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Originally expected for Q4 2017 release, Supermassive Games standalone prequel to Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (2016) has been delayed until 2018. When we first demoed the psychological horror game, the level of realism was remarkable thanks to some very well-tuned facial motion capture. We can’t wait to see more soon.
From Ubisoft Montreal and Elijah Wood’s studio Spectrevision, Transference is a physiological thriller that blends movie and reality in what promises to be a disquieting experience. Popping into the memories of people suffering from PTSD and reliving their nightmare-fuel pasts sounds pretty disquieting to me.
Vacation Simulator
Platform: PSVR, Rift & Vive (2018)
Announced at this year’s Game Awards, Owlchemy Labs’ Vacation Simulator is following in the footsteps of its breakout multi-platform success Job Simulator (2016). While it’s unsure if the tongue-in-check simulator style will find the same level of launch day success its spiritual predecessor, we’ll be there ready to play to see if it tickles our collective funny bones.
Windlands 2
Windlands (2016), the high-flying exploration game from Psytec Games, is getting a sequel this year that’s looking to alter its predecessor’s formula with the addition of co-op adventuring as well as combat. Combat has altered the zen-like nature of the game somewhat, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Multiplayer adventuring is a net positive though, so we can’t wait to see what Windlands 2 will serve up.
While Valve is still mum on its three games originally confirmed back in February 2017, Dan O’Brien, Vive general manager for the Americas, revealed to The Rolling Stone that Valve was still “very committed” to the promise of delivering its three VR games. Valve has produced The Lab (2016) and plenty of content for the SteamVR Home space. We’re itching to see any game with the level of fit and finish we see in both productions.
Blood And Truth
Platform: PSVR (TBA)
Sony’s London Studio first released Blood and Truth’s spiritual predecessor with the first PSVR demo disk; London Heist. The demo’s Guy Ritchie-style Cockney crime theme is an awesome backdrop to the demo’s shooting sequences, so the thought of having a full game where you’re essentially an action hero looking for revenge, well, it sounds pretty badass.
Last night the Game Awards took place celebrating the entire breadth of the videogame industry, including virtual reality (VR) content. As a surprise part of the event, Owlchemy Labs, the studio synonymous with zany hands-on VR experiences like Job Simulator and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityrevealed its next project, a sunny, relaxing title called Vacation Simulator.
Just like its predecessors, Vacation Simulator is a lighthearted, humour filled experience which is all about picking stuff up and having fun. Naturally, after you’ve spent many an hour completing tasks in Job Simulator you need a rest, time to chill out and enjoy some sunshine and the clear blue waters of an exotic location.
Other than the teaser video below the studio hasn’t revealed too much about Vacation Simulator and what sort of activities will be on offer. Suffice it to say, there looks to be beach balls a plenty, diving beneath the ocean depths to find all manner of creatures, and food, lots of food with some good old barbecuing going on. And with all that sand VRFocus wouldn’t be too surprised if a sandcastle or two popped up somewhere.
Vacation Simulator has been slated for release in 2018, supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR.
This is the first big videogame announcement from the studio since its procurement by Google earlier this year. And it seems as though Google has let Owlchemy Labs continue doing what it does best, create wildly amusing VR experiences for all ages. At the time the team said: “Together with Google, with which we share an incredible overlap in vision, we’re free to pursue raw creation and sprint toward interesting problems in these early days of VR.”
Owlchemy Labs hasn’t forgotten about its previous titles either, releasing a new update for Job Simulator called Infinite Overtime, adding a new nighttime mode whilst replacing JobBot with the slightly less on-the-ball TempBot.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of Vacation Simulator and Owlchemy Labs, reporting back with the latest updates.
Owlchemy Labs, creators of Job Simulator (2016) and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality (2017) tonight announced their latest VR title, Vacation Simulator.
Update (3/5/18):Owlchemy Labs has confirmed that it’ll be bringing Vacation Simulator to GDC 2018 later this month where the studio will show off “the first ever playable demo” of the title.
Original Article (12/7/17): Revealed during the Game Awards 2017 ceremony, Vacation Simulator promises to deliver the same deadpan comedy of its predecessor, which had you exploring what it was like to do a job through the lens of sentient robots who have long since made human labor obsolete. Job Simulator has become one of PC VR’s most recognizable titles, and one of the most successful so far; it’s no wonder that Owlchemy is following it up with a sequel.
“First you JOB, then you VACATION. Experience RECREATION, optimal RELAXATION, and classic human pasttimes like SUNBURN. Vacation Island offers all this and more so that you can discover the lost art of TIME OFF,” the game’s announcement reads.
Earlier this year, Google announced that it had acquired Owlchemy, though so far the company seems to be very hands-off—there’s no mention of Google anywhere on Vacation Simulator’s official page, and the studio is promising support for all major PC VR headsets: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PSVR, with a launch date set for 2018.
This is it, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Vacation Simulator. Owlchemy Labs, the creators of Job Simulator and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, are back at it again with their human-based simulation game.
Naturally, what comes next after jobs? Vacations, of course. We don’t know much about the game yet other than the brief teaser trailer shown on screen tonight at The Game Awards, but it looks like it will certainly retain the signature sense of humor that Owlchemy is known so well for.
Here’s the debut teaser trailer:
Is this the type of game you wanted next from Owlchemy, or were you hoping to see them expand into a different franchise instead? Let us know down in the comments below!
