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Sony share details on their next-generation VR headset

23/2/2021

 
PS-VR

​Sony have shared some tentative details about their “next-generation VR system” that’s coming to the PS5 at some point in the next few years.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

A follow up to the original PS VR (pictured above) which launched for PS4 back in 2016, the new headset (which doesn’t have an official name just yet) sounds like it’ll improve upon its predecessor in most areas. For starters, the new headset will only need a single cable to connect it to a PS5 in order to simplify setup, and will also boast improved resolutions, field of view, tracking and input for a “high-fidelity visual experience.”
It sounds like the Move controllers utilised by the original PS VR are no more, with the new headset said to be getting its own “future-proof” VR controller that will incorporate some of the features found in the PS5’s DualSense pad while also maintaining a focus on “great ergonomics.”

​While developers are already said to be working on new games for Sony’s next VR system, the blog, which you can read in full, goes on to confirm that the headset will not be launching this year, though more details will be shared at some point in the future.

So, while it’s not the full, wireless reveal I boldly predicted earlier in the year, there’s still a chance we’ll get to see more on Sony’s latest foray into VR later in the year.

Let us know your thoughts on the next PS VR below or in the forums.
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New Hitman 3 trailer showcases PS VR gameplay

8/1/2021

 
HITMAN-3-PS-VR

IO Interactive - the studio heading up development of a brand-new James Bond title - have released a new trailer showcasing Hitman 3 running on Sony’s PlayStation VR headset.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

The trailer gives us a look at an all-new, ultra-immersive take on the Hitman franchise. Players are able to physically interact with objects and environments to blend in or take down targets, whether that’s cleaning a work surface in a kitchen or dropping the cover of a grand piano onto someone by snatching away the stand. It’s even possible to tap unsuspecting guards on the shoulder to serve as a distraction before dropping them with a well-placed punch.
All three Hitman games in the World of Assassination trilogy will be playable in VR, exclusively via Hitman 3 on PS4. Fans can relive the series’ most iconic moments from a whole new perspective on the current-gen console, but not on PC VR platforms.

​Hitman 3 is out 21 January on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Google Stadia. A Switch version will also be playable via cloud streaming.

What do you think of the Hitman 3 VR mode? Let us know in the comments below.
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Arizona Sunshine Oculus Quest update adds new multiplayer map

16/12/2020

 
Arizona-Sunshine-Oculus-Quest

Vertigo Games are adding a new horde map to their VR shooter, Arizona Sunshine, on the Oculus Quest.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

The Trailer Park map is based on one of the game’s campaign levels and features a “grungy” trailer park aesthetic, destructible environments and plenty of undead cannon fodder. Up to four friends can team up for some virtual reality zombie slaying, scavenging loot and weapons as they try to survive waves of reanimated attackers.
The update is free for all Arizona Sunshine users on Quest, while a beta version of the map is also being added to the Steam version of the game for PC VR users.

Arizona Sunshine is available now via PS VR, PC VR and Oculus Quest.

Let us know your thoughts on the new map below or in the forums.
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Star Wars: Squadrons officially unveiled, VR support confirmed for PS4 and PC

15/6/2020

 
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Following last week’s premature reveal via the Microsoft Store, EA have officially unveiled Star Wars: Squadrons, a first-person title that focuses on starfighter combat.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

Developed by EA Motive, the studio behind Battlefront 2’s single-player campaign, Star Wars Squadrons is set during the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War (read: original trilogy era) and sees players representing either Imperials or the New Republic in iconic craft such as the X-wing and Tie fighter. The game will feature strategic 5v5 multiplayer skirmishes in which players can “tip the scales of monumental fleet battles.”
Players will be able to “plan every skirmish” in a briefing room before joining an “ever evolving battlefield,” with Yavin Prime and the shattered moon of Galitan confirmed as some of the new locations they’ll be visiting.

As well as a multiplayer element, Star Wars: Squadrons will also include a “thrilling” single-player campaign set just after the destruction of the second Death Star. Players will be able experience the campaign from alternate perspectives by representing both the New Republic and Imperial factions via two customisable pilots. The narrative will feature new characters and “some cameos from familiar faces.”

It sounds like we’ll be taking a more hands-on approach with our fighters, with players able to “divert power between systems” and upgrade their ships with new weapons and components earned entirely via in-game rewards.

EA also confirmed that the entire game will be playable in virtual reality via PC VR and PS VR, with cross-play enabled between the two platforms.

“We created this game for every Star Wars fan who has ever dreamt about soaring across the galaxy in their favorite starfighter,” said Ian Frazier, Creative Director, Motive Studios.

“Through the collaboration of the teams at Motive and Lucasfilm, we’ve been able to create a high-fidelity starfighter experience with an authentic storyline that invites Star Wars fans to explore never-before-seen corners of the galaxy in their own ship. We’re excited to show all this in action this week at EA Play Live.”

Star Wars: Squadrons
is out 2 October on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC via Origin PC and the Epic Games Store.

What do you think of the game? Let us know below or over in the forums.
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Arizona Sunshine developer Vertigo Games to handle publishing duties for upcoming VR title Traffic Jams

28/5/2020

 
Traffic-Jams

Vertigo Games, the studio behind Arizona Sunshine and virtual reality strategy game Skyworld, are partnering up with Little Chicken Game Company to publish their VR title, Traffic Jams.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

Traffic Jams sees players stepping into the role of a traffic controller, marshalling the flow of both pedestrians and vehicles at junctions following the failure of all traffic lights. Players first start out in a small town before moving on to bigger cities and even bigger challenges such as road rage, rogue meteorites, zombies, and other unnatural disasters.
“VR is successfully carving out its place in the living room and we immediately saw the potential of Traffic Jams to excite both new and experienced VR players there,” said Richard Stitselaar, Managing Director at Vertigo Games.

