Batman: Arkham Shadow Update 1.3 Adds New Game+ & New Post-Credits Scene

Batman: Arkham Shadow receives its New Game+ mode, a new post-credits cinematic and more in today's free update.

Marking the last major update previously announced in the post-launch roadmap, Batman: Arkham Shadow Update 1.3 is now available for all owners. This notably includes a New Game+ Mode that allows you to carry over previous WayneTech progression. Completing New Game+ unlocks a new post-credits cinematic, which is exclusive to this mode.

Other major changes include 'Infinite' versions of the Combat and Predator challenges, offering endless enemy waves where you survive for as long as possible. New Game+ also features remixed Combat and Predator encounters across the main campaign, a new character viewer entry is available, and Camouflaj has implemented “numerous” additional bug fixes.

For everything else in Update 1.3, you can find that listed below.

Batman: Arkham Shadow - Update 1.3 Patch Notes (Partial)

While Meta didn't provide a full list of patch notes for the features mentioned above, here's the list of 'additional highlights' we've been provided.

Audio & Haptics:

  • Fixed enemy danger indicator SFX so they no longer loop indefinitely

Campaign

  • Added new discoverable “points of interest” in Detective Vision, including a new clue to the mysteries surrounding Cyrus Pinkney, architect of Blackgate Prison
  • Corrected certain NPC states in Detective Vision to “Deceased”
  • Fixed various geometry and locomotion traps across the campaign
  • Fixed several issues causing Shock Gloves to become unrecoverable when equipping them
  • Fixed issue causing players to get stuck in an extended period of slow motion in a tutorial late in the campaign
  • Improved the timing of select VO sequences
  • Updated dialogue for the newly armed Rats near Beacon Hotel to better align with the original script

Gameplay:

  • Fixed enemy behavior so they won’t attack while performing a Special Combo
  • Fixed bug where grappling to ledge made player discoverable by enemies
  • Improved enemy reaction to Sonic Batarangs
  • Improved electricity control lever interactions
  • Improved tuning for Slide Kick and Evade
  • Improved movement of Elevators
  • Improved Smoke Bomb targeting

Localization:

  • Fixed issues with subtitle timing

Update 1.3 marks the third major post-launch patch since Arkham Shadow's Quest 3 launch in October, which we praised in our 4.5/5-star review. While update 1.1 mostly provided UX improvements and bug fixes, December's Update 1.2 introduced the Character Viewer, new challenge maps and additional localizations for voice acting.

Today's update also follows news that Arkham Shadow doubled its player count over Christmas. We're unable to check the latest stats after Meta removed the Quest Scoreboards App, but French YouTuber QuestWithMatt recently noted that over 800,000 players had unlocked the game's first achievement, which normally takes five to ten minutes to achieve.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is out now on the Meta Quest 3/3S. It remains bundled for free with new Quest 3 and 3S purchases until April 30, 2025.

Batman: Arkham Shadow Review - A Triumphant Return
Batman: Arkham Shadow is a brilliant return for the Dark Knight, and it expertly adapts the series for VR on Quest 3 and Quest 3S.

No Man’s Sky Expands Its Horizons With Worlds Part 2 Update for PS VR2 and PC VR

The No Man's Sky's Worlds Part 2 update adds new solar systems, terrain types and more on PS VR2 and PC VR today.

A follow-up to last year's Worlds Part 1 update, Worlds Part 2 sees developers Hello Games expand solar systems by adding new Gas Giants, terrain types, and weather conditions for No Man Sky players to explore. Alongside new planetary flora and fauna, this update sees the oceans receive a sizable upgrade, with bodies of water now reaching multiple kilometers in depth.

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“Water reacts physically to the world around it,” Hello Games Managing Director Sean Murray explains in a prepared statement. “Creatures wade through it. There's little dimples in the rain, and there are large waves as ships fly overhead,” they continue. “Sometimes there's these moments where a ship just flies past the still ocean and the water ripples underneath and it's just so peaceful to watch.”

