September 2021

FitXR is adding new seated workout classes to its release schedule for the rest of the year, with the aim of making VR workouts more accessible for those who may not be able to complete the standing portions of the exercises.

Currently, all classes in the Box Studio provide a seated option, which removes the squat feature. However, these new seated classes aim to expand accessibility options by providing seated classes in the HIIT and Dance studios, which FitXR hopes will “enable users with varying degrees of mobility to enjoy fun, engaging workouts.”

The six classes will gradually release from now through to November, and FitXR says it will continue to add more seated content “on a regular basis” in the future. Here’s a summary of the release schedule for the accessible seated classes over the next few months:

– September 26: Brain Boost (Seated, HIIT Studio, Beginner, Electronic, 9 minutes)

– October 3: Out of Breath (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Electronic, 14 minutes)

– October 15:  Upper Body Sweat (Seated, Dance Studio, Beginner, Pop, 10 minutes)

– October 21 : Short & Sweaty (Seated, HIIT Studio, Beginner, Rock, 9 minutes)

– October 31: Rock It Out (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Rock, 11 minutes)

– November 7: Burnin’ Up (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Electronic, 12 minutes)

These new classes come off the back of some big new additions and changes to FitXR over the last year. In April, the app switched to a subscription pricing model, while also adding real-time multiplayer and HIIT workouts (which, as listed above, are now being adapted into seated variations). In July, FitXR partnered with record labels to bring some big name artists, like Calvin Harris and Tiesto, to your virtual workouts.

FitXR is available now for Oculus Quest headsets via the Oculus Store. To learn more about designing VR workouts, check out our interview from August with FitXR’s Head of Fitness Ianthe Mellors.



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Tokyo Game Show

The four days Tokyo Game Show 2021 (TGS) has begun today and for the first time ever you can attend virtually! If you’ve ever wanted to attend the annual event but never managed to make it to Japan then now’s the ideal time, as you can step into a fully digital event, for free, in virtual reality (VR). VRFocus has spent a bit of time wandering the halls to see what’s what, giving you the rundown on this definitive slice of Japanese gaming culture.

Tokyo Game Show VR

How to enjoy TGS 2021

First up, TGS VR 2021 isn’t solely in VR, you can enjoy it for PC or Mac on a flat panel screen. Of course, the best way is to grab a compatible headset for the most immersive experience. It’s also very eye-catching as Japanese aesthetics tend to be but seeing a giant Gundam statue looming above you definitely adds some impact to the entire show.

The easiest way to dive into this technicoloured universe is with an Oculus Quest/Quest 2, downloading the software directly from App Lab. Once installed all you have to do is register by selecting a username – that can’t be changed afterwards – waiting a few minutes for the app to load up then you can freely wander to your heart’s content.

If you’re on a PC VR headset like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive then it’s a case of downloading the software from the official website, installing and going through the same registration process.

Here are the recommended PC specs if you need them:

  • OS: Windows 10
  • CPU: Core i5-7500 equivalent or better
  • Memory: 8GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060 equivalent or better
  • Storage: At least 10GB of available space

And that’s it, you can now enjoy all that the show has to offer, which is surprisingly a fair amount until Sunday 3rd October.

Tokyo Game Show VR map

What’s there to see and do?

Quite a few companies actually signed up for this virtual version with booths from Bandai Namco, Fignny, GungHo Online Entertainment, Koei Tecmo, Konami, Level-5, MyDearest Inc, Survios and SEGA/ATLUS. They’re split across three main areas surrounding a central hub, each themed slightly differently.

Due to the constraints of the platform stepping into this VR world you’re not suddenly going to be confronted by hordes of people. Only 12 people are allowed in a channel, so if one is full you can move to another or even join friends using the channel ID system.

Once inside you’re taken through a few basic tutorials where you can select smooth locomotion or teleportation. You’ll also get your first glimpse at your robotic avatar that can be customised with a variety of colours and t-shirts. In fact, that’s one of the main ways the event has gamified the experience, going to booths and watching trailers unlocks more “crystals” to swap out (84 in total to collect). These tend to be videogame logos or in some instances characters.

Tokyo Game Show VR - Capcom

Most of the booths are trailers for upcoming titles but there are three special events that go a little bigger and bolder, the Attack on Titan 360-degree content stood out the most.

Plus, like all good videogame shows, there’s always merch to buy. There are two official stores mainly selling t-shirts, taking you to an external browser link if you want to purchase. Actually, quite a few screenshots will take you out of the VR experience and to their official website so you can find more information.

Naturally, the team behind the whole TGS VR experience, ambr Inc. went all out to create this maritime fortress called Game Float which the event is held within. It’s entirely built using a customisable platform called “xambr” which itself was created for corporations to create their own metaverses, hence why it was a good fit for TGS 2021.

