Gorn Will Soon Arrive for PlayStation VR

It’s been a good day for PlayStation VR owners. Earlier saw Pixel Ripped 1995 release dates announced and now it’s the turn of brutal arena brawler Gorn.

After developer Free Lives said back in September 2019 that gladiator sim would see a launch that winter, the team has now confirmed a launch date, putting Gorn a couple of weeks away.

Gorn made a name for itself thanks to the videogame’s over-the-top violence, pitting players against waves of enemies who can be smashed to pieces. An assortment of weapons are at their disposal from knives and axes through to maces, bows and much more. All helping them easily decapitate, dismember and slice opponents to survive.

All the weapons have been designed to have their own feel and weight. “To create the sensation of weight, we added wobbliness to the weapons so that players can see the impact of gravity and various other forces on their shapes,” said Adone Kitching, Producer, Free Lives via PlayStation Blog. “Wobbly weapons have become a signature GORN aesthetic, and we’re pretty happy about that.”

The gameplay is designed so players can adapt on the fly, picking up dropped weapons, using bodies as shields or a severed arm to attack. If players are really quick, they can even catch arrows mid-air. Plus there are environmental obstacles which can be employed.

Brought to PlayStation VR thanks to a partnership between Free Lives, Devolver Digital and 24Bit Games, all the blood and gore can be turned down thanks to Gorn’s Pinata Mode. Gladiators are turned into paper mâché with their heads exploding with candy.

Reviewing Gorn for PC VR, VRFocus said: “It is stupid, and over the top on almost every level yet it’ll still put a smile of most players faces. Additionally, GORN will help you lose two things, time and calories. You’ll find that one fight will turn into ten, and you’ll be a sweaty mess from all that arm swinging. If you want something deep and thought-provoking go read a book, for everyone else there’s GORN.”

Gorn is now slated to arrive for PlayStation VR on 19th May 2020. For further updates to the experience, keep readng VRFocus.

By: Peter Graham
Title: Gorn Will Soon Arrive for PlayStation VR
Sourced From: www.vrfocus.com/2020/05/gorn-will-soon-arrive-for-playstation-vr/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:56:35 +0000

Oculus Quest Hand Tracking Teased for The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets

Ever since Oculus released hand tracking for Oculus Quest in December 2019, developers have been experimenting with the feature but its yet to appear for titles on the Oculus Store. That could be about to change thanks to Fast Travel Games.

+=

Coming Soon. #OculusQuest pic.twitter.com/S2IzZry4oN

— Fast Travel Games (@fasttravelgames) May 5, 2020

In a teasing tweet today, the studio revealed plans to bring hand tracking to its puzzle title The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets, with no further details other than it was coming soon.

Due to the nature of its simple puzzle-based gameplay, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets should be a good testbed for hand tracking as the videogame doesn’t require swift, complicated actions. Players can be methodical when exploring the spinnable 3D worlds, picking them apart to locate the pets, finding secrets and playing with the other interactive elements.

A delightful VR experience set around a heart-warming tale narrated by the players’ grandfather, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is one of those titles that isn’t overly long but easily suits players of any age. They can grip, push, drop and spin the numerous elements in each world to unlock clues, with some puzzles requiring multiple elements to complete. Others just need a keen eye.

When reviewing Fast Travel Games’ latest, VRFocus noted: “The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a perfectly pleasant VR experience which features all the polish you’d expect from Fast Travel Games.” The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets arrived last year for Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

Not all the videogames for Oculus Quest will suit hand tracking as it does have plenty of limitations, plus the feature is still in beta. So it may be some time until more content on Oculus Store goes more hands-on. Another developer which detailed its experiments earlier this year was Aldin Dynamics and Waltz of the Wizard.

Or for hand tracking examples you can actually play with, head on over to SideQuest where you’ll find the likes of Tea for God and Interdimensional Matter. For further Oculus Quest hand tracking updates, keep reading VRFocus.

By: Peter Graham
Title: Oculus Quest Hand Tracking Teased for The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
Sourced From: www.vrfocus.com/2020/05/oculus-quest-hand-tracking-teased-for-the-curious-tale-of-the-stolen-pets/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:11:22 +0000

Gorn Finally Arrives On PSVR In Two Weeks

After a long wait, the PSVR version of Gorn is finally coming in two weeks’ time.

Developer Free Lives announced the news on the PlayStation Blog today. Gorn sets down on Sony’s headset on May 19th. It’s been a long wait for Gorn on PSVR; we were initially hoping to be playing the game by the end of 2019. But multiple delays, most recently brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, have seen the game slip.

Gorn is a physics-driven, slapstick gladiator battle game where you beat your opponents senseless using an array of ancient weaponry. You might consider it an early precursor to games like Boneworks and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners; enemies are designed to be toyed with and weapons to be used pretty much however you see fit.