Lighting also receives a boost this time around, with Murray stating that every element has been “rewritten” as part of the update. “Shadows show more details, light flickers through the leaves, caves are dark and immersive,” Murray explains. “Oceans now reflect the clouds and stars to create these beautiful sunsets and night skies.”

Finally, Murray states this update features a “huge quest that ties together some strands we've been building for years.” A new expedition is promised that features a tour across all the new worlds. You can check out the full Worlds Part 2 patch notes and deep dive video for more details.

Worlds Part 2 marks the first expansion for the game in 2025. While it's unknown how many expansions will arrive this year, Hello Games released several major updates last year to boost the base game. Alongside Worlds Part 1, No Man's Sky introduced the OMEGA Expedition expansion that added a new expedition system, and the Orbital Update which ushered in a new era for space stations and ship customization.

No Man's Sky Worlds Part 2 Update is available today on PS VR2, PC VR, and flatscreen platforms.

No Man’s Sky Worlds Part 1 Delivers A Universal Refresh On PSVR 2 & PC VR
No Man’s Sky receives a “complete refresh” of its universe with the ‘Worlds Part 1’ update, available today on PSVR 2 and PC VR.

New VR Games & Releases February 2025: Quest, SteamVR, PS VR2 & More

From COLD VR to Alien: Rogue Incursion reaching Quest 3, February's got a few new VR games. Here's our monthly highlights on Quest, Steam, PS VR2 and more.

We're slowly getting into the new year and January's already had a few notable games. We reviewed Epyka, Pirates VR: Jolly Roger and Arken Age, also offering our impressions of Shardfall: FitQuest VR, Gears & Goo, and Human Within. Other games included StageTime, Darknet: Remastered, Tablecraft, Assetto Corsa EVO, and Beyond Blue: After The Storm.

February is looking quieter with a handful of notable games, and we'll continue covering new releases across all major platforms. We'll keep updating this as new games announce release dates or delays, same as we do every month, and you can find our comprehensive upcoming VR games list for a wider rundown.

Currently, here's our highlights for new VR games on Quest, PC VR, PlayStation VR2, and Pico this February.


Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon — February 6 (Quest)

Developed by Nerd Ninjas, Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon is a colorful action game where sentient piñatas have become tired of being attacked by humans and are fighting back. It supports four players with six themed levels ranging from suburban neighborhoods to deserts, and a Steam release will follow this spring. You can read our recent preview below to learn more.

Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon Hands-On: Kid-Friendly Take On Zombie Hordes
Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon is a family-friendly VR co-op roguelite coming to Quest and Steam next year, and we went hands-on.

COLD VR — February 11 (PC VR, Quest)

COLD VR is easily described as what happens if you reverse SUPERHOT's premise. Set in a world where a rogue AI is trying to trap and kill you, time slows down when you move. While it's currently targeting a February launch on Quest and Steam following a brief delay, a PlayStation VR2 release is planned later this year.

COLD VR Is An Exciting Yet Frustrating Imitation Of SUPERHOT
COLD VR delivers an intriguing twist on Superhot’s brilliant premise, but our recent preview left us with some frustrations.

Alien: Rogue Incursion — February 13 (Quest 3)

Created by Survios, Alien: Rogue Incursion is an action-horror VR game where you'll search for your missing former squad mate. Armed with a Motion Tracker and various weapons, Rogue Incursion promises “dynamic” combat where Xenomorphs will spawn if you make too much noise. Following its December launch on other platforms, it's now heading to Quest 3 this February.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Review - A Promising Yet Imperfect Entry
Alien: Rogue Incursion delivers tense, atmospheric narrative-focused VR action horror that falters in its repetition. Here’s our full review.

Chronostrike — February 13 (Quest)

Inspired by SUPERHOT and Inception, Chronostrike follows the former's gameplay approach more directly compared to COLD VR but with co-op support, and time only moves when you move. Following closed alpha testing back in November, Greensky Games (Swarm 2) confirmed it's now heading to Quest this month.

