Games

New Frontiers For VR Gaming

May 7, 2024

The Curious Case of VR’s Uncertain Future

I’ve been chewing over the future of VR gaming recently, and honestly, I’m on the fence. It’s a whirlwind, right? We’ve got hardware companies throwing out new VR headsets like confetti, but on the other side, it feels like the software bigwigs are giving it a wide berth [1].

Take Sony for instance – they’ve just launched their PSVR2, a solid improvement over the original PSVR, no question. But it’s kinda like shouting in a void, because it seems like no AAA studios want to dive in, Sony included [1].

It’s like a classic standoff – the major game developers seem to be holding their breath for VR to hit a wider user base before they’re willing to throw their cash into a VR game. But then, you’ve got gamers twiddling their thumbs, waiting for that one killer game that’ll justify splashing out on a VR headset. And so, we’re all stuck in this weird limbo [1].

Leaping Onto New Heights

But amid this stalemate, I found myself drawn to an unexpected corner of the VR gaming world. It all started when I bought the Oculus Quest 2 last month and went on the hunt for some new experiences to try out [2].

One game that caught my eye was The Climb, a four-year-old Oculus Rift title that had recently been ported to the Quest 2. Now, I’ll be honest, rock climbing isn’t exactly my forte – heights and I don’t really see eye to eye. But something about The Climb’s premise intrigued me [2].

The game utilizes an extreme form of free solo climbing to advance, meaning you’re scaling these towering rock faces without any ropes or harnesses. Nerve-racking doesn’t quite cut it [2]. Some segments require leaps to progress, catching onto the nearby ledge – but if you misjudge that jump, it’s game over. The Climb could never truly replicate the real sport, but Crytek took it to an absurd level in places [2].

Facing the Abyss

As I climbed between the gentler ascents within the Bay and the hanging off cable car ropes around the Alps, I couldn’t help but wonder – what drives someone to take such heavy risks for sport? [2]

Soon after, I watched the National Geographic documentary “Free Solo,” which told the story of Alex Honnold and his successful free solo of El Capitan. Climbing 3,000ft up without any safety equipment and surviving, it’s an achievement that still boggles my mind [2].

The film made the danger crystal clear, and although Honnold’s climb was undoubtedly impressive, it didn’t completely glorify it. During the build-up, Honnold discusses the fatalities amongst free solo climbers as a matter-of-fact, a sobering moment to witness [2].

Conquering New Frontiers

While I’ll never truly understand the mindset of these elite climbers, The Climb gave me a newfound appreciation for their world. The experience was an eye-opener, and when life eventually calms down, I’m tempted to finally give climbing a try myself [2].

But for now, I’ll settle for The Climb 2 when it launches. In the meantime, I can’t help but wonder – what other unexpected frontiers will VR gaming conquer next? With hardware companies pushing the boundaries and innovative developers exploring new ideas, the future of VR gaming is anything but certain [1].

Maybe we’ll see the long-awaited “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” VR experience, or perhaps a new generation of multiplayer free-roam VR adventures [3, 7]. Who knows, we might even stumble upon the next big thing, a game that justifies the investment in a VR headset and sparks a new wave of mainstream adoption [1].

One thing’s for sure, the world of VR gaming is full of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what new frontiers it’ll conquer next. So, let’s strap on our headsets, take a deep breath, and get ready to soar to new heights – the future is just beginning.