Mint Virtual Reality

The Steam Summer Sale is back once more, and we're highlighting the best PC VR offers.

Steam Next Fest only finished a few days ago and already, the Steam Summer Sale 2023 is in full swing. With over 1,500 PC VR games on offer, it's usually the older PC VR games with the highest discounts and this time isn't any different. If you're interested in the Half-Life 2 VR mods, the Half-Life Complete bundle (excluding Alyx) is heavily discounted to $3.58 (94% off).

Several included PC VR games are also in the Summer Showcase Humble Bundle, like Saints and Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution, Pistol Whip and Green Hell VR. Starting from $12, our partnered bundle remains live until July 4. Otherwise, for those interested in the best Steam Summer Sale VR picks, these are our top choices:

• After The Fall - $14.99 (50% off)
• Amid Evil VR - $12.99 (68% off)
• Assetto Corsa Competizone - $11.99 (70% off)
• Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted - $14.99 (75% off)
• ForeVR Bowl and Pool - $9.99 (50% off each)
• Half-Life Alyx for $23.99 (60% off)
• Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin - $1.99 (90% off)
• Requisition VR - $13.49 (55% off)
• Subnautica - $9.89 (67% off)
• Star Wars: Squadrons - $5.99 (85% off)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR - $19.79 (67% off)
• Townsmen VR - $15.34 (70% off)
• Walkabout Mini Golf: Whole In One Bundle - $28.54 (40% off)
• Ultrawings 2 - $9.99 (50% off)
• Vertigo Remastered - $12.49 (50% off)

The Steam Summer Sale 2023 remains live until July 13, ending at 10am PT.

Mindset is the latest VR hand-tracking puzzle game, solving puzzles as you unravel mysteries of the past on Quest.

Created by Polish developer Carbon Studio, Mindset offers something different from other VR puzzle games, challenging you to solve cube-shaped puzzles. Placing rotating gears onto the cube with various adjustment options, this comes with a narrated three-chapter storyline and 'demanding Challenge Mode.' Revealed at the UploadVR Summer Showcase 2023, here's the announcement trailer:

Here's a description provided by Carbon Studio:

Its goal is to put the players’ intelligence, dexterity, and deduction skills to the ultimate test. Mindset is a combination of challenging logic puzzles, unique graphic layout, bizarre story taking place in the human subconscious, and plenty of mechanics based on motion, gravity, or general physics.

Mindset is available now for the Meta Quest platform. If you're curious to know more about hand-tracking games, check out our recommendations below:

Top 10 Best Quest 2 Hand Tracking Games & Apps - Summer 2023

Controller-free hand tracking is one of the biggest post-launch features added to Quest. With more and more experiences implementing support, we’ve narrowed down the best Quest 2 hand-tracking games so far. When the original Quest launched, the only input option was the Touch controllers. However,…

UploadVRHarry Baker

Update: This article was first published on June 14. It was updated and republished with a new headline, lede and minor edits on June 30 to reflect the game's release.

Pokémon Go developer Niantic is closing its Los Angeles Studio, laying off 230 employees while cancelling its NBA and Marvel AR games.

In an "organizational update" this week, Niantic CEO John Hanke said he's decided to "narrow our focus for mobile game investments." Citing a "very mature" mobile games market, he claims "only the best and most differentiated titles have a chance to succeed." As a result, Niantic's now closing its LA studio with 230 job losses and production is ending on Marvel: World of Heroes. NBA All-World, having only released back in January, will be sunset but no timeline was provided.

Detailing his reasoning, Hanke mentions a “tough market environment due to the overall global macroeconomic slowdown, as well as unique challenges in the mobile gaming and AR markets.” He also wrote that Niantic allowed "our expenses to grow faster than revenue" following a surge in profits during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hanke reaffirms Niantic's commitment to AR moving forward but he also discusses increasing focus on "building for the emerging class of MR devices and future AR glasses." He says Meta Quest Pro and the upcoming Apple Vision Pro validate AR's long-term importance with video passthrough, though he calls them "only an intermediate stepping stone to true outdoor AR devices."

As for future projects, Hanke calls Pokémon Go the company's top priority, which remains one of the App Store's most profitable games. He expresses cautious confidence in Pikmin Bloom, Peridot and the upcoming Monster Hunter Now's prospects, alongside continuing investments in their AR platform. That said, expect to hear fewer new game announcements in the future.

Little Cities' sandbox mode lets you sculpt your island with a new landscape editor, and that's available now on Quest.

Sandbox Update marks the latest post-launch content update for Little Cities, which follows hand tracking, the Snowy Island DLC, Attractions and Little Citizens. Joining a new random island generator, Sandbox lets you shape your island more directly. "Players can choose to tailor their experience with in-depth modifiers to set their own level of challenge or can opt for fuss-free creation with zero pressure or constraints," confirms nDreams in a press release.

Elaborating further, developer Purple Yonder also confirms it's added further Attractions, "oodles of fancy foliage," and new types of Little Citizens. “Sandbox has been a popular ask from the Little Cities community and we’re excited to see just how creative they get with their island designs,” says James Howard, co-founder of Purple Yonder in a prepared statement.

We had high praise in our recommended Little Cities review last year, praising its new take on the city simulator genre in VR:

Little Cities is an impressive effort from Purple Yonder and an accomplished city simulator. It effectively adapts the genre’s traditional mechanics into a distilled format that feels native and well considered for VR. The focus on immersive city design is the right approach, backed up by brilliant visuals and audio. The control scheme and UI fades into the background, as it should, leaving you to intuitively build your city without it ever getting in your way.

Little Cities is out now on the Meta Quest platform for $19.99. A Pico version is also available, though DLC and post-launch updates are currently unavailable for it.

