11 New PSVR2 Games Revealed
PlayStation has just taken to their blog to announce 11 new titles coming alongside the likes of Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil: Village VR coming to the platform. Launching on 22 February 2023, Sony’s next generation of VR is now set to have a hefty line up of releases- something the system desperately needs after it was announced that the PSVR2 would not be compatible with previous PlayStation VR titles. On top of this, this has a lot to prove with a very hefty price tag of £529.99. The titles revealed today in a low-key way were as follows:
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
This is set to be an on-rails fast-based shooter based on the Dark Picture games series by Supermassive Games. While very different from the usual narrative slow-burner thrillers, the opportunity to blast a horde of monsters with a multitude of weapons looks to be a simplistic but safe entry point for those new to VR. While the medium has developed from being on rails, it is still a welcome genre if pulled off well.
Crossfire: Sierra Squad
Another familiar-looking VR shooter, Crossfire: Sierra Squad looks to be aiming for the basic ‘Call of Duty in VR archetype’ and, well, it looks to be fulfilling that quite well. Moving from cover to cover and using an arsenal of tools to shoot and blow up your enemies, this VR2 release doesn’t seem to be pushing the boat out too much. However, what it lacks in creativity, it seems to make up for in pure adrenaline and content- with over 60 run-and-shoot missions available at launch. Hopefully, this remedies one of the main problems of VR games: the lack of content.
The Light Brigade
The Light Brigade is another shooter- but this one looks much more unique compared to the greys and browns often associated with first-person shooter VR titles. With an inventive art style and procedurally generated landscapes, this adventure tasks you with exploring an environment made up of ‘shattered memories’. This is certainly an interesting premise- and one that would work very well in VR. Hopefully, developers Funktronic Labs are able to provide something memorable for Playstation’s next step in VR.
Cities VR – Enhanced Edition
A familiar but still impressive project, Cities VR is taking the famous city builder and, well, putting its players into virtual reality. This may initially seem like quite an odd idea- especially considering the isometric zoomed-out perspective that the original game offers. However, the precision shown off with the VR2 controller in the trailer does seem to offer a lot more freedom of control to place buildings, roads, and whatever else you want your city to contain. Of course, this won’t be as accurate as a mouse, but the greater precision will be welcomed by controller players on console.
Cosmonious High
A completely new IP, Cosmonious High is shaping up to be something very charming. No doubt inspired by VR Chat and everything that came with it, this high school simulator looks packed with color and fun activities to keep busy with. The game also looks to be a technical showcase for the VR2, with eye/blink tracking, real-time shadows, and 3D audio surely immersing players. Whether this all plays as well as it’s advertised to, however, remains to be seen. What also remains to be seen is the substance of the game- and how much longevity it can really have other than being an impressive tech demo.
Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue
The newest Hello Neighbour looks to be more Hello Neighbour. In this co-op iteration of the stealth-adventure series, you are tasked with entering your creepy neighbor’s house and finding your abducted friend. With the uncanny design of the neighbor, hopefully, the VR headset will increase the fear experienced by a group of friends rather than being a let-down like so many of the other series’ projects have been thus far.
Jurassic World Aftermath Collection
With no trailer debuting, little is known about this Jurrasic World VR title. What we do know is that it will be co-op with up to two players and will allow you to explore an abandoned facility overrun with dinosaurs. Whether this will be more scary or campy remains to be seen, but the acting talent of Laura Bailey and Jeff Goldblum has already been confirmed, so hopefully, it can do the Jurrasic Park series some terrifying justice in VR.
Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip is a port of the already popular action rhythm game found on the Oculus Quest. Now, though, players will be able to play an ‘enhanced’ version with the PSVR 2. With 3D audio and enhanced features only possible with Playstation’s own headset (such as haptic feedback and finger touch detection), this may very well be the best way to play one of VR’s best offerings yet. Along with this, the better performance that the PSVR2 offers will likely be enough to draw back existing fans to the fast-paced shooter.
Zenith: The Last City
Another already-released VR title is Zenith: The Last City. As a fantasy open world that you can play with friends, the player base of one of the most ambitious VR creations is about to be increased even more with the PSVR2. Promising new characters and graphic overhauls, this is also looking to be the definitive version of the adventure. Faster loading speeds and the (yet again) promised headset feedback are indeed great additions, but hopefully, the VR2 won’t rely on ports to beef up its library- especially with its high £529.99 price tag.
After The Fall
Looking like a mix between The Division and Metro: Exodus, After the Fall is a co-op experience that pits you against mutant monsters while exploring a (nearly) abandoned city. The most impressive aspect of this is the 32-player multiplayer that will see players amassing a small army to battle back hordes. Whether the balancing will mean these crowds will be optional or necessary is a good question, and it may mean that solo players will have to take a more stealthy approach to stay alive in the frozen wasteland.
Tentacular
Looking like the closest thing to an Octodad spiritual successor we’re ever going to get, Tentacular pits you as a giant Octopus with a good heart but, well, very large appendages. Solving puzzles and helping the inhabitants of a small island contain the main meat of this experience- and with the ability to interact with characters through eye-tracking, this looks to be quite the inventive romp. If you’re not feeling social, you always have the option to just smack everyone with your tentacles. Either way, this looks like a great step in the right direction for VR.
Overall, the PSVR2’s offerings are certainly vast, but with the lack of too much variation in the genres and failure to innovate too much, it may not be enough. The price tag of £529.99 has not yet been justified- and with the release date of February 22nd quickly approaching, it’s hard to see a huge initial market for this already very niche product.
