VR pioneer Owlchemy Labs jumps to XR for its next release
By As the virtual reality sector continues to strive against financial challenges, innovative VR studio Owlchemy Labs has declared its entry into the realm of extended reality (XR) games with its latest title, Hyper Visor. The game, which Owlchemy refers to as “a unique XR arcade shooter,” is set to launch on the Google Play Store priced at $1.99, coinciding with the introduction of HTC’s XREAL Aura headset.
In Hyper Visor, gamers employ their hands along with a “curious pair of living shades” (a common moniker for sunglasses) to navigate through eight levels that invoke various classic gameplay styles such as rhythm games and side-scrolling shooters.
Naturally, “headset” isn’t perfectly fitting to describe the XREAL Aura—the gadget is essentially a pair of advanced sunglasses that HTC dubs “spatial computing eyewear.” It operates via a wired link to the user’s Android smartphone. Additionally, “XR” may not quite be the term developers would prefer to characterize this genre of game. Games that utilize camera lenses to interact with elements appearing to exist in the physical realm have typically been categorized as augmented reality (AR) games. XR, which stands for “extended reality,” is utilized as a comprehensive term for both VR and AR software, as well as experiences that connect the two formats.
Related:Owlchemy CEO: VR remains an emerging market because it hasn’t succeeded the ‘cafe test’
Terminology aside, the Google-owned gaming studio (which already classifies itself as an “XR game studio”) seems to embrace both the “shades” and “XR” lexicon to characterize its new undertaking. “Our fundamental belief is XR for all, and for many individuals the greatest obstacle has been the headset itself,” CEO Andrew Eiche remarked in a statement accompanying the game’s release. “XREAL Aura is essentially a pair of shades, which renders XR significantly more accessible for anyone who might have been reluctant to wear a headset before.”
Are XR “shades” a feasible platform for seasoned VR developers?
Eiche’s remarks resonate with statements he recently made to GameDeveloper.com regarding the sustainability of the VR market.