“Its playful art style and fun characters combined with easy to pick-up, hard to master gameplay makes it appealing and accessible to a wide audience in a genre that has not yet seen its fill. We’re thrilled to combine our forces with old friends at Little Chicken and help them bring this gem to VR players worldwide.”

There’s no solid release date just yet, with the game said to be coming to “major VR platforms” sometime later this year.

Let us know your thoughts on the partnership and Traffic Jams below or over in the forums.
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Synth Riders Electro Swing Essentials DLC adds 10 new songs

28/4/2020

 
Synth-Riders-Electro-Swing-Essentials-DLC

Kluge Interactive have expanded the library of their VR rhythm game Synth Riders with the addition of the Electro Swing Essentials DLC pack.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

The pack, which is described as a “spicy cocktail of vintage jazz swing, EDM, House and Hip Hop,” includes five paid songs and five free, and features artists such as Parov Stelar, Jamie Berry and Swingrowers. Also included in the paid portion of the DLC is a new thematic stage with a swing-inspired setting, which is available for $0.99 (or regional equivalent).
All five of the paid tracks can be purchased individually for $1.99 or as a complete set – which also includes the aforementioned thematic stage - for $8.99.

​Following last month’s addition of a multiplayer mode, Kluge Interactive have also released a couple of features aimed at improving the experience for both veteran riders and newcomers. 

Those picking up the game for the first time can now get to grips with its nuances thanks to a new interactive tutorial mode, while experienced players can take their “synth riding skills to the next level” by utilising the new practice mode, which allows specific parts of a song to be replayed in slow motion.

The Electro Swing Essentials DLC is available to download now on Oculus Quest and PC VR.

Let us know your thoughts on Synth Riders’ newest tracks and features below or in the forums.
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Synth Riders update adds multiplayer mode and revamps UX

3/3/2020

 
Synth-Riders-Multiplayer-Mode

Kluge Interactive have released a free update for their action-dance virtual reality rhythm game, Synth Riders. It overhauls the game’s UX/UI and adds a brand-new multiplayer mode.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

The update, which is available for Oculus Quest and PC VR editions of the game, allows up to five players to meet in multiplayer lobbies (including private lobbies). Not only that, but it’s also possible to compete in cross-platform matches which support voice chat. 
Modifiers such as “Prismatic Notes” and “Sudden Death” can be applied to matches beforehand in order to spice up the competition, while PC VR users can now create custom avatars to set themselves apart.

​“Synth Riders has continued to be developed in active conversation with our community, and we knew early on that we had to give them a way to play together, not only to compete but to have fun with each other. We are excited to be one of the first VR rhythm games with multiplayer support, it is a tribute to our community!” Said Creative Director Abraham Aguero Benzecri, who we interviewed about the game last year.

Arriving alongside the new multiplayer mode is a reworked “UX and visual style” that includes redesigned menus and “smoother, quicker and more intuitive interactions” when it comes to browsing music packs and selecting songs. There’s also a new visual stage and a free bonus song: Nutronic by Cold War.

Kluge Interactive are planning further updates to Synth Riders in the near future, including an “Electro Swing Essentials” DLC pack that features songs from Parov Stelar, Electric Swing Circus and Jamie Berry.

To celebrate the update’s roll out, the game is currently discounted on the Oculus Store.

Are you looking forward to some VR dance-offs? Let us know below.
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Kluge Interactive's virtual reality rhythm game Synth Riders is coming to Oculus Quest this month

12/10/2019

 
Synth-Riders-Oculus-Quest

Kluge Interactive are bringing their popular rhythm game Synth Riders to Oculus Quest following its successful launch on other VR platforms, notably Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality.

by Liam Andrews
element_settings.Image+Text_94464494.default

@pass_controller

Synth Riders, which sees players using their arms to hit notes in time to a synthwave soundtrack, makes its Oculus Quest debut at the end of the month to coincide with the game leaving its Early Access phase. During that time, the number of songs available has more than doubled and the game has received “dozens” of improvements following player feedback.
“It's truly magical when the love for a game brings thousands of people together to form a community, then causes them to ask: ‘This is great, how can we contribute ourselves to make the game even better?’” Said Brian Elliott Tate, Community Manager at Kluge Interactive.

​“The Synth Riders community has spent countless hours pouring their hearts out in so many creative ways, and we can't wait to see where it goes next.”

You can read more about the development process and inspirations behind Synth Riders in our interview with developer Abraham Aguero.

Here’s a list of everything included with the Quest version of the game:​
​
  • ​​30 varied songs and new top artists added regularly
  • 4 difficulty levels from Easy to Master
  • 7 diverse hand-designed environments with new ones coming soon
  • Varied game modes (regular, boxing, endurance, force)
  • Brand new Oculus Quest social integration
  • Official Beatmap Editor
  • Multiplayer and Global Leaderboards coming soon
  • Exclusive “Into the Void (Synth Riders Edit)” song by Celldweller

Synth Riders will be available on the Oculus Quest Store from 31 October with an RRP of $16.99. The game will also be launching fully that same day on Steam VR, the Oculus Rift Store and Viveport with an RRP of $19.99.

Have you tried Synth Riders? Looking forward to its full release? Let us know below
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