Critically Acclaimed Co-Op Shooter Headed to PC and Consoles

Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 6, 2026) | Vertigo Games today announced that Arizona Sunshine®, the critically acclaimed, smash-hit VR series that defined zombie-slaying for millions, is coming to PC and consoles later this year, finally bringing its brutal, sun-baked co-op action to your big screen.

Built on the foundation of the series’ signature brutal gameplay and the frantic but surprisingly touching story of Arizona Sunshine VR 2, Arizona Sunshine brings brand-new ways to survive the heart-pounding, limb-severing and dark-humored apocalypse. The game features narrative-driven solo play and chaotic co-op where every encounter can spiral out of control, all in an accessible third-person perspective on PC and consoles.

Welcome to the sun-kissed, zombie state of Arizona

It’s hot, it’s bloody and frankly, you smell terrible. Meet Sunny, a dark-humored survivor who has spent way too much time alone in the desert talking to the undead he calls “Fred." Together with his fiercely loyal, zombie-chomping dog Buddy, he sets out on a sun-drenched, gore-splattered road trip across Arizona. It’s a witty, frantic story about survival, loneliness, and the bond between a man and his dog. 

Couch co-op is here, baby!

Sure, surviving alone is fine, but why not share the trauma? Grab a friend, a pizza and a controller for chaotic split-screen co-op, or jump into a two-player zombie-slaying sesh online. Blast through massive hordes using fan-favorite weapons, from shotguns and machetes to flamethrowers and more. Firefights break down fast, split-second saves become routine and nothing ever goes according to plan. 

Man’s best friend. Fred’s worst nightmare.

Say hello to Buddy, your new four-legged partner in crime, now fully playable in co-op, opening up a whole new way to experience co-op chaos in the apocalypse. Not only is he the goodest boy who loves belly rubs, he’s also a furry missile capable of sniffing out secrets and tearing Freds limb from limb. 

Did we mention the dog? We really like the dog.

Fresh perspectives (literally)

For the first time ever, experience the blistering heat of the apocalypse in an accessible third-person perspective on your big screen. Watch your handsome self dodge, weave and blow off zombie heads with cinematic flair.

So sharpen your machete, reload your shotgun and bring your friends: Arizona Sunshine is coming to PC and consoles later this year. Wishlist now on PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store, on Xbox Series X|S via the Microsoft Store, and on PC via Steam or the Epic Games Store. Wishlists for Nintendo Switch will be available at a later date. The Freds are waiting…

To stay up to date about Arizona Sunshine, sign up for the newsletter and find more information at Arizona-Sunshine.com. Join the Arizona Sunshine community on X, TikTok, Discord, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.

About Arizona Sunshine® VR

For years, Arizona Sunshine® sat comfortably on the VR throne as one of the best-selling games of all time, packing its signature genre-defining, heart-pounding, limb-severing, dark-humored gameplay into an award-winning, narrative-driven campaign for up to two players in co-op. And sure, while some other touristy zombie game eventually came along to give us a run for our money at the top of the charts, our crown remains undisputed in the hearts of millions of players worldwide. Arizona Sunshine® VR Remake and Arizona Sunshine® VR 2 are available on PC VR, PlayStation VR2, and Meta Quest.

www.arizona-sunshine.com

About Vertigo Games

Vertigo Games is an award-winning, multi-platform game publisher and developer with offices in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Los Angeles, California. The company offers a portfolio of quality games that provide novel, powerful and full-featured gaming experiences. Recent games include The 7th Guest Remake, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, Metro Awakening, Arizona Sunshine® VR Remake, and Arizona Sunshine® VR 2. Vertigo Games is a PLAION Group company. https://vertigo-games.com/.

Arizona Sunshine® 2026 Vertigo Studios B.V. Developed by Vertigo Studios B.V. Published by Vertigo Games. Arizona Sunshine® and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Vertigo Studios. All right reserved.

Article by: Susan N.

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Welcome to the Best VR Terraforming Service in the Milky Way!

Hi there,

Welcome to the best VR terraforming service in the Milky Way! Announced during the Creature Feature & Friends Showcase, Really Interactive (Toran, Virtuoso) revealed its next game, intergalactic narrative adventure Janet’s Planets, is heading to Meta Quest 3/3S and SteamVR.

Janet’s Planets is about saving worlds, over and over again. In Janet's Planets, your job is to transform dying planets and make them fit for new life. Meet an intergalactic cast of quirky aliens, reshape and rejuvenate worn-out worlds, and discover a charming sci-fi story – all while keeping the shareholders happy.  Instantly travel to a planet’s surface with Janet’s Sweetview, creatively experiment in the Sandbox mode, and take on daily challenges with global leaderboards.

About Janet’s Planets

Janet’s Planets offers the best terraforming services this side of the Milky Way! Busted ecosystem? Barren atmosphere? Too dang hot to breathe? Come on down and let us save your world! We’re fixing up these planets across the galaxy, and you're exactly who we're looking for. Using your hands (and Janet’s finest gadgets), you’ll warm climates, grow forests, and gently nudge planets into shapes their quirky residents can thrive in. 

Each species wants something different, so you’ll have to experiment, observe, and learn what each world needs. If you’d like to see your creations up close, you can head down to the surface with the help of Janet’s SweetView! Climb the leaderboards, tackle daily challenges, play to your heart’s content in sandbox mode, and discover an out-of this world story about what it takes to grow shareholder value in the wilds of outer space.

Features:

• Six hour narrative adventure 
• Make each planet feel… just right. For your customer’s needs, and for our shareholders. 
• Experience a planet’s surface with Janet’s SweetView
• Sandbox Mode with no limits inside the Planetarium
• Daily challenges with global leaderboards
• Hand tracking controls on Meta Quest 3/3S

About Really Interactive

Founded in 2016, Really Interactive is a worker-run co-operative indie developer based in Stockholm, Sweden. Best known for creating its two original VR titles, Toran and Virtuoso, the studio is now developing Janet’s Planets for Meta Quest 3/3S and Steam.