Considering it’s free and some of the dire shows that have tried to offer an online experience, Tokyo Game Show VR 2021 has been one of the best examples so far. So do give it a little look.



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Walkabout Mini Golf

Walkabout Mini Golf has become one of the highest-rated titles on the Oculus Quest store and the videogames’ recent release on Steam is doing just as well. Today, developer Might Coconut has announced the launch of Walkabout Mini Golf’s eighth course, a mixture of rocky terrain and lush green pastures, Quixote Valley.

Walkabout Mini Golf

The landscape and towering windmills also give a hint at what to expect from the course, some blustery conditions where the wind will alter the ball’s trajectory in some areas. That new wind mechanic should greatly increase the complexity of the course and give veteran players a proper challenge. Just like all the other courses, Quixote Valley will feature a full 18-holes to complete as well as a new custom club and, of course, many lost balls to try and find.

Quixote Valley joins the likes of Bogey’s Bonanza, the previous course addition which was released in June. This has a Frontier aesthetic with skulls on the course and dramatic sunset lighting.

If you’ve not played Walkabout Mini Golf just yet it’s currently available for Oculus Quest and Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. With solo and multiplayer modes, you’re able to create a quick online match or create a private room for you and four mates for a bit of friendly competition. After you’ve putted your way through all the standard courses you can ramp up the difficulty by activating Night Mode.

Walkabout Mini Golf

When you’re not playing golf you can always hunt down those hidden lost balls or literally fly around the courses, great for admiring the view or for learning their hidden secrets.

See Quixote Valley in all its green splendour in the trailer below and for further updates keep reading VRFocus.



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Larcenauts’ big new update, The Zarius Heist, is here and with it are the first details about the new character class, map and game mode.

Check out the trailer for the content below.

The free update adds Imperia, a new ranger class specialist. She’ll bring that most trusty of VR weapons, the bow and arrow, to the game and adds some healing elements too. Her Parasphere Field ability, for example, turns damage dealt into health for nearby allies, while Dyna Burst turns her temporarily invulnerable with rapid healing. Finally, the Animax Grenade causes area damage and spanws exploding soul wisps upon contact.

The new map, meanwhile, is called Thunderhead and is set in a remote citadel. It’s filled with ups and downs that focus on both long-range and close-quarters encounters. Paired with Thunderhead is the new Heist mode.

Overall this is a meaty update for the hero shooter, which we think is one of the best new multiplayer games this year. “These are definite thorns in the game’s side, but there’s a texture and depth to its fast-paced matches that ultimately outshines those shortcomings,” we said in our review, giving the game a ‘Great’ rating. “Larcenauts may not be as accessible as Population: One or as heavily VR-focused as Onward, but that richness makes it easily one of the platform’s most enjoyable multiplayer shooters yet.”

The Zarius Heist completes Larcenaut’s near-term roadmap and Impulse Gear hasn’t hinted at what comes next. We’ll bring you the latest on the game as we get it.



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Surprise! Promising Oculus Quest boardgame app, Neverboard, is out now.

Developer Evernever Games surprise launched the title as part of this week’s Quest store drop. It’s a free-to-play experience that lets you download, jump in and play a version of Crazy 8s with up to three friends completely free of charge. Players use the older Oculus avatars system.

More games are available as in-app purchases, however. Check out the trailer below.

The concept is certainly promising and we’ve seen what VR can do for tabletop experiences with games like Demeo, though Neverboard will live and die by the quality and value of the board games on offer. Currently available games include Four Letter Word, Treasure and Odd One Out, but there’s what looks like a trivia game coming soon and Evernever also says it’s reaching out to other game makers that may feel their games are a good fit for the platform.

The app is an Oculus Quest exclusive, with no announced plans for other headsets at this point in time. The concept reminds us of Oculus Rooms, the social VR experience that featured takes on Boggle and others, but never made it off of Gear VR and Oculus Go.

Will you be trying out Neverboard? Let us know in the comments below!



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Walkabout Mini Golf adds a new course today called Quixote Valley, available on all supported platforms in a free update.

The course is the game’s eighth, with both a day and night mode available. As you can see from the screenshots and teaser trailer, Quixote Valley is set among a rocky cluster of quaint windmills, a classic staple of most real life mini golf course. In Quixote Valley, you won’t just be dealing with one or two flimsy windmills though — there’s a whole fleet of them to contend with here.

walkabout mini golf quixote valley course

However, the new map also brings with it some appropriate new mechanics. You can’t have windmills without wind, so you can expect to face a bit more resistance from the forces of nature on this map, thanks to the new wind mechanics.  In select areas of the new map, players will now have to account for wind potentially affecting the trajectory of the ball when lining up their shot.

