There are a number of virtual reality (VR) projects VRFocus has been looking forward to seeing arrive in late 2021, one of which is M-Theory and Oddboy’s time-travelling adventure Wanderer. Originally expected to arrive in Q3 2021 before an update pushed it a little further back, this week the development teams have confirmed another delay, meaning the multiplatform title won’t arrive until the new year.
In a post via the Wanderer Discord channel, M-Theory and Oddboy revealed that the videogame will now launch on 27th January 2022 for PlayStation VR, Oculus and SteamVR headsets. In a statement, they said: “As you will quickly have noticed, it’s uh… not coming out before the end of 2021 – Sadly we have had further setbacks from COVID, as well as other factors that come with being an indie team. The overall choice comes from us wanting to deliver a well polished game that we are PROUD to share with you all. Pushing back to a solid date gives us the confidence to create that!”
This has been a common factor of late, even big studios like Ready at Dawn with Lone Echo IIhad to continually delay project launches. On a plus note, the Wanderer teams have released new details regarding some of the mechanics and locations you will be able to tackle next year.
As Wanderer involves plenty of time-hopping, no easy task when this involves harnessing and manipulating black holes to carry yourself across time and space. To help in that regard you’ll have your trusted companion Samuel the watch to guide you, plus you’ll have to learn how to use the Temporal Transporter, a mysterious mechanical device that’s integral to saving the world.
As anyone who’s watched a time-travel movie knows, messing with time can produce alternate futures and that’s exactly what you get in Wanderer. For the first time, the developers have showcased Boston in 2061, seeing the city in “a new light, with a modern, futuristic setting that’s designed with all the modcons one could dream of or is this the nightmare you were warned against?”
Taking on the role of Asher Neumann and with Samuel the Watch on your wrist, you have to jump to key moments in history such as the moon landing and alter events to save mankind. In addition to all the digital editions for the various VR platforms, Wanderer will also get a physical edition for PlayStation VR. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.
A couple of weeks ago M-Theory and Oddboy released the first in a series of videos detailing a key part of Wanderer’s mechanics, the watch that allows all the time-travelling adventures to take place. Today, the teams have released part two in the series, looking at upgrading and customising the watch.
Now, this is no ordinary watch, called Samuel, the device is sentient and will regularly engage in conversation with you. In this second instalment, M-Theory and Oddboy reveal that you can expand your inventory to carry more items by using an upgrade machine. There is a maximum of five slots to open up, only doing so by spending temporal shards collected on your journey.
And just to add a nice additional gameplay element there’s a puzzle to solve before the upgrade is completed. It’s not too difficult by the looks of it, rotating a series of cubes to make a path for a small, marble-looking object to pass through. VRFocus is expecting more puzzles like this, alongside travelling to the moon or attending Woodstock in the ’60s.
As for the customisation, you’ll be able to find certain objects that can then be disassembled and repurposed as funky housing for your intelligent watch. The video highlights a pack of crayons and a rubber duck, with the crayons adding a very colourful design to your wrist.
In Wanderer, you take on the role of Asher Neumann who finds Samuel the Watch and learns he has to save mankind by heading to key points in history. Originally, M-Theory and Oddboy were working towards a Q3 2021 launch window but that’s now been pushed back until later this year.
Wanderer will support PlayStation VR and SteamVR headsets – although the Steam page has yet to indicate which headsets – when it does arrive, with the PlayStation VR version also being made available as a physical edition. For continued updates, keep reading VRFocus.
M Theory and Oddboy announced that their time-traveling VR adventure title Wanderer is officially launching on PSVR and PC VR headsets on January 27th, 2022.
Update (November 5th, 2021): M Theory and Oddboy announced that Wanderer finally has a street date: January 27th, 2022.
In September the team announced it was delaying the time-traveling adventure from its quoted Q3 2021 release to sometime “later this year”. Below the article, which focuses on that initial delay, we’ve included the second half of the two-part gameplay video which shows a good deal of puzzling and atmosphere.
Original Article (September 20th, 2021): Announced back in April, Wanderer is an upcoming VR adventure game inspired by time-travel shows like Quantum Leap (1989) and Dark (2017), taking you through moments in history on your quest to stop the collapse of civilization. It’s set to launch on a PSVR and PC VR headsets (including Quest via Link).