Article by: Susan N.

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Path of Fury Episode 1: Tetsuo's Tower Implements bHaptics Support to the Game!

March 26, 2025 | Independent developer Leonard Menchiari, Director of Trek to Yomi, and publisher Abonico Game Works are happy to announce that their on-rails VR Kung-fu arcade thriller Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower is implementing full bHaptics support for their Vest, Arms and Visor devices. These haptic devices enhance VR experiences by giving users a physical feeling of their surroundings. The suit is equipped with vibro-tactile motors, which deliver tactile feedback, allowing users to engage with the virtual world on a deeper level.

"The implementation of the bHaptics feature really does add a lot, we collaborated directly with the bHaptics team to ensure that the effects were a perfect blend between realistic and satisfyingly responsive, and I think it turned out great." - Leonard Menchiari (Game Director)

Additionally there are 2 new competitive challenges that the Path of Fury community can join. The first one is based on who gets the highest kill count in any of the the arena endless stages of the game, it offers 350 USD in prizes and ends on April 20 (registration form), and also another competition called Project Zenith in partnership with the VR short video sharing platform Rival, with 2500 USD in prizes and ends on April 27.

Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo's Tower is available at a price of 8.99 EUR | 9.99 USD on the Meta Quest Store and it is supported by Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro devices.

Step into the fight of your life.   

Immerse yourself in a gritty VR experience where your fists are your only weapons, and your will to survive is your greatest ally. Inspired by the legendary Kowloon Walled City and 90s Kung Fu action movies, this towering dystopia is packed with fast-paced martial arts combat, environmental storytelling, and the relentless challenge of ascending Tetsuo’s fortress-like tower.

David vs. Goliath

You’re the underdog with nothing left to lose, taking on a corrupt system built to crush the weak. Every level you climb brings new enemies, faster moves, and a chance to master the martial arts principles of precision, speed, and resilience. Path of Fury is more than a game—it's a training ground for courage and determination.

Why Play Path of Fury?

Wing Chun-Inspired Combat: Fight like a true martial artist, honing skills that can even apply to the real world.

Intense VR Immersion: Feel every hit, block, and dodge in a world that pulls you in and won’t let go.

A Tower to Conquer: Each level tells a story, packed with challenges that push your mind and reflexes to the edge.

GAME FEATURES

• Experience the essence of Kung Fu. The goal is to deliver the most powerful strikes and achieve quicker knockouts with the least effort possible, players will feel the progression after playing more and more sessions.
• Linear experience but feels different each time. With a strong backstory, the game is designed to be very straightforward and to still surprise the player with new details and progression elements each time they play.
• Essential training tool component. Patience pays off. Every enemy has a weakness that can be exploited, so the more you practice, the faster you’ll beat them.
• The combat is in the sweet spot between authenticity and accessibility, designed with everyone in mind, with a focus on striking, while rewarding resistance precision and speed instead, just like in Kung-Fu.

The Lore Behind Path of Fury - Meet Tetsuo

Tetsuo is the man governing this quarter. Here, the outskirts are where he gets the money, mainly from the nightclubs, where he sells the products he bakes to feed the city. The streets outside the tower are pure chaos: gangs fighting for territory, thugs scraping by, and a police force too corrupt or powerless to restore order. Under the tower is where people live, underground, where Yakuza members keep peace and order among the addicts and gang members. Inside the tower is where the products are made, so that the higher floors can enjoy their parties and have fun while at the very top Tetsuo's men train all day and night to become the most powerful martial artists in the world, placed there to protect him from anyone who wants to tear his empire down. Here is where Tetsuo resides, watching over the world he's built, safe from anything that could get in his way. Until now, perhaps.

Useful Links:

• Meta Quest Store page
• Official website
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• Tiktok
• Instagram
• Official Discord Server

About Leonard Menchiari

Leonard Menchiari, is a game developer who started his career in 2010 in the audiovisual production field with short films like Half Life’s Singularity Collapse, he worked with Valve in 2011-2012. He directed the real world events based crowd-control tactical game RIOT Civil Unrest in 2016, then the platformer adventure The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] in 2019, and the cinematic Samurai combat-centered adventure Trek to Yomi in 2022.

About Abonico Game Works 

ABONICO GAME WORKS is a new independent game publisher founded by the marketing and business consultant Jesús Fabre in 2024, with a particular focus in small to medium-sized, arcade and retro-inspired games. We are committed to delivering the old good fun experiences to PC, consoles, and VR platforms. We have a team of experienced senior professionals that really care about the games we publish.

Article by: Susan N.

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Experience an Arcade VR Thriller Set in the 90s on the Meta Quest Store Now!

March 13, 2025 | Independent developer Leonard Menchiari, Director of Trek to Yomi, and publisher Abonico Game Works announce that Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower is out today on the Meta Quest Store at a price of 9.99 USD. Supported by the Quest 2, Pro and 3 devices thanks to the Spanish studio Nox Noctis, this on-rails Virtual Reality action game is inspired in the Chinese Kung-Fu movies from the 80s like the Wong Kar Wai series or The Raid Redemption and games like Time Crisis and the 90’s First of the North Star arcade cabinet.

EARLY PRESS RECEPTION

"An incredible experience for Kung-Fu enthusiasts that'll make them feel like an action hero. It’s still an immediate purchase to experience the gritty environments and beautiful noir lighting that looks like a film from the '80s. With Path of Fury, it should be talked about as one of the more fun fitness experiences that the Meta Quest has to offer."

9/10 - Mark O’Callaghan (CBR)

"‘Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower’ is a tonne of fun and makes me a believer in fitness through virtual reality. Strong visuals are backed by a fast-paced rhythm-and-arcade style of gameplay, not to mention a story that’ll peruse you through thugs and police alike. This is easily one of my favourite VR games, even with its rocky caveat." 

8,2/10 - Genghis Husameddin (XboxEra)

"Everything about Path of Fury feels exactly like an ’80s kung-fu thriller. And it’s brought to life extremely well, as every room feels completely different from one another. If you’re looking for a way to get up and moving, all while having a great time exploring a massive tower filled with enemies, I would suggest checking this one out. Genuinely, if you’re hoping to find a way to get your muscles aching, I haven’t found a better way than this." 