Walkabout Mini Golf started its life as a mobile game, before being ported over to Oculus Quest for release in late 2020. A SteamVR release followed this year in July, with support for cross-platform play. Starting with just four courses at launch, this latest content update rounds out the selection to eight maps, with normal and hard variations for each.

walkabout mini golf quixote valley course

Back in July, Lucas Martell, lead developer of Walkabout Mini Golf, told us that Quixote Valley would be the last course added to the base game as a free update. Future maps will arrive in small DLC packages, the first of which will includes three courses and is already being worked on.

The Quixote Valley update is available now for Walkabout Mini Golf on Oculus Quest and PC VR via Steam.



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A new seasonal game mode featuring wild west gunslinger gameplay is now available in Blaston. The new mode celebrates the game’s first birthday, alongside a free weekend promotion and discounted price on Steam for PC VR players.

The Quick Draw update will be one of the bigger ones since the Crackdown update, which added a single-player campaign a few months ago. By contrast, this update adds in a new multiplayer game mode that dials the action back a bit and focuses on a cowboy-themed showdown in a dusty desert terrain.

As you can see in the embedded trailer, you’ll be equipped with only one weapon, the Deadringer, with a special skin made especially for the game mode. The weapon will spawn in front of you, just like weapons normally do in Blaston, except in Quick Draw mode it’s all about who can grab and shoot the opponent fastest.

“The initial idea for Blaston was a western-style shootout,” said Resolution Games CEO and Co-Founder Tommy Palm in a prepared statement. “So being able to include a nod to that in the game while also appealing to a new and broader audience is really fun.”

In addition to the new mode, there will also be new in-game event challenges on weekends, running throughout the seasonal Quick Draw event and starting from October 8.

The free weekend promotion is available on Steam only, so you’ll need a SteamVR-supported headset to take part. For those on Oculus Quest, there’s no free weekend for the native Quest store version, but you will be able to try the title out on Steam through Oculus Link or Air Link if you have a VR-ready PC. The free weekend runs until 10am PT on Monday.

If you give Blaston a try and like what you find, you’ll also be able to take advantage of a limited ‘Weekend Deal’ on Steam, which sees the game reduced by 30% until October 6 at 10am PST. Plus, anyone that logs into Blaston during the sale period will receive $5 worth of blasts (Blaston’s in-game currency) for free, which you can use to purchase cosmetic, avatars and weapon skins.

The Blaston Quick Draw update is available now across all platforms, and the Blaston free weekend is available now on Steam for compatible VR headsets until October 4, 10am PST,



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Blaston

It has been a whole year since Resolution Games released duelling shooter Blaston, pitting players against one another in slow-mo shootouts. To celebrate the anniversary, the studio has released a new update, is giving away some in-game coinage and even opening up the videogame for a free weekend of mayhem over on Steam.

Blaston

First up is the new “Quick Draw” seasonal game mode that launches today and runs through until later this year. With a Wild West theme, the free update takes players out of the ranked arena and into the dusty terrain of Greatstone Valley for an old-fashioned showdown. As you might expect, this mode is all about being quick on the trigger as you’re only equipped with the new Deadringer gun.

As part of the update, you’ll also have the chance to participate in in-game event challenges that take place on weekends starting 8th October.

And there’s more! Resolution Games is giving away a “Fistful of Blasts”, a one-time free $5 USD worth of blasts to spend on cosmetics like avatar and weapon skins. All you need to do is log in between, 30th September at 10 am PST to 6th October at 10 am PST. That time frame also offers new players the chance to purchase Blaston for 30% off the regular $9.99 price as part of Steam’s weekend deal.

Blaston

If you are new to Blaston you’ll also want to make use of the free Steam weekend where you can play Blaston until 4th October without paying a penny.

“This update to Blaston is a great testament to how far the game has evolved since it launched,” explained Tommy Palm, CEO and co-founder of Resolution Games. “The initial idea for Blaston was a western-style shootout, so being able to include a nod to that in the game while also appealing to a new and broader audience is really fun.”

VRFocus said in its review: “Blaston is another one of the great examples that can only be made in VR and a perfect fit for Oculus Quest. The fast and furious gameplay is instantaneous, grab a gun and shoot it, with the real enjoyment coming from dodging all over the place.”

For continued updates from Resolution Games, keep reading VRFocus.



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Nreal just announced Nreal Air, smartglasses for viewing media on a head-locked screen.

The company’s current product Nreal Light are the only pair of true AR glasses available to consumers – though only in Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea. Light is priced between $750 and $1000 depending on the market. Onboard cameras enable virtual objects positioned in the real world and you can pin virtual floating screens in place. Last year it got support for hand tracking input.

Nreal Air is a very different product. It doesn’t have any cameras so doesn’t have positional tracking or hand tracking, and it doesn’t have rotational tracking either. It’s effectively just a large floating screen locked to your head. Nreal says this allows it to be “a fraction of the price”, and Nreal Light will continue to be sold as the company’s true AR product at its higher pricepoint.