Little Cities Review: A Distilled City Simulator That Puts VR First

Little Cities presents a new take on the city simulator genre, built from the ground up for VR. While it takes a more relaxed approach than traditional titles, the result is a concise, native VR game with a solid foundation and plenty of room to expand. Read on for our

UploadVRHarry Baker

The project to get PSVR 2 working as a PC VR headset got SteamVR output working by using extra hardware.

PSVR 2 already does technically work on PC, without any third party tools or drivers, but only in the "cinema mode" where it shows your monitor floating in front of you, and only on specific NVIDIA 20-series GPUs. On PC, this mode also lacks positional tracking.

iVRy, the developer of one of the third party SteamVR drivers for the original PlayStation VR, has been experimenting with PSVR 2 since they got access to the headset in late February.

The original PSVR was essentially an HDMI monitor with light strips tracked by a stereo webcam. PSVR 2, meanwhile, uses a single cable carrying both video and tracking data over USB-C, and iVRy has frequently publicly pointed out that getting it working as a PC VR headset will be significantly more challenging.

In recent months iVRy has publicly outlined the roadblocks and potential issues involved on their Twitter page, at some points even suggesting the project may have hit a dead end and the task may be impossible. But recently they have been experimenting with DisplayPort "sniffer" boards to attempt to discover the exact video input format PSVR 2 expects to go into VR mode - and this has led to a breakthrough, though with a major caveat.

Today, iVRy posted a screenshot purporting to show SteamVR on a PC outputting to a PSVR 2, at the headset's full 120Hz refresh rate.

However, the breakthrough here was to use extra hardware with custom software between the PSVR 2 and PC.

Sony has hardcoded PSVR 2's VR image output parameters into PlayStation 5, but the NVIDIA and AMD display drivers on PC don't have this information, and the headset only presents its cinema mode to them, according to iVRy. To work around this, iVRy programmed a Linux PC to act as a "man in the middle", presenting as a PSVR 2 in VR mode to the Windows PC's display drivers and providing the necessary DisplayPort parameters to output to it.

This approach gets PSVR 2 working on PC, but means similar hardware will be required by end users.

iVRy plans to attempt to program a Raspberry Pi Pico board to take the place of the current Linux PC setup, as a template for a potential adapter for end users. iVRy tells us they could provide the design for this adapter, but another company will need to actually mass manufacture it.

The other caveat is that there is no onboard tracking working at all here yet - neither rotational nor positional. iVRy tells us their findings so far suggest PSVR 2's tracking is probably fully handled onboard the headset, so it may be possible to access it at some point in the future. If iVRy is unable to ever access PSVR 2's onboard tracking though, users will have to use external methods such a SteamVR "Lighthouse" base stations and Vive Trackers.

So PSVR 2 can work as a PC VR headset now, technically. But not with tracking, and not without specific custom hardware that no company has yet announced an intention to mass produce. "Today was the first step", iVRy says.

Synapse is a fine roguelite shooter that makes you feel like a gun-wielding Jedi, though it could benefit from greater variety. Developed by nDreams exclusively for PSVR 2, read on for our full review:

First-person shooters in VR are a challenging field to stand out in when they remain so prolific, but Synapse makes an impression immediately. Sticking mainly to black-and-white visuals with a neon aesthetic, you are tasked with breaking into the mind of Colonel Peter Conrad (David Hayter), a former black ops leader now threatening armageddon. As a nameless soldier sent to these psychedelic frontlines, you’re assisted by Handler Clara Sorensen (Jennifer Hale).

After a brief introduction sequence, a short tutorial kicks off every new save, and Synapse feels easy to control. Moving with artificial locomotion, both hands can grip environmental objects to either climb or use them as cover. Your dominant hand is swappable but, by default, use your right controller for shooting and when the clip empties, push it back with the left hand to reload.

Dropped ammo is obtained by walking over it and pressing X lets you swap guns. There's no option for manual reloading, but this minimal fuss setup benefits Synapse's faster-paced action. Face your left palm upwards for a small minimap which highlights nearby enemies and your health.

Synapse features creative use of eye tracking for telekinetic (TK) abilities that are easily the game's highlight. Choose objects by looking at them, grabbing with the left trigger to then be thrown using motion controls. Holding explosive items requires a light press but a harder squeeze detonates them, so be careful, and the Sense controllers provide nice resistance.

It’s a highly intuitive system and TK powers soon became second nature. I previously believed throwing objects sometimes felt limp but, back then, I was unaware of the 'Open Mind' upgrade. This lets you move objects closer or further away through face buttons and add significant force to your throws, rectifying that concern.

Once you're ready to start, Synapse tasks you with gradually going deeper into Conrad’s mind. Split across nine levels between his preconscious, conscious and subconscious, he’s not giving you a free pass. "I can feel you... crawling around like a worm," he tells us with such venom, as he starts conjuring up enemies known as the Fallen.

That doesn't mean you're completely unsupported, though. Most levels are hiding health fountains, altars for upgrading weapons and enhancing your TK, or cradles of ‘Defiance’ that act as your currency. Defiance doesn't carry over into new runs and buys temporary upgrades or health/ammo replenishment, so there's no point hoarding it. After defeating every Fallen, Synapse ranks your clear time and a gateway to the next level appears but not before offering an upgrade, like increased explosion damage or restoring health with Defiance.

All useful assists but even then, don’t expect to clear Synapse in your first run; this is a game focused on replayability. You won’t reach the true ending until completing three runs, and only if you increase the difficulty each time. Still, you can unlock permanent upgrades thanks to ‘Revelations’ and these award points for hitting set goals, like killing 30 Fallen or beating two levels.

