The PlayStation VR 2 headset launched in February 2023 and, in the roughly 16 months?? since, it's been on the market, Sony has put out barely any first-party games for it. And whenever the topic of VR has come up during a State of Play, it's mostly been to announce third-party games. It's easy to assume that Sony has already given up on supporting the headset and, accor?ding to a new report, it sounds like that's precisely what's happened.

The report comes from Android Central, whose an?onymous sources allege Sony is cutting funding for VR game development, with only two such projects curre?ntly in development. No exact details about the games were shared, but if this is accurate, it speaks volumes to how little faith Sony has in the headset's future. This could also mean Sony won't develop any further VR hardware.

PSVR 2 owners can rely on third-party developers for new games, such as Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro Awakening, but I have to imagine anyone who spent $550 on the headset at launch must be feeling burnt by the distinct lack of exclusives. Aside from launch title Horizon Call of the Mountain and the VR mode for Gran Turismo 7, the only other Sony published VR title was Firewall Ultra from First Contact Entertainment, and that studio was sadly shut down just five months later.

In December 2023, Sony had admitted the VR space was "a challenging category," but assured the PSVR 2 was selling well. However, a Bloomberg report from this past March claimed Sony was struggling to push its backlog of stock, prompting it to put production on hold. Combined with Sony shutting down its PlayStation London studio a month earlier, which was focused on creating more VR titles, and the writing has clearly been on the wall for a while. At this rate, it's questionable whether those two in-development ??VR games may even see the light of day.

The post Sony allegedly only has two PSVR 2 games in the works as it cuts d?evelopment fun??ding appeared first on Destructoid.

Developer Survios debuted the first gameplay trailer for Alien: Rogue Incursion during today's PlayStation State of Play. The VR single-player action-horror game focuses on an all-new storyline in the Alien universe as they try to survive an encounter with the "P?erfect Organism" in VR.

Built in Unreal Engine 5, Alien: Rogue Incursion utilizes the power of VR to drop pla??yers into an intense action-horror environment as they try to survive and outsmart the Alien with shooter-style gameplya and mechanics as they explore an Alien-infested facility on the harsh planet of Purdan.

Alien: Isolation is still one of my favorite horror titles of all time, so if Rogue Incursion can manage to channel even a fraction of that I'll be happy. Besides, Isolationfelt like a perect transition into VR so this could very w?ell be a per?fect match.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is set to release this Holiday 2024 on PlayStation VR2, PCVR via Stea??m, and Meta ?Quest 3.

The post Alien: Rogue Incursion brings the act?ion-horro?r series to VR appeared first on Destructoid.

Prepare to do whatever a spider can?

This afternoon will see Sony Computer Entertainment take to the airwaves for its May 2023 PlayStation Showcase stream. Kicking off in about 30 minutes from now, PlayStation fans can expect news and updates on a jackload of releases, c??urrently in development for PS4, PS5, and/or PSVR 2 platforms.

While we don't quite know exactly what will be shown on this afternoon's stream, it seems very likely that Insomniac will have some new footage, (and probably a launch date), for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which is one of the few PlayStation exclusives still planned for 2023. It's likely that Square Enix will also drop in for some Final Fantasy XVI updates, ahead of the RPGs late-June launch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4EKydVVvHk

In regards to third-party titles, it's getting a little late for Street Fighter 6 updates, but perhaps we'll see another trailer or gameplay footage for NetherRealm Studios' recently announced Mortal Kombat 1. There are also some Hail Mary possibilities, such as Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2, and an update on Marvel's Wolverine �But one would obviously expect Insomniac to focus on its current Marvel Comics game before it starts talking about the ??next one.

Whatever The Blue Brand has to show us, we hope that you'll grab a drink and settle in with us. Feel free to leap into the comments with your thoughts, reactions, and opinions to the news as it rolls out in front of us. Given another time-out from E3, these streams remain the best way for us to enjoy the summer of gaming (as opposed to The Summer of Gaming) together. So... let's tune in to the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase stream and see what releases will be forcing Suicide Squad to backpedal once again.

The post Join us right here f??or the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase stream! appeared first on Destructoid.

