
Facebook is no stranger to VR, nor is the company unfamiliar with delving into the world of gaming. With Sony and Microsoft both making big moves when it comes to acquisitions, it looks like the social media giant is gearing up to do the same. The latest move? Acquiring one of the biggest names in the VR space, BigBox VR.
In a recent blog post over on the Oculus website, Mike Verdu, VP of content at Facebook Reality Labs, revealed the latest acquisition. In the post, he reflects on Population: One, the breakout battle royale title from BigBox VR. While there are tons of battle royale games out there, VR and non-VR alike, Population: One has been proven to be a successful endeavor, further challenging expectations of what VR can bring to gaming.
"[Population: One] stormed onto the VR scene just nine months ago and has consistently ranked as one the top-performing titles on the Oculus platform, bringing together up to 24 people at a time to connect, play, and compete in a virtual world," said Verdu. "And while social is bringing players into POP: ONE, the quirky humor, continual updates, and pure fun of the environment keeps them coming back time and time again—we’ve even seen players scheduling time to meet in-game for a synchronous social experience. BigBox VR may be small, but they are a mighty, nimble team of game industry vets who seamlessly nail the game development duality of craft and data-driven live service."
The purpose of the acquisition, other than the obvious, is to give BigBox VR the resources needed to grow and nurture, both as a studio and for Population: One. From Facebook and Oculus Studios, BigBox will have a whole new world of funding and resources to continue building upon its battle royale experience while also venturing into new waters for the future ahead.
Regarding "why BigBox," the VP mentioned that Facebook is interested in investing in content that "fosters social connection." To Facebook and the Oculus branch, Population: One fits that bill perfectly, providing an engaging and enjoyable experience that contributes meaningfully to this PvP genre.
The entire BigBox team is confirmed to be joining Oculus Studios, though the company was quick to assuage possible worries of changing exclusivity. Verdu confirms that Population: One will remain on all of the platforms it is currently available on and will not be an Oculus-only adventure in the prepared statement.
To learn more, you can read the full statement here.
Axiom Verge 2 is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Creator Thomas Happ confirmed the news Thursday with a post on the PlayStation Blog. Since the game’s announcement in December 2019 it has only been confirmed for Switch and PC as an Epic Store Exclusive.
The game was recently delayed from its vague launch in the first half of 2021 to Q3 2021, which would place the release date between July and September. In the blog post, Thomas doesn’t have a release date to share, only stating it’s arriving “later this summer.”
Whenever Axiom Verge 2 does release, Happ states that it will arrive on PS4 on the same day as Switch and PC. However, that guarantee may not extend to the PS5 version.
“I am going to try my best to get the PS5 version ready for launch, but that might take a bit longer since I really want to take advantage of that in-game hints system!” says Happ.
Click here to watch embedded mediaIt’s worth noting that Happ is the sole developer on Axiom Verge 2, as he was with its predecessor. The sequel serves as both a follow-up and prequel but stars a new protagonist, Indra, a billionaire tech genus. While the first game was set on an alien planet, Axiom Verge 2 uses an alternate version of Earth as a backdrop. That doesn’t mean it won’t be just as weird as the original. Players have access to a brand new arsenal of alien weaponry not to mention a new mystery to uncover.
Gameplay retains its Super Metroid-inspired DNA, with labyrinthian level design and, of course, its 16-bit aesthetic. Happ shared additional gameplay details addressing the game’s difficulty. First, instead of choosing “Easy, Normal, Hard” at the start, players can instead adjust how much damage they deal to enemies, and in turn, how hard enemies can hit them. Furthermore, every boss in the game is optional. You’ll be rewarded for beating them, but none of the bosses serve as hard obstacles to the critical path.
Axiom Verge 2 sounds substantially bigger than the first game but Happ has repeatedly stated that it’s merely another slice of a grander mythos. He even name drops Axiom Verge 3 in the blog post, saying fans won't know how the first two games relate until the third act. For a deeper dive into how Axiom Verge 2 plays, check out this April hands-on preview.
Are you excited to see Axiom Verge 2 come to PlayStation? What do you think about it’s approach to difficulty and bosses? Let us know in the comments!
[Source: PlayStation Blog]
E3 is getting into full swing this weekend with announcements coming from most major game companies. Ubisoft is set to show off their slate of upcoming games this afternoon, however one unannounced sequel featuring Nintendo’s iconic plumber and Ubi’s chaotic Rabbids has shown up before the big Ubisoft Forward live stream.
An early morning update on the Nintendo eShop revealed a new game in the tactical Mario + Rabbids series is on its way and is titled Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. A few screenshots accompanied some info on the new adventure. The store page gives this brief description of the game: “Team up with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Rabbid Peach, Rabbid Luigi, and their friends on a galactic journey to defeat a malevolent entity and save your Spark companions. Explore planets throughout the galaxy as you uncover mysterious secrets and compelling quests!” According to the details on the eShop page, this new game is expected to release on the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2022.
Other details include using teams of three from “an eclectic roster of nine,” and will continue the X-COM-like gameplay of the original. Additionally, Mario and his Rabbid friends are going to be traveling through the galaxy to save the titular Sparks, who may be the Rabbid-fied Lumas in the screenshots and art on the Nintendo eShop page.
The original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was a goofy, tactical foray into the Mushroom Kingdom. Ubisoft’s unpredictable Rabbids found their way to Mario’s universe and wrought havoc on everything they touched. Check out the Game Informer review of Kingdom Battle in anticipation of knowing more of this new title.
Given the timing of this page going live there will most likely be more information today at the Ubisoft Forward event streaming at 12 p.m. PT. Keep up with our coverage of the Ubisoft Forward showcase at our E3 hub to catch up on other great reveals, and watch the big showcases live with us on Twitch.