Crytek is partnering with Oculus to bring an exclusive rock climbing simulation called The Climb to Rift. The announcement follows a partnership with Harmonix that was announced earlier this month bringing Rock Band VR exclusively to the Oculus platform.
Germany-based Crytek is the creator of CRYENGINE, which is used to make visually stunning games like Crysis. Its use for The Climb is yet another example of how game engines are evolving to become the core toolsets for developers to create VR experiences. CRYENGINE joins Unity as well as Unreal from Epic Games as becoming a tool game developers can use to become VR developers. The Frostbite engine from an Electronic Arts subsidiary may also be on its way toward becoming a VR toolset.
In The Climb, players will get the sensation of rock climbing using an Xbox One controller or the Oculus Touch controllers with virtual hands represented in front of the player. The first setting for the game is in Asia with others planned, but yet to be announced.
Here’s how Crytek describes the gameplay:
…gameplay revolves around exploring rock faces to find a path to the top, and you must find different grips or holds, each with their own challenge, to lift yourself as you chart your own route. Rock climbing in real life is physically demanding. As athletes climb they sweat and chalk is used by climbers to return grip to sweaty hands. This is reflected in the game, as the more active you are, the more you’ll need to use chalk on your in-game hands so you can stay on the rock!
We’ll post a hands-on with the game soon but in the meantime check out the visually gorgeous trailer at the top of this post. While Unity and Unreal have been used for the vast majority of VR game experiences so far, it will be interesting to see if more developers start using tools like CRYENGINE in the coming year.
