Oculus Gaming Showcase
(Image credit: Schell Games)
Oculus Gaming Showcase brought news and release dates for 12 new VR titles or updates to existing games. The spotlight was on the Quest platform, but many are also available on the Rift. Other PC VR and PSVR users are not left in the cold, as The Load Screen covers how several of the names mentioned in this update are also available on other platforms. For an entire event recap, there is an Oculus blog post on the gaming showcase.
Four games in the showcase get updates that expand gameplay, free for those who own the main game. Pistol Whip from Cloudhead Games now has a two-part update: a full update called The Concierge that allows more in-game customization, and a 5-part narrative named Smoke & Thunder. Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister by Pixel Toys is getting an update that adds a 2-player co-op mode on two new maps. Crytek’s The Climb 2 will have its first Freestyle expansion that offers six new levels and a rhythm-based climbing mode. Finally, the Aftershock update for The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners will drop on May 20, bringing new missions, collectibles, and tools.
The event unveiled more news about titles that are still in production, such as Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 VR port for the Quest 2. Expect dual wield weapons, updated gameplay, and more. ILMxLAB’s Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Part II had a character reveal but not a release date. Schell Games is back with another I Expect You to Die 2 – The Spy and The Liar available on Quest, Rift, and more. Hopefully, the puzzles and insane death traps will match their award-winning first title. Check out The Load Screen’s I Expect You to Die review for more on the original title. Oculus Studio’s Lone Echo 2 and Carve Snowboarding by Chuhai Labs each had a spot. Carve is an exciting addition since it is from the creator of 1080 Snowboarding. The new title After the Fall from Vertigo Games, creators of Arizona Sunshine, begins its post-apocalypse zombie survivor action this summer.
The last two new VR titles mentioned in the Oculus Showcase come out in April. Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is out on Oculus Quest and Rift. According to the Fast Travel Games website, the game will publish on May 25 to SteamVR and later in the year for PSVR. Star Wars Pinball VR by Zen Studios is coming April 29 on Oculus and SteamVR, from the information on the Steam store Star Wars Pinball VR page. While Pinball and Star Wars may not seem to make a good match in VR, the game can realistically replace eight different expensive and limited-edition pinball machines, including one from The Mandalorian.
Other than Oculus in-house produced Lone Echo II and a few more, most of these VR titles will have non-Oculus versions. The two games with set releases already have the other major platforms targeted as well. I Expect You to Die 2 is anticipated on all major VR platforms when it finally makes publication, as found in the full Schell Games website news section. The individual game creators usually want to get their products into the hands of fans for enjoyment, so expect more than just a featuring for Oculus devices.
While the Oculus Gaming Showcase was designed to represent their products, most of the titles mentioned will have alternative options other than this Facebook derivate. VR gamers will have some relief since they can play most games on their system without purchasing the newest Oculus product. Some of the titles featured are device-specific even within the Oculus store, limiting player access. If the title has a SteamVR option available, the player can still enjoy their current virtual reality rig. The Load Screen will keep an eye out when the ten other VR games get set dates and more information.