Points can then be spent in one of three skill trees. ‘Tactician’ focuses on TK, offering abilities like grabbing enemies or crushing grenades. ‘Assassin’ is all about gunplay and it's here where you unlock larger ammo reserves, higher caliber weapons like a grenade launcher and SMG, or a more powerful starting pistol. Finally, ‘Survivor’ looks to vitality for increasing your maximum health, get more healing from health fountains and even rising from the dead once or twice.

It’s a great way to customize your playthrough and Synapse opens up considerably with these new abilities. My personal favorite remains the “force grab” ability for throwing enemies with TK. Combined with Open Mind, I could pull enemies out of cover, draw them toward me and execute them with ease. Or throw them into the sea and lava, the latter being an instant kill. Judge me all you like but combat feels undeniably satisfying.

Runs usually require between 40-80 mins, which isn’t quick but if you need to stop, autosave means you can quit midway and finish that playthrough later. That said, I'd argue Synapse is better experienced across shorter sessions. As fun as it is, longer stints highlight the lacking variety for both levels and enemies and that can start feeling repetitive.

Each level uses the same stage in the same order every time. What changes is your starting location, available pathways, enemy spawn points and where the gate appears, and these never feel like major differences. Stages became familiar quickly, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I also found myself wanting more variety between Synapse's enemies.

The Fallen come in four types, starting with standard ground troopers before introducing a more explosive variant intent on charging you. Massive armored behemoths and flying units eventually join them, but I was hoping for more by the game's end. I found myself anticipating a boss fight that never came and Synapse's idea of a final challenge is to throw larger enemies waves at you, which is certainly challenging but not especially inspired.

These issues didn’t stop me from having a great time with Synapse and after reaching the true ending in 8 hours, I found myself wanting more. I wouldn’t call this a particularly story-driven game but strong performances from both David Hayter and Jennifer Hale kept me invested, while the stylish presentation gives Synapse a distinct identity.

Synapse Review - Final Verdict

Synapse is a strong addition to PlayStation VR2's library that any FPS fan should buy. While gameplay would benefit from greater variety, I remain impressed by how eye tracking complements combat to make telekinesis feel highly satisfying. Reaching the end feels rewarding and when the visuals look this good, early PSVR 2 adopters won't want to miss it.

UploadVR focuses on a label system for reviews, rather than a numeric score. Our reviews fall into one of four categories: Essential, Recommended, Avoid and reviews that we leave unlabeled. You can read more about our review guidelines here.

A voice actor's résumé may suggest Rockstar could be developing a new VR project.

First spotted across Reddit and Resetera, this highlighted the resume of actor Michael Ursu. Primarily a film actor, Ursu's credits also includes Wanderer VR, an unnamed Borderlands project, Silent Hill: Ascension and an 'Elton John VR Promo.' Under a VR section, his résumé previously mentioned an "Undisclosed Rockstar Game." However, that's since been removed after this entry was spotted.

Given the vast range of franchises Rockstar Games owns like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and Bully, it's hard to speculate what this upcoming project could be. Following 2017's LA Noire: The VR Case Files, HTC told UploadVR that Rockstar wasn’t ‘done’ with VR yet and, in 2020, Rockstar was hiring for a new "AAA open world title in VR."

Though this wouldn't fit the undisclosed criteria, we can't forget Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, either. While Mark Zuckerberg revealed the popular PS2-era game is coming to Quest 2 during Connect 2021, there's been no official updates from Meta since. All we've heard is VR Case Files developer Video Games Deluxe confirm that it's working on the San Andreas port.

Meta Quest+ is a new subscription service for VR games, available today from $7.99 monthly.

This isn't the first time we've heard about Meta's plans for a subscription service. Back in March, a hidden page appeared mentioning "Quest Pass" was spotted by a Twitter user. Similar to PlayStation Plus, this provides two VR games every month for Quest 2 and Quest Pro owners, with forward compatibility planned for Quest 3. Starting with Pistol Whip and Pixel Ripped 1995 for July, those will be replaced in August by Walkabout Mini Golf and Mothergunship: Forge.

"You get to keep each title as long as you’re a Meta Quest+ subscriber, so the value builds over time. And you can cancel at any time for maximum flexibility," says Meta. It also confirms that if you rejoin later on, "you’ll regain access to all of the titles from your original paid subscription period."

Meta Quest+ is out today directly through the Meta Quest store, An introductory offer is available for $1 until July 31, 2023, moving onto $7.99 a month afterwards and $59.99 annually.

Darksword: Battle Eternity promises a "white-knuckle" dark fantasy action RPG in VR, and it's out now on Quest.

Developed by South Korean studio Com2uS ROCA, Darksword: Battle Eternity marks the team's debut release. Featuring a story mode and multiplayer co-op, it tells the story of Blackwold, a fallen general that looks to free the world of the Twisted Corridors from Darksword's curse. Using hack-and-slash combat, you must exploit enemy weaknesses and craft better weapons by collecting material.

"Players can grab and hurl objects, freely use swords, shields, and bows with realistic articulation, and engage in various actions similar to real-life battles," says Com2uS ROCA in a press release, detailing the game's wider features. "Pursue glory at the top of global leaderboards, make your mark on history by collecting Achievements, and test your mettle against a unique multiplayer gauntlet where two players face immense odds."

Darksword: Battle Eternity is available now on the Meta Quest platform for $24.99. In a prepared statement, Hyun-seung Shin, CEO of Com2uS ROCA, confirms post-launch content is planned but no release window was provided.

As part of Meta and Microsoft's ongoing partnership, a public preview is taking place for Azure Remote Rendering on Quest 2 and Pro.

During Connect 2022 Meta and Microsoft revealed a partnership to run Windows on Quest via cloud streaming. Alongside productivity apps like the Microsoft Office suite, it was announced that Quest devices will support Microsoft Intune and Azure Active Directory, though the specifics weren't detailed. Now, Azure Remote Rendering support is getting a public preview.