Recommended - Shaun Cichacki (VICE)

In Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower, you’re thrust into a relentless gauntlet, armed with nothing but your fists and raw willpower. Tetsuo’s fortress rises above you, each floor crawling with enemies that are ready to end you. Your only option? Punch your way through every last one of them.

Precision and speed are everything. Each enemy has a weakness—you’ll have to find it and strike before they swarm. As the floors stack higher, so do the odds. The action doesn’t let up, and neither can you. This is pure, high-stakes combat where every punch counts, and hesitation could be fatal.

Path of Fury doesn’t just test your skill—it tests your endurance.

The question is: how far can you go?

"I think VR is at its best when it combines exercise with beautiful, immersive environments, so I tried to create something that could merge those things together. Through this, I was able to craft a linear experience with a strong backstory that despite being very straightforward, still felt different each time. That was the goal at least, but I feel like I got pretty close to what I was aiming for." - Leonard Menchiari (Game Director)

GAME FEATURES

• Experience the essence of Kung Fu. The goal is to deliver the most powerful strikes and achieve quicker knockouts with the least effort possible, players will feel the progression after playing more and more sessions.
• Linear experience but feels different each time. With a strong backstory, the game is designed to be very straightforward and to still surprise the player with new details and progression elements each time they play.
• Essential training tool component. Patience pays off. Every enemy has a weakness that can be exploited, so the more you practice, the faster you’ll beat them.
• The combat is in the sweet spot between authenticity and accessibility, designed with everyone in mind, with a focus on striking, while rewarding resistance precision and speed instead, just like in Kung-Fu.

The Lore Behind Path of Fury - Meet Tetsuo

Tetsuo is the man governing this quarter. Here, the outskirts are where he gets the money, mainly from the nightclubs, where he sells the products he bakes to feed the city. The streets outside the tower are pure chaos: gangs fighting for territory, thugs scraping by, and a police force too corrupt or powerless to restore order. Under the tower is where people live, underground, where Yakuza members keep peace and order among the addicts and gang members. Inside the tower is where the products are made, so that the higher floors can enjoy their parties and have fun while at the very top Tetsuo's men train all day and night to become the most powerful martial artists in the world, placed there to protect him from anyone who wants to tear his empire down. Here is where Tetsuo resides, watching over the world he's built, safe from anything that could get in his way. Until now, perhaps.

About Leonard Menchiari

Leonard Menchiari, is a game developer who started his career in 2010 in the audiovisual production field with short films like Half Life’s Singularity Collapse, he worked with Valve in 2011-2012. He directed the real world events based crowd-control tactical game RIOT Civil Unrest in 2016, then the platformer adventure The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] in 2019, and the cinematic Samurai combat-centered adventure Trek to Yomi in 2022.

About Abonico Game Works 

ABONICO GAME WORKS is a new independent game publisher founded by the marketing and business consultant Jesús Fabre in 2024, with a particular focus in small to medium-sized, arcade and retro-inspired games. We are committed to delivering the old good fun experiences to PC, consoles, and VR platforms. We have a team of experienced senior professionals that really care about the games we publish.

Article by: Susan N.

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Experience VR Inspired by Chinese Kung-Fu Movies on March 12th

January 22, 2025 - Independent developer Leonard Menchiari, Director of Trek to Yomi, The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] and publisher Abonico Game Works are proud to announce that Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower, will be launching on the Meta Quest Store this March 12. This on-rails Virtual Reality action game is inspired in the Chinese Kung-Fu movies from the 80s like the Wong Kar Wai series or The Raid Redemption and games like Time Crisis and the 90’s First of the North Star arcade cabinet. The title will be sold at a price of 9.99 USD and will supported by the Quest 2, Pro and 3 devices.



In Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower, you’re thrust into a relentless gauntlet, armed with nothing but your fists and raw willpower. Tetsuo’s fortress rises above you, each floor crawling with enemies that are ready to end you. Your only option? Punch your way through every last one of them.

Precision and speed are everything. Each enemy has a weakness—you’ll have to find it and strike before they swarm. As the floors stack higher, so do the odds. The action doesn’t let up, and neither can you. This is pure, high-stakes combat where every punch counts, and hesitation could be fatal.

Path of Fury doesn’t just test your skill—it tests your endurance.

The question is: how far can you go?

"I think VR is at its best when it combines exercise with beautiful, immersive environments, so I tried to create something that could merge those things together. Through this, I was able to craft a linear experience with a strong backstory that despite being very straightforward, still felt different each time. That was the goal at least, but I feel like I got pretty close to what I was aiming for." - Leonard Menchiari (Game Director)

GAME FEATURES

• Experience the essence of Kung Fu. The goal is to deliver the most powerful strikes and achieve quicker knockouts with the least effort possible, players will feel the progression after playing more and more sessions.
• Linear experience but feels different each time. With a strong backstory, the game is designed to be very straightforward and to still surprise the player with new details and progression elements each time they play.
• Essential training tool component. Patience pays off. Every enemy has a weakness that can be exploited, so the more you practice, the faster you’ll beat them.
• The combat is in the sweet spot between authenticity and accessibility, designed with everyone in mind, with a focus on striking, while rewarding resistance precision and speed instead, just like in Kung-Fu.

The Lore Behind Path of Fury - Meet Tetsuo

Tetsuo is the man governing this quarter. Here, the outskirts are where he gets the money, mainly from the nightclubs, where he sells the products he bakes to feed the city. The streets outside the tower are pure chaos: gangs fighting for territory, thugs scraping by, and a police force too corrupt or powerless to restore order. Under the tower is where people live, underground, where Yakuza members keep peace and order among the addicts and gang members. Inside the tower is where the products are made, so that the higher floors can enjoy their parties and have fun while at the very top Tetsuo's men train all day and night to become the most powerful martial artists in the world, placed there to protect him from anyone who wants to tear his empire down. Here is where Tetsuo resides, watching over the world he's built, safe from anything that could get in his way. Until now, perhaps.

Useful Links:

• Meta Quest Store page
• Official website
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• Tiktok
• Instagram
• Official Discord Server

About Leonard Menchiari

Leonard Menchiari, is a game developer who started his career in 2010 in the audiovisual production field with short films like Half Life’s Singularity Collapse, he worked with Valve in 2011-2012. He directed the real world events based crowd-control tactical game RIOT Civil Unrest in 2016, then the platformer adventure The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] in 2019, and the cinematic Samurai combat-centered adventure Trek to Yomi in 2022.

About Abonico Game Works

ABONICO GAME WORKS is a new independent game publisher founded by the marketing and business consultant Jesús Fabre in 2024, with a particular focus in small to medium-sized, arcade and retro-inspired games. We are committed to delivering the old good fun experiences to PC, consoles, and VR platforms. We have a team of experienced senior professionals that really care about the games we publish.

Article by: Susan N.

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Path of Fury Episode 1: Tetsuo's Tower Coming Out 2025 on VR Platforms!

December 6, 2024 | Independent developer Leonard Menchiari, Director of Trek to Yomi, The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] and publisher Abonico Game Works are proud to announce their upcoming game Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower, an on-rails Virtual Reality action game inspired in the Chinese Kung-Fu movies from the 80s like the Wong Kar Wai series or The Raid Redemption and games like Time Crisis and the 90’s First of the North Star arcade cabinet. The reveal trailer for Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower has been one of the few selected to be part of the recent Upload VR Showcase Winter 2024, the title is planned to be released by early 2025 at a price of 9.99 USD | EUR and will support Quest 2, Pro and 3 devices.

In Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower, you’re thrust into a relentless gauntlet, armed with nothing but your fists and raw willpower. Tetsuo’s fortress rises above you, each floor crawling with enemies that are ready to end you. Your only option? Punch your way through every last one of them.

Precision and speed are everything. Each enemy has a weakness—you’ll have to find it and strike before they swarm. As the floors stack higher, so do the odds. The action doesn’t let up, and neither can you. This is pure, high-stakes combat where every punch counts, and hesitation could be fatal.

Path of Fury doesn’t just test your skill—it tests your endurance.

The question is: how far can you go?

The trailer for Path of Fury: Episode I showcases a high-level collaborative effort, with Mike Galeck taking a central role as art director. This project featured the talents of Akihiko Serikawa, a Japanese actor known for productions like The Bus Stop (2024) and The Japon (2019), who brought charisma and depth to the characters. Also involved was Ramón Álvarez, a renowned stunt specialist with credits in films such as Gladiator 2 (2024) and No Time to Die (2021), whose expertise added dynamic action and realism to the scenes. Finally, Nacho Serapio, a martial arts expert and action film director known for projects like Bullets and Katanas (2023), contributed his choreographic skills and direction to the combat sequences. Together, these professionals crafted a trailer that combines immersive storytelling and high-impact visual action.

Mike Galeck, is a filmmaker and CGI specialist, boasts over 15 years of experience in creating visual content for film, television, and video games. Renowned for his expertise in art direction, post-production, and visual effects, he has worked with international brands such as PlayStation, Duracell, and Henkel, developing award-winning commercials. In recent years, Galeck has shifted his focus to the gaming industry, contributing as Art Director and Videographer to standout virtual reality titles like Path of Fury and OVRDARK.

Useful Links:

• Meta Quest Store page
• Official website
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• Tiktok
• Instagram
• Discord

About Leonard Menchiari

Leonard Menchiari, is a game developer who started his career in 2010 in the audiovisual production field with short films like Half Life’s Singularity Collapse, he worked with Valve in 2011-2012. He directed the real world events based crowd-control tactical game RIOT Civil Unrest in 2016, then the platformer adventure The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] in 2019, and the cinematic Samurai combat-centered adventure Trek to Yomi in 2022.

About Abonico Game Works 

ABONICO GAME WORKS is a new independent game publisher founded by the marketing and business consultant Jesús Fabre in 2024, with a particular focus in small to medium-sized, arcade and retro-inspired games. We are committed to delivering the old good fun experiences to PC, consoles, and VR platforms. We have a team of experienced senior professionals that really care about the games we publish.

Article by: Susan N.

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Claw Your Way To Victory in Clawball by ARVORE!

October 17, 2024 - ARVORE, the Emmy Award-winning Brazilian studio celebrated for its innovative VR games like Pixel Ripped, is announcing that their brand new VR multiplayer Cat vs Cat Soccer game, Clawball, is arriving today as free game to the Meta Quest Store in Early Access, the game will be available at 10am PT / 7pm CET. To celebrate the spooky Halloween mood, the game will kick off with its first Season Pass, offering unique limited cosmetics, such as ghoul cat, skeleton cat, the good old Jack o’ Lantern head and many more! 

Directed by Ana Ribeiro – the creative force behind Pixel Ripped – Clawball features fast-paced 3v3 soccer matches where players embody cat personas, using their paws (and claws!) to score goals in this exhilarating party sport game.

This is the perfect opportunity to invite friends, jump into the game, have fun, and rack up some sweet XP as you level up the Season Pass together!

JOIN THE CLAWBALL COMMUNITY!!

ARVORE has an active community of Clawball players on Discord already, where fans can post clips of their most wild and chaotic playthroughs, look for matches to join or simply have fun chatting - you can join here discord.gg/nZUTuEZrG7

In addition to its competitive gameplay, Clawball also offers rich social interaction, allowing players to enjoy a “playground” Lobby full of places to explore and meet fellow players. Customization is a core pillar in Clawball, as players are rewarded with a variety of cosmetics such as headgear, eyewear, and shirts to make their cat-persona truly unique. With new cosmetics being added to the game periodically, players can continuously find fresh ways to express themselves.

