The game was announced during Wednesday’s Meta (formerly Oculus) VR showcase, showing off some frantic-looking gameplay involving several ghost hunters and one very wily ghoul. The four-legged red ghost has eyes on its hands and zips and swings around an indoor arena with the energy of a dying star, eluding its pursuers and making it really hard to grab a clear screenshot for this article.

Somewhat curiously, Ghostbusters VR has only been confirmed for Meta Quest 2, even though Sony Pictures owns the rights to the franchise. Sony has its own PSVR out already and the PSVR 2 is on the way, but promotional materials for Ghostbusters VR only mention Facebook’s Meta Quest 2. That said, it’s still possible it’ll be announced for PSVR or PSVR 2 later on. 

“Strap on your proton pack and Meta Quest 2 and step into the world of Ghostbusters in immersive virtual reality,” reads the official synopsis. “Start your Ghostbusters HQ in a new city, San Francisco, and solve a deep mystery across a new chapter in the Ghostbusters universe.”

Developer nDreams confirmed that Ghostbusters VR will be playable in single-player as well as co-op, but the trailer definitely focuses on the multiplayer experience. It does make sense for nDreams to capitalize on the recent multiplayer horror renaissance spearheaded by popular indie games like Phasmophobia, Devour, and GTFO.

It doesn’t seem like Ghostbusters VR brings back any familiar characters from the franchise, but instead stars its own cast of original ghostbusters similar to Illfonic’s upcoming asymmetrical multiplayer game Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed.

Here are the best VR games to get lost in right now.

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Originally revealed during July’s PlayStation State of Play, Moss: Book 2 builds upon the story told in the first game. In the sequel, Quill – having rescued her uncle Argus in the previous game – continues her journey after discovering that she is being hunted by a winged tyrant from the hexed castle where her uncle was previously held captive. 

So far all we’ve seen of Moss: Book 2 is the trailer shown at the PlayStation State of Play which featured the adorable mouse protagonist as she slays beetles and what looks like some kind of robot threat with her tiny, mouse sized, sword. Just like the first game, we’re sure its sequel is guaranteed to feature a tonne of challenging puzzles for Quill to solve in a mix of third and first-person perspectives with the use of a PSVR headset.

We previously spoke with Moss developer Polyarc and according to design director Josh Stiksma, Quill will have more ways to progress in the 2018 follow up game. According to Stiksma “We heard feedback from players that they really liked the idea of progression and having Quill get stronger,” this idea apparently lead to the team giving Quill a giant hammer, as Stiksma explained: “it’s just, frankly, quite amazing just to see a little tiny mouse hold a giant hammer. And our animators did such a great job. It’s truly inspiring to see. The way that the weight transfers around is just so cool.”

Although we still haven’t got an exact release date for this highly anticipated title yet, it’s still exciting to know that we may only be waiting a few short months to dive back into Quill and Argus’ world in Spring 2022.

Looking for something to play in the meantime? Take a look at our list of the best VR games for inspiration.

The post Moss: Book 2 developer announces Spring 2022 release date appeared first on Game News.

The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite VR system’s price is still 28% off, a massive discount that brings the whole package down to just $649 for a limited time – its lowest price ever. Meanwhile, you can snag the headset alone for only $399, which is also an excellent deal if you don’t need controllers and other accessories. The HTC Pro bundle is $899 (25% off, and another record low price) for Cyber Monday, while the HTC Pro Eye bundle is 21% off at $1099. You can also snag the HTC Pro Eye headset alone for $599.

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HTC Vive Cosmos Elite VR kit | $899.99 $649 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $250 – The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite is at its lowest price ever, making this an excellent entry point to wired PC-based VR. The headset alone (opens in new tab) is also on sale for Cyber Monday.

View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

HTC Vive Pro VR kit | 1,199.01 $899.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $300 – Despite lacking the Pro 2’s improved resolution, the original HTC Vive Pro is still a solid piece of kit, and it has a lot of features the Cosmos is missing. If you’re looking for a more immersive experience but still don’t feel like totally breaking the bank tonight so late into the deals season, this is one to consider.

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HTC Vive Pro Eye VR kit | $1,399 $1,099 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $300 – This here’s the Cyber Monday VR deal for the most dedicated VR enthusiasts, as it’s a significant jump in price but includes the coveted internal eye-tracking technology. At $300 off its normal price, now’s not a bad time to take the plunge if you’ve had your eye on this kit. Here’s the discounted standalone headset (opens in new tab) if you just want that.

