Resolution Games acquired Zero Index, the studio that helped port Carly and the Reaperman over to Oculus Quest earlier this year.
The Zero Index team is based in Sweden and will be rebranded to ‘Resolution Tech’ in light of the acquisition. To be clear, this is not the actual developer of Carly and the Reaperman, named Odd Raven Studios, but the team that partnered with Resolution to bring the game to Quest earlier this year. The team currently consists of only four employees but Resolution says it will grow the studio and continue to “draw on the incredible well of technical talent in the East Sweden region.”
Here’s what Resolution Games CEO Tommy Palm had to say about the acquisition:
The Zero Index team has a number of impressive accomplishments under their belt, including their exemplary work that helped us bring Carly and the Reaperman to Oculus Quest earlier this year. Demand for great VR and AR experiences is growing at an exponential rate. With more hardware choices than ever in the pipeline from tech’s biggest players, having a team experienced in bringing games to different markets and platforms will help us continue to reach new players everywhere they choose to play.
Zero Index CEO Tomas Ahlström says that the acquisition is “an exciting step for both teams” and they’re “thrilled to be a part of [Resolution’s] future vision.”
Resolution also announced four new additions to the company — Natalie Mellin as Head of People & Culture, Ebba Waltré as General Counsel, Johan Gästrin as Product Manager and Rickard Åstrand as Finance Director.
Last week, Resolution Games announced Ultimechs, a new game in development that looks like it mixes Rocket League with mechs in VR. It’s scheduled for release on “leading VR platforms” sometime in 2022.
With our list of the best VR shooters and FPS games you’ll be shooting straight in no time.
Admit it: the first time you put on a VR headset, you knew it was going to be great for shooters. And that’s certainly proved to be the case over the last five years; ever since the launch of PC VR headsets we’ve been treated to a slew of great first-person shooter (FPS) games, be they single-player campaigns or multiplayer frag fests.
If you’re looking for a list of the best Oculus Quest shooters then you can find a dedicated one right here, but this list focuses on games across a wide variety of headsets. So let’s take a look.
There was a time in which Fortnite developer Epic Games was very bullish about VR. In that hope, it developed what was arguably the most polished shooter seen in headsets at the time – Robo Recall. It’s still an arcadey delight today, letting you tackle waves of mechanical enemies with superheroic action. But it’s even more impressive that Drifter Entertainment then managed to take that game and squeeze it onto Quest. A little dated perhaps, but worth seeking out for some accessible fun.
24. Medal of Honor: Above And Beyond – Quest 2, PC VR
It might not have delivered the immaculately polished AAA shooter that we were all hoping for in a post-Alyx world, but Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond still offered the rare full FPS package. Multiplayer is arguable the better element, with plenty of modes and maps that offer classic FPS thrills inside VR, but the setpiece-driven campaign has its moments too. The Quest 2 version supports cross-buy with the Rift edition, but not cross-play.
If you’re looking for something a little different, might we recommend this unique 1 vs 1 dueling experience? Blaston has a great concept: fire bullets at your opponent – lots of bullets. Projectiles move towards you at a sluggish space, giving you time to move, but you can play the game tactically to create a genuine bullet hell for your opponent. With extra modes and updates added since launch, Blaston is a breath of fresh air in the VR shooter scene.
22. From Other Suns – Rift/Link
Oh, From Other Suns. What you could have been. There’s a reality out there, somewhere, where your fantastic randomized gameplay, in which players teamed up to take on adventures in space, got the kind of post-launch support it really deserved before living on with an Oculus Quest or SteamVR port. Sadly, it wasn’t this timeline. But, if you’re looking for an obscure shooter gem that delivers on the dream of space shootouts as you invade ships and rescue galaxies, you can’t go wrong here.
If you’re looking for a shooter that will keep you coming back for more with intensely replayable roguelite gameplay, then Sweet Surrender is definitely one to check out. Build up a set of powerups and improved weapons and shoot your way through robot-infested mazes. There are four areas to the game at launch but its developer says lots of updates are on the way, and they’ll be free, too.
Another procedurally generated adventure and another great game likely to be lost to the obscurity of the Oculus Rift store, Stormland is still worth a look if you have a friend to play it with. You explore islands connected by a sea of clouds, dispatching robots and upgrading your own shell with new parts. It’s gorgeous to look at and features incredibly immersive controls. It’s also Spider-Man developer Insomniac’s best VR game yet. Hopefully it’s not their last, though.
Another game that we previously ranked higher in its heyday, Firewall Zero Hour is still worth seeking out if you have a PSVR Aim Controller and a squad of three other friends. This is essentially Rainbox Six in VR with tight, tactical multiplayer battles that require clear communication and a good understanding of its many maps. Even years on from release the game is constantly being updated with new content, making it one of the overall best VR shooters and FPS games.