Over 600,000 people falling into their TVs worldwide

Sony has released its latest financial earnings report, which shows that its newest Virtual Reality technology, PlayStation VR2 had a pret??ty impressive launch, garnering over 6??00,000 unit sales in its first six weeks of release.

While VR tech has been, and perhaps always will be, something of a niche market, this number eclipses the launch numbers of the original PlayStation VR hardware, which first launched back in the fall of 2016. Even more notably, the PSVR 2 unit has been lambasted for its staggeringly high price range, with the PS5-only unit retailing for around $550 USD, essentially the price of a disc-based ??PS5 itself.

But these numbers show that PSVR 2 has still seen a successful 8% increase over its predecessor, in part thanks to a litany of recognizable brands among its first run of software. VR games and experiences �either on the shelves now, or coming in the near future �include titles based on series such as Horizon, Resident Evil, Ghostbusters, Until Dawn, Tetris, and Gran Turismo. While undoubtedly expensive, PlayStation VR2 is highly impressi??ve technology, with almost bewildering levels of immersion and a much slicker and more efficient cabling system.

Interestingly, however, the report fails to declare how many PSVR 2 units have been sold in total since the hardware's release. Sony is quick to note the success for those six launch weeks, but remain quiet on sales for several months since. Initial reports from Bloomberg said that Sony had hoped to shift two million units in PSVR 2 launch year, but halved those expectations due to disa??ppointing pre-orders. This is a report Sony was quick to deny. But it remains to be seen whether these impressive launch figures represent the lion's share of all PSVR 2 sales, for this year and those years still to come.

The post Despite high price, PlayStation VR2 still beat predecessor’s launch sales appeared first on Destructoid.

Shoot Now, Laugh Later

The PSVR 2 has been on the market for?? a while, though it still has a somewhat skeletal library. Nevertheless, there is enough of a variety of games to keep fans of all genres satisfied. First-person shooters are one of the most popular genres on the platform and for good reason.

In VR, gunplay is more realistic than ever, and developers have experimented with the genre to introduce new and innovative gameplay styles. Players looking for the best FPS games on PSVR 2 have a few titles to choose from. Some titles, like Pavlov, follow a traditional FPS structure while others, like <Runner>, add an innovative twist to things.

Pavlov

Developed by Vankrupt Games, Pavlov has been available on PC VR headsets for a while. On PSVR 2, it has quickly become one of the most add??ictive and adrenaline-raising games curr??ently available. The game has players going online and partaking in several different game modes that are either co-op or PvP. It shines through its startlingly wide array of available weapons and the realistic weapon handling which ensures players remain thoroughly immersed.

[caption id="attachment_374044" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Though it can be played offline, that sucks almost all of the fun out of it. Pavlov has a very active community, so players will never struggle to find a server of players to join. One o??f the best modes is the frenzied Team Deathmatch which has two teams going up against each other to score the most kills. Each time a player is killed, they respawn with a new random weapon. There is also the regular Deathmatch where it's every man for himself, and all players compete to rack up the most kills??.

Pavlov also features a handy tutorial mode, so players are never thrown into the deep end. It’s probably the best FPS VR game to start with thanks to its bustling community and its?? endless heaps of fun.

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution

[caption id="attachment_374041" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

For gamers looking for something a little scarier, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution has wh??at it takes to keep players on the edge of their seats. What it lacks in visuals, it makes up fo?r immersive gameplay that has players using a myriad of weapons against hordes of zombies.

The gunplay is responsive and impactful, but players aren’t limited to blasting bullets. There are also knives, cleavers, and chainsaws available to debrain the walking dead. For games that want more PSVR 2 horror, consider titles like Switchback VR and Resident Evil Village.

<RUNNER>

[caption id="attachment_374213" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Developed by Truant Pixel, <RUNNER> is an eclectic title that brings a fresh take on the FPS genre. Players will be immediately overwhelmed by the anime-style visuals, and as players ride a zippy motorcycle through a neon-lit city, it is hard to not feel like one has been transported into Akira. Armed with a futuristic handgun, players can shoot at obstacles and objects in the environment as they ride? their motorcycle, making it a heartstoppingly exhilarating experience. As players progress, they unlock even more upgrades and weapons, including grenades.

