A newly surfaced video of a disorientedKayak VR: Mirageplayer demonstrates some of the dangers of kayaking in a virtual reality environment without proper precautions. The clip hit social media amid Sony’s latest bid to push VR into the mainstream by any means necessary, includinghiring Ozzy Osbourne to promote the PlayStation VR2.
Kayak VR: Mirageis the second game from Amsterdam-based studio Better Than Life. It originally launched on Steam in summer 2022 before making its way to the PS5 as one of thePlayStation VR2 launch titles.
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It would appear thatKayak VR: Miragenot only delivers on its promise of a mesmerizing experience, but does so to the point of requiring some precautions before playing. One highly immersed player discovered that the hard way, by slamming head-first into a bookcase, as seen in a brief video that’s been making the rounds on social media in recent days. While the star of the clip appeared to be in high spirits even after diving into furniture, she might have fared better if she wasn’t facing the TV while playing, seeing how there’s no requirement to do so withPlayStation VR2games.
While the potential to become Internet-famous for headbutting a bookcase won’t make everyone think twice before investing in virtual reality gear, the same cannot be said about the prices of modern VR hardware. For example, the newly released PS VR2 retails at $550 and requires a PS5 to work, which starts at $400 for its discless Digital Edition. A $950 investment isn’t something that many are prepared to make as of early 2023 because regardless ofhow many innovative features the PS VR2 boasts, its catalog of games is still fairly scarce and lacking in true system-sellers.
This state of affairs isn’t that much different outside of Sony’s domain, with the notable exception ofHalf-Life: Alyx. But while Valve’s 2020 hit clearly demonstrated that AAA VR experiences are well within reach of current technologies, major studios still seem to deem them too risky of an investment due to their modest market share. All of this led to a Catch-22 situation wherein big-budget VR games aren’t being made because consumers aren’t buying VR hardware and vice versa.
And while Sony remains bullish on virtual reality, it remains to be seen whether that optimism translates into significant commercial success. Seeing how the company had todeny reports of cutting down on PS VR2 productiondue to disappointing pre-orders just ahead of the headset’s release, it would appear at least some industry watchers don’t share its confidence in the short-term potential of VR gaming.
Kayak VR: Mirageis available now for PlayStation VR2 and SteamVR.
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