The supernatural comedy mega-hit is set to receive two VR game experiences, with one location-based and another designed for at home PS VR.
Fans of the classic Ghostbusters films will soon be able to experience the movie in a different light, as two VR games are in the works.
Sony Pictures Virtual Reality (SPVR) announced the upcoming games in conjunction with Ghost Corps. One, a location-based experience made in collaboration Published by SPVR and developed by HOLOGATE, is titled Ghostbusters VR Academy and will be available at all of HOLOGATE’s ARENA and BLITZ platforms 400+ locations by the end of 2022. The other, temporarily titled Ghostbusters VR, will release for at-home play on Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR2.
“Sony Pictures Virtual Reality is all about making wishes come true,” said Jake Zim, Senior Vice President, Virtual Reality, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “Ghostbusters VR Academy, the new location-based VR training experience, will continue to expand the world of Ghostbusters in a way that honors the legacy of the franchise and offers something entirely new. For the first time ever, players will be able to train to be a real Ghostbuster in an amazing academy setting and race a new flying version of the ECTO using HOLOGATE’s vehicle motion simulator. This fantasy fulfilling experience is only possible in virtual reality and with HOLOGATE’s location-based entertainment technology.”
In Ghostbusters VR Academy, the ARENA game has players put on the proton packs of academy members working together as a team to defeat ghosts in high-risk encounters on the academy grounds. The BLITZ version of the game puts players in the hot seat, taking the wheel of a prototype ECTO vehicle. As test drivers, players race the ECTO against each other to see who is the fastest. SPVR also teased the possibility of ghostly encounters on the race tracks — something to be expected of any Ghostbusters experience. These immersive adventures will only be available at HOLOGATE locations.
The at-home Ghostbusters VR title appears to be fairly early in development, as SPVR released few details about the game, though it gave a small premise. “Start your Ghostbusters HQ in a new city, San Francisco, and solve a deep mystery across a new chapter in the Ghostbusters universe,” teased the press release on SPVR’s site. “Track, blast, and trap ghosts in gripping encounters by wielding iconic equipment. Go it alone, or as a team with up to three friends, in an extensive and engrossing co-op campaign. Continue the Ghostbusters’ legacy, protect the city from fiendish ghosts, and experience all the humor and frights from the beloved franchise.”
Ghostbusters is in the midst of a resurgence since the success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife opened the door to a sequel. Netflix similarly announced a Ghostbusters animated series executive produced by Jason Reitman, though details about the project remain sparse. Outside virtual reality, the franchise also has an upcoming multiplayer game from Predator: Hunting Grounds developer IllFonic. Release dates for the upcoming projects remain unknown.
Source: Sony Pictures Virtual Reality