<RUNNER> excels thanks to its striking aesthetic, catchy soundtrack, and high-energy gameplay that utilizes VR in the best way. It also has a 'Cruising' mode which provides a more laidback experience for players who just want to enjoy the music and the colorful visuals. Gamers craving more eccentric FPS titles should explore Pistol Whip, which blends gunplay with?? rhythm-based gameplay.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge

[caption id="attachment_374214" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

The Star Wars VR game was originally released in 2020 on the Oculus Quest. It's a blast for Star Wars fans, although newcomers can still have tons of fun. Players assume the role of a droid repair technician who finds themselves on an epic adventure after crash-la??nding on the planet Batuu.

The game runs for about 10 hours, which is plenty of time for gamers to immerse themselves in the sci-fi atmosphere. Weapons are easy to use, and the environments are gorgeous enough to rival what's on display in Horizon: Call of the Mountain. For gamers? who are still on the fence about the title, a free demo is available on the PS Store.

PSVR 2 may be going through a bit of a drought at present, but there are plenty of games lined up that promise to keep the rest of the year full of activity. To enhance gunplay when using PS VR2, there are several gun stocks available which can be attached to t??he headset's controllers.

The post Top 4 First-Person Shooters on PSVR 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Another ride

You really have to give it to Supermassive Games for helping to keep the horror genre alive. They've been cranking out spooky games since 2015 with a degree of regularity, and generally, they're OK at worst, and are known to go above and beyond. I'm glad they're still making games, and that includes spinoffs like Switchback VR.

[caption id="attachment_368664" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR (PS5 [reviewed with PSVR 2])
Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Supermassive Games
Released: March 16, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

If you don't mess with the Dark Pictures series at? all and are wondering what the hell is going on, we got you.

In 2015, developer Supermassive Games released the hit horror adventure Until Dawn, which hosted a seated first-person VR shooting gallery spinoff a year later with Rush of Blood. Switchback VR is the equivalent for the Dark Pictures series: Supermassive's loosely connected franchise that carries on the spirit of Until Dawn. The same principle applies to Switchback VR as it did years back with Rush of Blood: you don't need to play the proper series to really enjoy it (since both are arcade-style shooters at heart), but there are references and ??locales that will add a little bit "extra" for folks who are fans.

It goes without saying, but the PSVR 2 Sense controllers are a massive upgrade from the prior Move technology implemented in Rush of Blood. Like, leagues better. I felt like I was fully in control in Switchback, with the ability to independently manipulate each hand (which controls a pistol by default, with room for finding temporary in-level upgrades like SMGs), and reload by pressing a button on the Sense controllers or shaking each device (which can be useful in a pinch, or directly following a jump scare, which Switchback has many of).?? It's just elegant enough to feel like the game is taking advantage of the new tech without overcomplicating things for what is ostensibly an arcade blueprint.

Minor functionality is implemented in a few other ways, like bobbing your head from side to side (or ducking) to avoid beams and hazards; often while your cart is racing al?ong the track at top speed. Then there's the eye-blinking tech (which several PSVR 2 launch window games have utilized) to create more chaos, as enemies will be more relentless if you blink in certain areas (it's not throughout the entire game).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HniskV3aJ7o

Gunplay is responsive thanks to the Sense controllers, and Supermassive isn't stingy with the default magazine si??ze (18), coupled with quick reloading. You can generally just unload on enemies with both pistols as they walk/run/teleport up to your car and attempt to kill you (th??ere's three difficulty settings in all), and there's a satisfying click when running out of ammo, coupled with some nice haptic physical feedback on the well-designed Sense tech. It's very easy to aim and see targets that count for "extra points" too, since they're clearly marked with a glowing seal. Again, Supermassive struck a good balance here, and didn't make things too overwhelming.

