One of the earliest big exclusive releases for VR, EVE: Valkyrie from CCP Games, continues to evolve and with the latest free expansion dubbed ‘Warzone’ the developers have opened its particular brand of slick online space shooter to players without a VR headset whilst also allowing anyone across both PC and PS4 platforms, with or without a headset to play together.
I first encountered EVE: Valkyrie (up to then known as EVE-VR) back at Gamescom in 2013 and at the time, still years from the release of a commercial VR headset, it represented one of the first glimpse at what a triple-A made-for-VR title could offer. The game was to be a spin off of sorts from CCP Games’ extremely successful MMO EVE Online.
Fast forward to 2017, we have multiple VR headsets on the market and a version of Valkyrie now graces all of them in one form or another. EVE: Valkyrie however has remained a VR exclusive title throughout, at least until now.
CCP Games have today announced that with their latest free expansion pack, dubbed ‘Warzone’, the company are opening up the game’s satisfying space combat to those without VR headsets with the game now playable on vanilla PC and PS4 setups. What’s more, those players can choose to play with one another across platforms and choose (or not) to play in VR if they wish too. It’s an impressive show of continuing commitment to the company’s banner VR title but perhaps also a sign that the VR gaming market has not grown quite as fast as the company might have liked.
The new expansion will be available from September 26th and, as stated, is free of charge for owners of the game on either PS4 or PC.