18. Zero Caliber – PC VR | Zero Caliber: Reloaded – Quest
There’s a handful of really enjoyable modern-era shooters in VR that cover a wide range of modes, from frantic arena-driven multiplayer to epic single-player campaigns. Zero Caliber squarely takes aim at co-op, with a decent-sized campaign (that can still be played solo), full of snackable missions for up to four players. Great gunplay and environmental variety make this a satisfying mission with friends, and the Reloaded Quest version stacks up great next to PC. That said, there’s still more to be added in both games’ roadmaps.
Opinion has been somewhat divided on Rebellion’s VR spin-off of its stealth-action series since it launched in mid-2021. But, for our money, the series’ B-movie sensibilities get a new lease on life here thanks to incredibly immersive sniping, sneaking that doesn’t turn into a broken mess, and great weapon handling. Plus the campaign will last you close to ten hours, which not many VR campaigns can beat. As such, it earns its spot in the list of best VR shooters and FPS games.
Space Pirate Trainer is available on a lot of platforms, but we’re talking about the DX version for Oculus Quest specifically here for good reason. An update to the title earlier in 2021 added an incredible local multiplayer component where players with the space (and it needs a lot of space) can run around a giant arena in games of laser tag. Accessibility stops us from putting this one higher but, if you’re able, you can’t miss Spare Pirate Trainer DX.
15. Larcenauts – Quest, PC VR
Farpoint developer Impulse Gear was quick to spot a gap in the market for a VR hero shooter. But Larcenauts isn’t a simple Overwatch-aping rush job. It’s a genuinely deep shooter in its own right with a varied cast of characters that offer a lot of tactical options in the heat of combat. This isn’t the type of shooter you quickly jump into and understand – Larcenauts is a game worth investing in to get the best out of it.
Another modern-era VR FPS, Contractors offers a smorgasbord of options for those looking to play both solo and with others. Whether you’re looking for a Horde-style survival mode for up to four players, competitive play with over 30 different weapons, or just want to tackle the game’s missions on your own, there’s likely at least one mode in Contractors that you’ll really get a kick out of.
A retro-inspired VR FPS that takes after classics like Doom and Wolfenstein might not sound like a great fit for headsets, but Compound is proof that it can actually work really well. You clear out randomized floors of enemies in a perfectly-paced VR shooter that lets you fight on your own terms, not just get blasted by invisible bullets from halfway across a battlefield. It’s still in a long early access haul but, make no mistake, Compound is one of the best VR shooters and FPS games today.
12. Pavlov VR – PC VR | Pavlov: Shack – Quest
The next entry in our list-within-a-list of modern shooters, Pavlov offers the closest you can get to Counter-Strike inside a VR headset today. Again, it’s in early access, but it has a long history of updates that have kept its chaotic tactical battles incredibly popular over the past few years. If you have a Quest, then Shack is a decent version of the game that’s cut down and put onto the Oculus App Lab store, but PC remains the best place to get the full experience.
11. Farpoint – PSVR
Say what you want about PSVR, but it’s arguably the best destination for single-player VR shooters, and that begins with Farpoint. Impulse Gear’s VR debut still holds up with its enjoyable story-driven mode that, while somewhat basic in design, absolutely thrives on the strength of the PSVR Aim Controller for which it was designed for. The powerful feeling of holding a rifle makes it one of the most immersive VR experiences. Our fingers remain crossed for a possible Farpoint 2, but the original remains one of the best VR shooters and FPS games.
Perhaps the most accessible multiplayer VR shooter on the market today, Population: One is essentially VR’s answer to Fortnite. Teams of three jump into a giant map and battle to be the last group standing, scavenging for supplies, climbing buildings and eating bananas. An ever-growing list of updates and limited-time events also make it one of the best-supported VR games you can find right now.
Somehow over five years on from launch, H3VR (which, no, does not stand for Half-Life 3 VR) continues to grow its arsenal of intricate weaponry. It’s essentially a sandbox gun sim with plenty of minigames and weapons to play around with. Though there might not be many traditional ‘game’ elements to H3VR, it’s an ever-evolving toolbox that serves as constant proof of how VR can push the shooter genre forward with remarkably in-depth interaction.
8. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Quest, PSVR, PC VR
We often feature Saints & Sinners in lists for genres it’s only partially associated with because, frankly, it’s so enjoyable that it still offers a better experience than many full-blown contenders. So, no, this isn’t a game with the most intense shootouts and complex cover systems, but using ammo sparingly to fight back against hordes of Walkers is still a real delight, and the weapon handling is almost perfect. We fully believe it deserves a home in the list of best VR shooters and FPS games.
The last of our modern-era shooters on this list is perhaps the hardest to jump into, but absolutely the most rewarding to dedicate yourself to. Onward boasts authentic weaponry and near-sim style combat that forces players to fully embrace the physicality of VR and maximize cover. It’s another early access title, but the game’s gone from strength to strength to recover from a rocky (if commercially successful) Quest launch back in 2020.
