Why it matters to you
Ubisoft teamed up with Elijah Wood and Spectrevision to create Transference, an unsettling virtual reality experience that should be perfect for gamers wanting something out of the norm.
Ubisoft revealed at its E3 2017 press conference Monday that an upcoming virtual reality game called Transference will arrive in the spring of 2018 . It’s a collaboration between Ubisoft Montreal and film production company Spectrevision, which was created by film directors Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller, and actor Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy).
Transference will be a psychological thriller, according to Ubisoft, that pulls players through the digitally re-created memories of a man tormented by obsession. “Escape the maze-like puzzle of an impossible home concealing a corrupted truth,” Ubisoft explains. “Meet the troubled family members and get hands-on to solve their riddle through a multi-branching narrative.”
The upcoming game will star Macon Blair (Blue Ruin, Green Room) as the troubled soul. The game’s outcome will depend on the player’s choices as they collect the evidence of the family’s history scattered throughout the twisted house, and determine how to repair the damage inflicted on their lives. To unlock truths, players must “learn the rules of a home intent on breaking them.”
Players must learn the story of each family member. In turn, actions the player takes have an effect on “time and space,” changing the world for each family member. Ultimately, Transference will be a story-driven game that can be replayed multiple times with varying outcomes.
Spectrevision CEO Lisa Whalen said the team set out to create a movie-like game that left players unsettled when they removed the VR headset. For the first time, VR players will feel like they’re in an actual movie. It’s based on the premise that neuroscientists managed to store trauma, memories, and emotions in a data format. The viewer, one fictional scientist indicates in the E3 trailer, won’t be harmed physically.
“What you are experiencing is a recorded consciousness,” a scientist explains in scratchy 2003 video footage. “It’s not like watching a movie, so no matter how real it may seem, it can’t hurt you. You’re completely safe.”
Unfortunately, the E3 2017 reveal trailer was a lot of fluff and not much of a gameplay showcase. You see bits and pieces of scenarios like a hallway and a bedroom, but that’s it. Presumably, Transference may be a sit-and-play type of VR game with click-to-move gameplay as players explore the house. However, brief shots of movement can be seen in the trailer, so it may rely on a gamepad as well.
Transference is slated to arrive in the spring of 2018 for PlayStation VR, the Oculus Rift, and the HTC Vive. Also listed are the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. along with PC. For more E3 2017 coverage, head here.