Azure Remote Rendering (ARR) previously been used with mixed reality devices, including Microsoft HoloLens 2. It uses Azure's computing power to render complex models in the cloud, then streams them in real time to your device. On both Quest headsets ARR also includes passthrough support.

"With our new support for Quest 2 and Quest Pro, you can now easily integrate powerful Azure cloud rendering capabilities in these devices," says Microsoft. "We’ve added this feature in a way that doesn’t change how you use the service. Supporting the Quest 2 and Quest Pro has been one of the top feature requests from partners and developers."

For any developers interested in checking this out, here's the full documentation.

VR Skater: SL offers a standalone version of the skateboarding sim, and it's available now on Pico.

Developed by Deficit Games, VR Skater takes inspiration from professional street skateboarding championships. A Pico port was briefly mentioned during the recent Future Games Show and now publisher Perp Games confirms that the SL edition "was developed and designed from the ground up for standalone VR headsets."

It's currently unclear if VR Skater: SL will eventually appear on the Quest platform, though it would be surprising if this remains Pico exclusive. Aside from the upcoming Just Dance VR, the only major exclusive we've seen is Yupitergrad 2: The Lost Station. Released as a timed Pico exclusive in May, Quest, PC VR and Vive XR Elite versions will follow next month.

VR Skater: SL is available now on Pico Neo 3 Link and Pico 4, alongside PC VR via Steam Early Access. The PSVR 2 version arrives on July 21, and you can check out our recent preview below:

VR Skater On PSVR 2 Preview: Practice Makes Perfect

VR Skater arrives on PSVR 2 next month, and we went hands-on with a preview build. Here are our impressions:

UploadVRHenry Stockdale

Bigscreen Beyond is now in production, the company announced.

Beyond is an ultra-compact and ultra-light SteamVR headset designed to enable truly comfortable long duration PC-based VR sessions. The key drivers of its tiny size and light weight are the use of OLED microdisplays and the fact that each unit is customized for the buyer's face and eyes instead of being adjustable, based on an iPhone 3D face scan.

With production underway, Bigscreen has started emailing the first wave of US customers a link to perform their scan. Once it's completed the custom-built headset should ship in 1-4 months. Bigscreen is aiming to eventually get this gap down to 3-6 weeks.

Bigscreen Beyond Proves A Point About VR Headset Weight

How does Bigscreen Beyond hold up while watching an entire movie? It proves a point about VR headset weight.

UploadVRIan Hamilton

Beyond is priced at $1000 or from $32/month, but doesn't come with positional tracking or controllers out of the box. It uses the SteamVR tracking system, so you'll need at minimum one base station - and ideally at least two - alongside your own input devices such as Valve Index controllers.

UploadVR's Ian Hamilton tried out a Beyond pre-production prototype in April, writing that it was "such a striking difference to feel so little weight on your face while still feeling entirely transported to a virtual environment".

Earlier this month Bigscreen announced last minute improvements to the lenses, widening the field of view for most people, increasing the central angular resolution, improving the clarity and sweet spot, and reducing visual artifacts such as blur.

Bigscreen says after that announcement, and after Apple Vision Pro's unveiling, it saw a "massive increase" in preorders.

Bigscreen says the first wave of US preorders should ship in Q3, while international and subsequent US preorders will ship in Q4. It also says the Audio Strap accessory is still on track for Q4, and more details about it will be unveiled in August or September.

ForeVR Cornhole brings the lawn game to Steam next week, coinciding with a free-to-play revamp.

Following on from Pool and Bowl, ForeVR Games is bringing Cornhole to PC VR as previously announced. Released on Quest 2 last September, this adaptation sees players throwing bean bags onto a raised, angled board. Landing on the board scores one point, while throwing the bean bag into the hole earns three points. Cross-play functionality is also supported between PC VR and Quest.

Originally priced at $14.99, this free-to-play update provides 5 bags and 5 boards each free of charge. Additional customization and features can be unlocked for $9.99, while anyone that previously purchased Cornhole can access this bonus content for free. Additional "premium halls" are also available and, like before, you can expand your collection with 50 customizable bags and boards.

"The decision to make Cornhole free-to-play was a natural next step for us,” said Marcus Segal, ForeVR CEO and co-founder in a prepared statement.

ForeVR Cornhole is available next week on SteamVR, and it's available now on Quest.

Masterpiece X will use generative AI for a new "game-ready" 3D creation platform available on Quest 2 in early access.

Masterpiece Studio is launching Masterpiece X to develop "game-ready 3D" with a mesh alongside textures and animation. Pitched as compatible with Unity engine and "other popular apps," the store page stresses this platform is not for developers who want "to start from scratch".

Calling Masterpiece X a "3D remixing platform," you can start remixing existing models from a 'Community Library' to change their shape, style or how it moves, though importing or generating models isn't available just yet. Once done, you can then edit your 3D model and share with Masterpiece X's wider community.

The app is described as "exclusively" for the Quest platform. It's still in "early access" with a waitlist for the generative AI features. Masterpiece X is available now for free on Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro.

"Although we haven’t released details about the 'secret sauce' of how we train our AI, what we can say is that our machine learning is done in a socially and legally responsible way," a support page for the app explains. "None of our existing AI has been trained off of copyrighted 3D models."

Anyone who pre-orders Asgard's Wrath 2 will receive a free Quest home environment.

Yesterday saw the Quest v55 update added CPU & GPU clock speed increases on Quest 2 and Quest Pro, eye tracking improvements for the higher-end headset, and multi-touch gesture support in the Quest Browser. As detailed in the community forums, this also adds two new virtual home environments under the 'Personalization' tab in Settings. Alongside a free Futurescape environment, v55 introduces 'The Great Sand Sea' from Asgard's Wrath 2.