Another great VR FPS campaign exclusive to PSVR, Blood & Truth boasts cinematic production values that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a lot of Sony’s biggest and best PS4 games. This is a little closer to Time Crisis VR, with players moving between set points as they fight their way through London’s gang scene in explosive battles. What you might not expect is an incredibly fun story with a high degree of interactivity and character connection. Blood & Truth is a great template for where VR shooter campaigns can go in the future, and overall one of the best VR shooters and FPS games.
Though it definitely loses points for its 2D roots, Resident Evil 4 works better than it has any right to in VR, capturing the unrivaled intensity of the original’s high-pressure battles for a solid 90% of the campaign. Sure, the other 10% might include much easier boss fights and troublesome QTEs, but this really is one of the best shooters of all time making a successful conversion to VR, and that’s worth celebrating.
It’s VR, so a rhythm-based game had to find its way into this list somehow, right? Fortunately, Pistol Whip more than earns its keep, taking inspiration from some of the platform’s best games yet but fusing something that feels entirely new and fresh from them. You’ll be hypnotized by the game’s selection of tracks, which have you blasting baddies to the beat, and there’s been incredibly impressive post-launch support since it first released years back. Believe the hype about Pistol Whip.
We know, we know, a lot of you are getting tired of seeing Superhot VR rank so highly on so many lists. To that we say: find us a game with more immersive, considerate and satisfying VR design. Not easy, is it? The truth is that the game’s slow-motion mechanics still make for one of the most empowering VR experiences that perfectly demonstrate the platform’s potential in an instant. Superhot is a special game, and still one of the best VR shooters and FPS games today.
Again, Boneworks is one of those games that might rank a little lower in our more generalized best games lists, but when you specifically dial in on the depth and fun of its gunplay, it shoots up the list (pun intended) of the best VR shooters and FPS games. The campaign offers incredibly convincing shootouts with a distinct, Valve-esque tone and, though the melee physics are the real reason to play, it’s still got one of the most satisfying arsenals of firearms in all of VR.
Surprised? No, we’re not, either. Valve’s long-awaited return to the Half-Life universe more than delivered and Alyx offers some of the most immersive weapon handling in VR. Smart design means that all of your guns are assigned to just one hand and you really feel like you’re holding them. Combine that with tough, cover-based combat that encourages you to make full use of your body in VR, and you have an epic shooter experience that we’re still waiting for other games to replicate. Half-Life: Alyx is an easy choice to top the list of the best VR shooters and FPS games.
That’s our list of the best VR shooters and FPS games across all platforms. Do you agree with us? Would you make any changes? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s now officially time for the annual discount spectacular that is Black Friday, where there are savings galore – some more dubious than others – for the next couple of days. VRFocus has been hard at it hunting down all the latest virtual reality (VR) deals currently available, from hardware packages to ridiculous savings on videogames and software.
There aren’t as many savings on hardware this year, most notably when it comes to PlayStation VR. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) used to roll out a new mega pack this time of year, unsurprising, considering the headset is coming towards the end of its life with fans eager to see what the next iteration will be. As for the popular Oculus (Meta) Quest 2, the hardware hasn’t been discounted but at least new owners can start their library off nicely with some credit.
And that’s your lot, probably. There might be a couple VRFocus has missed but all of those should keep you going for a while. Remember, most of these will be available today and through the weekend depending on the store. Have fun out there with the sales!
Jundroo’s SimplePlanes series is coming to Oculus Quest and PC VR headsets next month, with a few changeups to the formula.
First announced back in August, SimplePlanes VR is set to release on December 17 on SteamVR for $9.99. Given that date is a Friday and not the usual Thursday Oculus Store drop, we’d also assume this is an App Lab release on Quest. Check out the trailer below.
SimplePlanes VR Trailer
First released in 2015 — and still updated to this day — SimplePlanes is a flight simulator with a strong community behind it, largely thanks to its building mode which lets you create your own flying machines by snapping pieces of other aircraft together. You can then pilot your creation over different maps and even share it online for others to download for free.
SimplePlanes VR doesn’t have that building option included. You can, however, download creations from the original game and use them in-VR, even if they’re not fully tested for use with headsets.
The game isn’t restricted to aircraft alone – you can also use cars and boats, take off from a carrier deck and even set up combat scenarios with enemies to take down.
Granted the game isn’t the most visually striking experience out there, but the focus on customization and immersive player controls could make this one to watch for VR flight fans that need a break from Microsoft Flight Simulator and are still waiting for Ultrawings 2. Will you be picking up SimplePlanes VR? Let us know in the comments below!
