So many awesome developers have made great VR games so far, ranging from small developers, like Owlchemy Labs and Polyarc Games, to huge studios like Bethesda Game Studios and Capcom. So, here are some game developers I think could make great VR experiences:
Respawn Entertainment
There are a ton of VR shooters out there, but one studio I really want to make a VR shooter is Respawn Entertainment.
Respawn was founded in 2010 by members of the team that created iconic shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Their first release, Titanfall, was a major hit and has since spawned a sequel.
They could jump into VR with a new installment in the Titanfall series, which would be a dream for me, or do something brand new.
No matter what I expect the game will have some of the best shooting mechanics we have seen so far in VR and hopefully some great player mobility.
Luckily for us, they are currently working on a VR project for the Oculus Rift.
Arkane Studios
I want Arkane to blow us away with a stellar stealth VR experience.
Known for their work on the Dishonored series and for 2017’s Prey, Arkane has offered some really great experiences over the last decade.
Stealth seems to be hard to nail in VR, but in Arkane’s hands, I bet they could whip up something special.
Dishonored had great stealth systems that presented mobility in a unique steampunk setting. A world like that translated into virtual reality with strong stealth could truly immerse you.
The good news is Bethesda has already proven to be a believer in VR and hopefully will continue their already fantastic support.
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog is the easy choice to make a VR game.
Over the past decade, Naughty Dog has risen to be one of the premier developers in the industry after releasing the Uncharted series and The Last of Us.
I don’t know what they would do in VR, but why should I believe it wouldn’t be amazing?
They have been one of the most consistent developers in recent years and a VR game from them could be interesting.
I would really hope they would stray from their roots and make something completely new for the studio.
While something like Uncharted VR would be cool, I would prefer a brand new IP. A genre they have never approached before, such as Sci-Fi, could be a breathtaking experience.
PopCap
This is the wildcard on the list. They are a pretty large developer, owned by EA, that has made a wide variety of games throughout their existence. They have made games like Bejeweled, Zuma, Feeding Frenzy, Peggle and more recently Plants vs. Zombies.
I could see their VR venture being from any number of these franchises they have developed. I think you could make a pretty cool Peggle game in VR. Feeding Frenzy in virtual reality could be kind of wired. But, Plants vs. Zombies seems to be the most likely candidate.
PopCap has made a strange jump with Plants vs. Zombies before by making it into a third person shooter with Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. They could do something weird like that again or maybe return to the series’ roots.
Besides that, they could present something completely new. In the end, however, I trust PopCap to make a really fun arcade-like experience for VR if they get the opportunity.
Telltale Games
Telltale is in a strange spot right now. I feel like they are just stuck in this formula right now, and it has me really uninterested.
They just keep pumping out these games, mostly licensed, that all seem to follow the same threads. Plus they still struggle with their engine and optimizing their games properly.
I think VR would present a great opportunity for them. It would give them more area to explore new ideas and get out of this trap they have fallen into.
It might really allow them to get back to their and focus on what they do best: storytelling. They were one of the first to present interactive storytelling to people and VR is the next advancement of that. I think they could come up with some really cool, ground-breaking ideas and tells a great narrative while doing so. Let’s just hope that it happens and runs at more than 10 frames a second.
Team Ico
After playing The Last Guardian VR Demo I am completely sold on Team Ico making a full VR game. To be honest I am not a huge fan of their work. I recently played Shadow of the Colossus for the first time with the recent remake and I didn’t see why it was so beloved.
Regardless I think they could make a really heartfelt and unique experience for VR. It was clear from playing the Last Guardian VR Demo that they understand how scale works. Seeing Tricko, the bird dog creature from The Last Guardian, up close and personal was awe-inspiring. I can only imagine if they did something similar with a game like Shadow of the Colossus.
The only issue is that the game would probably take a decade to come out.
Playground Games
Playground Games has made some of my favorite driving games recently and I would love for them to dive into VR.
The Forza Horizon trilogy has been some of the most fun I have had in a racing game in a long time. It is so hard for me to get into racing games today without them feeling like a complete waste of time. But Forza Horizon, much like Burnout: Paradise, combined smooth driving with a huge open world filled with gorgeous landscapes.
Being able to drive in the outback with the dust kicking up into your face while gripping the wheel just sounds incredible, and hopefully, we will be able to experience it soon.
Blizzard
I think Blizzard will eventually make a VR game, the only question pertains to when. With Blizzard, you never know what to expect, but no matter what it will be quality.
Whether it will be a game set in one of their storied franchises or a brand new IP the potential is limitless. They have revolutionized genres time and time again with games such as Diablo, World of Warcraft, Starcraft and most recently Overwatch.
Blizzard always looks at industry trends and reads them perfectly to give the people what they want, and I can’t wait till that happens with virtual reality.
What Developer do you want to make a VR game?
What devs did I miss that you guys would think to make an awesome VR experience? Let me know in the comments below.
Sean McCole 