At 77 grams Nreal Air is 27% lighter than Nreal Light, only around twice a thick pair of sunglasses. An OLED microdisplay offers higher resolution and increases the refresh rate to 90 Hz.

The field of view is 46 degrees diagonal, which equates to a 130 inch screen at 4 meters.

nreal air close up

As with Light, Nreal Air is tethered, powered by your phone via a cable. But while Light only supports a specific list of flagship Android phones, Nreal Air mirrors your iPhone screen or “almost any” Android. That means you can view your existing media apps such as YouTube and Twitch on a massive virtual screen – though again it will be locked to your head.

Nreal Air will ship in November to Japan, South Korea, and China.



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Anotherway and Vertigo Games today revealed the full Unplugged tracklist, confirming a host of new songs for the upcoming VR rhythm game.

You can see the full tracklist below, which adds artists like The Clash, Rush, T. Rex and Tenacious D to the game. Previously we knew that The Offspring, Weezer and Ozzy Osbourne would all appear, along with some smaller, lesser-known bands like Bumblefoot and Freak Kitchen.

Full Unplugged Tracklist Revealed

Unplugged Tracklist

Notable tracks from the full 23-strong tracklist include Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash, Roadie by Tenacious D, Spirit In The Sky by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hate To Say I Told You So by The Hives. Steel Panther’s Eye Of The Panther is also included, which is fitting given that the band’s guitarist, Satchel, serves as your virtual mentor in the campaign.

Unplugged is played entirely using hand-tracking technology. That means you don’t hold a real or plastic guitar but instead air guitar your way through the game’s songs. Aside from the lack of a peripheral the game works pretty much like Guitar Hero, getting you to match colored notes to the corresponding fingers as they stream towards you. We were skeptical that the hand-tracking on Oculus Quest could keep up with the game but came away cautiously optimistic from our first hands-on session.

Unplugged launches on Oculus Quest on October 21. It’s also coming to PC VR headsets with finger-tracking capabilities (including the Valve Index controllers) later on. Check back later today for a video Q&A with Vertigo Games producer, Marcus Henderson, live from our weekly Gamescast.



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Nreal Air

While Facebook’s first foray into smart glasses tech, Ray-Ban Stories, was putting a camera and speakers in sunglasses, companies like Nreal have already been outfitting their’s with augmented reality (AR) features. Nreal Light launched back in 2019, today seeing the next iteration coming to light in the form of Nreal Air.

Nreal Air

Just like its predecessor, Nreal Air is a smartphone tethered pair of AR sunglasses, enabling you to watch videos or play games on a giant virtual screen. This time, though, Nreal has managed to make the Air smaller, lighter and much more stylish than before – although the only images released so far are renders.

The company says that Nreal Air weighs in at 77g – Nreal Light was a chunkier 106g – and is capable of projecting a 130-inch virtual display at 3 meters or a whopping 201-inch display at a virtual six meters. This is thanks to a micro-OLED chip that can support a claimed 49 Pixels Per Degree (PPD) at its maximum. And to make sure the experience is nice and smooth it all runs at a 90Hz refresh rate.

That weight reduction works in conjunction with several other features to ensure the Nreal Air is comfortable to wear. An adjustable 3-Step Rake System gives you the option to adjust the viewing angle by tilting the lens, whilst the elastic temples hug the head so the glasses don’t suddenly slip.

Nreal Air

One of the most important additions in terms of compatibility and customer reach is that Neal Air will not only support most Android devices but Apple iOS products as well, beating Apple’s own AR headset plans.

“Consumers today are seeking lighter, but longer-lasting AR glasses exclusively for streaming media and working from home. For instance, in Korea we’ve found that 78% of our users use Nreal Light to watch streaming content,” said Chi Xu, Founder of Nreal in a statement. “Nreal Air builds on our Nreal Light offering and furthers our mission to spread AR globally. With Nreal Air, we’ve zeroed in on the perks of a portable movie theatre and condensed this into lightweight AR sunglasses with a zero-footprint display, while making it affordable.”

When it comes to getting hold of an Nreal Air the process is going to be similar to the Nreal Light. Nreal Air will initially launch in Japan, China and South Korea during December, available through telecom companies. The rest of the world will have to wait until 2022. No Price has been revealed although Nreal has said the new glasses: “will retail at a fraction of the price of Nreal Light,” which retailed for around $586 USD.

Depending on where you live you might be waiting quite a while to purchase an Nreal Air. Outside of its home Asian markets the Nreal Light only came to Europe via Vodafone, and that was only in Germany and Spain. As further details on these new AR sunglasses are released, VRFocus will let you know.



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Facebook Horizon Workrooms added support for Apple’s M1 Mac computers, which should allow users to bring the latest Macbook Pro, Air and Mac Mini models into Workrooms via remote desktop software.

