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Fly over Paris with all your VR friends in 'Eagle Flight'
While Microsoft and Sony sort out why one person playing Rocket League on a PlayStation 4 can't compete against someone on an Xbox One, VR developers are bringing everyone together regardless of which headset they own. The folks behind Eve: Valkyrie started it and now Ubisoft is on board as well with Eagle Flight.
PSVR shooter 'RIGS' gets a new mech and arena next month
PSVR multiplayer mech-em-up RIGS is one of the platform's most stunning launch titles, delivering enjoyable and fast-paced action -- if your stomach can handle it. In a bid to keep players blasting each other over the holidays, developer Guerilla Cambridge has announced that the title's first major update will arrive next month.
Play 'Star Wars Battlefront' on PSVR December 6th
Electronic Arts teased out its Star Wars Battlefront VR experience way back in March, and now we know when it's actually exiting hyperspace. Come December 6th, you'll be able to strap on your PlayStation VR headset, jump into a virtual X-Wing cockpit and hopefully destroy the Death Star. Remember, this will be a free download for anyone who owns Battlefront. And because today marks the game's first birthday, EA has seen fit to drop a glut of details about the latest, and final, map pack, Rogue One: Scarif -- also out on December 6th. As the name suggests, it brings in a quartet of maps from the upcoming movie, two new heroes (Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic) and a new "multi-stage game mode with space and ground combat." Sounds just a bit like the Battle Station mode from the recent Death Star pack, if you ask me. Speaking of which, starting today and running through the 20th, you can play the previously released Bespin, Death Star and Outer Rim packs for free, and earn four times the experience you usually would. That is, if you can pull yourself away from the free Overwatch weekend taking place starting tomorrow, too. Decisions, decisions.
Japan has some exclusive PSVR titles, but you're not missing much
Sony's lineup of games and demos is often slightly different depending on the region. It's something you may have noticed with PlayStation's VR debut in both Europe and the US -- and that's even more true for Japan. The virtual reality headset launched in Sony's homeland with several titles on the PlayStation Store that are not available elsewhere. While standalone (much less stand-out) games are few, there are still handful of experiences that are only playable with a Japanese PlayStation account. Fortunately for you, I've got one, and have played through some of this Japan-only content. From awkward teacher role-play with a Japanese schoolgirl, to anime J-Pop idol concerts, digitized musicians, Godzilla and virtual karaoke rooms (!), these regional exclusives very much cater to the locals. Here's how they fared over a weeklong playthrough. (Factoring in some time for Rez Infinite, of course.)
'EVE: Valkyrie' blasts onto HTC Vive this month
EVE: Valkyrie might have started life as an Oculus Rift tech demo, but this month the space-shooter will arrive on Steam for HTC Vive owners. The exact release date is coming "soon," according to developer CCP Games. "We've also got some big celebrations planned for that weekend; all pilots on all platforms are invited," the blog post teases. Oh, and there's an announcement of some kind coming during the PlayStation Experience keynote this December 4th. Intriguing.
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the PlayStation VR
And then there were three. The PlayStation VR went on sale earlier this month, making it the third big-name tethered VR headset to arrive this year. Though it's less immersive than either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive that came before it, the PSVR is compelling for an entirely different set of reasons. It's cheaper than the competition, for one, with a starting price of $400. Secondly, look at all the content available for it! The PSVR launched with 30 compatible games, and Sony promises that number will grow to 50 by year's end. And that includes some major franchises too, including Batman and Resident Evil. Not only are these games people will want to play, but the gear you need to experience them -- a PS4, PlayStation Camera and Sony's "Move" motion controllers -- are already in millions of homes. Equally important, the PSVR is comfortable to wear -- something we haven't been able to say about every headset we've tested. That's the bottom line, but if you're craving a little more, find our full review here.
UK games retailer charges for its PSVR demos
Still not sold on VR? Got a PS4? But still not sure? Then you should probably test it out before laying down the hundreds of dollars (or pounds) the peripheral costs. But you probably shouldn't have to pay to do so. But that's exactly what UK retailer Game is doing, charging £5 (just over $6) for ten minutes of neck-craning and open-jawed gaming. You can also pay £15 for 30 minutes. Deal?
You can't explore PSVR's dinosaur planet until November
Until scientists successfully resurrect dinosaurs, interacting with them in VR is going to be the closest we get to going up close and personal with the terrible thunder lizards. But if you were hoping to do so in developer Crytek's Robinson: The Journey with your PlayStation VR today I have some disappointing news for you: It doesn't come out until November 8th in the U.S., and the 9th in Europe. That isn't too far away, but up until now Crytek hasn't exactly given a specific release date for its dino-centric adventure.
Sony's PlayStation VR teardown video is a soothing diversion
Sony's PlayStation VR headset might not have the graphics horsepower of the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift, but the lower price tag, the widely available PS4 hardware and bigger game selection make it an attractive option for an entry-level VR rig. Of course, none of that matters when you're watching it get slowly and methodically dismantled by Sony Interactive's mechanical design director Takamasa Araki.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 9: What's he building in there
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O'Brien to dig through all the big Google news from the week, including the launch of the Pixel phones. Plus they take a brief detour to talk about what makes the PlayStation VR better than its competitors.