"The Great Sand Sea is a large, free roaming, living world that allows you to immerse yourself in the mysterious sands of a vast desert landscape in VR," says Meta in the forum post. Once pre-ordered, you can download this home environment immediately through the mobile app or directly inside your headset.

Revealed during the latest Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, Asgard's Wrath 2 is a direct sequel to the 2019 release, which we praised as an "an extraordinary accomplishment" in our review. Promising over "60 hours of exploration," you'll find yourself encountering the weavers of fate, who task you with stopping the infamous trickster god, Loki.

Asgard's Wrath 2 arrives in Winter 2023 for Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3. You can check out the developer walkthrough and our previous interview with Sanzaru Games to learn more.

Asgard’s Wrath 2: Meta’s Big AAA Bet On Quest 2 & Quest 3

AAA gaming on Quest 2 and Quest 3? Asgard’s Wrath 2 from Sanzaru clocks in “around 60 hours” later this year. Read our deep dive interview:

UploadVRIan Hamilton

Cosmic Smash makes for an unlikely reboot candidate but, two decades on, C-Smash VRS stylishly adapts this arcade classic for PSVR 2. Read on for our full review:

Ever since modern VR's early days, there's been a steady slate of Dreamcast adaptations. Rez Infinite set a high bar early on, later followed by Space Channel 5, and Samba De Amigo is based on the sequel. Then we have C-Smash VRS, which opts for a full remake. Arguably one of SEGA's most obscure games, I'm still surprised but personally thrilled that Cosmic Smash is getting a second chance.

Mixing Squash and Breakout with a first-person perspective, C-Smash VRS involves hitting colored pads across this space station. Call the ball toward you through a pulling motion, use your other controller as a racket, move left and right with the analog stick, and serve. It's an intuitive control system that feels effortless to learn and, though there isn't tremendous gameplay depth, that's key to C-Smash VRS' arcade-like charm.

Following a brief tutorial, C-Smash VRS opens up online multiplayer and a solo 'Journey.' The latter sets up a quick campaign across five planetary orbits with two difficulty options. Zen Mode lets you restart stages if you don't succeed, while failing in Challenge Mode means a complete restart. Choose one of several potential routes around this planet, each with different stages, and begin your journey.

Each stage primarily assesses your performance based on speed, ranking you from 'D' to 'A.' Your goal to hit every panel stays the same, but each stage presents different challenges. Some panels require multiple hits, while others move position or have special abilities, like destroying every panel in a horizontal line. Indestructible gray tiles often block your path, forcing a different approach. Like Squash, the ball bounces back toward you and play doesn’t stop until each tile is gone; there’s no penalty for missing shots beyond losing time.

C-Smash VRS effectively uses PSVR 2 haptics and hitting the ball adds a subtle controller vibration that complements the racket swing. Repeat hits slowly charge your 'Power Smash,' which comes in several forms during Journey. One ability lets you power through multiple panels simultaneously, while another holds the ball atop your racket for precise aiming. Adaptive triggers also create a satisfying resistance when activating this ability.

Jumping into stages or online matches feels straightforward, and the ranking system adds considerable replayability. Every time I got a C rank, I tried again to hit A rank. C-Smash VRS is well suited for quick play, helped by an appealingly colorful presentation and energetic retro-futuristic soundtrack. I quickly found my rhythm, and while I wasn't constantly moving my feet, the arm swinging had me sweating.

It's a simple, well-executed idea; my only gameplay gripes are minor. When pausing during Journey stages, the stage timer keeps ticking and there isn't a retry option for the stage when something's gone wrong. You have to wait for the timer to run out. I understand this not being in Challenge Mode, but Zen Mode is a different story. These are small issues but ones I would love to see addressed in future updates.

Regarding versus play, C-Smash VRS features four different multiplayer modes with decent variety. 'Head-to-Head" sees who can hit the most panels, 'Firewall' involves tagging and holding zones by switching them to accumulate points, and 'Bodyshot' uses narrow stages and you must directly hit your opponent. Finally, 'Quickshot' uses growing blocks and you score more points for hitting them when they're smaller. If no one's about, a training room appears to help pass the time while matchmaking occurs.

I previously said C-Smash VRS could be the multiplayer game PSVR 2 needs and after diving into the full release, I stand by that sentiment. I didn't have any matches organized pre-release, so I was lucky to find another player by pure chance. We spent considerable time going through all four multiplayer modes, leading into some competitive matches that quickly became a personal highlight.

C-Smash VRS Review - Final Verdict

RapidEyeMovers and Wolf & Wood have done Cosmic Smash justice with this VR reimagining and I found C-Smash VRS successfully tapping into that "one more game" mindset. While Journey isn't a long campaign and the arcade-style gameplay doesn't have significant depth, there's strength in its simplicity that makes it an easy recommendation. Boosted by a strong multiplayer component and a slick presentation, it's a fine addition to the PSVR 2 library.

UploadVR focuses on a label system for reviews, rather than a numeric score. Our reviews fall into one of four categories: Essential, Recommended, Avoid and reviews that we leave unlabeled. You can read more about our review guidelines here.

Hubris, Cyborn's VR action-adventure, brings the game's "definitive version" to PSVR 2 and Quest 2 today.

This original sci-fi adventure first appeared on PC VR in December. You play as a space marine, traversing this alien world to find a missing member of the OOO (Order of Objectivity) while taking down enemies. Cyborn previously revealed more about the PSVR 2 port alongside the release window, discussing haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, 3D audio and foveated rendering.

