For many years, we’ve been under the promise that virtual reality is the future of gaming. Fortunately or unfortunately, that hasn’t quite materialized yet. Whether it’s due to the high entry price, the lack of a strong catalog, or the inability to effectively sell its benefits, the general public doesn’t seem as interested in virtual reality. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an audience eagerly seeking new experiences.
Umurangi Generation VR is precisely the kind of game anyone with a set of virtual reality glasses should expect. It’s the VR version of the acclaimed cult game Umurangi Generation, a photography simulator set in Tauranga Aotearoa. Here, we embody a photojournalist with a specific task: to document the unfortunate state of the country and its inhabitants through our photographs. All of this follows a set of criteria established in each of the scenarios.
With a post-apocalyptic setting, in scenes teeming with life due to the unwavering will of the people and a police state attempting to control everything, the quality of the photos isn’t important. The game never judges whether our photos are good or bad. What matters is creating our own criteria for how the photos should be and doing everything possible to follow it.
This game is perfect for a VR version precisely because it’s not a frantic game in any way. Taking photos, navigating the environment, interacting with people to pose for us, and creating graffiti are things that can be done elegantly and naturally in virtual reality. This aspect makes Umurangi Generation a perfect fit for this technology.
Umurangi Generation VR will arrive on PlayStation VR2 and Quest on April 18, 2024. Additionally, the non-VR version will be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on the same day, for those who still prefer to take their photos in a more traditional way.
