Category: VR gaming

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Transformers Beyond Reality Stealth Drops Onto PSVR 2 Today

Transformers Beyond Reality surprise dropped onto PSVR 2 today, offering a free upgrade for original PSVR owners.

Released last September on PSVR and PC VR, developers Meta4 Interactive describe Transformers Beyond Reality as a retro-inspired arcade first-person shooter. Taking place across Earth and Cybertron, this on-rails shooter sees you teaming up with Optimus Prime and the Autobots to fight both the Decepticons and Insecticons, placing you in an exosuit built using Cybertronian and Terran technology.

If you previously bought it on Sony's PS4 headset, cross-buy provides the PSVR 2 version at no extra charge. Discussing its next-gen improvements on PlayStation Blog, Meta4 states it "added detail to models and textures, ramped up reflections, and added atmospheric effects and visual effects seemingly without restrictions." The team says there are 30 moments adjusted for greater interactivity, and the team also details adaptive trigger and haptic feedback support.

"We transitioned from showing an ammo counter to letting players feel when it’s time to reload through the resistance of the PS VR2 Sense controller adaptive triggers," confirms Meta 4. "Our greatest revelation was in how we were able to enhance letting the player know they’re being attacked from off-screen. We experimented with red flashes, but it wasn’t effective... now whenever the player gets hit they feel this information via the headset haptics."

Transformers Beyond Reality is available now with cross-buy support on PSVR and PSVR 2 for $24.99.

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Organ Quarter Pays Homage To 90's Horror Games, Out Now On PSVR 2

Inspired by Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Organ Quarter brings more survival horror to PSVR 2, and it's available now.

First released in 2017 on PC VR, Organ Quarter takes inspiration from classic 90's horror games. Developed by Outer Brain Studios, the team calls this a "long-form horror adventure" that takes place over 5-8 hours as you explore a nightmarish urban landscape corrupted by an infectious disease. It supports headset and controller haptic feedback on PSVR 2, and you can watch the launch trailer below:

Here's an official story description, courtesy of publisher Amata Games:

Uncover what has gripped and twisted the Organ Quarter. Over weeks and months of isolation in your apartment, something has happened to the city. It has become infected. Everything has become twisted by a disease that may or may not have a motive. Explore a city that has become a wasteland and body-horror nightmare, full of surreal puzzles and grotesque beings.

Organ Quarter is available now on PSVR 2 and PC VR via Steam for $24.99.

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Demeo Battles Brings PvP Mode As A Standalone Title

Demeo Battles, an upcoming PvP mode for the popular tabletop RPG, will launch as a standalone game.

Previously seen during the Resolution Games Showcase last December, Demeo Battles is a PvP mode that supports up to four players across two teams. Set on a more condensed map, it's a fast-paced alternative to standard co-op adventures in Demeo. Previously, Resolution didn't reveal how Battles would launch but in a new announcement, the studio confirmed it's releasing as a standalone title, though pricing details remain unconfirmed.

There isn't much else we can gather from this announcement. As a standalone release, that doesn't guarantee Battles will arrive on Demeo's existing platforms; PC VR, Quest, PSVR 2, Pico, PC and PS5. No platforms are currently listed on the official website and we've contacted Resolution Games for clarification. We will update this article if we learn more.

We had positive impressions in our hands-on session last December, calling it "a fantastic addition" perfect for quicker matches. You can read our Demeo Battles preview to learn more.

It’s a short, sweet and engaging new mode that will be a fantastic addition to Demeo’s multiplayer offering. While Demeo is one of our favorite social VR experiences, the regular co-op mode is on the longer side, even with mid-campaign saves. Battles looks set to be the perfect, bite-sized alternative, offering a quicker head-to-head option when you don’t have time for the full flagship Demeo experience.

Demeo Battles arrives later this year.

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Budget Cuts Ultimate Delivers 'One Seamless Adventure' On PSVR 2 & Quest 2 In June

Budget Cuts Ultimate combines two games into one package, arriving next month for PSVR 2 and Quest 2.