View Deal (opens in new tab)

More of today’s best Cyber Monday VR deals

A really solid, and decidedly more affordable, alternative to HTC’s lineup of VR headsets is the Oculus Quest 2, Facebook – sorry, Meta’s – cheaper, all-in-one VR headset. The best Cyber Monday Oculus Quest 2 deal out there is a $50 gift card you can get with the purchase of a headset. Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon are offering up the deal, but it’s unlikely to stick around too much longer.

For the last (but certainly not least) of the deals, keep tabs on our live Cyber Monday gaming deals guide, which is tracking all the latest sales minute-by-minute.

The post HTC Vive VR kits are still at their lowest prices ever for Cyber Monday appeared first on Game News.

It’s a fair question; both have made waves over the last few years (our Oculus Quest 2 review praised its “vastly improved” visuals), but the new Vive Pro is featured in the GamesRadar Hardware Awards 2021 thanks to what is arguably the best VR experience on the market right now.

Black Friday at a glance

When is it? November 26
How long does it last? At least three days, but it unofficially starts mid-November

Basically, this is an argument of cost versus longevity. The Oculus Quest 2 is a cheaper option that won’t cripple your bank account, but the HTC Vive Pro 2 remains leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to immersive tech. Is it better to hedge your bets with the more affordable choice, or should you invest in a premium device that’ll last for much longer? Seeing as both cost a pretty penny, it’s worth giving some thought as to which is better for you.

• Oculus Quest 2 bundles: find all the deals available now

Oculus Quest 2 vs HTC Vive Pro 2

Let’s start with a breakdown of how the two VR headsets compare, shall we? You’ll find direct comparisons between specs, price, and requirements below.

Oculus Quest 2

• Price: $299 / £299
• Resolution: 1832x1920px per eye 
• Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz
• Requirements:  None

HTC Vive Pro 2

• Price: $1,399 / £1,299
• Resolution: 2448×2448px per eye
• Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz
• Requirements:  PC

So, which one is worth your cash? Here’s the tea: personally speaking, I’d recommend checking out the Oculus Quest 2 if you’re new to VR or remain unsure about how much long-term use you’ll get out of the platform. However, if you’re looking for the best the medium can offer and want to avoid your tech becoming outdated in a few years, it’s a good idea to opt for the Vive Pro 2 instead. It’s more expensive, yes, but it’s a far more versatile piece of kit on the whole. Very little can match it in terms of VR excellence.

No matter what, these offers will be snapped up all too quickly. The Oculus Quest 2 sells like no-one’s business at the best of times, so discounts won’t last long before they’re claimed. There may be some offers left over for the Cyber Monday Oculus Quest 2 deals if we’re lucky, but it’s probably wise not to rely on the off-chance.

Meanwhile, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is expensive enough to make any reduction hot stuff. That means it’s a good idea to get in early and check the deals as soon as Black Friday begins in your area. Biding your time puts you at risk of missing out.

With that in mind, our team will be on hand to bring you all the latest offers throughout Black Friday. If there’s a deal to be had on either the Oculus Quest 2 or the HTC Vive Pro 2, you’ll find it here. Check in as we approach the end of November for the latest deals!

Want something to pair with your new VR headset? These Black Friday gaming PC deals should be your first port of call. It’s worth looking into the best gaming earbuds if you want an Oculus Quest 2 as well – it has speakers, but in-ear audio will provide a better overall experience.

The post Oculus Quest 2 vs HTC Vive Pro 2: which should you buy on Black Friday? appeared first on Game News.

Firesprite made the announcement on its official site (opens in new tab) today, revealing that it had brought Fabrik Games into the fold “in connection with Firesprite joining PlayStation Studios.” The two studios previously worked together on first-person horror game The Persistence (which prominently featured VR in its PS4 and PC versions). On top of that, Firesprite’s managing director Graeme Ankers is also the founder of Fabrik, and the connections go deeper still.

“We have a history working and collaborating closely with Firesprite,” Fabrik studio head Errol Ismail said. “There’s a huge amount of creative and cultural alignment already and the entire team is excited to be on board. We can’t wait to show everyone what we’re capable of.”

