Ars tests The Nest, the HTC Vive’s first VR sniper simulator

by Sam Machkovech

Sam Machkovech tests VR sniping game The Nest; video edited by Jennifer Hahn.

The HTC Vive's "room-scale," out-of-the-chair approach to virtual reality has unlocked some very interesting gun-gaming ideas, and, as a result, most of its current shooters encourage a lot of movement. As such, launch highlights Hover Junkers and Space Pirate Trainer offer significant gameplay benefits for anyone who can duck, dodge, and hop around their play space while faking like a laser cowboy.

Some VR gamers may prefer an experience that splits the difference: a shooting game that employs motion-tracked controllers but doesn't require serious physical effort. Those players will finally get their wish with the impending launch of this month's The Nest, whose early access beta version stakes its entire claim on a single weapon: the sniper rifle.

The two-person team at Seattle's Invrse Games was kind enough to send a beta code along ahead of the game's formal release "sometime in June," which I filmed myself playing in the above video—dressed for the part, of course. (What robot-murdering hitman doesn't suit up?) The game is currently limited to a single battlefield (with "day" and "night" lighting versions) and simple, slow robot guards. Players set up in a sniper's perch and try to pick off those robots as quickly and accurately as possible, using only one Vive wand to aim and shoot a rifle with unlimited ammo (but slow reloads).

As mentioned in the video, I quickly took to the physical perk of using my free hand to steady my Vive wand's aim, and I'm quite charmed by the sensation of holding a virtual gun close to my real eye, then squinting, lining up a shot, and tagging a robot's head. To be fair, of course, there is only so much this game can simulate, particularly recoil; the HTC Vive wand's rumbling feature doesn't come close to replicating a sniper rifle's kickback. Of course, I'd absolutely love a more fully formed experience, but no other VR game currently offers this kind of smooth sniping experience, and the limited demo version reminds me of my days of repeatedly playing the sniper-loaded levels of Rare's Goldeneye 007 on the N64 and relishing that specific type of gunplay.

In an interview, Invrse creative director Ryan Smith told Ars that The Nest will be updated with more battlegrounds and foes, though he's being cagey about announcing other features or confirming any multiplayer modes. "We can't make any promises until some of the tricky parts are solved, but all of us have been wanting to try multiplayer sniper battles since day one," Smith said. "There is a very ambitious design that I have in mind which could change the landscape of VR, but it would require growing our dev team beyond just myself and Victor [Brodin]." Smith also said the game will launch on Oculus' Touch platform "later this year."

Listing image by Sam Machkovech