"I'm thrilled to present Clawball, ARVORE's first multiplayer VR game. Inspired by our love for chaotic multiplayer games and fueled by our Brazilian roots, Clawball blends competitive spirit with playful feline madness. It all started when our lead programmer, Joao Machado, noticed his movements resembling those of a cat while tinkering with the initial prototype. This sparked a burst of creative inspiration. The best part of developing this game has been our playtest sessions with the whole team, where it's hard to stop playing and get work done. Now, we're excited to finally share that joy with the world. Despite the challenges, creating Clawball has been a blast—we hope you enjoy playing it as much as we do!" - Ana Ribeiro, Game Director.

About ARVORE

ARVORE is an Emmy Award-winning Brazilian XR studio that creates and develops innovative games, interactive narratives and immersive worlds using the latest technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. With acclaimed titles like The Line, YUKI, and the Pixel Ripped series—including “Pixel Ripped 1989,” “Pixel Ripped 1995,” and the latest gem “Pixel Ripped 1978”—the studio has earned prestigious accolades, including the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award, a Lion at the 76th Venice Film Festival, a DICE Award Nomination, and the 2023 Best VR/XR Game Award at the BIG Festival.

Follow ARVORE on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads.

Article by: Susan N.

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VR Multiplayer Cat versus Cat Soccer Game Clawball is Now Available on Meta Quest Store!

October 11, 2024 - ARVORE, the Emmy Award-winning Brazilian studio celebrated for its innovative VR games like Pixel Ripped, is announcing that their brand new VR multiplayer Cat vs Cat Soccer game, Clawball, is arriving for free to the Meta Quest Store in Early Access this October 17. To celebrate the spooky Halloween mood, the game will kick off with its first Season Pass, offering unique limited cosmetics, such as ghoul cat, skeleton cat, the good old Jack o’ Lantern head and many more! 

Directed by Ana Ribeiro – the creative force behind Pixel Ripped – Clawball features fast-paced 3v3 soccer matches where players embody cat personas, using their paws (and claws!) to score goals in this exhilarating party sport game.

This is the perfect opportunity to invite friends, jump into the game, have fun, and rack up some sweet XP as you level up the Season Pass together!

JOIN THE CLAWBALL COMMUNITY!!

ARVORE has an active community of Clawball players on Discord already, where fans can post clips of their most wild and chaotic playthroughs, look for matches to join or simply have fun chatting - you can join here discord.gg/nZUTuEZrG7

In addition to its competitive gameplay, Clawball also offers rich social interaction, allowing players to enjoy a “playground” Lobby full of places to explore and meet fellow players. Customization is a core pillar in Clawball, as players are rewarded with a variety of cosmetics such as headgear, eyewear, and shirts to make their cat-persona truly unique. With new cosmetics being added to the game periodically, players can continuously find fresh ways to express themselves.

"I'm thrilled to present Clawball, ARVORE's first multiplayer VR game. Inspired by our love for chaotic multiplayer games and fueled by our Brazilian roots, Clawball blends competitive spirit with playful feline madness. It all started when our lead programmer, Joao Machado, noticed his movements resembling those of a cat while tinkering with the initial prototype. This sparked a burst of creative inspiration. The best part of developing this game has been our playtest sessions with the whole team, where it's hard to stop playing and get work done. Now, we're excited to finally share that joy with the world. Despite the challenges, creating Clawball has been a blast—we hope you enjoy playing it as much as we do!" - Ana Ribeiro, Game Director.

Check out the website here!

About ARVORE

ARVORE is an Emmy Award-winning Brazilian XR studio that creates and develops innovative games, interactive narratives and immersive worlds using the latest technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. With acclaimed titles like The Line, YUKI, and the Pixel Ripped series—including “Pixel Ripped 1989,” “Pixel Ripped 1995,” and the latest gem “Pixel Ripped 1978”—the studio has earned prestigious accolades, including the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award, a Lion at the 76th Venice Film Festival, a DICE Award Nomination, and the 2023 Best VR/XR Game Award at the BIG Festival.

Follow ARVORE on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads

Article by: Susan N.

Read More

Learn a New Language in Terra Alia: The Spell-Finitive Edition on Quest

Barcelona, Spain, July 24th, 2024 – 30 Parallel Games is thrilled to announce the arrival of Terra Alia: The Spell-Finitive Edition on the Quest Store on July 24th. With the arrival of this new update, the price of the game will be reduced to $9.99 USD/EUR during the first month after launch, representing a 50% off.

Terra Alia is a steampunk RPG language adventure VR game set in a techno-magical world, where spells are crafted using a multilingual system. Originally launched as an early access version last November, the developers have been tirelessly improving the game, adding new features and content, including an online multiplayer mode.

LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS, ADDITIONS AND FIXES MADE

• Three New Locations: Larger than ever, with expanded storylines and additional side quests.
• Multiplayer Mode: Compete with up to 4 players in thrilling matches.
• New Spells: Confront new challenges, enemies, and puzzles with an array of powerful spells.
• Enhanced Gameplay: Polished combat mechanics, leveling system, and interactive elements.
• Visual Upgrades: Improved interface and more dynamic animations.
• Advanced Voice Recognition: Enhanced calibration for more accurate spellcasting.
• Bug Fixes: Numerous issues resolved for a smoother gameplay experience.

To solve the mysterious disappearance of Professor Esperanto, begin your journey at the prestigious Magic Academy. Navigate through a city where technology and magic blend seamlessly, and explore the depths of an ancient desert. Solve intricate puzzles and engage in dynamic combat using spells crafted from words in ten different languages. As you level up, expand your vocabulary and master even more powerful spells!

Terra Alia is also available on Nintendo Switch and Steam. If you would like to cover these versions, please reply to this email, and we will gladly provide you with a code.

In the world of Terra Alia, sorcery and technology coexist seamlessly, yet some seek to keep magic exclusive to a select few. Study at one of the most prestigious magical academies under the tutelage of Professor Esperanto, a champion for equal access to magic.

When Professor Esperanto mysteriously vanishes, all that remains is her trusty cyber-familiar, Falco, and a piece of an enchanted stone with an encoded message. Embark on an adventure to retrieve the five remaining pieces of the stone to rescue the Professor. 