That’s not to say Gorn doesn’t have any structure to it, though. The game comes with a campaign in which you move through progressively tougher arenas using specific weapons. As you play, you’ll unlock more items for a sandbox mode, too. On PC, there’s also a local multiplayer mode where one player takes control of an enemy on the screen.

We’re big fans of Gorn here at Upload, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the PSVR version pans out. It’s no secret that the PS4 is less powerful than a PC required to run Gorn and the headset’s tracking is limited too, but developers have in the past done a great job porting their games to the hardware. Let’s hope that’s the case here.

Excited to play Gorn on PSVR? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Gorn Finally Arrives On PSVR In Two Weeks appeared first on UploadVR.

By: Jamie Feltham
Title: Gorn Finally Arrives On PSVR In Two Weeks
Sourced From: uploadvr.com/gorn-finally-arrives-on-psvr-in-two-weeks/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:04:36 +0000

Warzone Developer Unveils Next Project Swordsman VR

Virtual reality (VR) studio Sinn Studio has released three titles up to now, the most recent being 2018’s Warzone, a cross-platform multiplayer shooter. This week the studio has teased the first details of its next project, a medieval combat experience called Swordsman VR.

The first image released from Swordsman VR. Image credit: Sinn Studio

From the details released so far, Swordsman VR is going to be a story-driven, arena-based brawler focused on physical combat for PC VR headsets and PlayStation VR.

Over on Reddit, the studio mentions that: “The game features 6 combat environments, 5 boss fights, 4 different cultures (Knights, Vikings, Mongols and Samurai, plus a final boss), dozens of unique interactive weapons, shields and bonus boss items, and a progression system with player stats and abilities to let you customize your character builds for a unique experience based on your fighting style.”

Further details are expected to arrive next week alongside the opening of applications for a closed beta. Interested players can apply for the beta on Friday, 15th May – purely PC only – by heading to Sinn Studio’s Discord Channel. A commencement date for the beta has yet to be confirmed but the team has said it won’t be long after applications go live. The beta is expected to last a couple of weeks.

Warzone

As for an actual launch date for Swordsman VR, Sinn Studio aims for a multiplatform release this summer, noting on Discord: “We want to release on all platforms simultaneously and Sony is going to be the bottleneck.”

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Sinn Studio and Swordsman VR, reporting back with further updates.

By: Peter Graham
Title: Warzone Developer Unveils Next Project Swordsman VR
Sourced From: www.vrfocus.com/2020/05/warzone-developer-unveils-next-project-swordsman-vr/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 13:04:19 +0000

Report: Facebook Developing More Comfortable Oculus Quest With Higher Refresh Rate

Facebook is developing a smaller, lighter version of Oculus Quest with a higher refresh rate, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Bloomberg reported the existence and price of Oculus Go months before it was announced, giving credence to the outlet having sources within Facebook’s VR division.

The report claims the new headset was originally intended to launch late this year, but the global pandemic may delay this to 2021. Whether this is the same ‘Del Mar’ headset leaked in March is currently unclear.

Featured image on this post is the current Oculus Quest.

Smaller, Lighter, More Comfortable

The most common complaint we see when someone tries an Oculus Quest is the discomfort caused by the front heaviness. Unlike PC VR headsets, Quest has the computing hardware and battery built into it.

The current Quest weighs around 1.25 lbs (571g). The report claims the new headset could be 20% lighter at 1 lbs (around 450g), as well as being physically 15% smaller.

At OC6, Facebook showed off research on making VR headsets smaller and lighter.

At Oculus Connect 6, Facebook’s chief VR researcher showed off new lenses that achieved a 20% wider field of view than Quest despite being physically smaller. Some kind of breakthrough like this could be the source of the weight reduction. Alternatively, it could just be mundane incremental improvements in materials and design.

Higher Refresh Rate

The current Oculus Quest uses OLED panels with a refresh rate of 72 Hz, lower than the PC VR standard of 90 Hz. Valve’s premium Index HMD offers up to 144 Hz.

A higher refresh rate in VR makes the world feel more solid and object motion look more real.

According to Bloomberg, Facebook is testing screens up to 120 Hz for this new headset, but may cap it to 90Hz for battery life reasons.

Rendering that higher refresh rate would almost certainly require a more powerful system-on-chip (SoC). The current Quest uses the Snapdragon 835, which was Qualcomm’s flagship in 2017. Three years later, chips with roughly twice the computing power are available. The report doesn’t say anything about a new chip, however.

New Touch Controllers

According to the report, Facebook is also working on new Touch controllers. This could be the ‘Jedi’ controllers found in the Oculus Quest firmware.

We analyzed the driver for the Jedi controllers and found that it keeps the same input scheme, but may improve tracking, haptics and the fidelity of finger sensing.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, the new Touch controllers will be compatible with the existing Oculus Quest, enabling users to upgrade.