  • Store links — Quest (page not live)

Ashen Arrows — February 20 (PC VR, Pico, Quest)

Previously released on Steam Early Access, Ashen Arrows is a VR fantasy archery game based on Norse Mythology. Featuring a single player campaign and co-op support for up to two friends, you play as a hunter tasked with fending off hordes of monsters to stop Ragnarök.

  • Store linksPC VR, Pico (page not live), Quest

Realize Music: Sing — February 20 (Quest)

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Realize Music: Sing is a new “singing-for-wellness app” in VR from one of Devolver Digital's co-founders, Mike Wilson. Designed as a merging of the rhythm genre, meditative self-care, and VR sensibilities, it's promising weekly updates to its music library with access to “more than 1 million songs.” It's taking a subscription-based approach with an introductory discount of $9.99 per month, or $99.99 annually.


All On Board! — February 27 (PC VR, Quest)

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All On Board! is a holistic board game platform designed for VR. Created by The Game Kitchen, this lets you choose from multiple board game experiences like Terraforming Mars, The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls, The Hunger, Escape The Dark Castle, and Rallyman GT. Playable solo or with up to four players, you can read our preview from Gamescom 2024 below.

All On Board! Wants To Be The VR Home Of Board Games
All On Board! aims to deliver a virtual tabletop platform for board games in VR, and that’s coming to Steam and Quest next year.

Crystal Commanders — February 27 (Quest)

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Developed by DB Creations, Crystal Commanders is an upcoming RTS game where you work alongside members of the Crystal Vanguard to push back the opposing Crimson Blade force. It promises a fully voiced campaign that supports immersive VR environments and mixed reality play spaces which adapt to your room.


Detective VR — February 27 (Quest 3)

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Detective VR is an upcoming mixed reality game that lets you “control time, collect clues, and interview witnesses.” Inspired by Minority Report and Return of the Obra Dinn, you're tasked with navigating unreliable witness testimonies to uncover the truth. The full game promises “4-6 hours of gameplay” across three stories with eight characters.


The Obsessive Shadow — February 2025 (PSVR, PS VR2)

Featuring optional support for the original PSVR headset and PlayStation VR2, The Obsessive Shadow is a horror game where you play as a 9-year-old boy left alone in his home, navigating this unsettling labyrinth with just a flashlight. Developed by Asi Games Technologies, it's already available on Quest and you can download a demo on Steam. The full PC VR release is “coming soon.”


If you're releasing a new VR game we should know about for this article or future monthly round-ups, you can use our contact page or email tips@uploadvr.com with details.

Interested in learning about more upcoming VR games? Take a look at our complete list below, which covers upcoming Quest, PC VR, PS VR2, Pico, Apple Vision Pro, and Android XR games:

Upcoming VR Games 2025: New Releases On Quest, PC, PS VR2 & More
Need a refresher on all upcoming VR games in 2025 and beyond? Here’s every major game coming to Quest, PS VR2, PC VR, Pico, and more.

Dumb Ways: Free For All Goes To Space In New Beanulon Prime DLC

PlaySide Studios’ free Beanulon Prime DLC added new minigames, zero gravity challenges and unpredictable weather conditions on Quest.

The WarioWare-like VR party game Dumb Ways: Free for All has introduced another free DLC that welcomes 25 new minigames for players to try (and fail) to survive. Instead of tackling dexterous challenges on a tropical island or in a winter wonderland, the Beanulon Prime DLC allows you to vacation among the stars, grappling with the many hazards intergalactic expeditions face, like aliens, lasers and, of course, eggs.

Alongside the onslaught of hazardous astral visuals, you’ll also be subject to the whims of zero gravity. That aims to defy your best strategies with wacky physics and push precious cargo into the menacing gravitational pull of a nearby black hole. As with the base game, the DLC can be played solo or with up to five additional players.

