I'm not gonna mince words here: most 'professional' video game outlets are failing at their job of covering noteworthy non-VR video games that aren't the obvious, known and well-marketed ones. For instance, about half of the best 20 player-reviewed 2019 releases on Steam have 5 or less (!) professional reviews. So with that in mind it follows that the PC VR segment too is neglected and overlooked by media. But it really is astonishing to me to see how much these outlets are failing at covering this segment when you consider how the PSVR is covered and how pretty much any big release on Sony's VR platform is getting loads of reviews and coverage.
Even the might and money of Facebook and Oculus couldn't help a Marvel VR game get more than 4 reviews. The latest Insomniac VR title is sitting at 8 reviews. Rest assured, the next VR title by Insomniac is going to be lapped up by critics because it will be on PlayStation. The acclaimed Asgard's Wrath with meager 6 reviews. The 4th most grossing game last week on Steam has 2 reviews.
It's staggering how the video game media can't be arsed covering noteworthy games that aren't on the reviewers' preferred platform. Like i said, it's not only a VR thing. The 4th best player-reviewed game this year on Steam, which has sold 1M+ copies, has 0 (ZERO) professional reviews of the PC version.
Any business-minded rationalizations for this frankly pathetic coverage are sidelined when we have a site as big and as concerned with clicks and money as IGN actually providing a decent coverage of PC VR games. Three of the six reviews for Asgard's Wrath on Opencritic are IGN's; 2 of the 8 reviews for Stormland. They are one the four that reviewed the Marvel VR game and one of the two that posted a Boneworks review. They are also one of the six outlets that reviewed Pistol Whip, a lesser-caliber recent release.
If IGN is able to provide coverage of PCVR, even if it focused on the biggest names, there is no reason to let the other outlets off the hook for their pathetic coverage of the segment. A total re-think is needed for how these publications and critics cover and select to cover non-VR and VR titles that aren't the obvious choices.
I would like to end this by once again giving props to IGN for covering PC Virtual Reality games. I hope they continue, expand and improve their coverage of the segment.
Even the might and money of Facebook and Oculus couldn't help a Marvel VR game get more than 4 reviews. The latest Insomniac VR title is sitting at 8 reviews. Rest assured, the next VR title by Insomniac is going to be lapped up by critics because it will be on PlayStation. The acclaimed Asgard's Wrath with meager 6 reviews. The 4th most grossing game last week on Steam has 2 reviews.
It's staggering how the video game media can't be arsed covering noteworthy games that aren't on the reviewers' preferred platform. Like i said, it's not only a VR thing. The 4th best player-reviewed game this year on Steam, which has sold 1M+ copies, has 0 (ZERO) professional reviews of the PC version.
Any business-minded rationalizations for this frankly pathetic coverage are sidelined when we have a site as big and as concerned with clicks and money as IGN actually providing a decent coverage of PC VR games. Three of the six reviews for Asgard's Wrath on Opencritic are IGN's; 2 of the 8 reviews for Stormland. They are one the four that reviewed the Marvel VR game and one of the two that posted a Boneworks review. They are also one of the six outlets that reviewed Pistol Whip, a lesser-caliber recent release.
If IGN is able to provide coverage of PCVR, even if it focused on the biggest names, there is no reason to let the other outlets off the hook for their pathetic coverage of the segment. A total re-think is needed for how these publications and critics cover and select to cover non-VR and VR titles that aren't the obvious choices.
I would like to end this by once again giving props to IGN for covering PC Virtual Reality games. I hope they continue, expand and improve their coverage of the segment.