"The concept of the game is so unique that there was always a risk that people just wouldn’t understand it. It’s been wonderful to see players reacting so well to it."

Congratulations on the launch of Phantom: Covert Ops! How does it feel to finally have your game out there and being received so well by players?

Thank you! It’s a great feeling – the concept of the game is so unique that there was always a risk that people just wouldn’t understand it. It’s been wonderful to see players reacting so well to it, and finding the same fun and immersion in the gameplay that we always have.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the development of Phantom: Covert Ops?

The central concept of the kayak is really the core that the whole game is built around, but it also poses the biggest design challenge. Delivering an entire game where you interact with characters, complete objectives, take on an enemy army and save the world all from within your boat was no easy feat. Many basic principles of gameplay which are usually taken for granted had to be reconsidered and approached from different ways. It was exciting to develop gameplay in ways that no one has attempted before!

Stealth as a genre has sort of been neglected in this industry over the past few years, which is one of the reasons why Phantom: Covert Ops has looked like such an alluring prospect. During development, how important was it to you to develop a hardcore stealth experience, especially one that leverages the unique capabilities of VR technology?

Much like the horror genre, we think that stealth is an excellent fit for VR. There are lots of very emotive and suspenseful moments which feel significantly more powerful and immersive when you are experiencing them yourself rather than just seeing them on a screen. It was always extremely important for us to capture that tension, and we went through many iterations of the stealth mechanics to find something which maintained the believability whilst still being fun and fair to play.

Since launch, have there been any particular fixes or updates that you’ve been working on directly in response to player feedback?

Player feedback is very important to us – we’re listening to what players have to say, and have recently addressed some issues that were raised.

"Much like the horror genre, we think that stealth is an excellent fit for VR. There are lots of very emotive and suspenseful moments which feel significantly more powerful and immersive when you are experiencing them yourself rather than just seeing them on a screen."

Do you have plans to add more content to Phantom: Covert Ops down the line?

We released the first of our free challenge packs a few weeks ago, and I can confirm that there is still more content to come.

Given Phantom: Covert Ops’ unique mechanics and premise, there are many who feel the game has a lot of potential for some great multiplayer gameplay, especially co-op. Is that something that you’ve considered adding?

It’s something we discussed early on in development, but with the idea already being very unique as it is we decided to focus our efforts on creating the best single-player experience we could.

The frequency with which we see ambitious VR-only games such as Phantom: Covert Ops has been increasing, which has been great to see, especially for those who’ve invested in this technology and want to see it grow. How close do you think we are to seeing VR offering similar kinds of experiences on a regular basis?

I think that these kinds of experiences will naturally start to appear more and more regularly as VR becomes more and more mainstream. Huge IPs like Half-Life and Medal of Honour are now appearing on VR platforms, and others are likely to follow suit. We’re proud to have been among the first wave of these large and ambitious VR titles, and can’t wait to see the bar continue to be raised.

nDreams as a developer has been at the forefront of delivering VR-exclusive experiences for a while now. Given all that experience, and comparing where you started to where you are right now with Phantom: Covert Ops, how encouraged have you been with the growth of VR and the potential it has for even further improvement?

As a company we have definitely grown alongside the VR market, with our studio more than doubling in size over the last few years. Even now VR is still relatively niche, so we see a lot of potential for future growth – with the investment that companies like Facebook are putting into VR, all signs are pointing towards a mass-market adoption of the tech in the not so distant future.

As far as console VR is concerned, what improvements do you wish to see for next-gen as far as VR and PS5 is concerned?

I think one of the largest barriers to entry for new players into VR is the setup – plugging cables into the back of consoles, positioning cameras etc. The Oculus Quest has taken a great step in removing those barriers, and I hope that a lot of future VR tech follows suit. Creating an experience which is easy for players to interact with is more important to me than graphical or processing power alone.

"I think that these kinds of experiences will naturally start to appear more and more regularly as VR becomes more and more mainstream. Huge IPs like Half-Life and Medal of Honour are now appearing on VR platforms, and others are likely to follow suit."

What’s your take on Microsoft’s stance on VR and their reluctance to invest in the technology for Xbox Series X?

I think that VR and AR technology has a huge amount of potential applications outside of videogames, and that’s where Microsoft seem to be focusing their efforts currently with the Hololens. As this tech rapidly evolves it’s not surprising to see different companies exploring different applications for it, and while VR gaming hasn’t found a home on Xbox yet I wouldn’t rule it out in the future. As long as companies are continuing to develop the technology and push the boundaries of what it can do, we are all benefitting from that.

Though the PS5 is going to stick with the current PSVR for now, most would assume (and hope) that a next-gen VR headset is something that will eventually come from Sony, especially seeing as they seem to want to keep investing in VR as they have been doing for a while now.

But when (or if) that hypothetical PSVR 2 does come along, what improvements are we expecting to see with it? According to nDreams’ Lewis Brundish – game director on the recently released Oculus-exclusive stealth shooter Phantom: Covert Ops – what Sony should prioritize is ease of use for the players instead of focusing  more on processing power and better visuals.

“I think one of the largest barriers to entry for new players into VR is the setup – plugging cables into the back of consoles, positioning cameras etc,” Brundish told GamingBolt in a recent interview. “The Oculus Quest has taken a great step in removing those barriers, and I hope that a lot of future VR tech follows suit. Creating an experience which is easy for players to interact with is more important to me than graphical or processing power alone.”