After completing the short-ish tutorial to learn most of the above concepts, you'll embark on "rides" through haunting locations, like the shipwreck (and the surrounding area) from Man of Medan. Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil In Me (all part of "season 1" of Dark Pictures) also make an appearance. Because this is an "all-star tour" of sorts, the environments have a lot more variety to them compared to Rush of Blood. Playing through them in fairly rapid succession, I was reminded of all of the wacky '90s arcade shooters in the best way, where you visit a harbor in French Polynesia in one moment, and a Mesopotamian tomb in the next. There's also a vague story thread woven in (much like the series proper likes to do) that's sort of interesting, but also so vague that it's hard to really connect to it until you're forced to later on ??in the gam??e.

Switchback was delayed a bit from its original launch date; and from a visual standpoint, I can see why. There's still some pop-in presen?t amid some less inspired bits of each track (mostly the wide open outdoor areas), which result in a literal rollercoaster of high and low points throughout the game. The good news is, as I've espoused multiple times throughout this review, it's an arcade game in spirit. So one small pitstop is going to be just that, a short stop, and it's time to move to the next thing.

[caption id="attachment_368666" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

After you've ridden through each level there's a score-attack element baked in (with leaderboards), a level-select option (giving you the chance to check out the extra paths in each stage), and a few trophies to potentially mess with on a ??replay (like if you messed up key moments when you have the opportunity to save other people); as well as several secrets dealing with the credits. I do wish there was a bit more replayability here, especially when you factor in the opportunity to iterate more with this VR-generation-leaping sequel. But I did ??enjoy blasting away creatures on a world tour rollercoaster ride, and I did get freaked out a few times by some jump scares: so mission mostly accomplished.

At $20 more than Rush of Blood was at launch, Switchback VR is a bigger pill to swallow, but does plenty to sate anyone who is looking for AAA VR horror, and makes use of the PSVR 2's technological enhancements. I expect Switchback VR to be similarly polarizing because it caters to a very specific niche, but if you enjoyed Rush of Blood, you'll likely have a good time here as well.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR appeared first on Destructoid.

Cblogs of 2/25 to 03/03/2023

-Grethiwha shares their first impressions on PSVR 2.

-Isay Isay reviews One Piece: Odyssey.

-Virtua Kazama shares their thoughts on th??e EVO 2023 gam??es lineup.

-Lord Spencer continues their retrospective on the Mega Man series with this blog about Mega Man X4.

-Siddartha85 shares a list of their t??op?? music of 2022 in this A-List.

-Siddartha85 ??shares a list of their top music of 2022 in this B-List.

-Boxman214 reports on their solo playthrough of the table-top game, Ironsworn: Starforged.

-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF community? thread for random discussion.

A healthy batch o' blogs this week, thanks a lot! Thanks to Lord Spencer for taking the time out of their week to recap them ?for the front page. As always, if you wanna join in on the HOT TAKE party, then head o??n over to the Cblogs section right now.

We are aware that the cblog editor has been incredibly testy of late. We apol??ogize. We are hoping we can encourage someone more tech-savvy than? ourselves to take a look at it this year.

The post What is yo?ur own level of interest in PlayStation VR 2? appeared first on Destructoid.

Is there such a thing as too spooky?

Resident Evil Village came, did pretty well for itself, got some DLC, and went. Well, it's back now! The newest mainline RE entry is back in VR form, provided that you have a PlayStation VR 2. Hey, we do! L??et's dive into what makes this VR version tick and if it's wor?th buying into, or loading back up.

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How to play Resident Evil Village in VR, and what the VR version actually entails

You can access the free DLC here or on the PS5 dashboard (where it's listed as "Resident Evil Village VR mode") and it requires a roughly 800MB download. You also need a PlayStation VR 2 headset to play (the old model won't cut it). The DLC patches in an alternative mode to play RE Village when booting it up: and this is a separate mode, mind, with its own save data, trophies, and bonuses.

The full story mode is playable in this VR update. As Capco??m puts, it: "The DLC suppo??rts the full story campaign following Ethan Winters�harrowing journey to rescue Rose, his kidnapped daughter."