Facebook launched Horizon Workrooms last month, allowing Quest 2 users to work and collaborate remotely with other users in a virtual boardroom. The app supports bringing your computer into VR via remote desktop software installed on your PC or Mac, which streams your desktop view to a virtual screen at your seat in Workrooms. You can control your computer either via a cut-out of the passthrough view displaying your desk or with a tracked keyboard represented virtually on your Workrooms desk, available for select supported models.

The Oculus Remote Desktop software required for Workrooms integration launched with support for Windows and Mac computers, but did not support the latest line of Macs using Apple’s new M1 chip. This new line of Macbook Pro, Air and Mac Mini features custom silicon designed by Apple, which has underlying architectural differences from previous models.

oculus facebook workrooms m1 mac

Previously, Facebook said M1 support was being worked on and should arrive within a month or so. Now, the update is available and allows M1 Macs to be used in Facebook Workrooms via remote desktop with ease. The software download page confirms the update, encouraging M1 users experiencing difficulty running or install Oculus Remote Desktop to redownload the software and try again with the new version.

We tested out Oculus Remote Desktop on an M1 Macbook Pro earlier today and can confirm that installation went smoothly and the computer appeared in Workrooms with no hiccups. The Macbook Pro and Air keyboards can also be tracked natively by the Quest, allowing you to use a virtual representation of your keyboard in VR that matches your laptop keyboard’s position in real life.

You can read more about Workrooms here and download the Oculus Remote Desktop software here.



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Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

What a week it has been for Oculus Quest 2 owners. Monday saw a release date confirmed for Resident Evil 4 and today EA and Respawn Entertainment have dropped a big surprise announcement. WW2 shooter Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond will be hitting the standalone headset at some point this year.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

Previously only playable on a decent PC for headsets like Oculus Rift and Valve Index, you could utilise Oculus Link if you really wanted to play Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond on Quest. Soon that setup will no longer be required as they’ve managed to squeeze all that content onto the headset. That’s quite the achievement considering when the videogame launched you needed a minimum of 180GB space for the install, way too much for either the older or newer base models.

There’s no info regarding how much space Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond will actually take up but it’ll include the full single-player campaign, multiplayer, and The Gallery with its collection of documentaries. So you may need to make some space just in case.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond’s campaign takes you across European battlefields over land, sea and in the air as you take on the role of an OSS officer during World War II. Working with the French Resistance to sabotage the Nazi’s, levels will see you infiltrate a U-boat to blow it up, finding yourself on the beaches of Normandy and taking down enemy aircraft.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

Once all that’s done you can head to the multiplayer that’s split across five gameplay modes, and ten maps, all of which support 12 player matches involving both human and AI opponents. From classic modes like Team Deathmatch to Mad Bomber where you have to secretly plant explosives to score big points, there’s plenty of gameplay available.

At the moment Respawn Entertainment hasn’t confirmed a price or specific release date for Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. There’s been no mention of the original Oculus Quest either, so it looks like it’ll be Quest 2 only. VRFocus will continue its coverage of the launch, reporting back with further updates.



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Facebook and developer Respawn today confirmed that the previously PC-exclusive VR shooter, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, is coming to Oculus Quest 2 this year.

The news was announced over on the Oculus blog with a new trailer you can see below. This version of the game will feature both the full single-player campaign and the multiplayer modes that debuted in last year’s release. The blog notes that this content has been “carefully reworked to fit (and run) on any Quest 2.” Facebook had previously said it would try to port the game to Quest, but wouldn’t make any promises it would actually happen.

Medal of Honor Oculus Quest 2 Confirmed

And, yes, the standalone version is another full Quest 2 exclusive that will not launch on the original Quest. Facebook confirmed as much to UploadVR. There is precedent for this – the upcoming Resident Evil 4 VR will be a full Quest 2 exclusive when it launches on October 21.

Other details, including a release date, will be revealed “in the very near future.” Facebook is holding its annual Connect developer conference at the end of October, so it’s possible we hear more there.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond was first teased years ago before Respawn brought the full experience to both Oculus Rift and SteamVR in 2021. The game was the first entry in the series in years and took the franchise back to its original WW2 setting. We liked it when we reviewed it last year, though noted some pacing problems. “Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond can be both frustrating and captivating at the exact same time,” we said, giving the game a ‘Good’ rating, “but underneath it all is a fun and engaging VR shooter that nails several facets of being a successful AAA game.”

Will you be picking up Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond on Oculus Quest 2? Let us know in the comments below!

 



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Pavlov‘s v26 update on PC VR has made some changes across the game and added a new map that was originally created by a member of the game’s community.