The studios haven’t mentioned exactly when Wanderer will arrive, saying that it will release sometime “later this year.” The developers promise however that news of a release date is “not far away.”
“The last year has been a pretty tricky one. Navigating Covid-19 and its effects while maintaining a healthy and productive environment and developing a unique game for VR has meant we’re running a bit behind on our schedule,” the studios say.
The gameplay video is the first of a two-part series which explores the main character’s Asher’s trusty companion, Samuel the Watch.
“It’s all about this magnificent and multi-talented timepiece, which is more than just a smart accessory, as we take a deep dive into the watch’s features and just how it can help you on your journey through time,” the studios say.
Additionally, the team behind Wanderer have partnered with publisher Perp Games to bring a Wanderer PlayStation VR physical edition to retail.
Of the many virtual reality (VR) videogames VRFocus is still looking forward to playing in 2021, time-travelling puzzle adventure Wanderer is high up on that list. Originally slated for a Q3 launch, developers M-Theory and Oddboy have announced that the release will be delayed slightly, to later in the year. Adding some good news into the bad, the studios have released new character details and confirmed that PlayStation VR owners will be able to get their hands on a physical edition.
“The last year has been a pretty tricky one. Navigating Covid-19 and its effects while maintaining a healthy and productive environment and developing a unique game for VR has meant we’re running a bit behind on our schedule,” said the developers in a joint statement. So there’s no specific window as to when the launch will take place at the moment.
But, for those wanting more info on this interesting VR experience M-Theory and Oddboy have released a video showcasing one of Wanderer’s key characters, Samuel the Watch. A companion of lead character Asher Neumann, Samuel is fundamental in solving Wanderer’s puzzles and time travel mysteries. The video is only the first part, with more details to come in the second instalment.
As for that PlayStation VR retail version, M-Theory and Oddboy have teamed up with publisher Perp Games to bring Wanderer into players’ hands. It’ll feature not only the videogame but also an exclusive digital version of the detailed artbook.
“It’s been awesome to get this partnership with Perp off the ground. It extends our audience and is a great keepsake for fans – perhaps even one of the last first-gen PSVR games available as a physical edition. The team at Perp have been wonderful to work with and we can’t wait to get our hands on the final box!” said Sam Ramlu, Executive Producer at Wanderer.
Wanderer’s time-travelling escapades task you with saving mankind by heading to key points in history. This will see you get involved with the space race, playing music to a crowd of hippies and defending ancient civilisations. Coming to SteamVR headsets and PlayStation VR, when launch info is made available VRFocus will let you know.
Promising VR puzzler Wanderer has been delayed but, worry not, it’s still planned to release this year.
Developers M Theory and Oddboy confirmed the news today, citing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had originally hoped the game would launch in Q3 but, as September draws to a close, it was looking increasingly unlikely. There’s no more specific release date right now other than 2021.
New Wanderer Gameplay Debuts
It’s not all bad news, though. A new look at the game has just been revealed, too. This extended gameplay demo gives us a deeper look into one of the game’s companion characters, Samuel the Watch. And, yes, he’s quite literally a watch.
Finally, Wanderer is getting a physical edition on PSVR, too. M Theory and Oddboy have teamed up with physical publisher, Perp Games, to bring the game to disc. This version will also include a digital artbook.
We’ve kept an eye on Wanderer since its announcement earlier this year. The game promises a time-traveling adventure with escape room mechanics, but it caught our attention first for its visual fidelity but also its interactions, which look deeply considered for VR. The gameplay above certainly has us still holding out hope that this one lives up to expectations.
We’ll bring you the latest on Wanderer’s final release date as soon as we have it.
With half the year gone it’s definitely time to look at what virtual reality (VR) videogames VRFocus is most excited to play before the end of 2021. The last six months haven’t disappointed with the likes of Maskmaker, Cosmodread, Demeo, The Climb 2, and Alvo all providing excellent VR experiences. Whilst you might still be busy playing these 2021 still has more to offer.
As there’s no shortage of upcoming VR videogames slated for a Q3/Q4 2021 launch, those about to grace headsets like Sniper Elite VR and Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual!have been omitted. Not because VRFocus doesn’t want to play them, they just happen to be arriving this week!
Lone Echo II
Ready at Dawn’s sci-fi sequel Lone Echo II has appeared on multiple ‘Most Anticipated’ rounds ups and hopefully, this should be the last time. Because as part of the Oculus Gaming Showcase, Lone Echo II was confirmed for Summer 2021. Originally revealed as an Oculus Rift exclusive back in 2018, Lone Echo II‘s release date moved from 2019 to 2020 and finally 2021 – in that time seeing the Oculus Rift platform discontinued.
The single-player sci-fi adventure, Lone Echo II continues the story where you play a robot called Jack who needs to help Captain Olivia Rhodes survive the perils of space. Exclusive to the Oculus Store, it’s worth taking a look at the original even if titles like Half-Life: Alyxhave now surpassed it.
Supported headsets: Oculus Rift (Oculus Quest via PC Link)
Release date: Summer 2021
Song in the Smoke
The first VR title by 17-Bit (Skulls of the Shogun, GALAK-Z), Song in the Smokeis part survival adventure and part mysterious narrative. You’ll be able to hunt with bows and axes, forage for resources to craft new items whilst exploring this beautiful, prehistoric world and uncovering its secrets. Players will find creatures behave just like real wild animals, so they’ll be hungry, afraid and tired, likely to attack or run away depending on the situation.
Revealed during March’s PlayStation Spotlight, Song in the Smoke was certainly one of the more surprising announcements. 17-Bit has been unveiling snippets of the gameplay but not much regarding the story. In any case, the videogame looks fascinating.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest and Rift
Release date: 2021
Low-Fi
An ambitious cyberpunk project by Iris VR Inc., Low-Fi, is coming to most major VR platforms as well as PlayStation 5 which supports non-VR gamers. Low-Fi drops you into a futuristic city as a cop patrolling the dark crime-ridden streets of city-block 303. You’re given free rein to explore this open world, become a good cop to maintain order or exploit your position and earn a few side credits.
Money will mean you can treat yourself to a few toys, purchase some nice new weapon upgrades or make sure your companions are well cared for. While Low-Fi’s official launch is slated for the end of the year on Steam, you can purchase the early access version over on itch.io for $35 USD if you can’t wait.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index & Windows Mixed Reality.
Release date: Q4 2021
Fracked
Another PlayStation Spotlight reveal Fracked comes from nDreams, the team behind Phantom: Covert Ops. A PlayStation VR exclusive, Fracked is an action-adventure where you’re given as much freedom as possible to assault levels and eliminate enemies. Ski, run, climb, base jump and zipline around the environments, using your PlayStation Move controllers to grab whatever’s insight, even items to use as cover.
Set on top of an Alaskan mountain, nDreams has you fighting interdimensional enemies called the ‘Fracked’ using all manner of weaponry. Plus, if you own a PlayStation 5 there are console specific enhancements including uncapped dynamic resolution, improved framerate, resolution and loading times.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR
Release date: Summer 2021
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall
The only major IP currently expected for VR headsets this year, Carbon Studio and Games Workshop are set to take you into the neverending wartorn universe Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall this summer.
In suitable Warhammer style, there’s an epic narrative where you play Lord-Arcanum Castor Stormscryer, leader of a retinue of Stormcast Eternals who’ve been called due to a rise in Nighthaunt forces, triggered by an event called the Necroquake in the Realm of Death. Armed with devastating melee weapons and magical abilities, all you need to do is deliver Stormcast Eternal justice.
Supported headsets: PC VR & Oculus Quest
Release date: Summer 2021
After the Fall
Originally due in 2020 after a 2019 reveal After the Fall is Vertigo Games’ next blockbuster VR experience, promising lots of zombies (sort of) in an alternate future where Los Angeles has frozen over and most of the local residents have transforms into monsters called Snowbreed.
Another title making it over from VRFocus’ previous ‘Most Anticipated’ list, since then Vertigo Games has released plenty of new footage showcasing After the Fall’s gameplay. Built around a co-op experience for up to four players, there will still be a single-layer campaign for when everyone’s busy. These Snowbreed come in all shapes and sizes, from those annoying ones who scuttle across the ceiling to big boss types. It’s going to be quite an action-filled ride.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Summer 2021
Arashi: Castles of Sin
Feel like there aren’t enough badass ninja videogames in VR? Well, look no further than Arashi: Castles of Sin which is going to be a PlayStation VR exclusive. A stealth combat experience set in feudal Japan, Arashi: Castles of Sin puts you in the role of an elite shinobi called Kenshiro who must reclaim House Arashi castles captured by a ruthless group of bandits.
Each area is a sandbox environment so you can decide how to tackle each fight, up close and personal with a samurai sword, or quietly from the rooftops with a shuriken. All the weapons will be authentic to that era of Japan’s history. You even have a wolf companion to kill enemies, what more could you ask for?
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR
Release date: Summer 2021
I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and The Liar
After the success of its original, puzzle-solving, spy caper, Schell Games will return this summer with I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and The Liar, once again trying to foil Zoraxis’ plans for world domination.
Set to feature six globe-trotting missions with even more fiendish puzzles to solve, I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and The Liar will still retain its non-locomotion gameplay, where everything tends to be within physical grabbing distance, comfortable for all players. This time around it’ll feature some new stars including Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: Next Generation) to voice celebrity John Juniper and singer and songwriter Puddles Pity Party on the theme tune.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Summer 2021
Wanderer
A puzzle filled, time-travelling adventure developed by New Zealand-based studios M Theory and Oddboy, Wanderer tasks you with a journey to save mankind by heading to key points in history. Que historic events like the moon landings or helping Nikola Tesla with his latest invention.
Wanderer is another one of those intriguing experiences which could offer plenty of gameplay variety when it launches this year. Plus it doesn’t look half bad either.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
A couple of months ago New Zealand-based indie videogame studios M Theory and Oddboy unveiled an epic looking puzzle adventure called Wanderer, where you have to time travel to various moments in history to stop an apocalyptic event. The studios have now released the second trailer, showcasing more gameplay and locations.
Providing a darker look at what Wanderer is going to offer, the trailer gives a sneak peek at an ancient civilisation setting (possibly Mayan?) alongside some of the puzzles that will stand in your way. In this alternate universe where nature has taken over, you take on the role of Asher Neumann who has to change the course of history by travelling back in time to key moments in history.
In doing so you’ll be able to explore historical, futuristic and post-apocalyptic settings, with notable moments including the highly contested space race, the hippie-cultured 60s (where you take to the stage as a drummer) and dropped into the middle of World War 2. Visiting these moments will see you either embody or encounter infamous characters from history, including daring explorers, revered inventors and fearless conquerors.
Wanderer isn’t just serious world-ending events one after the other, not only will it tax your brain but you can even have some fun whilst doing it. How about racing an RC car on the moon’s surface or utilising a pump-action water pistol to extinguish a few fires?
“We give you the ability to jump back and forth through time and dive headfirst into beautifully detailed worlds and stories – paying homage to real events and moments from history,” says Tom Bellamy – Art Director at Wanderer in a statement. “It’s your chance to get immersed in a time travel experience like never before.”
Currently, Wanderer is slated for a late Q3 2021 launch for most VR platforms, with PlayStation VR, SteamVR and Oculus confirmed. Take a look at the exciting new trailer below for Wanderer and as further details are released, VRFocus will let you know.
PSVR is currently going through what is most likely its swan song year.
But, while big first-party exclusives for the headset might be drying up as we march towards the new PS5 VR headset, there’s still plenty to look forward to.
Yesterday, Sony spotlighted seven titles heading to the platform this year. They included Sniper Elite VR and the reveal of Arashi: Castles of Sin. Need a quick rundown? Here are the best new PSVR games shown this week.
Arashi: Castles of Sin – New Game Announced
This one looks like Tenchu in VR. Set in Feudal Japan, you liberate castles captured by bandits using stealth — and a pet wolf — as your weapons. It’s coming this summer and we’ll be very interested to see how its ambitious concept of catering to multiple play styles holds up.
Fracked – New Gameplay Shown
nDreams’ gorgeous-looking PSVR exclusive wowed when it was revealed in early March, but this first look at proper gameplay is really something. We get an extended sequence in which the player launches between cover, sprints to safety and skis down slopes. We’ll be really interested to see how nDreams is managing all of this with the PlayStation Move controllers.
Wanderer – New Trailer Shown
Is it just us or is Wanderer looking really good? Usually, a VR escape room-style game wouldn’t raise much of an eyebrow but every time we see this one it displays gorgeous visuals and innovative solutions built around VR itself. We can’t wait to really dig in and see how it measures up to the impressive footage later this summer.
