From ninja stealth to mind-bending mixed reality, VR is undeniably heating up in anticipation
of Quest 3.
Hey everyone, it's Cas here, fresh from our expedition at Gamescom.
Many now see it as the world’s biggest gaming event, especially with E3 unfortunately no
longer in the picture.
We got an early look at PowerWash Simulator VR, and I even got to pet my wolf companion
in Arashi.
There's an upcoming MOBA-style game, other intriguing titles in the pipeline (one even
reminds me of Super Smash Brothers), and so much more.
Today, I'll share sneak peeks of what’s on the horizon for Quest 3 and the future
of VR gaming.
So let’s get started, and join me beyond reality.
This is Gamescom!
[Gamescom Shots]
First, we had the chance to dive into "Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut", and big thanks
to Skydance Interactive for sponsoring this part of our video.
"Arashi" gives you the ultimate shinobi VR experience, with a standout feature being
your wolf companion, Haru.
Not just a cute sidekick, Haru is pivotal in combat, and yes, you can pet him!
This isn't the first time we've seen "Arashi"; it launched on the original PSVR in 2021.
But now, it's set to arrive on Quest, PSVR2, and PC VR this fall.
With the outdated PSVR1's tracking, Skydance needed to revamp the game with revamped controls,
and while they were at it, we also got improved visuals, updated enemy and boss behaviour,
and tons of quality of life features.
The game immerses you in feudal Japan, casting you as a ninja up against the Six Oni of Iga,
terrifying bandits wreaking havoc.
Our demo had us sneaking around, mastering katanas, blocking attacks, and strategizing
with Haru.
Battling one of the Oni bosses was a highlight, though I did spot some visual artifacts, likely
remnants from the PSVR1 version.
However, the game is still getting improved so this game looks set to impress upon release.
After our shinobi adventures, we dove into the vibrant world of "Max Mustard," brought
to us by Toast Interactive, the creators of “Richie’s Plank Experience”.
Even in my short demo of about 5 minutes, it took me down memory lane, echoing vibes
of early VR platformer "Lucky’s Tale" and the standout "Astro Bot" from PSVR.
"Max Mustard" is shaping up to be a delightful family-friendly game.
You'll team up with the brilliant inventor, Max, on a mission to reunite cute mudpups
with their families.
But be prepared – a twist awaits as a friend unveils a deep secret.
The studio describes Max Mustard as a modern VR platformer with moments of nostalgia, meaningful
upgrades, first person interactions and gameplay that keeps you wanting more.
It's packed with 40 levels, 4 boss battles, 8 upgrades, and a playtime of about 4 hours.
While that's pretty short, I think it's going to leave a lasting impression.
Keep an eye out for this game, which is set to release early next year.
Talking about platformers, here's a game I've been playing for a while now and I'm super
excited about.
Polyarc, the creators of the Moss series, has unveiled gameplay for "Glassbreakers:
Champions of Moss," a new 1v1 MOBA-inspired real-time battler.
In "Glassbreakers", you select three Champions from the Moss world, each with unique abilities.
This sets the stage for strategic face-offs with rivals, where the main goal is to break
your opponent's glass, which can be quite a challenge, especially against real players.
And the catch?
You won’t know your opponent's Champions until battle commences.
You can battle friends in private or match up with similarly skilled players in the community.
And after each battle, you can unlock cosmetics for your characters.
It’s super cute.
Fans of Moss will adore the familiar artstyle and beautiful settings.
I've been playing this game for a while, and I find it so addictive.
My only hope is for an expansion of maps soon, given there's only one map to play which might
get repetitive soon.
Nonetheless, as it's free, there's really no downside to trying it out.
It's available in Early Access on Quest's App Lab.
Plus, if you play between August 29 and September 4, you can take advantage of a Bonus XP Event
to earn extra rewards .
We also got a sneak peek at the upcoming "Smashed Reality" mode for "Smash Drums" by PotamWorks
SAS.
Smash Drums is a rhythm drumming game and the game itself isn’t new, but this free
Mixed Reality update, exclusive to Quest, feels like a whole new experience.
The gameplay vibe?
Think Guitar Hero meets drums.
What's special is that with this MR mode, your FULL drum set is as portable as your
headset; this means you can play your drums anywhere you fancy.
The Smashed Reality mode also takes advantage of Quest's scene capture tools, allowing players
to dynamically destroy stages, like rock arenas, volcano craters and even the Moon.
Here, you'll catch a glimpse of me tearing up Gamescom, and I must admit, it was a blast
in MR.
Pun intended.
"Smash Drums" is already out on Quest and Pico.
The free MR update is set to launch "in the next few months" after its closed beta phase.
And for the rock enthusiasts, there are upcoming paid DLCs featuring legendary rock bands to
look forward to.
Welcome to Gamescom day 2!
Btw, going to Gamescom, one thing became evident.
The upcoming Quest 3 headset isn’t going to be marketed as just a VR gaming headset
anymore.
I think it’s going to focus heavily on its Mixed Reality (MR) capabilities, which can
have pros and cons, which I’ll explain in a bit.
