PlayStation VR2 horror game The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR will make good use of the new headset's eye tracking technology to scare players. The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is following in the footsteps of Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, both of which were on-rails shooters from developer Supermassive Games that served as spin-offs of their choice-driven narrative-based horror games.
Rush of Blood was a launch title for the original PlayStation VR headset that served as a spin-off to Until Dawn. Switchback VR is not a launch title for the PlayStation VR2, but it's expected to release for the PS5's virtual reality headset on March 16. Whereas Rush of Blood was set in the Until Dawn universe, Switchback VR is tied to The Dark Pictures, a horror anthology series that plays similarly to Until Dawn while still firmly establishing its own identity.
The PlayStation VR2 headset has many new features and upgrades when compared to the original device, in turn giving the developers new tools to work with when crafting their virtual reality experiences. One new feature with the PlayStation VR2 is eye tracking, which will be put to good use in The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. It's been confirmed that the upcoming horror game will know when players have their eyes closed. According to game director Alejandro Arque Galladro, some enemies will get closer to the player every time they blink, while other enemies can only move when the player is not looking directly at them. Needless to say, this tech has enormous potential to deliver genuinely terrifying horror game experiences.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR will use the PlayStation VR2 headset's new features in many other interesting ways as well. 3D audio, headset rumble, and haptic feedback in the new Sense controllers will all be utilized to increase immersion and scare anyone brave enough to check it out come launch.
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood earned mixed reviews at the time of its release, so it will definitely be interesting to see if The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR has a more positive reception when it comes to the PlayStation VR2 headset next month. While early PlayStation VR2 adopters wait for The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR's release date to roll around next month, they should have plenty of launch titles to keep them occupied in the meantime. PlayStation VR2 has quite an extensive launch lineup for February 22, so it's an exciting time for VR enthusiasts on PS5.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR launches on March 16 for PS5.