Sony releases 80-title lineup of PSVR games and apps
When we got our hands on the PlayStation VR, we confirmed two things: One, that the headset and PS4 hardware won't match the performance of a higher-end PC and Oculus Rift or HTC Vive; And two, that's balanced by all the content Sony has lined up. While incomplete lists of the system's upcoming games and apps have been compiled before, Sony has released the full lineup of nearly 80 titles available at or soon after it launches on October 13th.
PlayStation VR review: Great games outweigh limited specs
The PlayStation VR is just what the fledgling virtual reality industry needs today. While the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive made headlines for being the first truly high-end VR headsets on the market, they're held back by their cost, complexity and lack of killer games and experiences. Sony's solution, on the other hand, starts at $400 (assuming you already own the PlayStation Camera and Motion Controllers) and works with the $300 PS4 console that's currently in tens of millions of homes. It's also launching with a slew of titles from major developers, with even more on the way. While the PlayStation VR isn't as technically capable as its competition, it's a much more sensible option. But it's still not quite a must-buy product just yet.
Sony posts everything you need to know about the PS VR
Since VR headsets are a fairly new category, Sony wants to entice you to buy the PS VR by publishing a lengthy FAQ about the device. In it, the company talks about everything, from its $400 to $500 (for the core bundle) pricing to technical information you need to know to be able to use it. For instance, Sony advises you to switch off your headphones' surround sound, because it will interfere with the headset's 3D audio. Further, wireless earphones won't work with the device -- you'll have to use cans that you'll be able to plug into the headset with a 3.5mm jack.
Sony shows off everything inside the PS VR core bundle box
We're a couple of weeks away from the debut of the PlayStation VR, but you can prepare with this new unboxing video from Sony. The hardware inside the $400 core bundle box (headset, processing unit, headphones and demo disc -- but not the Move controllers and required-for-use PlayStation camera) is all ready and accounted for, but the real trick may be getting your hands on one quickly if you haven't already preordered. We got a closer look at some of the new experiences during the recent Tokyo Game Show, but everyone else will have to wait until it arrives October 13th.
'Here They Lie' trailer is a frightening glimpse at PlayStation VR
Here They Lie wowed us back at E3 with its virtual reality spin on existential horror. Now its latest trailer offers up plenty more reasons to get excited (or preemptively terrified) ahead of its October 13th release (right alongside PlayStation VR's debut). Developed by the team at Tangentleman, it puts you in the shoes of a man experiencing a smorgasbord of horrific imagery while pursuing a mysterious woman. And being a VR joint, you'll get to suffer right alongside him.
PlayStation 4 Slim review: Wait for the PS4 Pro if you can
After selling over 40 million consoles, Sony is refreshing the PlayStation 4. That starts with the PlayStation 4 Slim, available now for $299, along with the PlayStation VR headset (out next month) and the higher-powered PS4 Pro, which comes out in November. Sony has said that the PlayStation 4 Slim will become the new standard PS4, replacing the tried-and-true model that launched in 2013. So how does it compare?
'Jackal Assault' is all I ever wanted in a seated VR game
There's already plenty to look forward to in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare due out on November 4th: Space, futuristic weaponry, rifle customization, enhanced multiplayer modes and a bit of Jon Snow. While I missed the opportunity to try the game at the Tokyo Game Show this week, I did come across Jackal Assault, a PlayStation VR freebie that comes with the CoD title. And it didn't take long before I fell in love with this space dogfight demo. More importantly, I didn't feel sick at all, which is surprising given the speedy maneuvers I managed to pull.
The best of the Tokyo Game Show 2016
The biggest gaming show outside of the US, the Tokyo Game Show has a different atmosphere that's all its own. While it's contracted and shrunk over the last few years, the heat and interest in virtual reality has reinvigorated the show -- regardless of the lack of an official Xbox or Nintendo presence. Sony may have already revealed two new consoles in the last month, but it wanted to remind everyone that it has a virtual reality headset coming out. In short: lots of VR, PlayStation and domestic-centered games, sprinkled with just enough weird.
I barely survived on a dinosaur planet in PlayStation VR
Stepping outside a battered space pod, I drink in the forest's sights and sounds. A shallow river meanders to my left. Some birds chirp overhead. It's a tropical paradise. Or it would be, were it not for the legions of dinosaurs roaming around. I'm playing Robinson: The Journey, a game developed by Crytek for the soon-to-be-released PlayStation VR. As Robin, a young astronaut, I'm tasked with searching for survivors on a strange, alien planet. The problem is that I suck at pretty much everything.
Playing 'Rez' on PlayStation VR made me fall in love again
I haven't been able to find someone at Engadget who doesn't enjoy Rez. (Although now that I've written that I'm sure I will.) And if anyone does dislike it, they should play it in VR, because they're wrong and they need to be corrected. Yes, Rez Infinite, in high resolution, 60 frames-per-second loveliness, comes to the PS4 with PSVR compatibility and it cranks the already addictively immersive experience up a notch. I played it yesterday, and this is definitely what I'll be playing on my PlayStation VR come October.
