The long-awaited PlayStation VR2 was finally given some more details last night, with a brand new "Sense" controller being hinted at, and the headset's specifications being unveiled in all their glory. Along with this reveal came a neat little surprise; that Firesprite is working with Guerrilla Games to produce a VR Horizon title, called Horizon Call of the Mountain.
Based in Liverpool in the UK, Firesprite is comprised of over 250 employees, some of which have been with the company since it was Psygnosis Limited/Sony's Liverpool Studio, the team credited with developing the original Wipeout games. Sony only just acquired Firesprite, but their history of working together stretches back decades. If Firesprite's previous work is anything to go by, then Horizon Call of the Mountain is sure to be an innovative experience.
What The Persistence Could Mean For Horizon Call of the Mountain
Firesprite has worked on a few VR titles now, and The Persistence may be one of its most well known. A sci-fi horror with rogue-lite elements, The Persistence is Firesprite's latest VR title that proves it's the right studio for the job.
The Persistence puts a focus on upgrades, whether that's upgrading the player-character's abilities, or unlocking and upgrading weapons. This is, undeniably, a very important aspect of the Horizon games, as their RPG elements tend to emphasize the importance of unlocking new gear and constantly upgrading it through modifications.
Anyone that's played The Persistence will also herald the game's audio design as one of its best elements, especially when using the PSVR's 3D audio. Firesprite really honed in on what makes a sci-fi horror experience so memorable, delivering all of the haunting whirring of engines, mumbling of mutated monsters, and creaking of pipes in the wall that has come to be expected from the genre. While it likely won't be a horror game, Firesprite's stellar audio design is a great sign for Call of the Mountain, as Horizon Zero Dawn had some truly memorable audio elements, such as its array of mechanical creatures that all made unique sounds.
What The Playroom Could Mean For Horizon Call of the Mountain
Before The Persistence, Firesprite worked with Team Asobi to create both The Playroom, and The Playroom VR; tech-demo games that were designed to show players the many uses of the PlayStation Move's camera, and PSVR headset respectively. While these games may not have been fully fleshed out titles like The Persistence, they give a good idea of what Firesprite is capable of.
Horizon Call of the Mountain is already being touted as a truly innovative, next-gen virtual reality game, that's going to push PlayStation VR further than it's ever gone before. Firesprite's work on The Playroom VR might be a good indicator at how innovative its Horizon game will be, as Playroom VR, though simple, used the standard VR technology to create some extremely fun and creative experiences.
It can be expected that Firesprite will use all PSVR2's new features, hopefully in engaging and creative ways. For instance, the new Sense controller, featuring the DualSense's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, is sure to make firing a bow and arrow feel genuinely immersive, and the newly improved 3D audio, mixed with Firesprite's work on The Persistence, is almost guaranteed to make Horizon's large-scale world feel even larger in VR.
Also, if any developer can make PSVR2's new eye-tracking technology worthwhile, then it's the developer that helped to create one of the most experimental and creative games available on the first headset. Firesprite's previous work on The Playroom series, having to collaborate closely with Sony's Japan studio Asobi, bodes well for Call of the Mountain, as it has proven itself to be a studio that can work well with others, meaning that Guerrilla Games' IP should be treated with the utmost respect by Firesprite.
Horizon Call of the Mountain is currently in development for PlayStation VR2.
