CCP, creators of one among our favourite VR games, EVE Valkyrie, are ceasing all VR growth, in line with a report on Icelandic business site mbl.is. The Reykjavík-based studio is best-known for its fantastically complicated MMO EVE Online however has invested closely in VR video games. Sci-fi dogfighting sim Valkyrie is its flagship goggle-game, however one-on-one ball-lobbing sport Sparc (at the moment PSVR solely) is a little bit of a cracker as properly. I see this as a blow to the viability of VR as a significant gaming platform not solely as a result of Valkyrie is without doubt one of the few video games that makes the tech tempting to me, regardless of being obtainable in non-VR type as properly, but additionally as a result of CCP have sounded so bullish about the field in the past.
The halting of VR manufacturing has led to layoffs within the Icelandic workplaces, with round thirty employees resulting from depart, however two abroad studios will really feel the most important affect. An workplace in Atlanta is closing and the UK studio chargeable for Valkyrie will likely be offered. EVE Community Manager CCP Falcon says EVE Online growth won’t be affected and that transferring away from VR would possibly truly profit the corporate:
With regards to EVE, it’s form of bittersweet that this places us in a extra stable place going ahead, as much more focus is again on EVE Online, its companies and all of the know-how and assist round it.
The EVE Online growth crew was not impacted in any respect by these adjustments, and stays the identical dimension, working towards the identical targets and options which have already been introduced.
CEO Hilmar Pétursson is a believer within the tech, and has been for for much longer than the latest wave of economic VR. Earlier this 12 months, throughout a presentation at EVE Fanfest, he stated that the preliminary interval of hype had overinflated expectations however that the way forward for VR was vivid. You can learn far more about his ideas, in addition to these of VR Brand Director Ryan Geddes in the interview I conducted at the event.
It wasn’t arduous to seek out the VR doubters at EVE Fanfest. One excessive profile EVE Online participant advised me he had no real interest in CCP’s VR video games however would “rather they have new teams working on VR than moving people from EVE to something like World of Darkness, which was left in the corner like a rotten apple.”
Another stated he was “glad that the VR side of the business will be there to support EVE Online financially.” For some time no less than, I determine it’ll be the opposite means round. It may appear unusual to see a free-to-play MMO because the monetary basis that a studio depends on, however then CCP are a wierd firm and to some individuals their dedication to VR would possibly look like their strangest transfer but.
Perhaps it was too unusual a transfer. We want the very best to these affected.
