When it comes to VR gaming, it can be hard to decide whether the popularity of devices like the Meta Quest 2 and the PSVR is on the rise. VR gaming has many unique strengths, and the Meta Quest 2 is bringing some very powerful titles to the lineup without having to chain someone to their computer with a bunch of cables and wires. Games like the upcoming Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord could further the potential of the medium.
Sony appears to be hoping that VR gaming is the next big thing considering its upcoming PlayStation VR2 rig is going to cost more than a PS5. There is also a crazy expensive Meta Quest Pro that should be almost three times as much of an investment as the PSVR 2. With the prices for these devices trending upward, game devs working on their platforms are going to have to hope that VR gaming sees a big uptick in popularity. Luckily, major franchises like Ghostbusters tend to be big audience draws, so Rise of the Ghost Lord should do its best to prove why VR is worthwhile.
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord Brings Name Recognition to Bigger VR Titles
One of the big reasons that Rise of the Ghost Lord could end up spearheading an upswing in VR gaming is that this is another game following what will hopefully become a trend. The newest entry in the Ghostbusters universe will be offered on the PSVR 2 and the Meta Quest 2. When the Meta Quest first came out (then called the Oculus Quest), it had its own closed community of titles. The same exclusivity could be said for the original PSVR. While games being on one platform or another is certainly nothing new, it feels like locking a VR game on one device or another is going to ensure that the game reaches just a fraction of its potential playbase. People who own a PlayStation and Xbox console are more likely to appear than those who own multiple VR rigs.
Rise of the Ghost Lord also carries a big name alongside it. There are plenty of VR titles that might not be well known but are plenty of fun to play, so when investing in a VR device has an extreme price point, having a name that potential players recognize is a big bonus. With the Ghostbusters franchise getting new life in films, the name is again one of the more popular in entertainment. The fact that another Ghostbusters game released this fall points to that recognition as well.
It's important to note that Rise of the Ghost Lord alone likely isn't the kind of game that is going to get people to pay nearly $600 or more for a VR device, but it's a good step in that direction. More games with big names, such as Iron Man VR landing on Meta Quest 2, will only help the platform's popularity.
If VR is set to become much more popular on the Meta Quest 2 or PSVR 2, there will need to be more "known" names that carry strong mechanics to catch peoples' attentions. They don't have to be as big as Ghostbusters, there can be quite a few smaller names like the upcoming Among Us VR title that draw in their own niche audiences. However, truly big licensed properties such as Rise of the Ghost Lord should lead the way.
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord will release for Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR2 in 2023.