With Fabrik officially part of Firesprite, that brings the new PlayStation studio’s headcount up to an impressive 265, with several more openings currently being advertised. We still don’t know what it’s first project under the official Sony umbrella will be, though the studio has a good deal of VR and AR expertise between The Persistence and its work on The Playroom. Maybe we’ll see more when Sony’s ready to properly unveil PSVR 2 and its new slate of games, which the rumors say will be some time in early 2022.

While we’re waiting to see what Firesprite gets up to next, you can see what new titles we’re already excited about with our guide to upcoming PS5 games.

The post PlayStations latest acquisition just made an acquisition of its own appeared first on Game News.

Due to launch this Fall exclusively on Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Last Call once again puts you in the boots of a droid repair technician whose ship crashes into planet Batuu after it’s attacked by some pirates. Just like the first Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Last Call is being developed in collaboration between ILMxLAB and Oculus Studios, which you’ll know from Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series.

“Welcome back to Batuu! Dok-Ondar has pulled up a seat in Seezelslak’s cantina and he has a job for you. The infamous Ithorian sends you deep into the Batuuu wilds in search of a lost artifact. You’ll team up with the relic hunter Lens Kamo and battle against the evil Baron Attsmun,” game director Jose Perez III said in a press release. “We are super excited to continue to expand the Star Wars galaxy and hope fans swing by for Last Call.”

While it’s based on a similar premise, Last Call introduces a trio of new characters and explores characters from the first game in more depth. Of the new characters, we’ve got the aforementioned Lens Kamo, “the badass daughter of scholar parents” who’ll be your main companion in the story. Then there’s the big bad Baron Attsmun, with whom Lens Kamo has an unsettled dispute involving some stolen relics. And finally, Dok-Ondar is the character who hires the player for a job and ultimately entangles you into Lens Kamo’s mess with the Baron.

In terms of gameplay, Perez told StarWars.com (opens in new tab) that a big portion of Last Call “has strong Indiana Jones meets Star Wars vibes,” as well as plenty of puzzles to keep players busy.

Until we can get our hands on Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Last Call, here are the best VR games you can play right now.

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The Valheim Surtling Core Overclocking Mod, as spotted by Rock Paper Shotgun (opens in new tab), lets you craft special additions for your kilns, smelters, or blast furnaces out of Surtling cores and various other components. You can grab it on NexusMods (opens in new tab) right now.

The three types of cores can increase each item’s speed, efficiency, or productivity, but the boosts come with a penalty to the other stats as well. With a maximum of four cores per item, you have to balance how much speed and extra product you want versus how much fuel and other resources you’re comfortable with wasting, or vice versa. And yes, you could just turn on Valheim cheats to get your resources instantly, but this way you earn that pile of metal.

If you’ve played Factorio, the overclocking process probably sounds familiar – and mod creator MarcoPogo cites Factorio as a direct inspiration for their own work in Valheim. One of the areas where Valheim is arguably the most lacking compared to many other survival-focused games is tools to make your processes more efficient. That may or may not be the kind of experience Iron Gate Studio pursues in future updates (we’re still waiting for specifics on what’s on the way in the Valheim Hearth and Home update), but there’s no harm in modders taking up the cause themselves.

Meanwhile, if you want new ways to see your own personal 10th realm, check out the Valheim VR mod. 

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The YouTube channel Bad Robo (opens in new tab) is responsible for these magnificent creations, and has designed several different areas of this jungle setting, including a waterfall city (opens in new tab) which looks as though it was taken right out of James Cameron’s Avatar. Take a look at this amazing creation below. 

Closer to the river. Little thermo is left, so it’s time for a sunny version. #MadeInDreams #DreamsPS4 Better quality https://t.co/fRHDEtjJKI pic.twitter.com/GilRoDOJiFMarch 28, 2020

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In the video, we get a glimpse of an ongoing creation, according to the designer themselves, which makes it feel like you’re walking through the Amazon Rainforest. From the clouds to the path, and even the river below. To dive even deeper into these worlds, fans of Bad Robo’s work can take a look at their VR work (opens in new tab) which was also created in Dreams. 

What’s even more impressive about these designs is that according to a tweet (opens in new tab) from the creator, they were actually designed on a base PS4 console, not even the Pro model. As well as showing off their latest work, Bad Robo’s YouTube channel also has tutorials on how to develop in Dreams including guides on lighting, reflections, creating assets plus so much more. 