Here are some of the new minigames available in the Beanulon Prime DLC: 

  • Lights Away – Deflect damage-inducing lasers from attacking UFOs.
  • Unidentified Frying Omelet – Catch alien eggs with your frying pan.
  • Robo-Workshop –Collect the right parts to re-build robots.

The Beanulon Prime DLC marks the second free DLC to land on Dumb Ways: Free for All since its launch late last year, and brings the total number of minigames up to 100. While the Beanulon Prime and Freezerville DLCs come at no additional cost, the base game is $19.99 on the Quest Store.

Dumb Ways: Free For All — Beanulon Prime DLC is available on Quest now.

E McNeill Brings Hacking VR Classic Darknet To Quest Headsets

E McNeill's VR classic Darknet finally made the jump to Quest headsets as Darknet: Remastered.

The trailer for Darknet is embedded below and you'll want to take particular note of the timestamp on its publication of October 6, 2014. Darknet was the first full game to launch on Samsung Gear VR, which is considered to be the first consumer VR headset. In the three years following, it launched on the Oculus Rift Store, the original PlayStation VR, Steam, and Google Daydream, an early pioneer of cross-platform VR availability.

I took the game for a spin on Quest and it is just as I remember it. Described by its creator as "a strategy/puzzle game in which you play as an elite hacker in the Net," the game sees players "Plug into cyberspace, using viruses, worms, and exploits to steal the data before your signal gets traced." Inspirations include TRON, Neuromancer, The Matrix, and Johnny Mnemonic, and it won a VR Jam all the way back in 2013.

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McNeill's forward-thinking project, which works great seated in a swivel chair, was a stand-out first-time experience for many buyers of the Gear VR Innovator Edition. For me, whenever I gather a bunch of windows around myself in a modern Quest or Vision Pro headset, a part of me still thinks back to the vibe of McNeill's early hacker role-play managing nodes in Darknet.

After Darknet, McNeill made a number of impressive VR projects including Tactera, Skylight, Astraeus, Ironlights and Ironstrike, and you can learn more about them all on his website.

You can find Darknet: Remastered for $9.99 as of this writing.

COLD VR Secures New Release Date On Quest & Steam

Following a recent last-minute delay, time bending shooter COLD VR now arrives in two weeks on Quest and Steam.

Previously described as SUPERHOT VR in reverse, COLD VR is an upcoming action shooter where time slows down as you move. Faced with a relentless enemy AI trying to destroy this virtual world, developer ALLWARE and publisher Perp Games revealed it's now targeting a February 11 launch, while the PlayStation VR2 edition will follow “at a slightly later date.”

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Previously, Perp Games had confirmed COLD VR would target a January 21 release, later announcing the subsequent delay the day before its intended launch. “We need some more time to polish the game so it's exactly how we envisioned,” stated the publisher last week.

We had mixed impressions in our recent hands-on preview with COLD VR. Though we noted some frustrations with the difficulty and some levels, we enjoyed its narrative, praised the “satisfying” combat and considered its horror elements to be “shockingly good.”

COLD VR arrives on February 11 for the Meta Quest platform and PC VR, while the PS VR2 release date is unconfirmed. The Steam demo remains available to download, and you can check out our recent preview in full below.

COLD VR Is An Exciting Yet Frustrating Imitation Of SUPERHOT
COLD VR delivers an intriguing twist on Superhot’s brilliant premise, but our recent preview left us with some frustrations.

Flat2VR Studios Reflects On Its First Year, Choosing What To Adapt & Future Plans

For Flat2VR Studios, first impressions were everything after becoming an official developer.

Created from the Flat2VR community and part of Impact Reality, we've seen countless VR mods across the years and Flat2VR Studios aims to become a bridge for making such adaptations official. After the team's unveiling back in March 2024, several months passed before its debut game would be unveiled. Few expected that would be the comedy music game Trombone Champ: Unflattened.