Sniper Elite VR – Coming July 8th
After a long silence, Sniper Elite VR is finally taking shape. This spin-off to the popular series is arriving on all platforms next month, giving players a full single-player campaign. Will Rebellion’s return to VR measure up? We’re looking forward to finding out.
Winds & Leaves – Coming July 27th
This gorgeous nature-driven adventure first looked like a farming sim. Now it kinda looks like a… supernatural farming sim. This new video focuses on some of the ways the player is linked to the forest they help grow. For example, move too far from the trees and they’ll pull you back in. It looks like a tranquil bit of VR loveliness and we’re looking forward to it on July 27.
After The Fall – New Look
It seems like every time there’s a VR showcase we’re guaranteed to get another look at After The Fall. Not that we’re complaining – the game looks like it’ll deliver a rock-solid Left4Dead VR experience with up to four-player co-op. Today we saw new enemies but still no release date beyond the summer 2021 window.
Puzzle Bobble VR – Coming To PSVR
And finally, Survios’ enjoyable (if inessential) take on Puzzle Bobble in VR is coming to PSVR soon. It launched on Quest a few weeks ago.
Which new PSVR games are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!
Wanderer is an upcoming VR adventure game inspired by Quantum Leap (1989) and Dark (2017) that lets you travel back through history to prevent the collapse of civilization. The game’s developers, Oddboy and M Theory, today released a new trailer revealing some of the game’s time-traveling gameplay.
Update (June 3rd, 2021): The developers of Wanderer released a new gameplay trailer today giving a much clearer glimpse of the game’s time-hopping fun.
From the looks of it, the game will be puzzle-centric, and structured around different mini-games of sorts, derived from the various eras that the player will visit. The game is due to launch this year on PSVR, PC VR, and Oculus Quest later this year.
The original article introducing Wanderer continues below.
Original Article (April 16th, 2021): Awaking to an apocalyptic timeline, you find an unusual wristwatch which unlocks the power to traverse time and space. It seems you’ll be ‘quantum leaping’ through all sorts of major events, striving to right what once went wrong (and hoping each time that your next leap will be the leap home).
1 of 3
Image courtesy Oddboy, M Theory
Image courtesy Oddboy, M Theory
Image courtesy Oddboy, M Theory
“Experiment alongside frenzied inventors, play to an endless crowd of hippies, defend ancient civilizations from invasion, decode covert messages in the midst of war and uncover the secrets of the space race – will you follow what you know to be true or are there forces at play beyond your control?” the studios say.
Its creators say it blends escape room-style puzzles and hands-on action sequences “that will see you bring together objects and events from various time periods in sometimes unlikely and inventive ways.”
Wanderer is slated to launch on PSVR, SteamVR headsets and Oculus headsets in Q3 2021. All versions of the game will support full motion controls, including PSVR.
There are some exciting virtual reality (VR) videogames due for release in 2021 and another has just been added to that list, Wanderer. A puzzle filled, time-travelling adventure, its the work of New Zealand-based studios M Theory and Oddboy, the first trailer has arrived today showcasing what looks to be an ambitious project slated for Q3 this year.
Inspired by TV shows including Quantum Leap and Dark, Wanderer takes players on a journey to save mankind by heading to key points in history. You’ll take on the role of Asher Neumann, starting in an alternate, apocalyptic timeline searching for your grandfather’s lost apartment, finding several mysterious artifacts including an unusual wristwatch which makes time travelling possible.
Sequences revealed by the studios so far include taking to the stage in 1969 for an epic musical performance, uncovering traitors and cracking codes during WWII; helping inventor Nikola Tesla prepare his machinery, and stepping onto the moon. The gameplay is described as: “a unique blend of escape room style puzzles and hands-on action sequences that will see you bring together objects and events from various time periods in sometimes unlikely and inventive ways.”
Designed specifically for VR physics-based interactions such as drumming on stage, the PlayStation VR version will feature full PlayStation Move support. It’s already looking like quite the feat considering this in both studios first VR project.
“While Wanderer is an ambitious effort in delivering a feature-length game for VR, our team is confident the graphics, gameplay and story will offer an exciting prospect for VR gamers,” notes M Theory and Oddboy in a statement.
Wanderer is going to be a three-part series, with M Theory and Oddboy partnering with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) on the first instalment. But it’s not a PlayStation VR exclusive, the studios have already confirmed that SteamVR and Oculus platforms will be supported. For now, feast your eyes on the trailer and as further updates are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.
