Arcade Saga’s latest updates feature multiplayer modes in all three of its futuristic sports and add Oculus Touch optimisations. Developed by 2Bears Studios, the game originally launched in December 2016 as the first title from Vive Studios, HTC’s internal development and publishing group.

Inspired by arcade classics Breakout, Galaga, and Arkanoid, Arcade Saga offers three separate game modes built for VR in one package: Fracture, Smash, and Bowshot. 84 levels of motion-controlled action await, plus four bosses and bonus levels. The game is free today only on Viveport in celebration of Vive’s one year launch anniversary. The title is also available on Steam for $20.

Smash mode was the first to receive a beta PvP mode and worldwide leaderboards in January, followed by Fracture’s multiplayer mode in February, plus the introduction of ‘Helper’ and ‘Hinder’ powerups to spice up the matches. At the end of March, the wave-based shooter mode Bowshot received its PvP mode to complete the multiplayer lineup. Although not mentioned on its News page on Steam, this most recent update also optimised the game for Oculus Touch, HTC tells Road to VR.

As the first title from HTC’s internal Vive Studios, this extended support for Oculus hardware highlights the very different approaches to VR game development and funding between the two major PC VR companies. Unlike Oculus Studios, HTC says Vive Studios is platform agnostic; Arcade Saga could be coming to Sony’s PSVR too, according to Joel Breton, VP of Content at HTC Vive, during a recent Gamespot interview.

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Dominic Brennan
The trial version of Microsoft’s Monster Truck Madness probably had something to do with it. And certainly the original Super Mario Kart and Gran Turismo. A car nut from an early age, Dominic was always drawn to racing games above all other genres. Now a seasoned driving simulation enthusiast, and former editor of Sim Racer magazine, Dominic has followed virtual reality developments with keen interest, as cockpit-based simulation is a perfect match for the technology. Conditions could hardly be more ideal, a scientist once said. Writing about simulators lead him to Road to VR, whose broad coverage of the industry revealed the bigger picture and limitless potential of the medium. Passionate about technology and a lifelong PC gamer, Dominic suffers from the ‘tweak for days’ PC gaming condition, where he plays the same section over and over at every possible combination of visual settings to find the right balance between fidelity and performance. Based within The Fens of Lincolnshire (it’s very flat), Dominic can sometimes be found marvelling at the real world’s ‘draw distance’, wishing virtual technologies would catch up.
  • Muddy

    Bravo HTC! This is how you do it Oculus.

    • Paul Durand

      Optimized or not, I don’t think anyone wants this crap, unlike Chronos or Robo Recall.

      • Muddy

        Steady on there fanboy. I just mean’t good on them for taking the platform agnostic approach. That can only be good for everyone no matter your choice of hardware.

        • Me

          Yeah but he’s kinda right. It’s nice to share, but in this context and with this kind of product, it’s more like a shot in the foot or a desperate move to get attention.

        • Paul Durand

          I’ll say bravo when they keep that approach with an actual good game. Meanwhile, it’s a cheap way to say “Any headset welcome”. And I won’t play this, but it has nothing to do with my choice of hardware indeed.

      • It’s all a spectrum

        I’m sorry, but don’t knock this game until you try it. I have a Rift, but my roommate bought a Vive first. I bought the Rift so we could have more options in games, and play each other. Arcade Saga was one of the first PC VR games I played, and to this day it’s still one of my favorites. The graphics aren’t great, but the physics are excellent, and it’s straight fun. Expect a little bit of a workout.

  • CazCore

    seems like the best out of these types of games that i tried (the 2 ball smashing games in it). the bow game seems just OK, but has a unique mechanic with shallow shots shooting a large spread of projectiles. but deep shots (pulling string way back) tighten the projectiles together.

    • CazCore

      also you don’t have to reach for quiver/arrows with the bow game. just put hand within inch or 2 of string. and if you want to, you can release it after pulling back an inch or so.

  • mr lava lava

    Showing up as $9 for me ?? Not sure if I missed it. Well done to HTC for organising free games..but a bit more notice next time eh?

    • J.C.

      There was multiple-day notice on this, pretty much any gaming site, VR or not, had the 5th down as “free viveport game day”.

  • J.C.

    An HTC-developed game that has Oculus support is as much proof as we’re going to get that it’s Oculus not wanting to work with getting the Vive supported on their store, and not HTC withholding. I always assumed as much, as Oculus has had a parade of mistakes since launch, and seem to be looking only at short term success.

    Honestly, I’m annoyed that ReVive works. It means Vive owners who can’t resist those Oculus exclusives will give Oculus money to NOT SUPPORT THEM. I’d love to play robo recall or Chronos, but not until some effort’s been put in to support my hardware at least on a basic level.

    • NooYawker

      I agree, pirate them instead :D
      But seriously, supporting Oculus exclusives isn’t helping to change their mind.
      Also if you download Epic unreal engine you can install and play the first level of Robo Recall. It just takes a really long time to load. I played half way though and it’s the most polished wave shooter around, but it’s just another wave shooter, not missing much.