Switchback VR :
The Dark Pictures Anthology

Since forging our partnership with Supermassive Games in 2021, N-iX Game & VR Studio has established itself as a vital tech pillar for the company. Our talented engineers have contributed their expertise to the development of Supermassive Games’ latest titles, including House of Ashes, The Devil In Me, and The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. With a deep understanding of the VR industry and extensive experience in Unreal Engine programming, art production, and game design, our team has played an essential role in bringing these immersive and captivating games to life.

Released in March 2023, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR became one of the first games developed for PlayStation VR2, the major VR upgrade from Sony Interactive, boasting innovative features. 

As a spin-off of The Dark Pictures Anthology, the game takes the player on a horror-themed roller coaster ride through various locations, including those from the first season of the game series. Players are equipped with an arsenal of weapons to shoot down targets, objects, and enemies. As players progress through the game’s levels, they’ll encounter challenging obstacles and puzzles that require creative problem-solving skills. They’ll have access to an array of special items, such as the UV light, Flare Gun, and Stun Gun, to help them navigate the game’s rich environmental mechanics.

N-iX Game & VR Studio joined the project in the initial stages and became a tech core of the project. With profound expertise in the VR industry and Unreal Engine development, our team of engineers has contributed to each mechanic there is in The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. Among our contributions was also the integration of the new features introduced for PS VR2:

• Eye-tracking system: The game uses the latest eye-tracking technology, so enemies can get to you if you look away from them or blink.
• Haptic feedback: The vibration provides a realistic roller coaster experience, where you can feel every bump and tumble as your wagon rides the rails.
• Adaptive triggers: We made sure that every weapon feels different, giving you a different way to shoot at creepy enemies that emerge from the shadows.
• Headset feedback: Thanks to this new PSVR feature, players can feel every hit when they collide with obstacles like falling beams and dangling creatures, which significantly enhances immersion. 

Additionally, we contributed to the game’s level design and 3D art production. Our team of artists modeled all of the weapons you’ll find in the game (including shotgun, semi-automatic pistols, grenade launcher, soul gun, etc.), created some enemy models, and delivered an array of environment props (like shootable objects that give you weapon buffs or upgrades, player/main enemy seats, and various obstacles).

As a testament to our commitment to the project’s success, we continue to provide continuous tech support for The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR.