Firesprite just announced that its sci-fi horror PS VR exclusiveThe Persistencewill be playable outside of VR this summer. This development will come by way of a free update for current owners ofThe Persistence.
The update will transform the game intoThe Persistence: Complete Edition–replete withevery updatethat’s been made to the game since its release in July 2018. That includes campaign+, permadeth, two survival modes called glass cannon and first blood, and a host of customizable accessibility options through assist mode: reducing game speed and damage taken, infinite ammo and teleports, auto-tagged enemies, and an automatic shield.
Some obvious changes need to be made to transport the game from VR to a flat-screen display without mechanics getting lost in translation. Changes like subtle head bobbing and animating transitions between standing and crouching are being made to the camera, while certain weapons like the gravity hook have new ways of firing to increase accuracy. Other changes are more ambiguous; the UI is being updated to be more intuitive for flat-screen displays and there will be a new way to interact with and pick up objects. We’ll have to see exactly what these changes look like when more is revealed. However, the announce trailer for the complete edition showcases what looks to be some non-VR gameplay.
TheComplete Editionwill also feature a companion app called theSolex Appwhich lets a second player interact with the world. They can assist by opening doors, highlighting items, and freezing enemies, or make things tougher by shutting lights off and inciting enemies.
The Persistence: Complete Editionis also getting an upgrade in the graphics department. PS4 Pro owners can play at 60 FPS in 4K, while the OG PS4 will run it at 60 FPS in 1080p. WhileThe Persistenceowners can expect the complete edition for free, no word is out on how much it’ll cost for people looking to purchase the game for the first time. If you have PS VR, you may getThe PersistenceonAmazonfor $20 at the time of this writing.
