[Editor’s Note] – Smashbox Arena is now available on PSVR. This article was originally published on May 5th, 2017 and has been updated today in conjunction with the game’s release. You can download it now on PSN for $29.99. Watch the new launch trailer below.
One of PC VR’s best multiplayer games, Smashbox Arena from Big Box VR, is finally on its way to PlayStation VR (PSVR). Smashbox is a game that started life on the HTC Vive with roomscale support, though, which has us wondering how it will translate to Sony’s headset.
We put that question to Big Box itself. As you may know PSVR features positional tracking with a single camera, but that doesn’t allow for roomscale, and it means you won’t be able to turn around away from the camera if you’re using position tracked controls like the PlayStation Move devices. Smashbox uses those controllers for full multiplayer battles in which you teleport around an arena, dodging incoming attacks and dealing out a few of your own.
Big Box’s Chia Chin Lee told UploadVR that “The game works great on PSVR,” using a similar setup to the Oculus Touch version of the game, which released after the Vive version. Touch can support roomscale with three sensors but many users only have the two featured with the Rift and Touch controllers, and Big Box made some changes to accomodate those players, who are in a similar boat to PSVR users.
“There’s a look-snap button to turn you so you don’t need to turn all around,” Lee reassured.
We’ve also asked about the possibility of cross-platform support but haven’t heard back at the time of publishing.
He certainly hope it’s a smooth transition; Smashbox is one of the most frantic and fun multiplayer VR games around. It comes to PSVR with the help of Archiacht, which has brought several other VR titles like Darknet over to PSVR. The game should be available in the US, EU and Japan this Summer. We’ll be very interested to see how it holds up.