Cyborn claims they've adjusted the weight of your guns, letting them simulate "an impactful feel" that complements the adaptive triggers. Gun reloading and aiming are also revamped, new enemy variations have been introduced, while balancing has also been refined between difficulty settings. New voice-overs for Lucia, an adaptive soundtrack and "several bug fixes to enhance stability" are also included,

We enjoyed Hubris in our PC VR review last year. Though we enjoyed this action-adventure and highly praised its visuals, we criticized the enemy AI and lack of combat variety. Some of these issues were later addressed in Update 1.2.

The game shines in some areas, such the visuals and well thought out mechanics, but is average in others, like the combat and storyline. Beyond the eye candy, Hubris probably won’t leave a huge lasting impression, but it’s still a standard action-adventure shooter that’s enjoyable enough to keep you playing through to the end.

Hubris is available now on PC VR, PSVR 2 and Quest 2. Speaking to UploadVR, Cyborn advised the Steam version "might be updated next month," citing extensive testing required for compatibility with different headsets. DLSS implementation for RTX cards and "additional iimprovements" on PC VR are also promised.

Update: This article, originally published on April 30, was updated on June 22 to reflect the game's release on additional platforms and new information about the planned PC VR updates.

Ragnarock drops VR exclusivity with the Vikings on Tour update, available on Steam from June 22 alongside the new Sabaton Raid DLC.

Announced in April, Ragnarock developer WanadevStudio states this move happened because "enthusiastic feedback led us to explore the franchise and take the fun on other devices." A free update for existing owners, Vikings on Tour allows cross-platform races against 5 other people, optionally mixing VR and non-VR users. Leaderboards are automatically separated but can merged "with a simple checkbox."

That's not the only new addition for Wanadev's Viking-metal rhythm game. As seen in the UploadVR Summer Showcase 2023, joining Vikings on Tour is the Sabaton Raid DLC, adding 6 new tracks from the Swedish heavy metal band. Joined by a new environment, new longship and another pair of Canon hammers, here's the full tracklist:

• Resist and Bite (Levels 1/5/10)
• Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Levels 2/7/10)
• To Hell and Back (Levels 2/5/8)
• Night Witches (Levels 3/6/8)
• Steel Commanders (Levels 3/6/9)
• Stormtroopers (Levels 3/6/9)

Ragnarock is available now on Quest 2, PSVR 2, Steam, Viveport and Pico, while the Sabaton Raid DLC arrives tomorrow on June 22. That's joined by the free Vikings on Tour update, which is currently only available on Steam.

Ragnarock Hands-On: All Hail The Viking Drummer King

Ragnarock from France-based WanadevStudio combines a rocking Viking-metal song library with clever game mechanics for an incredible take on the rhythm genre in VR. The game debuted on Steam early access late last year and carries more than 1,000 reviews and an “overwhelmingly positive” rating, yet…

UploadVRIan Hamilton

Pico is collaborating with VR fitness app FitXR for a four-week challenge, beginning on July 3rd.

Following January's expansion with two new studios, FitXR left Meta Quest exclusivity in March after launching on both Pico Neo 3 Link and Pico 4. As part of a new VR fitness campaign, Pico users can claim a free 30-day trial and participants in this four-week challenge can track their progress to win prizes. That's based on "workout duration (measured in minutes) and FitXR in-app game score."

Registration is available now through the official website. While a FitXR subscription costs $9.99 monthly or $84 annually, signing up for this challenge offers a free 30-day trial.

Cards & Tankards introduced a Draft Mode through a free update, available today on Quest and PC VR.

Developed by Divergent Realities, Cards & Tankards is a free-to-play social collectible card game that takes place in a fantasy tavern. In a press release, the studio confirms that in this first major update since the full release, Draft Mode "allows players to compete against each other in drafting a deck of 40 cards," and there's over 160 cards available between four factions.

Detailing this further, Divergent Realities has also revamped animated cards by adding a golden border that offers a more distinctive look. Here's the official description:

With Cards & Tankards, you can experience a whole new level of social gaming in the world of strategy and adventure. Customize your character, build your deck, and enjoy endless hours of fun with your friends. Cards & Tankards is a game designed to unite people, whether for a friendly competition or just hanging out with friends.

Cards & Tankards is available now for the Meta Quest platform and PC VR via Steam.

A Hubris producer said Sony is working on reprojection improvements for PSVR 2.

Following a PC VR release last December, Hubris arrives on June 22 for Quest 2 and PSVR 2. To promote the upcoming launch, producer Koen Van den Steen fielded a Reddit AMA which covered foveated rendering, a future Steam update and more. During this AMA, Van den Steen then claimed that Sony is currently working on "future improvements to their reprojection system" for PSVR 2.

I think the [PlayStation VR2] will get better every update from now on, a good example will be future improvements to their reprojection system which they are working on right now.

In a separate reply, Van den Steen calls these improvements "an ongoing process" but doesn't believe this will be particularly noticeable in Hubris. "I think when you play our game and you [don't] know we are using [reprojection] you would barely notice it," he claims. That said, he says you can find it on certain things if you're actively looking.

Reprojection has been a contentious issue for PSVR 2 users since launching four months ago. While some games run in native 120Hz or 90Hz like Red Matter 2 and The Light Brigade, others like Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village use reprojection to artificially hit 120Hz output. However, this can create ghosting effects and affect motion sickness.

We've asked Sony for an official comment and will update this article if we learn more. For more details on reprojection, check out our previous PSVR 2 specs and technical analysis:

PSVR 2 Specs & Technical Analysis: Displays, Lenses, Reprojection, And More

PlayStation VR2 ships today. Here’s our technical analysis of it as VR hardware. PSVR 2 offers major upgrades over the original 2016 product. PSVR 1 required an array of cables connected to a breakout box and a PlayStation Camera, while PSVR 2 connects via a single USB-C cable and

UploadVRDavid Heaney

Steam Next Fest kicks off a new celebration this week featuring over 30 PC VR demos.