With so many companies and brands expressing their plans for the metaverse, one technology will be key for early adopters – Augmented Reality. AR technology primarily uses smartphones and, to a lesser extent, smart spectacles to adapt the reality we see around us, often adding a new layer of interactivity. Because this tech uses hardware most of us already own, it’s easy to see that one of the ways the metaverse will start being pieced together is via AR videogames and apps.
If you cast your mind back to the summer of 2016, you’ll remember a large portion of the public were wandering parks and streets trying to catch Pokemon. Pokemon Go, created by Niantic Labs, uses AR technology in a few ways; by overlaying Pokemon onto a map which you are physically walking in ‘the real world’; it uses the camera in your phone to show the Pokemon against the backdrop of where you are currently; and it allows you to interact with other players through their avatars within the game, while they might be stood only a few metres away in-person.
It’s not only Pokemon Go capitalising on AR; Spokko Sp. z.o.o. adapted the popular videogame franchise The Witcher into a monster-slaying game; Niantic Labs grabbed another Nintendo franchise with their recent Pikmin Bloom release and in 2018, developer Ludia brought Jurassic World to mobile platforms so that we could capture a T-Rex in our local parks. Games are a great playground for developers to try new technologies.
Pokemon Go is still a very popular mobile game five years later and the AR technology used by Niantic Labs is advancing steadily. In early November 2021, the company announced Niantic Lightship, a platform dedicated to the development of Augmented Reality which can be shared with other developers. This new technology is built for the metaverse, using our phones to capture images and use machine learning to translate that footage into an accurate 3D model. Alongside this, consumers will be able to view particular objects through their phone screens and enjoy a unique experience collaborating together, or creating memories at concerts, like the upcoming Ed Sheeran performance due to take place within Pokemon Go.
However, what started with gaming, is growing into a slice of the metaverse that will become available to anyone with a smartphone. The possibilities for AR are constantly being explored. Coachella, the American music festival, is implementing AR features that will enhance a band’s performance as lights, colours and creatures mix with the live-action on stage; Science Museum Group plan to use the technology to bring their exhibits to life and take strides to further education; while the meditation app, TRIPP, will use this tech to help users become more mindful while out in the world.
As people become more familiar with AR, our phones will transform the way we interact not only with the world, but also how we shop or converse with each other. From the small ideas such as IKEA creating an app that places furniture choices in the intended room for you to see how it will fit your home style. To the big brain concepts – Google is using AR to power their language translation apps and visual search engine with Google Lens where you simply point your camera at foreign wording to see it translated in real-time. Plus, projecting directional arrows onto the ground or floating in the air, to plot a journey in Google Maps. Of course, there’s still a way to go before we’re all connected to each other in a central metaverse. However, these games and apps point to what we can expect from the future.
This link between AR and smartphones is integral, not only to keep consumer costs low but because the hardware is powerful enough at this stage to implement the tech needed. All forms of AR require several pieces of hardware which every smartphone has – camera, speakers, microphone, accelerometers and processing power. Depth registration, which places a digital item overlaid onto our world, needs that camera. The accelerometer gauges distances and moves the AR objects based on how the user moves. Most important, is that processing power; with so many AR apps and games, the processor must use machine learning to crunch algorithms in order to decipher what the camera, and thereby the user, is observing.
At first, AR was feeling too many as a bit of a gimmick. It’s now evolving into a genuinely helpful and impressive piece of technology that could impact our daily lives. The beauty of this technology, starting with gaming, is that it proves an accessible entry. The public can make the leap from throwing pokeballs to using AR in the workplace. With incremental movements within apps, soon projecting videos against a wall during a meeting with colleagues which can then be edited or annotated by anyone in the room, through their phone, could become a metaverse standard, with swish 3D avatars.
To get a sense of where AR is heading, it’s worth sticking close to videogames. Euclidean Skies is a puzzler that has a lot in common with Escher sketches. Holding your phone in front of you, labyrinthine buildings take over the empty space of your living room. These can be turned and rotated to solve the puzzle. While Smash Tanks conjures digital tanks, with a battlefield, and lays it out on the floor with no mess to tidy once you’re done. Each of these games contains the same technology that we’ll see from developers working on Niantic Lightship.
Just these two games can point towards other uses of the technology or other apps available which use similar ideas. Thyng is an interface that projects images and short video clips within a shared space; perfect for meetings in tiny offices. Quiver is a kids AR app which, when paired with colouring pages, brings a child’s artwork to life using the colours the child used.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that one day you’ll raise your phone, look through the screen at a friend and see their digital avatar. If we’re to believe Niantic Labs, it’s not much of a jump to walk over a bridge in your hometown with your phone held out and watch as the scene fades into what that bridge looked like fifty years ago, everyone digitally dressed in period clothing. Or for a group of kids touring a museum to be handed tablets that bring ancient worlds to life before their eyes or whisk them away to stand on the edge of a volcano.