The new map, Industry, started its life as an unofficial community creation by mapper Voxie. It’s got a corporate look to it, as it’s set inside the offices of a fictional security firm, Infinitum Military Solutions. It became a fan favorite and so Pavlov’s developers have worked with Voxie to recreate the map and bring it into the game officially on PC VR.

Besides the new map, a few changes have been made to the game’s visual and audio assets, as well as some balance and gameplay changes. The NATO and Russian players models have been visually updated, which should improve team clarity and general performance. All of the weapon sounds in the game have been remastered as well, which should provide more “heavy impact” effects and greater reverb when outdoors.

Likewise, visual explosion effects have been added or altered for items like grenades, bombs and flashbangs. The game’s offline shooting range has also been rebuilt in this update, which should improve performance and provide players with easy access to other areas for offline play, available directly from the shooting range.

In terms of gameplay, players are now only able to buy one frag grenade at a time during the pre-round, to reduce grenade spam. There are also new limits to smokes, flashbangs and other utility items. A new shotgun is now available — the Trench Gun — and some historical scopes and bolt slap mechanics have been added to select weapons.

The developers also outlined plans to move to a faction-based weapon set in a future update, which they say will effectively limit what weapons are available to players depending on what team they’re on. “One team will have the AK available, and the other will have M4, and so on,” says the update post on Steam. “Some weapons will be shared between teams, of course, such as the Deagle.” These specific faction-based changes aren’t in effect yet, but will be made in a future update as part of a larger effort to revamp the buy menu.

New game modes are also in the works, such as a Push game mode, and can be tested now by switching over to the Steam beta build.

All of the above changes only apply to the PC VR version of Pavlov on Steam, which is released and developed separately from Pavlov Shack, the ‘lite’ version of the game available for Quest via App Lab.

You can read the full patch notes for Update 26 over on Steam.



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YouTuber Bradley Lynch found evidence of a Valve standalone VR headset in SteamVR driver files, and Ars Technica says its sources confirm its existence.

Valve Index, the company’s $999 tethered PC VR kit, has now been on the market for more than two years. It still has best-in-class tracking and audio quality but its display resolution is lower than both Facebook’s $299 Oculus Quest 2 and HTC’s Vive Pro 2.

The new headset is reportedly codenamed “Deckard”, the surname of Blade Runner’s protagonist and a possible reference to Steam Deck.

Lynch says the Deckard codename was present in a Lighthouse (Valve’s positional tracking technology) driver file and a SteamVR input driver. The input driver apparently added references to “Deckard POC-A” in January of this year and “Deckard POC-C” in June, with POC likely standing for Proof of Concept.

When asked last month by The Verge whether Steam Deck’s chip could be used in a standalone VR headset, product designer Greg Coomer replied it “would run well in that environment” and teased “it’s very relevant to us and our future plans”. However, in July Valve cautioned the chip’s performance isn’t intended for the extreme demands of VR.

Lynch found a “Standalone System Layer” option in the hidden ‘Valve Internal’ menu tab of SteamVR, as well as a Linux-only binary referencing Deckard which he says tells the device to boot to a default application. Remember that Steam Deck runs SteamOS, Valve’s distro of Linux. A further reference to “Dual Tracking Mode” suggests the headset could have inside-out tracking while optionally supporting Lighthouse.

In March Valve filed a patent for a head strap referencing a wireless VR headset. Lynch notes that a driver called VRLink was added to SteamVR this year with code referencing a WiFi 6 driver, and this update actually temporarily broke some HTC Vive wireless setups. These findings suggests Deckard could have PC VR streaming functionality similar to Facebook’s Oculus Air Link.

Ars Technica says its sources confirm Valve had at least two VR headset concepts in the works which diverged over time, with one requiring a PC and tracking base stations and the other (presumably Deckard) operating standalone with onboard compute like Oculus Quest. These sources also claim Valve initially struggled to get inside-out tracking to match Oculus Insight’s quality so brought in an outside firm for help.

Ars notes, however, that Valve has begun dedicating its manufacturing lines to the Steam Deck portable console, and doubts the company has the capacity to also produce a VR headset in the near term given the ongoing global chip shortage. Ars also notes Valve has a long history of varied internal prototyping and killing projects before they’re announced.

If Deckard really is a standalone headset Valve intends to ship as a product, it would provide much-needed competition for Facebook’s Oculus Quest line and could go head-to-head with the upcoming Quest Pro.



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The Living Remain

For those that just love shooting zombies in the face, there’s going to be another title you may want to add to that undead library of yours, The Living Remain. The work of indie team Five Finger Studios, The Living Remain is going to be a classic survival adventure filled with guns, gore and plenty of corpses by the looks of things.

The Living Remain

In The Living Remain “You are playing as Grant Montgomery, a former military soldier who has been separated from his family,” explains the synopsis. “Now he is searching for them in a post-apocalyptic world where pockets of remaining humans are surviving within protected compounds, while the undead roam freely.” You won’t be completely running around solo, as you find an ally in a group of survivors called Alex. She’ll help you navigate this new hostile world by staying in communication with you over the radio.