“There's a big part of the Flat2VR community that wasn't particularly happy that [Trombone Champ] was the first game we chose,” admits Eric Masher, Chief Operating Officer & Co-founder of Flat2VR Studios.

Speaking to UploadVR at PG Connects London 2025, Masher explained that the studio anticipated this response. Its first announcement had to prove the team “are never married to one genre,” which is why Flat2VR Studios showed four games during August's VR Games Showcase.

But why specifically lead with Unflattened? Masher states this “was one of the harder games we could have picked because it was completely 2D,” but there were several reasons. With established modder Raicuparta officially working for Flat2VR Studios, whose prior work included Trombone Champ's BaboonVR mod, a path became clear.

“We were a new studio coming out and not every IP wanted to work with us, so we had to prove ourselves. We had a relationship with the original IP holders, and they were very keen on doing something in the VR space. They just didn't have an avenue or a path to do it.”

So far, I'm told it's been relatively successful despite launching close to big names like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Metro Awakening. Masher praises Impact Reality's marketing team for this, confirming that Trombone Champ: Unflattened's sales were “close to what our projections were for the holiday season.” He also mentions the studio's long-term plan includes content updates across 2025, such as last week's new environment.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened's Winter Environment

But what challenges do these adaptations face? As a company founded by VR gaming enthusiasts, relationship building with mainstream publishers is a big one. Building said connections required needing a body of work to show these potential partners. Projects like Cabalistic's Half Life 2 VR mods and Raicuparta's Firewatch VR mod helped.

Explaining one of his main duties is to build these relationships, Masher had much to learn going forward.

“I had no traditional gaming relationships, I'm very rooted in the VR world. I've been in the VR space for over eight years, so I had to start making those connections… it's not ever a one meeting thing. You're dealing with traditional gaming companies that have big IPs that are still important to them. Getting them to trust you with the IP can be difficult, but we're getting there.”

Just because the leadership wants to play a particular game in VR doesn't necessarily mean it's a great business decision for Flat2VR Studios.

“There are plenty of games that we could probably go sign tomorrow that may not make a great VR game. That's where we have to be careful and as VR fans, we know what we want to play. Those are the games that we typically intend to get, but deciding what to prioritize is important.”

Quest is another major challenge due to the standalone headset's less powerful hardware. However, not every future adaptation necessarily faces this barrier.

“There will be times that we probably won't go to Quest. We may find a title that is just such a great IP, we'll want to stay true to it, and there's going to be no way we'll be able to bring it to standalone. We may just bring it to Steam and PlayStation VR2.”

Flat2VR Studios would also rather avoid staggering a game launching between different headsets, and Masher acknowledged the uncertainty announcing Trombone Champ: Unflattened's release date in stages brought. Though the studio was worried about "briefly upsetting some fans,” they had to risk it when Sony wanted to feature Unflattened.

“Sony was great for us. They were happy we went to that platform, and we will continue to support PlayStation VR2 as much as we can.”

Presently, Flat2VR Studios has three confirmed upcoming games: Roboquest VRWrath: Aeon of Ruin VR, and FlatOut. I'm told Roboquest and Wrath are aiming to launch this year, while FlatOut is “hopefully on a good path” but less certain to land in 2025.

FlatOut VR ‘Wants To Take The Best Things’ From Each Main Entry
Flat2VR Studios aims to make an original version of FlatOut for VR, telling UploadVR it “wants to take some of the best things” from each main entry.

Given the flatscreen versions of Roboquest and Wrath are already on Steam and PS5 — or in Roboquest's case, heading to PS5 — will these VR adaptations be released separately? I'm told both titles will launch as separate games, rather than an update or DLC to the flatscreen versions.

“If you have it on the same SKU as an add-on, upgrade or a DLC for the VR version, I think that cheapens what we're doing… Maybe we will bundle them together down the road, but I think it's important that we stay separate.”

As for what's next, Mash​er didn't provide any hints on other future games. That said, you can expect more announcements across 2025.

