The virtual reality community has been obsessed with getting Halo inside of a headset for a very long time. With 343 Studios teasing us, Xbox buying a lot of VR developing teams, and the advances of technology all happening at the same time, out interest has finally peaked.
Halo Outpost Discovery is not a virtual reality Halo game. It is not a game that you can download on your Rift S or Vive and play for hours. Halo Outpost Discovery is a location-based (touring) Halo-themed experience. This experience will include a wide rang of attractions, exhibits, games, and even tours. This is everything a Halo lover has ever wanted.
Virtual reality will be used in this experience plenty, as much of what Halo has made in their game will be nearly impossible to re-create in the real word.
Although there is no game releasing, we do know that virtual headsets are going to be playing a big role in this exhibit. This is the first (of hopefully many) competitive VR experiences centered around Halo. You will be pitted in a virtual arena for free roaming team death match style of game. In the trailer that you will see below is a small snippet of in-headset gameplay. Although it isn’t much, it is enough to be excited about.
As you can see in the trailer above, players will be fighting to their virtual death in an area that seems very original and well balanced. You can see in the video that regular Vive controllers will be used to virtual hold your type-25 plasma pistol that made an appearance in every Halo game up to date. Rather than operating on ammunition, players will have to monitor the heat of the weapon and the energy of it, as if the weapon is fired too frequently it will overheat and overcharge.
It also seems like players will be missing their arms and legs in this simulation. There is a few logical reasons to do this, especially because this game isn’t for the masses. This makes the gameplay and physics engine more powerful, while accidentally making Halo characters the cutest little angels on in the realm. This is like the popular Rec Room, but the characters a quite a bit more aggressive.
Along with providing a fun game to play while at the exhibit, Halo Outpost Discovery will feature a simulated ship ride. This will likely be done by a virtual reality headset. This will like be the Vive Pro, the same headset that will be powering the live action gaming for the customers of the experience.
This is sure to be an experience that all Halo lovers will enjoy, as it will have something for everyone. This will be in Orlando July 5-7, Philly from July 19-21, Chicago in August from the 2nd through the 4th, Houston will have August 16-18, and Anaheim will hold down the whole west cost from August 30 through the first day in September.