Choose one of ten languages and cast powerful spells against enemies in dynamic combat. Upgrade your spells and harness new abilities while engaging in captivating side quests, solving perplexing puzzles, and battling foes ranging from angry students to divine deities and corrupt robots.

Become a talented linguist as you watch the adventure unfold across 10 different languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese. Complete the story in one language within 7-9 hours, or delve into Professor Esperanto’s quest across all 10 languages for 40-50 hours of gameplay.

Follow the journey of five underprivileged teens in an upcoming 24-page comic from award-winning author Sylvain Runberg, best known for his adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series, read by more than a million avid comic readers. Launching later this year, this comic will expand the story beyond the disappearance of Professor Esperanto, exploring new corners of the world.

ABOUT 30 PARALLEL GAMES

30 Parallel is a game development studio made up of industry veterans and passionate newcomers from around the globe, united by a shared love for creating entertaining—and on occasion educational—content. Our team has sharpened their skills at industry giants like Warner Bros, Universal Studios, and Activision Blizzard, tackling everything from licensed blockbusters to original gems. With our extensive entertainment industry expertise, we're here to bring high-quality, enjoyable experiences to audiences worldwide. Want to know more? Dive into the 30 Parallel Games website, and join the fun!

Article by: Susan N.

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ARVORE, the Pixel Ripped studio, presents: CLAWBALL

A VR Soccer Game with Cats...

and a Blowfish!

Chaotic 3v3 Fast-Paced Soccer Matches that Blend Competitive Spirit with Playful Feline Madness!

June 27, 2024 - ARVORE, the Emmy Award-winning Brazilian studio celebrated for its innovative work with VR games and storytelling, is announcing their exciting new project: Clawball, a VR multiplayer soccer game with cats (trailer, press kit, website). In this exhilarating party sport game directed by Ana Ribeiro, the creative mind behind the Pixel Ripped franchise, players will be able to play in fast-paced 3v3 soccer matches embodying cat personas to hit the ball with their paws (and claws) to score goals.

Clawball will be available on Meta Quest Applab for free this October 2024 to be played in early access, with the final release on the Quest Store planned for 2025. Additionally, early birds can play the game even sooner by joining the upcoming closed Beta available via ARVORE’s discord server (discord.gg/nZUTuEZrG7).

In addition to its competitive gameplay, Clawball also offers rich social interaction, allowing players to enjoy a “playground” Lobby full of places to explore and meet fellow players. Customization is a core pillar in Clawball, as players are rewarded with a variety of cosmetics such as headgear, eyewear, and shirts to make their cat-persona truly unique. With new cosmetics being added to the game periodically, players can continuously find fresh ways to express themselves.

"I'm thrilled to present Clawball, ARVORE's first multiplayer VR game. Inspired by our love for chaotic multiplayer games and fueled by our Brazilian roots, Clawball blends competitive spirit with playful feline madness. It all started when our lead programmer, Joao Machado, noticed his movements resembling those of a cat while tinkering with the initial prototype. This sparked a burst of creative inspiration. The best part of developing this game has been our playtest sessions with the whole team, where it's hard to stop playing and get work done. Now, we're excited to finally share that joy with the world. Despite the challenges, creating Clawball has been a blast—we hope you enjoy playing it as much as we do!" - Ana Ribeiro, Game Director.

Links:

Announcement Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRE_q8s1w7g

Website: www.clawball.com/

About ARVORE

ARVORE is an Emmy Award-winning Brazilian XR studio that creates and develops innovative games, interactive narratives and immersive worlds using the latest technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. With acclaimed titles like The Line, YUKI, and the Pixel Ripped series—including “Pixel Ripped 1989,” “Pixel Ripped 1995,” and the latest gem “Pixel Ripped 1978”—the studio has earned prestigious accolades, including the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award, a Lion at the 76th Venice Film Festival, a DICE Award Nomination, and the 2023 Best VR/XR Game Award at the BIG Festival.

Follow ARVORE on Twitter, Instagram and Threads

Article by: Susan N.

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Hunting Simulator Coming to PC Next Year by Polish Studio 3T Games!

Ultimate Hunting revealed. New hunting simulator will surprise with beauty, realism and brutality

Hunting simulators have yet to be as brutally realistic as the just-revealed Ultimate Hunting. In the first official trailer, the simulator surprises with the exciting beauty of hunting reserves in California and Africa. Developed on Unreal Engine 5, Ultimate Hunting will push the boundaries of realism in hunting games, with every decision and every shot meant to be truly felt. The game will offer both single hunter and cooperative hunting modes for up to 16 people. Scheduled for release on PC in 2025/2026, Ultimate Hunting will later hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch successor. A VR version is also planned.

A Polish studio of several people, 3T Games, is working on Ultimate Hunting from 2021. The publisher of the game on PC and consoles will be Ultimate Games, which is known, among other things, for its bestselling series of highly rated fishing games Ultimate Fishing Simulator.

Ultimate Hunting is a realistic open world hunting simulator with single and multiplayer game modes (up to 16 hunters at a time), with extensive gameplay including expedition planning, stealth, tracking or baiting. Players will have the opportunity to take on the roles of hunters who, while exploring nature, discover the habits of local animals, select suitable individuals, and admire the richness and diversity of local flora and fauna. The simulator will offer a choice of first-person or third-person perspective (FPP/TPP) view.

"Our goal is to capture the pure and true essence of hunting. Ultimate Hunting is a game that will stand out for its realism, which at times will be literally brutal. Thanks to realistic animals shoot reaction, the player will feel more strongly the weight of his decisions and the importance of every shot he takes. We are also working on a whole set of other mechanics and elements that have not been present in hunting games so far, or have only been there in a heavily simplified form, including a Random Antler Generation System (RAGS), dynamic need zones, active camouflage, and much more. Within the ecosystem, individual species will naturally react not only to players, but also to other animals, noise or the current weather. On top of that, the need zones of individual animals will be dynamic, so that each hunt can be a unique experience," says Rafal Jelonek, producer and director of the game, who privately is a hunter himself.