Previously released in 2018 and 2019 respectively, Neat Corporation is merging Budget Cuts and Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency into "one seamless adventure" on June 1, which times up with the Meta Gaming Showcase. While the original Budget Cuts previously arrived on PSVR in 2020, Mission Insolvency never left PC VR exclusivity, making Ultimate the first time it's arrived on other platforms. You can watch a brief reveal trailer below:

Asked about potential new content in Ultimate in Neat Corp's Discord server, Senior 3D Artist Filip "Flippy" Tengwall stated this isn't Ultimate's "main focus." However, Tengwall confirms this release includes "some new stuff," alongside bonus features both games previously had.

Budget Cuts Ultimate arrives on June 1 for PSVR 2 and Quest 2, and both games are available now individually on PC VR.

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Painting VR Gets A Spring Refresh Update On May 9

Painting VR goes spring cleaning in its latest update, adding a zero gravity mode and updated visuals next week on Quest 2 and Steam.

Released last year following 2021's App Lab launch, Oisoi's Painting VR offers a more casual sim than Vermillion, focusing on acrylic painting instead of wet-on-wet oil painting. Announcing the 2023 Spring Refresh, the latest update includes a zero gravity mode, support for seated play and "many quality-of-life updates" like dry and un-dry paint options. That also introduces a visual overhaul, which you can see in the trailer below below:

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We praised Painting VR back in 2021, comparing its physics to Boneworks and stating how its "accessibility, quality, and mesh of ideas that break reality exactly when you want them to really struck us as something special." Since receiving its full release last year, Painting VR on Quest now supports multiplayer, Meta Avatars 2.0 and mixed reality passthrough.

Painting VR is available now on PC VR via Steam and the Meta Quest platform, while the Spring Refresh update arrives on May 9.

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Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR Coming To Quest 2, PSVR 2 & Pico 4 Next Month

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR revives Taito's arcade shooter once more, arriving next month on Quest 2, PSVR 2 and Pico 4.

Published by Microids, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is a new entry in the Operation Wolf series, Taito's 1987 arcade light gun shooter. Previously announced for flatscreen platforms and Quest 2, that's now targeting a June 22 launch on VR platforms only, which now includes PSVR 2 and Pico 4. While a trailer hasn't been shown, Microids did provide the following screenshots:

Speaking in a press release, Microids states First Mission VR "will remain faithful to the spirit of the original game while premiering a new artistic direction." You can read the official description below:

In its solo VR campaign, play as a special agent fighting a new criminal organization. In addition to arms and drug trafficking, the organization, led by the mysterious General Viper, has developed a powerful new weapon. After discovering several of its bases, you will be sent to dismantle the organization, destroy the weapon and free the hostages held captive in surrounding camps.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR arrives on Quest 2, PSVR 2 and Pico 4 on June 22. A flatscreen version is also planned for PC and all major consoles in Fall 2023.

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Car Detailing Simulator Available Now For Quest, But Lacks Polish

Car Detailing Simulator is available now for Quest 2 and Quest Pro, but you might want to take a look at some of the finer details before jumping in.

It’s been a big week for Quest games, with Car Detailing Simulator the latest in a string of releases that dropped this week. According to the store description, Car Detailing Simulator will see you “renew and restore any car to its former glory, as per the demands of your discerning customers” and “transform neglected vehicles into stunning and well-maintained machines that can be the envy of all.”

Sounds pretty good on paper, but the game also comes from the same team as Car Mechanic Simulator, which released last August. At the time, we noted that it fared quite poorly with initial user reviews and ran at a very low resolution in-headset. Mechanic Simulator stills sits at an average of just three stars on the Quest Store, so we briefly jumped into Car Detailing Simulator to see how it stacks up.

Unfortunately, the opening moments of Car Detailing Simulator don’t leave a great impression. There are some basic design problems that are immediately clear – there's very little player guidance and the opening sequence is quite confusing to navigate in terms of figuring of what the game wants you to do. The game also features performance stutters from the get go. In terms of visuals, there’s a lot of jaggy edges and a few graphical quirks when moving your hands around. It looks rougher than you'd expect from the average Quest title.