“We have more titles that we will announce later this year. We are going to announce one major title coming this year in March right before GDC. This will be the largest IP that we've signed to date, it's one of the ones we've been working towards for a long time.”

Roboquest, FlatOut & Wrath: Aeon Of Ruin Will Receive Official VR Ports
FlatOut, Roboquest, and Wrath: Aeon Of Ruin will all receive official VR adaptations from Flat2VR Studios.

Aerial Dogfight Sim Aces of Thunder Reveals World War 1 Era Aircraft

Upcoming flight combat game Aces of Thunder will feature planes from the dawn of aerial warfare, including the Fokker DR.I of the infamous Red Baron.

Today's addition of such legendary World War 1 era planes only adds to an already substantial roster of over two dozen aircraft in Aces of Thunder, which also includes the SPAD S.XIII of René Fonck. The newly revealed biplanes and triplanes join the game's previously announced aircraft from the World War 2 era, including the United States' P-51 Mustang and the Soviet Ilyushin Il-2.

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Aces of Thunder was originally scheduled to be released in Q4 2024, but was delayed in November last year. At that time, the game's developers, Gaijin Entertainment, stated that the game required a little extra polish, and that they wanted “to prepare more content than we initially planned.”

When Aces of Thunder does eventually release, the game will allow players to squad with friends or fly solo across 15 maps and three key theaters from World War 2; the Eastern Front, Western Europe, and the Pacific. WW1 aircraft will also feature fuselage-mounted machine guns, which aren't present on WW2 aircraft.

Aces of Thunder will soar on PlayStation VR2 and SteamVR sometime in 2025.

Aces Of Thunder Delayed To 2025 On PS VR2 & Steam
Aces of Thunder, a VR aerial combat sim from the War Thunder studio, has been delayed until next year.

Into Black Confirms PlayStation VR2 Plans As New Update Expands Localization Support

Co-op action adventure game Into Black is getting a PlayStation VR2 port, and new localizations are now available in update 1.5.

Following its Quest release last October, Into Black by The Binary Mill has continued receiving post-launch updates like checkpoint saves, new game +, cosmetics, and more. With Update 1.5 launching earlier this week, that's now introduced “performance improvements” alongside further language support for Italian, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, and Korean.

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But that's not all we learned. After sharing the update news on r/OculusQuest, user KRONGOR queried if there are any plans for a Steam or PlayStation VR2 release. “Yes! PS VR2 in the works. We'll be sharing more info soon!” stated the studio. No further details have been shared at this time.

It's welcome news following our positive Into Black impressions at launch, where we praised its “satisfying” gameplay on Quest.

A genuine sci-fi adventure coming out the door with engaging gameplay mechanics and a serviceable story that can be enjoyed alone or in co-op is not often seen for VR-only games. Into Black delivers on those fronts while giving an endlessly replayable mission-based journey with constant rewards to keep you coming back.

Into Black is now available on the Meta Quest platform, while the PlayStation VR2 release date is unconfirmed.

Into Black Hands-On: Find Gold In This Thrilling VR Sci-Fi Adventure
Into Black is a quirky VR sci-fi adventure with a satisfying gameplay loop, and it’s out now on Quest.

How Into The Radius 2 Hit Nearly $3M Revenue So Far On Steam Early Access

It's a rare VR game that uses Steam as its lead platform these days, but that hasn't stopped Into The Radius 2 earning nearly $3 million revenue since launch.

Six months since its early access release, Into The Radius 2 is one of 2024's two VR-only Steam games alongside Metro Awakening to surpass 1000 reviews on Steam, earning a “Mostly Positive” rating. Speaking to UploadVR during PG Connects London 2025, CM Games CEO Vlad Rannik is understandably pleased with the sequel's initial performance, though the studio's strategy wasn't risk free.

“We took a gamble with a game that wasn't complete. For some people, early access means a complete game with some bugs. In our case, we really wanted to get community feedback and input before most of the mechanics are in place.”