Steam Next Fest highlights upcoming games through various demos for the second time in 2023, following its last appearance in February. Encompassing all forms of PC gaming with nearly 1300 demos, there are 33 options available specifically for SteamVR.

Most games don’t have a confirmed release date beyond “coming soon” or later this year, and there are a few noticeable highlights. Davigo is a 4v1 “cross-reality” multiplayer game, Dungeon Full Dive aims to recreate Dungeons & Dragons 5e within a digital tabletop, Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye continues the story of robo-detective Philip Log and Jenny Montage, while Crumbling uses action figures in a comic-inspired hack ’n’ slash roguelike.

Steam Next Fest is now live until June 26 at 10am PT. You can check out the link to learn more and though there isn't a live demo for every game currently, here's the full list of PC VR titles.

• Alchem It
• Altered Algorithm
• Bandroll VR
• Border Patrol
• Box To The Beat VR
• Crumbling
• Davigo
• Dungeon Full Dive
• Drunk or Dead 2
• Inter Solar 83
• Jadoraki
• Jurassic Snap
• Magecosmos
• Mini Golf Aeons
• MonoRaceVR
• Mr Bear's Bizarre Adventure
• OVRLRD
• Pointy Ends
• Premortal VR
• Project Impulse
• Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye
• Sharks
• Solarblack
• Sollarion
• Stack
• System Critical 2
• Tea For God
• The Burst
• The Devourer: Hunted Souls
• Undead Development 2
• Unmanned: Midnight Nightmare
• Vetrix Worlds
• Wandering In Space Online VR

Looking for new VR games arriving in June 2023? We’ve got the full rundown.

May 2023 was an undeniably busy month for VR, offering a little something for everyone. Between Propagation: Paradise Hotel, Another Fisherman's Tale, Walkabout Mini Golf, Humanity, Rogue Ascent, Red Matter 2, Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue, Crimen - Mercenary Tales and Everslaught Invasion, we covered a lot through reviews.

That's before we get into the rest. On PSVR 2, Organ Quarter, Transformers Beyond Reality and PokerStars VR ports all launched less than 24 hours apart. Windlands officially appeared on Quest following a previous App Lab release, while Firmament, X8, Paranormal Hunter, Cosmodread, Yupitergrad 2: The Lost Station and Beat Saber on PSVR 2 rounded out May. Needless to say, it was a busy month and June's not looking any different.

With the Meta Gaming Showcase on June 1 and our own Upload VR Summer 2023 Showcase following later on, keep this page bookmarked for further updates. For now, here’s all the major upcoming VR games arriving on Meta Quest 2, PC VR, PSVR 2, Pico 4 and more in June 2023.

We Are One - June 1 (PC VR, Quest 2)

Mixing puzzles with room-scale FPS mechanics, We Are One comes from developer Flat Head Studio. Set across self-contained levels, your goal involves working together with your past selves to clear time travel-themed conundrums. You can check out our We Are One preview from Gamescom 2022, or try out the demo now on Steam, App Lab and SideQuest. Keep an eye out for our review later this week.

Killer Frequency - June 1 (Quest 2)

The first VR game from Team 17, Killer Frequency sees players embody a local radio host in 1980s America, helping a small town's citizens avoid a masked killer while keeping the radio alive. A PC release is also planned but that's flatscreen only, so Quest is your only VR option. We'll have a review coming later this week, so stay tuned.

Budget Cuts Ultimate - June 1 (PSVR 2, Quest 2)

Neat Corporation is merging Budget Cuts and Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency into "one seamless adventure." It's the first time we've seen the series on Quest 2 or PSVR 2 and while new content isn't the main focus, Budget Cuts Ultimate will include "some new stuff," alongside returning bonus content.

No More Rainbows - June 1 (PC VR, Quest)

Promising a VR mix of Super Meat Boy & Super Mario Bros, Squido's No More Rainbows is an adventure platformer that uses arm-based locomotion. Playing as The Beast, you find your moody home world turned into a blissful paradise and it's time to reclaim it. Alongside a campaign with nearly 30 levels, multiplayer is also supported.

Battle Talent - June 1 (Quest, PC VR)

Battle Talent is a roguelite fighting sim from Cydream. Set in a fantasy world, it promises a challenging physics-based fighter "designed to emphasize practicing muscle memory" over brute force with varied combat styles, dozens of weapons and magical spells, and more.

Cave Digger - June 1 (PSVR 2)

Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder was a PSVR 2 launch game, so it's little surprise to see Cave Digger follow, promising improved visuals and haptic feedback support. A mining adventure game, you explore four underground levels to dig up riches, leading to one of nine potential endings. If you own the original PSVR version, crossbuy support means you've got a free next-gen upgrade.

Tennis Esports - June 1 (Quest)

With a demo previously available on App Lab, Tennis Esports is coming to Quest 2 and Quest Pro on June 1. It promises to bring the full tennis experience into virtual reality, suitable for both amateur fans and avid players with support for single and multiplayer matches.

Ornament Express - June 6 (PC VR)

Ornament Express tasks you with recovering a client’s belongings through puzzle solving while investigating strange oddities. Developed by Choo Choo Studios, this places you against an eccentric thief in his train of stolen artifacts in 1900s Switzerland.

Quantaar - June 7 (PC VR, Pico 4, Quest 2)

Quantaar is a Smash Bros-like VR party brawler game. Playing a floating avatar above a 3D arena, this sees you going head-to-head with other players in cross-platform PvP multiplayer. That includes three main modes at launch - Brawler, 2v2 and Soccer.

