“And what about the software?” is probably “the” question asked in every virtual reality discussion. The headsets are ready and are technological marvels from any angle, but they must reach users’ hands loaded with a good repertoire. The folks at Oculus VR know this very well, and their answer is a video presenting the first thirty compatible titles with the Rift headset.
The success of a new console can be spectacular or nonexistent depending on the titles that make up its launch. Although we always value quality over quantity, the truth is that a serious “lack of variety” can quickly drain the interest and patience of players. With this in mind, we step into the territory of virtual reality, its technical advances, and its enormous commercial potential. Selling headsets doesn’t seem to be a big problem for manufacturers despite hardware requirements and higher prices than a modern console, but the software mechanics don’t change, and headsets need some kind of catalog in their favor. That said, let’s see what the Oculus Rift promises:
Thirty games from day one
As part of GDC 2016, Oculus VR revealed the first thirty games that will be compatible from day one, i.e., next March 28. If there are two titles to highlight above the rest, they are Lucky’s Tale and EVE: Valkyrie, as they will accompany the headset in its distribution, but we immediately detect some very important franchises. CCP Games will extend the presence of the EVE saga with Gunjack (originally for Samsung Gear VR), and then we find names such as Project CARS, Elite: Dangerous, Adventure Time, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Chronos, and ADR1FT.
Not exactly exclusives
Now, it’s necessary to recognize that we’re not talking about “exclusive” titles here. The case of ADR1FT is special because its release date has been synchronized with the Rift’s debut, but if we take The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, it’s a game that has been with us for 18 months. Even so, “thirty” seems like a good number (especially considering that there are several high-level elements), and as the months go by, it’s inevitable that more games will be added to the list.
