The creepy ambiance of POOLS will see official VR assist later this yr on Steam.
The undertaking from Tensori carries “overwhelmingly constructive” current critiques and the sport’s writer reached out to UploadVR with information of the discharge window for the VR model on PC. The crew revealed at the moment with UploadVR that POOLS VR is coming later this yr. We premiered a trailer on the UploadVR YouTube channel and requested the builders for an announcement about their total intent.
On Steam, POOLS is described as “an artwork gallery the place you go searching and take heed to the sounds. There are only a few issues to unravel, virtually a number of mazes. Generally the sport can problem your navigation abilities. However principally you are simply… there.”
Whereas visiting POOLS would possibly create a sense of unease in gamers, the builders are cautious to notice there aren’t any monsters or bounce scares within the undertaking, although “the sport can really feel oppressive.”
“POOLS performs on fears of getting misplaced, the darkish, and tight areas.”
POOLS launched extensively on Steam in April this yr and was adopted by a Steam Deck replace in June, together with a collaboration with indie recreation label UNIKAT.
I requested POOLS’ builders what it was like to really go ‘there’ for the primary time in a VR headset. Here is the assertion from three of the creators despatched to us over e-mail:
Antti: I personally think about POOLS largely an train in ambiance. Since there are nearly no conventional gameplay parts, we may focus nearly solely on the ambiance itself = producing a really immersive expertise, full of element and distinction. And the sound design; the quantity of effort we spent on footstep sounds alone is lots, I imply completely different toes, completely different surfaces, stairs, completely different depths of water, room measurement and so forth produce barely completely different sounds, and as well as there’s delicate randomness to it too. When hold pondering in the identical route – what may we presumably do to push this immersion / ambiance even additional? VR looks like a logical conclusion.
Sami: Throughout the preliminary VR exams for this recreation, I used to be most impressed by how VR enhances the size of the environments. VR felt like an apparent and a pure extension of the sport and for the sensation of being current. As to why deliver the sport to VR? For me personally, one among my objectives in recreation growth is to construct and launch a VR recreation. I’m a fan of VR gaming. Bringing POOLS to VR was an ideal alternative to build up new abilities and experiences. Our recreation additionally felt like an ideal match for VR – each as a recreation and as our first check case of VR growth. Additionally, our gamers have been asking for VR ever since we launch our demo earlier than the sport has come out.
Joni: Once I first time hopped within the VR mode, Sami had already been working with it for a short while so I bought to attempt the just about absolutely purposeful model. I keep in mind simply pondering that the VR mode actually is its personal full expertise and I genuinely need to play it even after all of the hours spent taking part in and testing POOLS. It offers the sport an all new really feel.
You possibly can take a look at POOLS now on Steam for extra data and the undertaking is listed as on the best way for PlayStation VR2 headsets as effectively.