Undead Citadel - June 8 (PC VR)

Developed by Dark Curry, we first reported on Undead Citadel back in 2018. A medieval-era zombie slayer, there's a big focus on physics-based combat, promising over 60 hand-to-hand combat weapons, ranged weaponry, puzzle solving and more. Featuring a story mode lasting "over 10 levels," this also comes with an endless horde mode and sandbox-style "Armory." PSVR 2 and Quest 2 versions are also planned but release dates remain unconfirmed.

Mixture - June 8 (Pico Neo 3 Link, Pico 4)

Developed by Polish studio Played With Fire, Mixture was previously released on Quest 2 in February and it now joins the Pico platform. Promising a Moss-inspired high fantasy platformer, you play as two characters; a small knight and a Master Alchemist. A PSVR 2 version is also planned, though we don't know when that's releasing.

Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye - June 14 (Quest)

Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye is a new point-and-click adventure from developer Peanut Button. Set one year after The Secret of Retropolis, Retropolis 2 continues the story of robo-detective Philip Log and Jenny Montage, a new enigmatic threat has emerged. Arriving in early access on Quest via App Lab first, Pico, SteamVR and Vive XR Elite ports are coming later this year.

VR Giants - June 14 (PC VR)

Developed by Risa Interactive, VR Giants offers an asymmetrical local puzzle platformer with a co-op focus. Playing as the Giant in VR and a smaller person from a standard gamepad in flatscreen mode, you must work together as a duo to secure your freedom.

Inverse - June 14 (Quest)

Developed by MassVR, Inverse is 4v1 asymmetrical survival horror reminiscent of Dead By Daylight. Set in an eponymous world filled with horrific creatures known as the Nul, four Agents must survive by powering up control terminals across a facility. A "feature-limited version" is available now for free on App Lab, with PC VR and PSVR 2 versions planned later on.

Room of Realities - June 15 (PC VR, Quest)

Following a demo drop during Steam Puzzle Fest, Room of Realities now arrives in Steam Early Access and Quest via App Lab this month. Published by Gamedust, this anthology of escape room levels features solo play and co-op support. That launches with the first three chapters, while six more chapters are promised across two major updates.

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament - June 15 (Quest)

Supporting solo play and up to four players, Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament brings a "live-motion VR deductive adventure" with professional theatre actors to Quest. Travelling between crime scenes across London, you will interrogate characters and search for clues, building a case against your prime suspect.

Pixel Ripped 1978 - June 15 (PC VR, PSVR 2, Quest 2)

Developed by ARVORE and published by Atari, Pixel Ripped 1978 marks the third installment in this retro-themed adventure series, following on from 1989 and 1995. Playing a video game designer in the 70s, you travel between different classic Atari games to stop Cyblin Lord.

The Signifier - June 15 (Quest 2)

Developed by Playmestudio and published by Raw Fury, The Signifier describes itself as a "first-person tech-noir mystery adventure that blends investigation, experimental psychology, and artificial intelligence." As Frederick Russell, you explore surreal worlds and solve puzzles to seek the truth.

F1 23 - June 16 (PC VR)

EA Sports' annual Formula 1 series is back with F1 23 on June 16, introducing new tracks, a roster refresh, additional rules and the return of its narrative-driven story mode, Braking Point. PSVR 2 support has been officially ruled out, making this year's entry PC VR only. If you buy the Champions Edition, it's available three days earlier on June 13.

Broken Spectre - June 21 (Quest)

Broken Spectre is a new cosmic horror narrative game from Games by Stitch, featuring hand-tracking support. Promising "unparalleled realism to the game's gruesome body horror elements," that's coming to the entire Meta Quest platform through App Lab.

Floor Plan 2: Backside Story - June 22 (PC VR, Quest 2)

Developed by Turbo Button, Floor Plan 2 originally released in 2021 and it's now receiving a major expansion for free to existing owners. Backside Story introduces 2-3 hours of new puzzles with an all-new elevator, introducing new environments and characters, alongside accessibility options like seated and standing play.

Hubris - June 22 (PSVR 2, Quest 2)

Following a PC VR release last December, developer Cyborn confirmed that Hubris arrives on PSVR 2 this month. A sci-fi action-adventure game where you traverse a new alien world, and Hubris quickly gained traction for its high-end visuals. Previously announced for May on PSVR 2, that's now appearing this month.

Stack - June 22 (Quest 2)

Published by Joy Way, Stack is a 5v5 VR multiplayer game featuring Deatchmatch, Team Deathmatch and more. As confirmed in the UploadVR Summer Showcase 2023, Stack will be a paid game, though early adopters who played the open beta will receive it for free.

C-Smash VRS - June 23 (PSVR 2)

A mix of Squash and Breakout, C-Smash VRS from RapidEyeMovers and Wolf & Wood offers a “complete reimagining” of Cosmic Smash, Sega’s obscure Dreamcast and arcade classic. Featuring a campaign and online multiplayer, a demo is available now and you can check out our C-Smash VRS preview for more details.

Dead Hook - June 29 (Quest 2)

Published by Joy Way, Dead Hook is a new roguelike shooter reminiscent of Doom VFR. A reworked version of cancelled PC VR roguelike Outlier, you play as a “mercenary, smuggler, thief, and devoted husband” shooting through hordes of demons. Previously announced for May 18, it was later delayed due to "important business reasons."

Mindset - June 29 (Quest 2)

Created by Polish developer Carbon Studio, Mindset is a VR hand-tracking puzzle game, challenging you to solve cube-shaped puzzles. Placing rotating gears onto the cube with various adjustment options, this comes with a narrated three-chapter storyline and 'demanding Challenge Mode.'

B99 Overclocked - June 30 (PSVR 2)

Developed by one-person studio Iron Stomach, B99 Overclocked is an enhanced version of the FPS roguelike previously released on Quest and PC VR. Set within an 80s-esque vision of cyberspace and randomly generated dungeons, this updated release adds a new enemies, modes and runs at a native 90Hz.