Part of this gamble comes from initially excluding mechanics that were in the first game, like the hunger system. Rannik says that's because the team already knew how to build it.

“We didn't prioritize it for the early access because we know how it works, and we know how we can make it work. So, we didn't need to test it as much. From the player perspective, obviously it's a fundamental feature of the first game. So, we gambled there a little bit, but it went well. We got lots of input and most of our ideas were validated, which was the most important thing.”

Our launch review for Into The Radius 2 found an “enjoyable” sequel that felt “barebones,” though two major updates and several smaller patches have since followed.

Rannik advised they chose that specific point to launch in July “because we needed to draw the line somewhere,” once the core gameplay feature set was mostly complete.

“From the developer's perspective, you want to have as much stuff in the game as possible. But where you have too much stuff, you can miss the opportunity to fix things if they are not validated. There's always that feeling like the game is not complete enough, but it's also too far along already. We knew we would get some flak for not having certain things, so let's survive this period of warranted and expected criticism.”

It's therefore unsurprising to learn that Rannik considers expectation management the most difficult part of early access. He continues reading user comments across Discord and Steam, admitting that he's often tempted to confirm what's coming up. However, Rannik says he's limited on what can be announced.

“Once you announce that something is coming, people expect it to be delivered, of course they do. But we might find a complication that makes it more sensible to launch something else instead. So we put the first thing on the back burner for another couple of months to do some R&D on the issue… How do we find the compromise where we can give people some assurance, but not overpromise and ultimately disappoint them?”

It's an approach largely informed by the original Into The Radius' own early access release. Rannik admits they had the “dubious luck” of fully launching after Half-Life: Alyx, which he claims reshaped player expectations, while also elaborating on what “distinct categories” of players are looking for with its games.

“Some people want to have a shooting range type of game where they can just jump in, have fun, play around with guns and enjoy the gunplay. We didn't really cater to them because of Into The Radius' slower pacing. Then there's a group who want a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. like experience, where they get all the loot, bandits, NPCs, factions, kind of like an open-ended living war.”

Meeting these expectations is what led to Into The Radius 1's post-launch being “basically early access all over again” before reaching Version 2.0, eventually ending with Update 2.7.

Rannik believes this approach to free updates helped drive additional sales long-term, revealing that Into The Radius has sold 800k copies across all platforms. He compares it to a live service game but “without any season pass bullshit,” referring to how such titles usually add content partially locked behind microtransactions or subscriptions.

“What we did instead in ITR1 was just improving and expanding the game. At one point, we had a developer and sound engineer spontaneously prototype an in-game guitar that served no immediate gameplay purpose at face value, but also made a lot of sense in the desolate and lonely setting of ITR. So we went through with it, and it became one of the trademark features.”

Moving back to the sequel, CM Games addressed the challenges faced with developing the team's first VR multiplayer game. Following criticisms surrounding online co-op, Rannik states the team were fully aware of the complexities this would introduce, confirming the feedback is being monitored.

“In the end, it's been harder than we expected it to be,” he tells me.

As for choosing Steam as its lead platform, I queried whether CM Games saw avoiding Quest during early access as a risk. Evidently, it's paid off since Into The Radius 2 has earned nearly $3 million in revenue so far, and Rannik states choosing Steam provides “less friction” during early access.

“We picked Steam because it's more productive for us at this time, so we can focus on the gameplay and not necessarily Quest-specific optimizations. For the purpose of building the core game, it's a little easier to go the Steam route. Going multiplatform with early access would delay us and take our attention away from building the best gameplay we can, so we had to pick one platform.”

Rannik points out that Into The Radius 1 ports later arrived on Quest and eventually PlayStation VR2 after leaving early access. While he didn't directly confirm any multiplatform plans for Into The Radius 2 yet, CM Games are interested in other platforms after they enter full release.

“We're absolutely looking at getting Into The Radius to all major platforms.”

Into The Radius 2 is available now on Steam Early Access, and it's currently targeting a full release in early 2026.