The 31st edition of game Developers Conference 2017 is happening in San Francisco (27th Feb-3rd March 2017). The GDC is the world’s largest professional game industry event which is entirely focused on learning and inspiring from the new developments and technological enhancements involved in the game development. The GDC 2017 has started with the participation of thousands of video game developers, video game designers and numerous big companies such as Ubisoft, Oculus, Nvidia, Unity, etc.

So, let’s have a look at what are the new VR games and game development updates we will be having this year:

1. Unity Releases The Final Version Of Unity 5

Unity’s GDC 2017 keynote is entirely focused on improvising the future of the game engine. At GDC 2017, the owner has announced Unity 5.6, the latest release and final version of Unity 5. The Unity 5 was first introduced in March 2015. The company will be releasing the Unity 5.6 on 31st march 2017.

Unity 5.6 has come up with lots of enhancements and attractive features. Let’s have a brief look at the keynote features introduced in the latest version:

• Vulkan API: Unity 5.6 now supports Vulkan. Unity, along with ARM and Infinite Dreams, demonstrated Vulkan API on other games. Vulkan has enhanced the entire performance of the game and reduces battery usage that eventually benefits you in getting 10-12% extra playtime. The developers at Unity has also introduced Apple Metal graphics API in Unity 5.6.
• New Video Player: The developers at Unity redesigned a new video player from scratch and introduced it in Unity 5.6. It is a multi-platform video player and smoothly plays 4k and 360 videos in VR.
• Progressive Lightmapper: This newly introduced progressive lightmapper offers super fast iteration while trying different lighting scenarios and reduces baking time.

2. Ubisoft Is Recreating The Feeling Of James Cameron’s Avatar With Their New Game

Ubisoft has made an exciting announcement at GDC 2017. The firm acclaims that they are going to launch a new game based on James Cameron’s epic sci-fi fantasy, “Avatar”, which was released in the year 2009. The upcoming game will be developed by Massive Entertainment, a Malmo, Sweden based Ubisoft’s game development studio who has developed the best-selling “Tom Clancy’s: The Division”. Massive Entertainment has partnered with Fox Interactive and Lightbox Entertainment to develop this new Avatar based game.

Ubisoft has already developed an Avatar based game in 2009, but this is due for PC and consoles. Massive Entertainment will be using the same in-house game engine “Snowdrop engine”, which was used in “Tom Clancy’s: The Division”.

3. Google Play Store Will Now Display Sales Price And Free Offers On Android Apps

At the ongoing GDC 2017, Google has also introduced some attractive features to benefit the Android app developers and users of Google Play Store. As per the new update, the app developers can now display the sale price and free offers on Android apps. Google has now provided a formal way of displaying discounts for potential buyers. Consumers can now see a strikethrough price that makes it more obvious that the sale is going on.

4. Oculus Showcased 5 New VR Games At GDC 2017

Since its inception, Virtual Reality has always taken center stage at all technological events. This year, at GDC 2017, Oculus has a list of 5 new VR games to announce along with new VR controller. Oculus is known for offering flagship VR gadgets, i.e. Oculus Rift, Gear VR headsets and Oculus Touch.

a) ARKTIKA.1: ARKTIKA.1 is an Oculus funded VR game developed by the creators of Metro 203, Metro: Last Night and Metro Redux. ARKTIKA.1 has a post-apocalyptic future Eastern Europe theme. It is an action-packed, highly immersive and first-person shooter game which is exclusively designed for Oculus Touch. 4A Engine offers impressive visuals in ARKTIKA.1, where it lets the players use Oculus Touch Controllers and allows them to toggle between the cover locations.

b) Brass Tactics: The idea behind the development of Brass Tactics has come from the popular strategy utilized in “Age of Empires II” and “Defense Grid 2 VR”. The creator of Brass Tactics, Hidden Path Entertainment, has again combined the real-time strategy with VR. The creator has given a medieval-theme to this multiplayer game where a player is provided with standard waist level battlefield and god’s eye view.

c) Augmented Empire: Augmented Empire is developed in a set of cyberpunk world, with an intuitive color scheme and art style and an unorthodox premise where the player will be fighting by tapping on the VR controller. Augmented Empire is a tactical role-playing VR game which is developed by Coatsink Software, the creator of Esper. We will be expecting a VR controller in its next update.

d) From Other Suns: From Other Suns offers the first-person experience to the players. It supports teleporting. However, the developers of the game haven’t changed the basic concept of teleporting but offered a nice twist.

Besides given first-person experience, when the player moves from the position, the character model runs out of the player’s view and it then becomes third-person perspective. The developer has provided a feel that keeps the player connected to the game environment.

e) Mage’s Tale: Mage’s Tale is a full-fledged dungeon-crawler which is developed by InExite Entertainment, the creator of “Torment: Tides of Numenera” and “Wasteland 2”. Instead of offering a swordplay and the traditional combat fighting style, Mage’s Tale has something new on charts for the VR gamers. It offers a spell-crafting system following with which comes a bunch of dungeons loaded with hidden secrets. In Mage’s Tale, with the help of Oculus Rift, the gamers would be able to combine basic elements like water, fire and can create multiple missiles. This combination of a spell-crafting system along with missiles and confetti tones will definitely be able to engage users.

