The Meta Quest 2022 showcase was held on April 20, and highlighted games coming to the VR system later this year. Alongside a host of new titles, it also featured updates and additions to already existing VR franchises. Included in the showcase was the second chapter of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, a new electronic mixtape for Beat Saber, a free Mercenaries Mode update for Resident Evil 4 and a Meta Quest port of the popular PSVR title Moss: Book II. VR adaptions of Among Us and Cities were also announced.
With rival VR hardware, such as PlayStation VR 2, rumored to be released towards the end of the year, Meta Quest must ensure they keep releasing quality games to stay at the forefront of the industry. This showcase didn't introduce any highly anticipated titles with the draw of Half-Life: Alyx for example. However, it did show off several new games which look set to solidify VR's place in the AAA gaming sphere.
Ghostbusters VR Brings The Undead To The Player's Living Room
The announcement of Ghostbusters VR came as a nice surprise at the end of the showcase. Fans of the series have already been treated to the announcement of a new multiplayer game, entitled Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, but this VR installment will offer gamers a more immersive experience. Using the VR headset and controllers to physically track, blast and capture ghosts, players can choose to play solo or team up with up to three friends.
BONELAB Continues Stress Level Zero's Quality VR Streak
In 2019, Stress Level Zero released one of VR's best action-adventure shooters in the form of BONEWORKS. Although not a direct sequel, the announcement of BONELAB at the Meta Quest 2022 showcase is certainly an exciting one. It will introduce players to a brand-new story, set in a mysterious underground lab where players will have to fight, run and climb to figure out the truth about their reality.
The game includes an improved physics engine, making the game's interaction even more extensive and realistic. Given this feature was an impressive strength of previous Stress Level Zero games, BONELAB is shaping up to be hugely intriguing. It was also announced that the game would support mods, allowing the community to develop their own weapons, characters and maps to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
NFL PRO ERA Drafts Players Into The NFL
NFL PRO ERA will become the first officially licensed NFL VR game. It will put players inside the helmet of an NFL quarterback as they read the defense and choose the appropriate plays. Then, they'll get to physically make these plays by throwing or running the ball to lead the offense and their team, to the Superbowl.
In addition, players can participate in training drills to improve their skills. They can even play virtual catch with their friends inside famous NFL stadiums. Given that many players have grown frustrated with the popular Madden NFL series, this VR addition could be just what football fans are looking for.
Red Matter 2 Continues The Series' Spacefaring Adventures
Red Matter 2, developed by Vertical Robot, picks up right where the first game ends. Its announcement trailer shows the protagonist being awoken and assigned the new mission of answering the distress call of their crewmate. The game promises to be longer and more ambitious than its predecessor, with the gameplay emphasis remaining on puzzles, exploration and combat. It will introduce new tools, a new jetpack and some seriously impressive visuals. Fans of the space exploration-adventure games will want to keep an eye on this one.
Espire 2 Will Provide Spy Fans Their Fix
Another sequel announced at the Meta Quest 2022 showcase was Espire 2. This new entry in the spy series takes place after the events of the first and tasks players with finding and preventing the launch of an untraceable missile set to destroy the world. It will also include an entirely separate co-op campaign, set in the timeline between the two games. Players can choose to approach combat head-on with an array of weaponry or, alternatively, they can use gadgets and tools to fly under the radar and infiltrate with stealth. Spy games have been disappointingly sparse of late, so fans looking for their fix may have found it here.
RUINSMAGUS Provides A New VR Experience For JRPG Fans
Although RUINSMAGUS had been revealed previously, the first-person action-JRPG developed by Character Bank was again highlighted at the Meta Quest 2022 showcase. It takes place in the ruins underneath a vibrant fantasy city as the player controls a novice mage attempting to unravel the city's secrets by seeking out important artifacts. Players will learn new magic abilities and defeat powerful guardians throughout the game's 26 multistage, fully-voiced quests. The gorgeous character design and animation really make this game stand out as one for JRPG fans to keep an eye on.