nDreams Unveils Next-Level VR Immersion in ‘Reach’

Alright, let’s dive into the chaos. So, there’s this studio, nDreams, right? They’ve got a new game, Reach, coming out soon, and it’s supposed to be crazily immersive. I mean, they’re calling it one of their most immersive VR experiences yet. Big claims, but hey, that’s what they do. The crew over at nDreams Elevation, that’s their latest branch—yeah, anyway, they’re behind this whole thing.

So, last week, they spilled some beans about Reach. Showed off some gameplay that’s kinda got that cinematic parkour vibe going. Think of it like… a dance with combat. VR-native moves, they say. Seriously, whatever that means.

And there’s a behind-the-scenes thing they did—more talk, less action, but interesting nonetheless. Matt Duff, the design director, who seems pretty jazzed, talks about three big ideas: action, adventure, presence. But aren’t those, like, the usual suspects in VR anyway? Anyway, they’re going all-in on the “VR first” notion. Redefining movement. You gotta reach out and physically interact. Pull yourself through spaces. Yeah, I wonder how my lazy self will manage.

Ah, jumping. The bane of VR comfort! But they’re focusing on it. Some mind-trickery, gesture-based stuff to make you think you’re jumping. Sounds wild.

And oh, player agency’s a thing too. See a cliff? Climb it. See a ladder? Go for it. Seems like if you think you can touch it, you probably can. Or something like that.

There’s this Full-body Awareness system they’ve cooked up. No more floating hands! Yay? It’s a full-body character. Supposedly moves like a real person. Presence level: Mad high, or so they claim.

Now, the combat bits. Duff’s like, yeah, loads of action or stealth. Pick your battle. Fancy bows with different arrows—explosive, freeze, stun—pretty neat, right? Sneak or go full Rambo. Stealth lets you lure baddies with arrows, then get all sneaky-stabby. Got chills? I did.

And listen, if you’re curious, there’s some video action somewhere out there. Reach is hitting all major VR rigs later this year. You can Wishlist it already if that’s your jam. It’s on Horizon Store for Quest 3, PlayStation Store for PSVR 2, and Steam for PC VR. Go wild, folks!