Dreams was developed by Media Molecule in 2019 as a game design system that allows players to design their own interactive worlds and assets using Dream’s built-in tools and tutorials. This has led to several unique creations including the best-looking carpet we’ve ever seen, an indie God of War game, and even an unofficial Ratchet and Clank sequel. The amazing creations made in Dreams actually led to the creation of the Impy Awards, an awards ceremony to celebrate the Dreams community. 

To find more worlds to explore, take a look at our the best Dreams levels you can play right now list

The post This photorealistic jungle made in Dreams looks like a PS6 game appeared first on Game News.

If you’ve been hankering for a good indie or VR game, you’re in for a treat. From now until April 22nd at 11:59pm PT, the following games are available as free downloads from the PlayStation Store, via the ‘Play at Home’ tab: The Witness, Abzu, Enter the Gungeon, Rez Infinite (VR optional), Subnautica, Astro Bot Rescue Mission (VR), Moss (VR), Thumper (VR), and Paper Beast (VR).

The above list of free PS4 games brings a good deal of variety, whether you’re looking for a mentally tasking puzzle game (looking at you, The Witness) or something to scare you senseless (our Subnautica review called it “a must-play for 2018” but also said it’s “very much a nightmare”).

What, you don’t want to be confused OR terrified? Jeez, picky crowd. Well, you’ve also got Rez Infinite, the psychedelic on-rails shooter we awarded 5/5 stars back in 2016, the far-more meditative deep-sea adventure Abzu, or “the world’s most adorable bullet hell shooter” Enter the Gungeon.

Really, it sounds like you can’t go wrong with any of these free games (they are free, after all). I’ve played a good deal of Moss and found it to be a charming VR romp that won’t make you dizzy like a lot of other VR games. And remember, because there’s no subscription required, PS4 and PS5 players can download any of the above games for keeps. Best grab ’em for free while you still can.

If that’s not enough, here are the 25 best free games you can play right now.

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Standalone, wireless VR

Standalone VR is already a reality, with the Google Daydream powered Mirage Solo and Oculus Go leading the charge into an untethered future, but standalone offerings have been pretty feature-light or niche thus far. That’s all set to change in 2019 with the release of the Oculus Quest (which was demoed at CES), a much more robust and capable standalone headset that will mirror the performance and library of the Rift. 

Vive already offers a standalone headset for the Chinese market, the Vive Focus, and it is now starting to approach the wireless space globally with adapters for the Vive and Vive Pro. The problem with these devices is that they’re bulky and prohibitively expensive – the vanilla Vive adapter is $299.99 while the Pro option is a staggering $359.99, and you’ll still need an impressive PC build to power them.

Hopefully Oculus’ heavy investment in standalone VR tech will give HTC the push it needs to begin development on its own wireless, completely untethered offering for the West. Perhaps even an iteration of the Focus that’s more powerful and streamlined, retaining the Focus’ excellent inside-out, six-degrees-of-freedom tracking. I’m also hopeful that new players in the space, like Google, will introduce a standalone option backed by their massive resource infrastructure, or even that Valve may eventually plumb the standalone depths, perhaps backed by a VR-exclusive version of Steam. 

Wireless charging

Ask anyone with an even reasonably elaborate entertainment setup – wires are the bane of the modern gamer’s existence. While we’ve made great strides towards eliminating technology’s poisonous braided snakes from peripherals like controllers, mice, and headsets, the final frontier is wireless charging. 

Despite its origins in the 19th century, we’re still a ways off from any kind of broad implementation of inductive charging. The majority of solutions now require placing a device on a charging mat or stand, leaving it inert while it (slowly) charges. And of course, while there are some scant battery powered offerings, most of those charging mats still require wires, so while there are some advantages (like reducing the socket and cord wear of constantly plugging and unplugging your device) you’re still required to be tethered to a power source. 

That said, the future of wireless charging looks bright. Disney has prototyped an entire room capable of charging wireless devices simply by having them inside of it, and a California company called Energous is developing a wireless charging solution that pairs a transmitter with a tiny (like, fraction-of-the-size-of a-dime tiny) receiver to charge devices at up to 15 feet away. As innovations like this continue to coalesce and be refined, it becomes easier and easier to imagine a future where everything from your DualShock controller to your electric car can be charged entirely sans wires. Could we see a wirelessly charged controller launching alongside the PS5 and the next set of Xboxs? It’s very possible. 