It’s hard to disagree with that. Many others have also talked about the PSVR and how it needs significant upgrades with future versions, whenever that happens.

A number of patents from Sony have suggested that they might be investing in some such improvements for PlayStation VR, including a wireless headset and controllers similar to Valve Index– though these are just patents, of course, which isn’t much by way of confirmation.

Our full interview with Brundish will be going live soon, so stay tuned for that.

The Last of Us Part 2

The biggest release of next month bar none, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2 will finally release next month. The tale centers on Ellie as she embarks on a quest for vengeance that spans several seasons and cities. Coming off of the latest gameplay reveal – which showcased combat, exploration, stealth and Hotline Miami music, of all things – Naughty Dog’s magnum opus is looking pretty fun to play. Touted as the developer’s biggest game yet, we’re excited at the prospect of running through the story, agonizing over every plot twist and then replaying it again to see what was missed. The Last of Us Part 2 is out on June 19^th for PS4.

Valorant

Riot Games, known for its popular MOBA League of Legends, takes a different path with Valorant. It’s a free to play first-person shooter that emphasizes teamwork with realistic guns and objective play. You’ll compete in a best of 24 rounds match against an enemy team, buying weapons and other equipment to come out on top. Sprinkle in some Overwatch-esque hero abilities and Ultimates and you’ve got an intriguing mix of action. It’s clearly catered towards esports but can it make a dent in the more mainstream market? We’ll find out when Valorant launches on June 2^nd for PC.

Desperados 3

Bounty hunter John Cooper makes his long-awaited return in Desperados 3, a tactical strategy title set in the Wild West. Set before the first game in the series, the story sees Cooper teaming with the likes of hitman Doc McCoy. Players will utilize their various talents to complete missions, using stealth and violence in equal measure (like hypnotizing guards or dropping boulders on them). You’ll even be caught off guard at times and have to outwit opponents during ambushes in Showdown Mode. Out on June 16^th, Desperados 3 will be available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Disintegration

Disintegration comes from V1 Interactive, a new studio founded by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto. It takes place in the future where humans have undergone Integration and place their minds inside robots. You play a Gravcycle pilot named Romer rebelling against the militaristic Rayonne that wants the remaining humans to undergo Integration at any cost. What is Romer’s role in all of this and will his Outlaws get their humanity back? Don’t let the sci-fi setting fool you – this is an FPS meets RTS title where you fight from above as a pilot while your merry band of soldiers battles on the ground. It’s intriguing but we’ll see how the final product – especially the multiplayer – plays when Disintegration launches on June 16^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Phantom: Covert Ops

Phantom: Covert Ops is the latest tile from nDreams, better known for its adventure title The Assembly. You’ll traverse stealthily through environments as a Phantom, investigate the plans of antagonist General Zhurov and sometimes gun down foes with impunity. Plus you have David Hayter, the former voice of Solid Snake, voicing Zhurov. What’s not to like, aside from the admittedly sharp looking visuals and combat? Phantom: Covert Ops releases on June 25^th for Oculus Quest and Rift.

Warborn

Like Fire Emblem but with a lot more mechs, Raredrop Games’ Warborn offers four factions to control – each with their own unique abilities – in a 40 mission campaign with 90s style anime presentation. You’ll take advantage of different terrain, capture resources and battle foes in turn-based combat. Skirmish mode is available for custom matches with the AI but you can also go online to 1v1 other players (with cross-play supported at launch) and design your own maps with the editor. Warborn releases on June 12^th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Command and Conquer Remastered Collection

Wary of strategy remasters after Blizzard’s shoddy Warcraft 3: Reforged? Command and Conquer Remastered Collection should fix that when it releases on June 5^th for PC. Comprising the first game and Red Alert with their respective expansions, this collection offers revamped visuals with 4K resolution support, a revamped UI and multiplayer, and redone FMV cutscenes (including some unreleased footage and much more). That’s not including mod support, a map editor, remastered music and the ability to switch between the old and new graphics. Developed by former Westwood Studios devs in collaboration with the community, Command and Conquer Remastered Collection promises to revive the series with a bang.

Tour de France 2020

The real Tour de France may have been postponed but it can be experienced in video game form when Tour de France 2020 releases on June 4^th for PS4, Xbox One and PC. It offers all 21 official stages with the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race making its debut along with a better racing interface and improved time trials. There’s even a first person camera to fully immerse yourself in the race. It’s an overall unorthodox racing game but one that fans of the genre may get into. And of course, if you need your fill of pro cycling, then Tour de France 2020 is well worth looking into.

Waking

Jason Oda’s Waking starts with a dire premise – the player character is in a coma, endlessly dreaming. You’ll journey through memories, making choices and remembering loved ones while battling against dark foes to try and wake up. Promising a “new type of experience” that blurs fantasy and reality, Waking combines exploration and action across an unconventional dreamscape. Nothing too crazy but we’ll see for ourselves just how far the rabbit hole goes when it releases on June 18^th for PC and Xbox One.

Hunting Simulator 2

Among the various titles on this list, Neopica’s Hunting Simulator 2 casts no illusions as to what you can expect. This is a hunting title. Nothing more, nothing less. You travel through locations like Colorado, Texas and Europe, tracking down over 30 different animals (which boast “realistic” behaviour) and hunt them down. Hunting Simulator 2 is out on June 25^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC and if nothing else, should help to determine who’s really a good boy.