5. Vive Studios Introduced 3 VR Games With HTC Vive Motion Controllers

Vive Studios has recently released its spring lineup of VR games. The offered line up comprises of 3 VR games. The first on board is “VR Sports”, which comprises of a lighthearted table tennis with very realistic-feeling and ping-pong modes. Another one on board is “Front Defense”, which is a competent war shooter game. With the help of HTC Vive Motion Controllers, a player can defend objectives while hiding behind barricades to survive from the backfires coming from the opposite side. The motion controllers let the players change and grab different weapons in between the war shooting.

The third offer on the list is “Make VR”. It is more like a virtual reality 3D modeling program. It is created by Sixaxis. It is an old concept of Sixaxis which was previously showcased in the year 2013, but the VR motion controller for which it was designed it still not available in the market. However, it is compatible with HTC’s Vive motion controllers, but we can look forward towards future updates.

6. Nvidia Reveals Brand New GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card With Enhanced Performance

Nvidia, the very well-known name in the graphics and hardware industry, has made its presence at the GDC 2017. The CEO of Nvidia, Jen-Hsun Huang has made an announcement of the unveiling of GTX 1080 Ti, the successor of the GeForce GTX 1080. The firm has designed this high-end graphics card to offer the developers and gamers an all new gaming environment experience.

The newly introduced GTX 1080 Ti comprises of 11GB of GDDR5X memory and will be available in the market from 10th March 2017. This new graphics card is already having competitors in the market and the firm claims that it is faster than the Titan X that was launched last year carrying a price tag of $1200. The new GTX 1080 Ti is available for $700.

7. Epic Games “State Of Unreal” Takes The Center Stage At GDC 2017

After Ubisoft and Unity, Epic Games has taken the center stage and acclaims new developments. The founder of the Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, has presented the firm’s “State of Unreal” keynote at the GDC 2017 and proclaimed to share the new developments the company will be bringing in near future in their flagship “the Unreal game engine”.

8. Microsoft Will Be Bringing Mixed Reality Headsets To Xbox In 2018

Last year, Microsoft has made an announcement that the firm will be partnering with other hardware manufacturers to design VR headsets for Windows Holographic platform. This year, at GDC 2017, Microsoft has revealed its future plans for mixed reality headsets.

The announcement reveals that the mixed reality headsets will be coming for Xbox in 2018. Microsoft has also showcased the all new Acer’s Windows Holographic headsets, developer edition. The headsets will be ready for shipment later this month.

Moreover, the firm has also opened up the doors of Xbox platform for budding game developers. Microsoft has launched its all new Xbox Live Creators Program that allows the indie team and solo game developers to create and sell their game on Xbox platform.

9. Google Playables: Try Before Your Buy!!

Google has made a stimulating announcement at GDC 2017. The firm reveals its all-new ad format named as “Playables” for game developers and players. Android game developers who are selling their games through Google Play Store are now able to offer the players a teaser or mini-game of their gameplay. It gives a better idea of the game to the player and it is equally beneficial for game players as it helps in pulling up long-term and potential players.

10. After Nintendo Switch, Have A Glimpse At Nintendo Switch eShop And Upcoming Indie Titles

At the beginning of this year, Nintendo has announced its all new and most-awaited Nintendo Switch which will be officially launching on 3rd March 2017. At the ongoing GDC 2017, the firm has come up with the new line-up of video games. The newly showcase game is “The Legend of Zelda” for spring and following it the “Splatoon 2” and “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” will be coming in summer. The firm has proclaimed that at the end of this year, Nintendo eShop will be having more than 60 indie titles and some of them will be Nintendo Switch exclusives.

The firm has showcased a bunch of video games at Nintendo’s 2017 software showcase. It comprises of Pocket Rumble, Blaster Master Zero, Tumbleseed, Mr. Shifty, and we will be expecting Breath of the Wild at the Nintendo Switch’s launch event. As, the director of the The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, has recently showcased the 2D prototype version of the game, and it looks remarkably promising.

11. Epic Games Showcased The “Project Raven”: A High-end Augmented Reality Project

The developers at Epic Games have showcased the real power of the “Unreal Engine” by displaying the Blackbird at GDC 2017. The firm has demoed its all new “Project Raven” at its GDC keynotes. Project Raven is all about how to blend live action shots with real-time effects. With the help of this project, the developers can now create epic content for advertisements by combining the real-time visual effects with the live-action shots taken by the blackbird.

With the help of Unreal Engine, directors of films can now easily add visuals to their digital environments. The firm has shown a short movie of a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and how they changed the color of the car in real time.

Game Developers Conference 2017 has given a huge platform to the budding game developers and VR game developers. It allows them to showcase and exchange the interactive ideas involved in virtual reality and game development. With all these updates and new launches, the game developers will definitely be going to offer something really exciting to the world of gaming.

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