Recently I talked about the problems that virtual reality has in gaining ground in the market, thanks to a very high cost in hardware and a limited software offering. Virtual reality headsets need high-profile content as soon as possible, and the people at Oculus have teamed up with none other than Marvel. During the last D23 Expo they shared the first trailer of Marvel Powers United VR, a title in which players can take on the role of Hulk, Rocket Raccoon or Captain Marvel.
Despite the gigantic number of films, superheroes continue to dominate the box office around the world. Wonder Woman has already surpassed $760 million, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 grossed more than $850 million, Spider-Man: Homecoming is close to $500 million, Justice League and Thor: Ragnarok arrive in November, and in 2018 the cycle will repeat. Add to that several series that remain strong on the small screen and streaming, so those who consider themselves comic book fans are living a true celebration. However, there's more: At Disney's latest D23 Expo, Marvel and Oculus jointly announced a new virtual reality game called Marvel Powers United VR.
There's still a long way to go before the full version hits stores, but the live demo shared by Oculus enables the use of three characters: Hulk, Rocket Raccoon and Captain Marvel. Naturally, each superhero establishes radical differences in gameplay. Hulk relies on his fury and brute strength, Rocket Raccoon annihilates everything with his weapons, and Captain Marvel sweeps the level with pure energy. The characters are transported by Lockjaw (a giant bulldog from the comics), and the goal is to recover an artifact in the Collector's lair. Technically there is a fourth character, but Oculus has decided to keep quiet about it for now, and over time the roster is expected to grow much larger.
Perhaps this is the kind of franchise that virtual reality needs to become more attractive. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is rich in characters, events, and places. If Oculus, Marvel, and developer Sanzaru manage to reproduce a good part of it within Marvel Powers United VR, we'll surely talk about this game again soon. To close, two details: The final version will debut in 2018, and as you might suspect, the title is exclusive to the Oculus platform.