The new hunting simulator is being developed on Unreal Engine 5. As a result, hunting on the African savannah or in the sequoia forests of California is expected to become a delightful and unforgettable experience. Ultimate Hunting will also support ray tracing, DLSS and FSR technologies, among others.

Players will hunt in two vast locations – the California Hunting Reserve and the Southern Africa Hunting Reserve. The reserves are modeled on real locations, and the flora and fauna present in them will correspond to the real conditions in these places. Each map will cover an area of at least 64 km².

As the developers of the game point out, it will be possible to hunt a total of more than 30 different species of animals. In California, these include California black bears, North American cougars, California mule deer, wild boars, American badgers, western crow, California quail, wood ducks and more. In South Africa, on the other hand, hunters will find, for example, African bush elephants, South African giraffes, Cape hippopotamus, southern lions, Nile crocodiles, southern chacma baboons, Burchell's zebra, Cape ground squirrel and more. At the same time, the animals will be differentiated by gender, age and weight, among other factors.

Ultimate Hunting will offer a wide range of weapons and hunting equipment. The list includes many variants of firearms (bolt-actions, lever-action, semi-auto, shotguns and revolvers) and silent weapons (bows and crossbows), various types of decoys and baits, optical devices, hunting clothing and footwear, as well as vehicles. There will be two aiming modes with the scope (quick scope and full scope). The 3T Games team also promises advanced weapon customization with additional accessories. Ultimate Hunting will not lack licensed hunting equipment, including, for example, Titan 6 rifles from the Austrian brand Rößler Waffen and camouflage from the American brand Next Camo.

"Importantly, in Ultimate Hunting, the principles of ethical behavior of hunters will be promoted. This will be evident, for example, in the situation after hunting a deer - the player can leave the carcass of the animal to attract predators with it, and then hunt it. At the same time, he will receive a penalty for leaving the animal in such a way but he can earn more by hunting those predators or …become a prey," adds Rafal Jelonek.

Ultimate Hunting - Main Features:

• a beautiful and realistic open world hunting simulator;
• hunting reserves in California and South Africa;
• mechanics that introduce a new quality in hunting games;
• more than 30 animal species to hunt;
• vast variety of hunting gear (including firearms, bows, calls, baits and more).
• dynamic weather and dynamic need-zone systems;
• singleplayer & multiplayer modes (up to 16 players).

Ultimate Hunting's release on PC is tentatively scheduled for 2025/2026, with the simulator also coming later to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Ultimate Games S.A.'s plans also include releasing Ultimate Hunting on Nintendo's new console, which will replace the Nintendo Switch, as well as preparing a version for VR systems.

Social Media Links:

• Ultimate Hunting (Steam):
• https://store.steampowered.com/app/1376880/Ultimate_Hunting
• The game's website:
• https://ultimate-hunting.com/
• The game's profile on the Facebook platform:
• https://www.facebook.com/ultimatehuntingofficial
• Profile of the game on the Discord platform:
• https://discord.gg/ultimate-hunting
• Profile of the game on the X (Twitter) platform:
• https://x.com/HuntingUltimate

Article by: Susan N.

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Undead Citadel Release Date!

We're excited to announce the release date of our VR game, Undead Citadel, on Steam VR: Thu June 8th, 2023. Soon the game will be released on: Quest 2, PSVR2.



Undead Citadel is an action-packed title exclusively built for VR, focused on physics driven close/ranged medieval combat with real-life movements, immersing players in a visually stunning universe threatened by undead annihilation. Developed by Dark Curry

Storyline

When you, as soldier of fortune sir Anvil Capheus, discover a colossal citadel in the midst of a storm, hopes surge - you might not die today after all. Armed with little more than a sword and other weapons and consumables that you find along the way, you need to overcome hordes of monsters lurking in the shadows 

Features

● Innovative 100% physics-based combat engine that prioritizes unobtrusive interaction with objects and characters.

● Smash or cut your enemies down with over 60+ different close combat weapons with real life movements: swords, axes, warhammers, maces, shields, longswords or even your own hands. 

● Take the undead down with ranged weaponry like bow and arrows, or blow them up with powerful explosives. 

● Engage against dozens of different close combat, ranged or heavily armored enemy types. 

● Find and use slow motion, strength, invulnerability or freeze magic potions to mutate your power and obliterate the dead ones.
 
● Full-size campaign: find your way through a huge apocalyptic fantasy environment, with 10+ levels to explore, including exterior and interior scenery. 

● Horde mode: Survive through endless armies of foes and reach the top leaderboards. 

● Solve a variety of puzzles to advance through the single player experience. 

● Armory: Collect all the weapons you acquire from the other modes in your armory and test your weapons in this sandbox mode

DARK CURRY

Dark Curry was founded in 2014 by a team of passionate designers, engineers and artists who all share the same passion for making action-packed, visually stunning games that can be played and enjoyed by everyone. Dark Curry isn’t just a place where we create great games. It’s where we all work side by side to push the boundaries in gaming.

 
Article by: Susan N.

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Get Cosmic VR Platformer STRAYLIGHT on January 31, 2023

 

CLEVELAND — December 7, 2022 — STRAYLIGHT, the first-person cosmic VR platformer built for comfort and speed from developer Dr Bloc, slingshots out of Early Access and into the stars on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023, for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, and the HTC Vive. Experience dozens of new levels, leaderboard upgrades, achievements, and more uncharted content not included in Early Access. 

Swing through a gorgeous yet deadly obstacle course that evokes the simplicity, difficulty, and fun of old-school platform gaming, but in a way that can only be experienced in VR. Soar, fly, and fling forward into a beautiful cosmic playground while navigating difficult challenges to reach the end of each stage. 

Shoot the STRAYLIGHT’s beams to thrust into the dark void of space, connecting to anchor nodes and propelling over, under, around, and across increasingly rigorous obstacles. Easy-to-learn, yet hard-to-master mechanics offers endless replayability, allowing for opportunities to nail that one, perfect, beautiful run.

