Meta is back with another VR showcase for 2023, and the first major announcement of the event is the reveal of the new Meta Quest 3 headset. The Quest 3 will retail starting at $499 this fall, with a price drop expected for the Quest 2.
The Quest 3's specs will be revealed at a later date, but all games shown during the event will be compatible with the current range of Quest VR headsets. Further, the games shown during the event are all slated to launch within the year, with the caveat being that unexpected delays could potentially push their releases a bit further out.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central
Kicking off the showcase is a rhythm game by Sega that revisits a 1999 arcade classic. In Samba De Amigo: Party Central, players dance with a pair of maracas while hitting approaching targets and striking poses to the beat of the song. The game also features online gameplay so that players can dance beside their friends with custom avatars.
I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine
Confirmed for release on the Meta Quest Store in Summer 2023, the spy series threequel I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine is full of physics-based interactions in a comedic spy movie setting. Players will use the Quest's touch controls to handle a range of interesting gadgets as they engage in a variety of "spy-jinks." To celebrate the reveal, the game is currently 10% off on the Quest store.
Silent Slayer: Vault of the Vampire
Silent Slayer: Vault of the Vampire is a single-player horror game featuring vampires, the game places a strong emphasis on stealth, and uniquely, the player's noise level. Players need to be careful not to make too much noise as they sneak around the environment, solve puzzles, and deal with the vampires stalking the halls.
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
Debuted at last year's VR showcase, today's event gave a first look at some gameplay footage of Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord along with some live-action scenes. Ghostbusters HQ was revealed as a pre-mission lobby with the squad of Ghostbuster players gearing up with the franchise's iconic proton packs and PKE meters before heading out to tackle a variety of ghostly entities in virtual reality.
UNDERDOGS
VR gamers are always hankering for new mech games to fulfill their Gundam and MechWarrior fantasies, and it looks like UNDERDOGS might be a worthy addition to the genre. Set in a dark futuristic arena that brings to mind the gladiators of ancient Rome, players will control hulking mechs with brutal melee weapons as they face off against various monsters and other mech pilots in an arena setting.
The next evolution of NFL PRO ERA
NFL wide receiver Andrew "Hawk" Hawkins joined the show to present "the next evolution of NFL Pro Era." The NFL-licensed VR football game from last year is coming out with a major update that will be expanding the game's roster, improving multiplayer, and introducing additional features and new modes. Based on some of the gameplay stats revealed from the last year, NFL PRO ERA has been a popular title among fans of VR sports games.
Racket Club
Harkening back to everyone's favorite Wii Sports game, Racket Club is a perfect title for VR newcomers and fans of racket sports. Notably, Racket Club is developed by Resolution Games, the studio behind the VR tabletop RPG hit Demeo. Players can play single-player or hop online for multiplayer pickup games, and they can also socialize courtside when it's time to take a break.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice
Brought by Fast Travel Games, Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice brings the long-running Vampire: The Masquerade franchise to virtual reality. Players will take on the role of a vampire as they explore the dark streets of Venice's canals and streets using superhuman vampire abilities and, of course, drinking plenty of blood along the way.
Dungeons of Eternity
Dungeons of Eternity is a randomly-generated fantasy dungeon crawler featuring a wide range of weapons including magical swords and spell-casting staffs. The game features physics-based combat against creatures like skeletons and scorpions, with the promise that each run will play out a bit differently. The game can be played single-player or online with friends, and players can also craft randomized weapons to outfit their characters.
The 7th Guest
This showcase has brought a number of reboots of old classics, and The 7th Guest is no exception. Revisiting the 1993 puzzle adventure in virtual reality, this is a horror puzzle game set in a haunted house that brings to mind classics like Myst and The Room, with magical contraptions that will enable some mind-bending puzzle mechanics.