Exoskeletons

One of my personal favorite reveals at CES this year was the Samsung GEMS-H (Gait Enhancing and Motivating System), a lightweight, sleek-looking exoskeleton designed to help propel your legs while you walk. Reports from the show floor indicate that it’s so light it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing it – that moving around with one strapped to your hips was like “walking on air.” 

These kind of mobility assistance exoskeletons are just the tip of the iceberg. There are others late in development that will allow users to easily lift 200 lbs or more, and a company called Ekso Bionics already produces a lower body exoskeleton that allows paraplegic people to walk again. The same company recently partnered with Ford on a solution to allow factory workers to do overhead work with less effort and strain and a concomitant reduction in injuries. 

What does this have to do with games? Match this kind of exoskeleton tech with the ‘Synesthesia Suit’ for Rez in VR and the possibilities are endless. Imagine true, one-to-one, full body motion tracking and sensory feedback, with portions of the suit vibrating or moving when you’re taking fire or hit with a melee attack. In extreme (and possibly undesirable, but still fascinating) scenarios, an exoskeleton could lock some of your limbs in place in a game if your avatar were tied up or hit with some freezing status ailment. And the AR possibilities are also rich; in the far flung future, we could bound around the world in exoskeletons playing AR games piped through a headset or glasses.  

8K displays

Pleased with that shiny new 4K TV you bought for Christmas? Doesn’t it look all fancy and thin, with all of its colors and lovely menus? Well, bad news, chum, as 8K is a reality and it’s going to make your beloved 4K TV look silly. True 8K resolution is 7680×4320 pixels, four times the density of current 4K displays, and that equates to a 33 megapixel image. 8K TVs were very much the hotness at CES, and you can actually buy the early models right now, if you have a spare $15,000 or so in your bank account. In fact, you’re going to need to buy 65” TVs or above to really see the difference between 4K and 8K. While there’s almost nothing that displays in 8K resolution at the moment, many broadcasters and creators are already planning 8K content for the coming years. It’s unlikely PS5 will offer 8K, and will likely stick to 4K at 60fps, but it’s still a possibility – even PS4 Pro and Xbox One X struggle to deliver consistent 4K right now. Netflix will undoubtedly be looking to create an 8K tier of original shows as the technology starts to becoming more available, and it’s likely that sports broadcasters will be going Ultra HD as soon as possible. 

Streaming games and 5G

Although cloud-based streaming hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm, despite some promising initial offerings from Sony and Nvidia, 2019 could be the year that it does. Think about it. With theoretical data rates of up to 10Gb/s on the horizon, 5G will finally give us the option to forego our shady broadband ISPs in favor of slightly less dubious cellular providers. In an unexpected turn of events, for once in our lives, a win for capitalism is a win for us, the consumers. 

With Sony insisting on broadband speeds of at least 5Mbps for its PlayStation Now streaming service, a simple trick of the calculator reveals 5G could offer up to 2,000 times that. GeForce Now, Nvidia’s PC streaming platform, requires an even more demanding broadband spec of 15Mbps. Meanwhile, its thirst left unquenched by domination elsewhere, even Apple is plotting a streaming service for games. The only remaining variables are Microsoft and Google. Both are suspected to have streaming efforts in the works, but neither the former’s Project xCloud nor the latter’s Project Stream are currently available to the public.

Assuming it’s a hit when it begins to roll out later this year, 5G might prove itself a ‘killer app’ for game streaming services across the board. Especially now esteemed networking hardware companies like D-Link are whipping up 5G routers, we’re a little more optimistic about the future of game streaming services than we were when Sony bought Gaikai nearly seven years ago. Now we’re not just looking forward to the aftermath of 5G on smartphones, but we’re also interested in learning about its effects in the console space. 

Both Microsoft and Sony are rumored to have streaming-first consoles in the works. Thus, it’s only a matter of time before we find out for certain whether or not streaming is the future of games.

The promise of tomorrow

These and some of the other trends signaled at this year’s CES and across our industry point to a future of dramatic innovation. Look a little beyond the smart refrigerators and tech demos of vending machine robots and there’s a lot of real, promising tech shifting across the horizon. Sure, some of it is very much still in the prototype stage, but the trends we’ve highlighted above are already being rolled out in practical, real world scenarios, and many of them could alter the way we play significantly in the coming months and years. 

The post The biggest 2019 tech trends, and how they could affect gaming appeared first on Game News.