The report also claims these controllers fix a design flaw of the current Touch, where the battery cover can slide off during play.

Cheaper Materials, New Strap

The current Oculus Quest features a fabric covering giving it a somewhat premium feel. However, this is probably expensive to manufacture at scale.

According to Bloomberg, Facebook is testing removing this fabric and replacing it with plastic. This is likely for cost control reasons, but could also increase production rate.

The report claims Facebook is also considering changing the side straps from velcro to an elastic system. That sounds like how the Valve Index strap works, but there’s not enough detail yet to say for sure.

The post Report: Facebook Developing More Comfortable Oculus Quest With Higher Refresh Rate appeared first on UploadVR.

By: David Heaney
Title: Report: Facebook Developing More Comfortable Oculus Quest With Higher Refresh Rate
Sourced From: uploadvr.com/bloomberg-quest-refresh-report/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 12:53:41 +0000

The Wizards – Dark Times to Conjure a PC VR Launch in June

Carbon Studio’s original sorcery title The Wizards offered engaging gameplay thanks to its gesture-based gameplay. Today, the developer has announced that followup The Wizards – Dark Times is nearing completion, ready for a launch in June.

Debuting for the first time at Gamescom 2019, The Wizards – Dark Times continues the franchises flair for gesture-based magic, where players have to learn and master 11 individually designed spells which can only be cast with their hands.

These allow players to control the elements, freezing foes where they stand or setting them on fire. While other spells will allow players to cast defensive shields and other useful additions to aid in battle.

While The Wizards – Dark Times was initially developed to be a standalone expansion Carbon Studio then decided to make it a fully-fledged sequel instead. The team also wanted to expand the adventure element for a greater RPG feel, doing away with the magical barriers from the original that forced you into defeating every enemy before moving on.

“Since Gamescom 2019, where the Dark Times’ press demo received overwhelming praise, we decided to extend the scale of the project. We made sure our spellcasting adventure will keep everyone slinging fireballs and roleplaying as the Emperor for hours, without any pesky magical barriers that slow your progress,” said Jakub Pander, Carbon Studio’s producer in a statement.

VRFocus said in its preview at the time: “From what’s been shown so far The Wizards – Dark Times is definitely on track to offer an even more engaging experience than before. The spell casting works well, the environments look great, and the monsters put up a fight. So hopefully things are only going to get better, just so long as there’s a hefty campaign to back it all up.”

Supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index, The Wizards – Dark Times will be available on Oculus Store and Steam from 4th June, retailing for $24.99 USD.

After the launch, Carbon Studio has confirmed that it’ll release a series of content updates to expand upon the gameplay experience. As further details on The Wizards – Dark Times are released VRFocus will let you know.

By: Peter Graham
Title: The Wizards – Dark Times to Conjure a PC VR Launch in June
Sourced From: www.vrfocus.com/2020/05/the-wizards-dark-times-to-conjure-a-pc-vr-launch-in-june/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 11:29:54 +0000

Watch: Curious Tale Quest Hand-Tracking Tease Suggests Official Integration Nears

A tease from Fast Travel Games may suggest Facebook will soon let developers officially integrate hand-tracking into their Oculus Quest titles.

Fast Travel just teased support for hand-tracking in its charming puzzler, The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets. The GIF in the below tweet shows a player interacting with the game’s diorama-sized world, using their finger to push a dog on a swing. It works just like it did with the controller, except now you don’t need to hold anything in your hands.

👋+🐶=❤️

Coming Soon. #OculusQuest pic.twitter.com/S2IzZry4oN

— Fast Travel Games (@fasttravelgames) May 5, 2020

The tweet simply says ‘Coming Soon’, with no other details. As far as we’re aware, this is the first time a developer has shown official integration of hand-tracking in a game available on the Oculus Store.

Quest hand-tracking was launched as an experimental feature late last year. Officially, you can only use it in Quest’s menu and on the Oculus web browser, but developers have integrated the feature into their sideloaded projects, too. Over the past few months, Facebook has improved the stability of the tracking with multiple updates. Fast Travel’s tease suggests Oculus may be preparing to let developers officially integrate the feature into their titles on the Oculus Store.

We’ve asked Facebook if official integration for Quest hand-tracking is nearing.

That said, don’t expect every Quest game to get hand-tracking support. Curious Tale — which we’re very fond of — seems like an especially good fit considering it’s a stationary puzzle game, but titles with lots of locomotion and fast-paced mechanics might not suit it.

What other Oculus Quest games would you like to get hand-tracking support? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Watch: Curious Tale Quest Hand-Tracking Tease Suggests Official Integration Nears appeared first on UploadVR.

By: Jamie Feltham
Title: Watch: Curious Tale Quest Hand-Tracking Tease Suggests Official Integration Nears
Sourced From: uploadvr.com/curious-tale-quest-hand-tracking/
Published Date: Tue, 05 May 2020 11:08:52 +0000