But one of the pros is that it can be a lot of fun and the next demo has proven that to
me.
From Soul Assembly, creators of the Drop Dead VR series and Warhammer 40K Battle Sister
VR, we got a first look at “Drop Dead: The Cabin - Home Invasion”.
This is a free MR mode as well and it’s also specifically crafted for Quest 3's release
later this year.
If you're on top of Quest news, you might remember that it was highlighted in Zuckerberg's
Meta Quest Showcase.
What sets this MR mode apart is the spatial customization, it lets you map your space,
aligning in-game elements like windows and doors to your real-world walls.
The result?
It feels like zombies are actually invading your home, and I didn’t think it would be
that much fun to have an apocalypse at your house.
The experience feels lifelike, despite its cartoonish graphics.
The devs think this mode is perfect for get-togethers or parties and I think so too.
Launching in October, it's accessible on Quest 3, Pro, and 2 — though the Quest 2 version
will be of reduced quality because of the black and white cameras.
I previewed it on Quest Pro, but now I'm even more excited to see what this looks like on
Quest 3.
You need to buy the full game "Drop Dead: The Cabin" to get access to this MR mode for
free.
As a little bonus, I've got a 25% game discount code, which you'll find in the description
below.
Diving back into VR, I demoed "PowerWash Simulator VR" by nDreams.
This calming simulator, which has garnered massive popularity as a flatscreen game, is
making its VR debut on Quest.
Venture into the quaint town of Muckingham in VR as you power wash away dirt from various
surfaces, from patios to vehicles.
And for a social touch, you can join friends online in the same shared space.
My demo involved cleaning a huge theme park and the gameplay was smooth with a variety
of power wash attachments to experiment with.
The beauty of the VR version of course is that you have freedom in your hand movement
over traditional keyboard and mouse setups.
In essence, it's everything you'd expect, but with the added VR immersion!
While I typically gravitate towards adventure games, my short experience with it felt truly
satisfying.
I also had a chance to experience this interesting upcoming game called Gazzlers, a VR shooter
full of diesel-fueled chaos.
Set against the backdrop of Ginkgo, you'll ride an epic train ride, try to craft the
ultimate weapon, and shoot, block, and dodge your way through hordes of crazy enemies.
Your end goal?
To reach the Temple of the Machine God.
It is an on-rails arcade shooter enriched with a roguelite-inspired encounter system.
The levels are procedurally generated, so no two playthroughs are alike
I'm not typically a fan of on-rails shooters, but this game took me by surprise because
the Borderlands-like graphics and animations look really good, even on mobile hardware.
It seems like an ideal game for quick sessions when you have a few moments to spare.
Get ready for Gazzlers' release on September 14th across various platforms, including Quest,
PSVR2, Pico, and SteamVR.
So I tried a bunch more promising games, but due to embargo restrictions, I'm limited in
what I can say at the moment.
However, I've talked with the developers about what teasers I can offer.
So here's a sneak peek:
First, I was particularly taken with "Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice" from Fast Travel
Games.
It's the first time we can assume the role of a vampire, even engaging in bloodsucking!
I'll refrain from giving away too much for now, but stay tuned – I plan to release
a gameplay video shortly after the embargo lifts this week.
On the international front, noteworthy titles are emerging from Korea and Japan.
Stoic Entertainment is in the final stages of launching a tank arena battle game, with
a horror game also in the pipeline.
Now, fans of anime-style games might be familiar with MyDearest, who are known for "Tokyo Chronos"
and "DYSCHRONIA."
The Japanese studio showed me a multiplayer VR game that reminds me a lot of Super Smash
Bros. Keep an eye out for them.
On another note, Holonautic, the creative minds behind Hand Physics Lab, showed me a
mixed reality game that reminds me of Worms.
Bonus points if you remember that game.
Without giving too much away, Chary and I can vouch for its entertainment value, even
at an early stage.
I’m sorry I can’t say more than this but at least you now know a little bit.
In wrapping up my Gamescom experience, I noticed that many games were still in early development.
Also, last year Pico had a huge booth, but this year none of the VR hardware companies
had a big presence.
I’m pretty sure this is the industry holding its breath in anticipation of the Quest 3
release.
Interestingly though, there WAS a lot of VR games.
Just a few years ago, spotting VR at gaming events like these was rare.
Now, they’re a common sight, albeit spread out in the many halls…
It underscores how mainstream VR has become.
I don’t think we’re there yet, like it’d be the icing on the cake if Gamescom ever
decides to dedicate an exclusive area just for VR enthusiasts so it’d be easier to
find VR stuff.
Hopefully they’ll somehow see this video.
Idk if they will xD Another interesting thing was that we saw
an unmistakable rise of Mixed Reality (MR) apps.
The VR industry seems to be heading that way exclusively and I'm very interested to see
what developers will do with this tech.
I'd love to hear from you - how do you feel about the industry heading towards MR?
And from my list, which games are calling out to you the most?
Let me know down below.
I personally think this is the calm before the storm, so subscribe if you haven’t yet
because I’ll be extensively covering Quest 3 and other exciting content in the near future.