Bethesda is one of the few third parties jumping headfirst to give major support to new technologies and platforms. For instance, they have been a leading third party supporter of Nintendo’s Switch, and they have also led the charge on supporting the nascent VR format.

We already know that their Nintendo Switch gambles have paid off, and that their Switch games have done well for them, but what about VR? How have their VR projects fared? According to Bethesda’s VP Pete Hines, they’ve done very well.

“We were really pleased with how the three of those turned out on their various platforms,” said Hines in an interview with Upload VR. “We’re aware of all the, ‘Well, what else is Skyrim coming out on?’ jokes, but that version [VR] was a really good version of that game. DOOM VFR, Fallout 4 VR, we’re just really pleased with how all of those performed and were received. We’re going to continue to look at VR like we do at all platforms in terms of what’s a good fit for that platform and seeing what we’ve got and can it work.”

“They’ve done really well,” Hines continued. “Skyrim rocketed right to the top on PSVR and stayed there, when we released Fallout 4 VR on Steam it shot to the top and stayed there. When we released Skyrim VR on PC it did too, DOOM VFR has done really well. When it comes to any install base more is always better, but yeah, they did well.”

This is good to hear- as I said, Bethesda is one of the few third parties who have actually taken supporting VR seriously, pushing actual meaningful and substantial AAA content to the format rather than just bite sized “experiences” or tech demos- so it’s good to see that their gambles are paying off.

In December, Bethesda and id Software are releasing DOOM VFR, a VR adaptation of their utterly fantastic reboot of DOOM that they released last year. The prospect of having DOOM adapted to VR is a tempting one, of course- it’s a labyrinthine first person shooter with high octane action and a dizzying sense of speed. It sounds like it would be perfect for VR, while also perfect for making people nauseous in VR.

At any rate, it is the second big game Bethesda as adapted for VR, after Skyrim launched on PlayStation VR this month; it is, therefore, a landmark release for the fledgling medium, which so far has wanted in the way of big, appealing games that might make players look into investing into it.

Nvidia is getting in on the action with its latest GeForce Driver update. Update 388.43 includes game ready drivers for DOOM VFR– so if you intend on immersing yourself in the portals of hell, make sure you have this update downloaded, okay? You can get it from NVIDIA’s GeForce experience or via NVIDIA’s driver page right here.

Hello Neighbor

Have you ever wanted to play a stealth game where your neighbor was the enemy, probably wanted to kill you and had an adaptive AI to prevent you from trying the same trick twice? Hello Neighbor is probably your best bet. It’s an intriguing mix of survival and stealth as you explore numerous different ways to infiltrate your neighbor’s home. Recent updates have diversified the gameplay even further with the ability to double jump and escape the neighbor should you be caught. The real question is whether Hello Neighbor will finally hit its December 8^th release date and not suffer another delay. It arrives for Xbox One, PC and Mac OS.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Nintendo has been continuously scoring home runs this year, offering a good to great Switch title almost every month since launch. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 from Monolith Soft joins that club and it’s certainly a momentous title to close the year with. Along with a massive open world that should – if it’s anything like previous titles – offer hundreds of hours of gameplay, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a new story. Set on the backs of Titans, a scavenger named Rex discovers a Blade known as Pyra and must take her to Elysium, a paradise of sorts. There are colourful characters to meet along the way, different Blades to acquire, abilities to learn, combos to create and beautiful areas to explore. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is out on December 1^st for the Nintendo Switch.

Resident Evil 7: End of Zoe/Not A Hero

It’s hard to believe that this year began with an excellent title like Resident Evil 7 and to cap that off, we’ll be receiving not one but two DLC on December 12^th. Not A Hero is the free DLC focusing on Chris Redfield and his hunt for Lucas Baker after the main story while End of Zoe is a paid DLC pack that sees Zoe meeting up with a stranger named Joe. It’s also the same day that Resident Evil 7: Gold Edition launches so you can experience all previously released DLC along with the new additions in one great package.

Okami HD

After many, many moons, Capcom is finally fulfilling my wish of seeing Okami on PC. The fact that this is Okami HD, a remaster of the classic action adventure Zelda-like title, and it’s also coming to PS4 and Xbox One doesn’t hurt either. If you’ve never played Okami, it follows the tale of Amaterasu, who must stop the eight headed demon Orochi from conquering the land. More than just a higher resolution and widescreen support, Okami HD offers the chance to revisit one of the most underrated video games of the PS2 era. It releases on December 12^th.

Battlefield 1: Turning Tides

December marks the release of Battlefield 1’s next DLC Turning Tides. Or at least, it’s the first stage of the content release which will include battles on land, sea and air along with two new maps – Cape Helles and Achi Baba – out this month (an additional two maps arrive next month). You can expect six new weapons like the M1917 Trench Carbine, Type 38 Arisaka and the M1917 MG among other weapons. New vehicles, a new faction, a new Operation and the Conquest Assault mode where players must take back and hold areas occupied by defenders will also be coming. The first wave of content will arrive on December 11^th 2017 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC players while the second wave is out in January 2018.

Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris

Despite every single indication that this will be another bland DLC for Bungie’s Destiny 2, Curse of Osiris at least offers…some new story. Essentially, you’ll be looking for Osiris, the legendary Warlock, and attempting to battle the Vex’s next big evil plan. This involves heading to Mercury and The Infinite Forest, which offers random arrangements of levels and time periods, along with forging new weapons. There’s even something called a raid lair to add on to the Leviathan and which should hopefully be more fulfilling. Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris is out on December 5^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

DOOM VFR

After bringing DOOM to the Nintendo Switch by some miracle, Bethesda Softworks is now gearing up for DOOM VFR. This is the virtual reality version of the game but it still maintains the demon slaying, bone-tearing, arm-ripping action that defined the original. While we’re not sure how the fast-paced experience will translate to virtual reality – where the less insane movement, the better – but it certainly has us intrigued. DOOM VFR will be coming to PlayStation VR and HTC Vive via Steam on December 1^st.

Fallout 4 VR

More Fallout 4? Yes, there’s more Fallout 4 and this time, it’s heading to HTC Vive. The controversial first person shooter/RPG has seen a number of updates, DLC, the Creation Club with its lame add-ons and so on. But this time, we get to do it all in virtual reality. The highlight of Fallout 4 VR is the fact that this isn’t just a slice of the game. It’s the entire experience and for what it’s worth, early impressions seem favourable if not outright excited. Still, if you want something to justify that VR purchase that isn’t called DOOM VFR, then Fallout 4 VR will be available on December 12^th via Steam.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (Xbox One)

One of the most eagerly anticipated Xbox One exclusives isn’t even from Microsoft, nor did it start out as an Xbox title. We’re talking about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, the 100 person Last Man Standing title that’s swept the world with 22 million copies sold on Steam. From its humble roots on Early Access, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has shattered a number of records on Steam and version 1.0 is currently in the testing phase. That version will release in late December for PC users but Xbox One players can look forward to playing it through Xbox Game Preview on December 12^th.

Final Fantasy 15: Episode Ignis

So it’s not exactly meant to be the meatiest content releasing for a game in December but Final Fantasy 15: Episode Ignis does look pretty fun. Releasing on December 13^th, the DLC will focus on Ignis as he temporarily teams up with Ravus Nox Fleuret aka Luna’s brother in order to secure the safety of both Noctis and Luna. Ignis’s abilities are pretty interesting as he throws spell dagger and can target numerous enemies at once. The story should also help fill in some awkward holes – like how Ignis was blinded and what other events occurred in Altissia while Leviathan was stomping around.