Resolution Games, well known for titles such as Demeo, Blaston, Bait!, and Ultimechs have just had their Resolution Games Showcase, and along with it, we got some pretty cool announcements!
In an event that marked the industry’s first dedicated showcase hosted by a VR/AR games studio. A celebration of immersive play, the Resolution Games Showcase not only announced today’s beta launch of Spatial Ops, a game now available on SideQuest that makes groundbreaking use of Passthrough technology to deliver the world’s first competitive multiplayer shooter in mixed reality; it also revealed the world premieres of two major projects from the company (Racket Club and Demeo Battles), announced several major updates available today to fan-favorite games (including the final adventure in the Elven King Saga for Demeo as well as the first major content update to Bait!, and much more.
“Today’s a big day for VR and AR gaming,” said Tommy Palm, CEO, and founder of Resolution Games. “The fact that today our studio was able to share so much news in a single day, a fraction of what we are actually working on, that it required a showcase event is very exciting and says a great deal about the positive direction and strength of the industry overall. It’s been such an exciting journey from where we started to now, where we have nearly 200 employees and a large roster of games on the horizon.”
In addition to new announcements and surprise launches, the Resolution Games Showcase also highlighted some of the company’s recent activities in AR and MR, the company’s Tinyverse approach to immersive social spaces, and Resolution Games’ involvement in VR esports throughout 2022.
“What’s projected for 2023 and beyond in the XR industry has us incredibly excited for what’s next — and when ‘what’s next’ comes, we’ll be ready and waiting,” said Paul Brady, President and co-founder of Resolution Games. “This year, Resolution Games has experienced an incredible deal of growth, opened a US headquarters in Austin, Texas, and acquired Zenz VR and their incredible team — all while continuing to innovate new ways to play with the latest XR technologies. And the fun’s just getting started!”
Following is a recap of everything that took place during the Showcase:
Spatial Ops Open Beta (Available Now)
Among the various news highlights, trailers, and more, perhaps paramount was the announcement that the highly anticipated first competitive FPS in mixed reality, ‘Spatial Ops’, is available now as a free download here in open beta on SideQuest.
Tommy Palm, Resolution Games’ CEO and founder commented, “After seeing the reaction that Spatial Ops received when we teased it in October, we didn’t want to wait a moment longer to get it into players’ hands — which is why we’ve decided to open up our in-development project to the world in open beta.”
Supporting 1-8 players and utilizing Passthrough technology, players can turn any real-world space into an urban battlefield and dominate their friends in pulse-pounding FPS action. Players will map their world to create custom play spaces that combine physical and digital objects — and then engage in combat on those maps with their friends. From revolvers and riot shields to rocket-propelled grenades, Spatial Ops has no shortage of armaments to spawn from its virtual weapons locker as it challenges players to take cover behind objects both real and digital to dodge oncoming fire and deliver suppressing shots of their own in Team Deathmatch, Domination, Capture the Flag or Free-for-All gameplay. Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest Pro headset is required.
Racket Club World Premiere
A new game in the works from Resolution Games, Racket Club’s first-ever trailer reveals a title that promises to embrace the multiplayer ethos that the company was founded on.
Racket Club reinvents the idea of pickup sports by connecting players from all over the world to have fun together in an all-new sport designed from the ground up for VR play. Stay tuned as more details about Racket Club step onto the court in 2023.
Demeo Battles (COMING 2023)
More details about the long-awaited PvP version of Demeo have been revealed, along with never-before-seen gameplay footage! The darkness of Demeo’s dungeons has always felt more bearable with the light of friends — but what happens when friends become enemies? Demeo Battles is poised to turn the tables on everyone’s favorite digital tabletop strategy game when it arrives in 2023, bringing PvP battles that will team up players with the very monsters that once hunted them as they battle other players in turn-based tactical combat.
Demeo: Reign of Madness Update (DLC / Out Now)
Today, the fifth and final chapter in the Mad Elven King Saga, Reign of Madness is live and invites Demeo players to the town of Ends where they have a chance to close the Rift Bridge and stop Rackarn once and for all.
Available now as a free update for Demeo owners on the Quest Store and Steam (Pico release to follow shortly), adventurers will be joined by the all-new playable character Uhrak the Barbarian, who relies on his trusty Hook of Varga to keep friends close and enemies closer. As with previous adventures, this one comes with new enemies, levels, and cards, but it also includes a very special addition: a new orchestral arrangement of the Demeo title score and all-new music for the Reign of Madness adventure performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. With the first saga coming to a close in this final chapter, Demeo’s price will increase to $39.99 USD across all platforms beginning January 12 to better reflect the breadth of the game which includes the addition of four complete adventures, three new playable characters, and numerous other enhancements since the game’s early 2021 launch.
Bait! Fishin’ Buddies Update (Out Now – Quest)
Anglers know a thing or two about patience — and for Bait! fans, that patience is about to be well-rewarded! The first major content update to the game since 2016, Fishin’ Buddies is available now on the Quest Store and brings multiplayer to the core Bait!
Up to four players can visit Penguin Point together to cast their lines for casual fun or competitive tournaments, while up to 12 players can hang out at Casters’ Cove — Resolution Games’ third Tinyverse, the studio’s solution to a more personalized metaverse — and engage in a variety of social activities like RC boat races, skipping stones along the beach, paddling around in inflatable floaties and so much more. Bait! is available as a free download.
Blaston Free-to-Play Update (Available Now)
What’s better than breaking a sweat as you duck, dodge, and fire in everyone’s favorite cyberpunk dueling game? Getting to play it for free! Starting today, the award-winning 1v1 shooter, Blaston, is available as a free download on the Quest Store, Steam VR — and starting in 2023, Blaston will be coming to Pico Neo3 Link and Pico 4. In addition to Blaston’s shift to free-to-play, today’s update brings a number of additions and upgrades including new weapon attachments and skins, a revamped in-game store, an improved Passthrough on Quest 2, and an all-new full-color Passthrough on Meta Quest Pro.
Players who purchased the game prior to December 15 will receive a reward to thank them for their early contributions to the game: a Golden Gratitude Pack (a $50+ value) containing Golden Gratitude Clamos and Golden Gratitude Viper (exclusive skins not obtainable any other way) and 1,160 Blasts that can be used in Blaston’s in-game shop.
Ultimechs Season 2 (Available Now)
The competition is heating up with the second season of Ultimechs, available starting today. Season 2 sees the addition of an all-new Arcade Mode where gloves return faster, cooldowns are shorter, and Supercharges are more plentiful than ever. Players can also put their XP towards a brand new UltiPass featuring 75 new items available to unlock, including GauntJet Trails: an all-new customization option that zooms behind your rocket fists every time they’re fired. Ultimechs is available as a free download on the Quest Store, Pico, and SteamVR.
To view the Resolution Games Showcase in its entirety, see this video here:
Which of these games are you most excited about? Let us know and we’ll make sure to cover it 🙂