Master grappling techniques and hone quick reflexes to reach the top of the leaderboards, or collect cubes to unlock a variety of race-able ‘ghosts’, all accompanied by a completely original progressive synth-wave soundtrack brought to us by award-winning composer, songwriter, and VGM artist Rob Kovacs. Preview the debut single, Void Compass, released on Emperia Records, Bandcamp, and now available on all music streaming services. 

The full 1.0 release aims to bring the classic platforming experience of yesterday into the VR realm. STRAYLIGHT has been developed from the ground up as a comfortable experience that anyone can enjoy, even those brand new to VR or those prone to nausea and vertigo that plagues virtual reality movement.

“Our goal to bring a thrilling, entry-level VR experience is almost here,” said Daniel Seery, Co-Founder, Dr Bloc. “STRAYLIGHT provides an approachable experience for VR newcomers, while also offering a skill ceiling high enough for veterans looking to put their will and dexterity to the test!”

STRAYLIGHT will launch on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, and the HTC Vive on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023, for $19.99. 

For more information on the game, beam up to the Dr Bloc website, or find the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Dr Bloc

Dr. BLOC is an eclectic group of filmmakers, coders, musicians, and writers united by their love of VR, classic platforming games, and emergent design. They hail from Cleveland, Ohio.


Article by Susan N.

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Space Shells Preview

Space Shells by developer Mobirate and publisher ABE Entertainment Limited—PC (Steam VR) preview written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Space Shells by Mobirate and ABE Entertainment Limited is a virtual reality first person shooter roguelite that will test your survival skills. Armed with upgradable robotic droid shells, your task is to set out and complete various missions before one of two things happens. Your shell is destroyed by enemy droids, or more embarrassingly, you run out of energy and fail to complete your mission.

The concept behind Space Shells is a solid one and the bite sized missions help to ease yourself into this VR world. This also helps to potentially hold off on any potential motion sickness that could set in until you've properly adjusted. Some people may be fine, and while I'm good for hours in a stationary style of experience, when moving around? I need that adjustment time but once you're settled in? Regardless of your gaming time, let the action begin!

Kicking things off, in this particular case, you are “you” who’s taking control of a combat droid to get the job done. Safety first! With only two models available at the moment, and more to come down the line, each has a different ceiling cap for four stats that can be upgraded. Health, armor, energy and special. Once these ceilings are upgraded, new units can be boosted up to these caps as long as you have the money for it.

So it's a good thing that the base models are free to create and don't cost you a penny as you figure everything out. This fits into the Roguelite vein. If you want to push into harder missions, your actual unit can end up costing you a good chunk of change alongside your weapons. And if you're not careful? It's a good thing that the base units are free as you may need to do a few easier runs to pad your bank account back up.

Following the same concept, weapons are mostly the same. Your basic pistols are free to create but any upgrade will cost you money. More powerful weapons like the heavier pistol and the rifle will cost a small amount to create after purchasing the blueprints and as a one time purchase it wouldn't be so bad. But since you need to also pay to create new ones? The costs add up and you really want to start succeeding at your missions!

So to succeed in your missions, you're going to need to get really comfortable with your controls. Primarily, you have your two hands on the motion controllers and your head through the headset. To move around you simply need to tilt the left joystick in the direction that you want to move. From there, you can look in the direction you want to move for a soft turn, or, use the right stick for a sharp 90 degree turn. This is what caused me a bit of motion sickness in the beginning but after a few small sessions I was good for at least a solid hour of playtime once I adjusted.

Your hands, well they are your hands and you'll be using them to select menus and open doors by touching the respective interfaces. You can also pick up items such as guns by squeezing on the pressure pad and squeeze again to drop them. This I'll be honest took a while to get used to and often got me killed. When you're moving around and pulling the triggers to fire, you can easily re-squeeze your controller and drop your guns on the floor mid firefight. Other than this little detail though, the rest of it works really well as you simply need to point your guns at the enemy and pull the trigger.

To help you keep track of things while out on a mission, within your VR environment you will also have an augmented reality (AR) like head’s up display for your armor, health, and power reserves. Also ammo count for your extra weapons that you can pack into each shoulder. Your guns themselves also have AR like ammo counters so you're always up to date on what you have in reserve giving you no excuse other than not having paid attention when they click empty.

 
Where things get tricky is in the gameplay. Space Shells while a Roguelite uses one of the fundamental rules of the older and more sadistic Roguelikes, energy. Any step you take while out on a mission will deplete your energy. Starting off with very small reserves there's not that much room for error. Easy stages are straightforward with one door in and out of each room that connect one after another.

 

Medium and Hard stages however will have branching hallways and floors to move up or down to. Not sure where the enemies are? I hope you upgraded your energy limits and boosted this unit's output as you'll need it to find out. Running out of energy will shut down your unit just as fast as running out of armor and then health which destroys it. The reason I said sadistic above though is because unlike an actual Roguelike? There's no way to replenish it. What you go into a mission with is it. So use it carefully.

This line of thought also boils into your weapons. Upgraded or not for higher ammo reserves and damage, an empty gun is an empty gun. As you move through each stage you'll want to make sure you're always keeping track of your ammo and swapping empties for ones with more ammo. This is perhaps one area that I would like to see changed down the line as it would be nice to simply be able to restock on ammo instead of having to fully toss out the current gun and replace it with another. Especially mid combat!

On a final note, if I were to have a wishlist of sorts, it would be that I would like to see new interior ship designs and different mission types. While the three current layouts suit the difficulty levels, more variety will be needed for longevity as after a few hours it would be nice to see something new. In terms of mission types, destroying all enemies works out great but maybe sabotage and blowing the whole thing up could be the goal instead.

Summary

Otherwise, Space Shells, while just kicking off Early Access, I believe is in good shape. Between the currently available difficulty levels, upgradable droid models and weapons, it's more than enough to give a taste of the overall action as we now wait for more to come.

 
Score: N/A

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