Granted we did only try the opening 10 or so minutes, but even so, the quality level seemed about on par with the middling experience found in Car Mechanic Simulator. Ignoring any game design quicks, those very early instances of graphical bugs and performance hitches aren’t a great sign.

For diehard motorheads, maybe there’s something beefy to be found under Car Detailing Simulator’s hood, but we’d recommend caution for those in search of a shinier release with a bit more polish.

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VRChat Drops Quest 1 Support After June 2023

VRChat joins a growing list of VR games dropping Quest 1 support, ending after June 30.

"This is primarily due to Meta’s deprecation of the Quest 1 SDK, which will prevent us from keeping VRChat updated properly on the device," states the team in a new developer update. It joins Onward, Zenith: The Last City, Synth Riders and Myst, who all made similar announcements these last few months, citing Meta's decision to end Quest 1 support this year. Here's what VRChat advised about this change:

After June 30th, 2023, we will no longer provide support for the Meta Quest 1 headset. Tickets opened with our User Support team regarding the Meta Quest 1 after that date will be informed that we no longer support the HMD and will not be able to provide assistance to users using it. Any time after June 30th, the Quest 1 may stop working entirely.

This isn't the first time VRChat's communicated plans to end Quest 1 support, having previously revealed the news during its April 13 developer update. Back then, no specific end date was provided and it only confirmed that support would finish "within the next 3 to 6 months," making this announcement earlier than expected.

If you've got a gaming PC, the developer advises you can still use a Quest 1 headset to play the PC VR version through Quest Link, Virtual Desktop, ALVR "or other tethering methods." However, VRChat notes that "those other applications may also be deprecating the Quest 1, so keep an eye on their announcements and news posts."

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Into The Radius Plans Two More Updates, Sequel Enters Development

A future Into The Radius update will introduce official mod support, as CM Games reveals a "second chapter" is in pre-production.

Fully released in 2020, CM Games revealed Into The Radius is now entering "it’s final development cycle," confirming two last major updates are on the way. Advising Update 2.7 focuses on "refining the story, technical improvements" and collectibles, Update 2.8 introduces official PC VR mod support. "We aren’t ruling out the possibility of mod support for the [Meta Quest 2] version as well," states the team. No release windows were provided for either update.

Notably, CM Games also denied plans for any Into The Radius paid DLC, instead revealing that a currently unnamed sequel has entered development. Much like the original game, this will also release first in Early Access.

We are in the pre-production phase, and will follow an Early Access development model like before when the time is right. The original ITR is a testament to how much our community has helped us in developing the game, and we want to continue this trend in the sequel. As a matter of fact, many of your suggestions and ideas have been taken into account even in this new installment.

We'll likely be waiting a long while before getting any further details about this next entry. "It's far too early to answer any questions about the sequel just yet," the team says, asking for patience and stating they'll publish an FAQ "when the time is right."

Into The Radius is available now on PC VR and Meta Quest 2.

Guest Post: How CM Games Ported Into The Radius To Quest
In a new guest post, Aleksei Shulga from CM Games details the process of porting Into the Radius from PC VR onto Quest 2.
UploadVRAleksei Shulga
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Time Loop Puzzle Shooter We Are One Launches June 1

Fast Travel Games and Flat Head Studio announced a final release date for We Are One.

The game launches on June 1, available on Quest and PC VR via Steam for $19.99. We Are One was originally set to launch sometime this month, but never received an exact release date until now, so the new June 1 date is only a very slight delay. The news comes accompanied by a new trailer, which you can check out embedded above.

Here's a bit more on what to expect in We Are One:

We Are One arms players with their better half – their clone! – to solve cleverly designed puzzles. Use time loops to tactfully place clones and blast through over 50 levels teeming with mechanical enemies hellbent on environmental destruction. Each action performed in a time loop is replicated by a clone in the next, challenging players to cooperate with themselves to defeat the machines.

We tried out We Are One back at Gamescom last year and felt it was "an absolutely solid concept that acknowledges the emerging timeloop genre and quickly applies its own spin." For more, check out our full  We Are One hands-on from last year before the game launches net month.