[ga??llery link="file" columns="5"? size="medium" ids="364883,364884,364885,364886,364887"]

Resident Evil Village VR comfort settings/options

Years back, VR gaming started out with a lack of accessibility options (on both ends of the comfort spectrum), but around 2019, things started to get a little more universally codified. Now, there's a wide range of options to help curb motion sickness, or jack up the game into a near 1:1 recreation of t?he original (with full smooth turning and everything)

Like many modern AAA VR releases, RE Village VR has a lot of tweaks and toggles:

• The ability to play sitting or standing
• Camera speed
• Smooth (read: regular first-person shooter) or snap (instant) turning
• The ability to turn the "tunnel" (black bar) comfort effect on or off
• Dominant hand and dominant eye swapping
• Aim assist
• Laser/reticle color changes
• Subtitle toggling (for immersion)

[gallery size="large" link="file" colum??ns="5" ids="364888,364890,364902,364905,364931"]

What the tutorial/VR controls are like

RE Village VR uses the tried and true "grab stuff intuitively from behind your back/your holster" control method: which still works like a charm (if it ain't broke and doesn't cost a ton more VR R&D money!). You'll learn this through a brand new VR control tutorial, which only takes around 10 minutes, ??and gets the job done (and then some).

There's shoulder grabbing for bigger weapons like shotguns, your pistol is on your hip, the knife is on a strap on your wrist: but Village takes things one step further by cramming stuff into your jacket (you need to grab and open either side for specific items). Basically everything is mapped to some some of control option on Ethan's person, including an in-game item map (instead of a menu) that defaults to your back left pocket. First aid is administered by grabbing a bottle from behind your left shoulder, popping the cap off with a button press, then pouring it over your body. Dual-wielding is possible, and double pistols is especially viable. Using the knife and putting your hands up to block (and holding the triggers and swinging forward to punch) is similarly responsive and easy to learn. Big bonus points to the development team? for allowing you to break glass with your fists instead of pulling out the knife each time!

The only hang-up I have at the moment is the requirement to hold your pistol with both hands for better aim: it's a tad finnicky in terms of getting the pathing right ??(and not clinking the controllers into each other). I haven't had any similar issues with any? other items or weapons so far.

[gallery link="file" size="medi?um" ids="364894,364903,364904,364932,364933,364934"]

So how is Resident Evil Village in VR? Pretty great

As we mentioned above, RE Village VR is a completely separate mode. You'll need to start over from the beginning (works for me!) and you can thankfully skip cutscenes if ??you've seen them already (which are viewable in VR format, or the traditional "movie theater screen" presentation via a pause menu toggle). It also has its own set of "VR Mode Challenges," like finding and shooting the main Goats of Warding collectibles for merchant rewards: plus, you can swap back to the original mode from the main menu if you're getting freaked out. A??nd you'll likely get freaked out at least once!

Yeah, I experienced the gamut of VR scares:

• Despite checking behind me (twice) and barricading the windows in a building, an enemy snuck up on me and basically yelled in my ear with 3D audio jacked up
• Spooky directional noises freaking me out while wandering the woods in the beginning, weapon-less
• Almost getting shot in the face with a shotgun by that old man that I knew was coming

Capcom as a whole has learned a lot since the original VR version of Resident Evil 7, and ??the two new PSVR 2 Sense controllers already do a lot of the heavy lifting. When it comes to VR, it's the little things, right? Opening an old timey door latch realistically (by pulling it up, the??n horizontally) tacks on just a little bit of fun to VR, and it really adds up. Every reload action in the middle of a fight, and the reflexes inherent to that motion: a lot of it is a brand new skill curve that you'll need to master, like riding a bike for the first time.

You also get....Resident Evil Village. Suffice to say I won't spoil anything here as I'm sure a lot of folks are visiting the titular village for the first time in VR; but there's a lot to explore, uncover, and get spooked by. VR mode really adds to the atmosphere of the game, and heightens the tension and scares that I felt were lacking at times in the original release. I'm psyched to play through the entirety of Resident Evil Village again in VR: currently??, I'm making my way through Lady Dimitrescu's castle. Yes,?? she's very tall.

It's been just the right amount of time for a full replay anyway, and with VR perks in tow, it's like I'm playing it with a fresh set of eyes. I hope every Resident Evil game from here on out has VR support, because it's a great long term value add. At this point you kind of know that if you're buying into an RE project, there's somet?hing cool coming down the line. I can ge??t behind that!

The post Impressions: Resident Evil Village VR appeared first on Destructoid.