Everything else you have to do on your own as this is a single-player adventure. All the core ingredients are there, plenty of weapons from one-handed pistols to two-handed assault rifles and shotguns. Or you can go for the more personal approach with some tactical knife placement. All are designed to function and look as realistic as possible.

When it comes to realism in The Living Remain you’ll find that environments are fully interactive, so you can smash your way through glass barehanded or climb objects and buildings for an advantage when the horde comes stumbling in. There will also be puzzles to solve and crafting mechanics so you can scavenge items to craft ammo and upgrade your arsenal.

The Living Remain

“Our vision with The Living Remain was to create a VR game that incorporated ideas from some of our favourite genres of movies and videogames while creating an experience that we would want,” said Stephen and Pamela Marshall, co-founders of Five Finger Studios in a statement. “This meant taking on a project that felt much bigger than us, but that only motivated us to keep going. It meant so much to be able to create something from the ground up, and offer players a fun and immersive experience.”

Five Finger Studios has yet to confirm when The Living Remain will be released, just that it’ll support Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets. Take a look at the first trailer below and for further updates, keep reading VRFocus.



via Mint VR

We’ve got our first look at some of the virtual booths at Tokyo Game Show VR, which opens tonight, including Capcom, Sega and more.

The free event opens its doors at 5pm PT/8pm ET today (or September 30 at 1am BST/9am JST for Europe and Japan). The social experience has some of the biggest names in gaming onboard as well as a mix of VR developers too, and the official website now has the first images of some of the booths. Want to know how to attend? Check out our full guide to getting in. For now, though, let’s take a look at some of these booths.

Tokyo Game Show VR Booths Revealed

For starters, TGS VR will be divided into four main areas in a fictional setting called the ‘Game Float’. There’s a core area with a theater and then themed Wild, Digital and Urban areas. Here’s the map for the show.

Tokyo Game Show VR Map

And here’s a first look at that theater.

Tokyo Game Show VR Theater

Now onto the booths! Sega and Atlus have a shared booth that includes a 3D model of everyone’s favorite blue blur, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Tokyo Game Show VR Sega Atlas

Joining them in the Digital Area is famed RPG-maker, Level-5.

Tokyo Game Show VR Level-5

Over in the Urban Area, Japanese publishing giant Konami will feature some of its recent releases, like last week’s Castlevania Advance Collection.

Tokyo Game Show VR Konami

This is also where you’ll find MyDearest, the Japan-based VR developer behind the Tokyo Chronos series, including Altdeus and the recently-announced Dyschronia.

Tokyo Game Show VR MyDearest

The Wild Area, meanwhile, features a Monster Hunter-themed booth from Capcom.

Tokyo Game Show VR Capcom

Another VR developer, Survios, will also be showing off Puzzle Bobble VR at the event.

Tokyo Game Show VR Survios

Finally, there seems to be an interactive Attack on Titan VR experience at the show, and there’s a screenshot below.

Tokyo Game Show VR Attack On Titan

There are plenty of other companies coming to TGS VR, including Square Enix and Bandai Namco booths we’re yet to see. We’ll be bringing you a full report on the show as soon as we’ve stepped foot inside.



via Mint VR

Tokyo Game Show VR opens its doors later today. Well, open its virtual doors – this is the first time ever a portion of this year’s show will be in VR.

Yes, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, TGS is hosting the first-ever TGS VR, with companies like Konami, Capcom, Square Enix and more showing off traditional games at virtual booths. VR developers like MyDearest and Survios will also be in attendance. You’ll be able to head to a show floor to find 3D models of your favorite characters, watch new trailers and purchase merchandise. Wondering how to attend? Check out our full guide below for more info!

What Is Tokyo Game Show VR?

TGS VR is a virtual version of the event running on the newly launched xambr social VR platform from ambr. You’ll be able to attend on Oculus Quest, PC VR headsets, or just on a regular PC. Visitors will have their own avatar that you can customize and there will be several themed areas to visit.

Can I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR With Friends?

Yes, this is a social app with support for up to 12 people in a group. The app will feature an account registration system and you should be able to make and add friends after, though how this works isn’t yet clear.

What Companies Are At Tokyo Game Show VR?

Tokyo Game Show VR Konami

Quite a lot! TGS VR will have a mix of traditional and VR games companies. You’ll find booths from Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sega, Atlus, Famitsu, Level-5, Konami, MyDearest, Capcom, Koei Tecmo, GunHo Online, Survios and more.

Is Tokyo Game Show VR Free?

In short, yes! There are no admission fees for TGS VR. There are shops dotted around the floors to buy virtual merch, however.

When Does Tokyo Game Show VR Start And Finish?

Tokyo Game Show VR starts on September 29 at 5pm PT/8pm ET and September 30 at 1am BST/9am JST. It runs until October 3 at 10pm PT and October 4 at 1am ET/6am BST/2am JST.

How Do I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR On Oculus Quest?

Tokyo Game Show VR Capcom

On Oculus Quest you’ll need to download the dedicated Tokyo Game Show VR app on Oculus App Lab. It goes live at the same time doors open (see above), so there’s no link to it just yet but we’ll add it in when it launches. When you first launch the app you’ll need to register a user name and download additional info. Once that’s done, however, you should be able to log in and join the show!

How Do I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR On PC?

As with the Quest app, the PC VR version of the app goes live when doors open. We’ll have the link when it launches, but you can also grab it from here. Once it’s downloaded you’ll need to register, do an additional in-app download and then you should be free to join.

Note that this version of the experience is designed for the Oculus Rift, Quest via Link and HTC Vive headsets. It’s not clear if Windows MR or Valve Index devices will work just yet. Here’s the system requirements for the experience.

OS: Windows 10
CPU: Core i5-7500 equivalent or better
Memory: 8GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060 equivalent or better
Storage: At least 10GB of available space

Can I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR Without A Headset?

Yes. There’s a non-VR version of the app you can download from here (once doors are open). You can’t, however, attend TGS VR on a smartphone.


Are you attending Tokyo Game Show VR? What do you think of the experience? Let us know in the comments below!



via Mint VR

Camouflaj, the developers behind 2020’s PSVR exclusive Iron Man VR, are hiring a number of positions for a new AAA title.

There’s nine positions total, available over on the careers section of Camouflaj’s site, all of which describe roles working on “a new AAA project.” Some open positions include concept artists, gameplay engineers, animation leader and more. The listings don’t specify whether the AAA title is a VR title or just a traditional flatscreen game. However, many of the listings indicate that “experience with VR” or “experience working in the VR space” would be a bonus (albeit not a requirement).

Camouflaj’s focus has been on VR titles for a number of years now. Republique was their last non-VR title, released as an episodic stealth game for mobile devices and then ported and launched on GearVR, PC VR and PSVR. The team was also behind the PSVR-exclusive Iron Man VR — a game made in partnership and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Putting all these pieces of the puzzle together, it seems possible that Camouflaj is developing a new AAA title for PSVR 2. Sony confirmed PSVR 2 is on the way, even revealing the new controllers, but it won’t be releasing this year. UploadVR was also the first to reveal the specs of the new headset in May, featuring 2000×2040 pixels per eye with foveated rendering.

In July last year, Camouflaj founder Ryan Payton indicated the studio would be interested in a hypothetical sequel to Iron Man VR.

“Ultimately it’s up to how the game performs, it’s up to our partners over at PlayStation and Marvel,” he said. “But as developers we absolutely loved working on Marvel’s Iron Man VR and we would obviously be super interested to continue working on it.”

You can view all Camouflaj’s job openings here. We’re not expecting to hear anything new on PSVR 2 anytime soon, but in the meantime you can catch up on everything we know so far or read our review of Iron Man VR from last year.



via Mint VR

A recent blog post from NASA detailed various ways that VR and AR technology is used aboard the International Space Station and back on Earth to prepare astronauts for take-off.

According to NASA, VR/AR tech is becoming an increasing strong staple in life aboard the ISS, often used to help astronauts complete tasks or activities in new or easier ways. There’s nine examples in the full blog post, alongside some photos showing a few VR and AR headsets you’re probably familiar with.

The most common headset pictured in the blog post is the HoloLens, Microsoft’s enterprise-only AR headset. The HoloLens has been used in projects such as Sidekick, which used high-definition holograms to help show crew members 3D schematics and diagrams while they work. It was also used for T2 AR, a project that will help guide astronauts through maintenance tasks for their space station treadmill, avoiding the need for real-time communication with ground crew back on Earth.

It’s not all AR though — VR is also adopted across the ISS. Some astronauts are pictured using Oculus Quests to test whether adding VR environments might improve astronauts’ exercise bike experience, while others are pictured using Oculus Rift and other headsets for a variety of tasks like operating robotic arms or piloting space vehicles.

The post also mentions The ISS Experience, a multi-episode immersive VR series by Felix & Paul Studios and TIME Studios, filmed over multiple months aboard the ISS. NASA says the series  gives people on Earth insight into life aboard the ISS, along with potentially sparking ideas and inspiration for further research and improved conditions for astronauts. The series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program recently, and the first two out of four planned episodes are available now through the Space Explorers app for Oculus Quest and Rift.

You can read NASA’s full blog post, detailing all the ways they use VR and AR technology aboard the ISS, here. 



via Mint VR

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