Although Forspoken didn't make an appearance at the latest PlayStation State of Play, Sony has plenty of other games to discuss. Big-ticket items include the confirmation of a Resident Evil 4 remake from Capcom, as well as new gameplay footage for Street Fighter 6. Much of the show was also taken up by games that are on the way for PlayStation VR 2, Sony's next venture into virtual reality gaming. The PS VR2 already has some compelling games on the way, like Horizon: Call of the Mountain, but Sony would be wise to keep searching for games that could inspire other VR entries, such as Luminous Productions and Square Enix's upcoming PS5 title.
Forspoken looks like a highly unique addition to the PS5 library through its gorgeous setting, flashy magic system, and fantasy lore, but the IP may have more to offer Sony. The game's unique facets seem like they'd be well-suited to a VR adaptation. Whether it stars Frey Holland or brings a new character to the forefront like Horizon: Call of the Mountain, a VR adaptation of Forspoken's Athia could help Square Enix's latest IP grow significantly while adding an excellent new title to the PS VR2 lineup.
Why Forspoken Could Work in VR
Luminous Productions' many trailers for Forspoken have made it clear that graphical quality is crucial to the game. Forspoken trailers are full of grand landscapes and dazzling magic that make Athia's visuals a real treat. The spectacle of Athia makes it seem perfect for a VR adaptation. Seeing Forspoken's world on a TV screen is one thing, but entering Athia from a first-person perspective would be entirely different. VR could provide Forspoken fans with an even more immersive experience than the original game can supply as a third-person adventure, giving players the chance to inspect the details of Athia up close.
The magic of Forspoken also seems like it could be a lot of fun in VR. Frey Holland's mastery of magical abilities is key to the Forspoken experience and forms the basis of combat, unlike most RPGs; Forspoken players will find themselves quickly cycling through Frey's different spells as they fight the warped creatures created by the Break. VR controls could adapt themselves well to this magic system, which players selecting spells with the flick of a wrist or performing certain gestures to line up their magical attacks. Plenty of other VR games have offered fans thrilling spellcasting before, but a VR Forspoken game could dramatically raise the bar.
A Chance for Forspoken to Grow
Obviously a VR Forspoken spinoff would need to change in some major ways. For example, Forspoken's signature traversal systems probably wouldn't lend themselves well to a VR game, since Frey's high-speed leaps and bounds would probably induce motion sickness in some players when experienced in first-person. Still, a Forspoken VR title could borrow a lot of the original game's big ideas and craft a more slow-paced adventure in Athia, offering some variety in how to experience this new Square Enix world. If Forspoken is going to become the next big Square Enix franchise, then the publisher would be wise to take risks like this in the name of aggressive growth.
PS VR2 could be just the right home for Forspoken's first big spinoff, since the first game is already lined up to be a flagship PS5 title. Forspoken needs to succeed before any VR title can roll around, of course, but there's no denying that the IP could be a great addition to the PS VR2 library. Sony should at least consider striking a deal with Square Enix and Luminous Productions for a Forspoken VR title. Horizon: Call of the Mountain and its PS VR2 peers are solid, but the new VR headset will need far more exclusive titles than it has so far in order to compete. Hopefully Forspoken gets the chance to follow in Horizon's wake when it comes to VR spinoffs.
Forspoken releases October 11, 2022 for PC and PS5.