Update: While the digital release of The Persistence is still set for this week on Switch eShop, the physical version has been delayed. The cartridge is now scheduled for a 31st July launch on Switch, although a new launch trailer has dropped to coincide with the digital release - check it out above.
We interviewed Firesprite about the game a few weeks ago, and enjoyed our hands-on time with an early build, so keep an eye out for our full review soon.
Original Story (Thu 23rd Apr, 2020): Announced for Switch last month, Firesprite Games has revealed that its run-based survival horror FPS The Persistence is releasing for Switch on 21st May and released a new trailer for the game. The Persistence debuted as a PlayStation VR title back in 2018, but the studio is bringing it to other platforms next month with Perp Games on publishing duties.
Set in the 26th century, the game sees you alone on the titular colony starship that's unfortunately been overrun by mutated clones 'printed' thanks to nearby black hole causing havoc with machinary. Fortunately, the other onboard cloning machine is functioning perfectly, so as you work your way through the procedurally generated ship collecting resources and upgrading your gear to survive, you'll be able to try again for another run should you succumb to the mutant horde.
Here are some of the features highlighted in the official PR blurb followed by a couple of Switch screenshots:
- A brutal take on the survival-horror genre that integrates rogue-like design elements to give the action an extra edge
- Procedurally generated stages that change with each playthrough, creating a labyrinth-like experience that adds to the tension
- Live, die, repeat. Play as dozens of different clones on board the ship, each one with the potential to be stronger than the last
- Tailored controls. enhanced environments and post-processing effects for PC, PS4 and Xbox One deliver a heightened fidelity of horror for fans of the genre
- Atmospheric, cutting-edge visuals in docked, handheld or tabletop modes for the Nintendo Switch platform
Anyone who pre-orders The Persistence on Switch (from now until 20th May) will get a 10% discount in the launch price of £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99. There's also a physical release coming on the same day, although the current global situation may cause a slight delay on that front.
We'll have an interview with Firesprite going live later this evening where we ask about the game and the challenges of bringing a VR game to non-VR platforms. We also got a chance to play a preview build recently, so look out for our first impressions soon.
Did you play this on PSVR? Like the sound of a first-person sci-fi roguelite survival horror? Let us know below.
Comments 19
Wow boxed as well, looked a really good game too. Makes the vr seem not so special but I'm well up for that if it's getting a catridge!
Sometimes the headline is hard as f*** to read for me, with all first letters being capitalized.
Game was pretty good on PSVR. Not sure how effective it'll be as a regular release, but it should be okay. Obviously, it cannot have the same impact, but it should still make for an engrossing and challenging couple of hours.
This is good news, as hardly anyone plays PSVR and Sony abandoned it quicker than it did Vita. They develop like zero games for it. Need to get as many games as we can off this device.
@mesome713 That's nonsense. PSVR is still getting games regularly, Sony are making an Iron Man game for it and PS5 will support VR from day one, with talk of a new headset coming. That hardly sounds like them dropping support does?
Tried the demo on PSVR and didn't care for it, but that's because I don't care for procedurally generated games in general. The horror atmosphere is really cool & oppressive in VR, though.
@mesome713, It's already confirmed that the current PSVR will work on PS5, rumour has it that they're working on a new version for PS5 as well.
Releases for the current setup have slowed, but that's largely because they're focused on the PS5 launch and don't have many PS4 games of any type left to release (just tLoU II, Ghost of Tsushima, and Iron Man, the last of which is VR).
Vita is a bad comparison too. As a standalone device in an established market where it's predecessors & rivals routinely sell anywhere from 60-100 million units, it's easy to see why it's 15 million is seen as a flop. PSVR on the otherhand is not a standalone device (it's dependant on owning a PS4, of which it costs nearly the same as) and is in a brand new market (building from a market of 0), so it's 5-6 million sold must be looked at in context, and everything we know so far suggests it's surpassed Sony's expectations.
@RR529 @AdamNovice Sony doesn't develop Iron Man VR, they develop like one game a year on PS4. What makes you think they'd waste time developing for PSVR? Nobody buys or plays PSVR hardly, would be a waste.
@mesome713 Then why is Iron Man VR exclusive to PSVR? Because Sony financed it, much like they did with Spider-Man.
@RR529 Gave you perfectly good reasons why PSVR isn't the "flop" you seem to think it is.
@AdamNovice But they didn't develop it. Sony isn't gonna waste big money developing a game hardly no one will buy.
@mesome713 "Sony isn't gonna waste big money developing a game hardly no one will buy."
Except they are:
"Marvel's Iron Man VR is an upcoming shooter video game developed by American studio Camouflaj and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 PlayStation VR headset."
They're not developing but they're the ones financing it.
It's a fact, stop arguing on the basis of nothing like you always do.
Seen it on EU stores. Be good rto know if NA release.
Okay, but NOWHERE in this article did my one question about this game get answered...it will use the Labor VR , I assume? I mean, I'd be amazed if it didn't, but this article never mentioned it...
@EmmatheBest Logical question My guess is, no, it won't have labo VR support. Trover Saves the Universe was a PSVR port, and it doesn't have labo VR support, I don't think. I have Trover, but didnt' recall seeing the VR option. That would be an interesting thread question. Are there any PSVR ports that support Labo VR?
Gyro control for the Switch version of this game would be awesome.
@WoomyNNYes, @EmmatheBest, NeonWall & Spice & Wolf VR are the only ones I know of (& the latter had some of it's content cut due to LABO's limitations).
The Switch's gyro doesn't allow the same range of movement that more high end VR units have (affecting gameplay), plus the Switch has a lower screen resolution than PSVR (the lower the resolution, the more likely motion sickness will occur, and even PSVR is considered bare minimum in this regard), which makes conversions to LABO harder to achieve than you may think. Plus, there's always the chance that they may have to lower the framerate too (which can really induce motion sickness), and no official means to keep it strapped to your head (which may put off developers).
I love my Switch & like digging out my LABO VR from time to time, but it's much more limited for VR purposes than I think most realize.
Pretty sweet. I have no interest in PSVR, so I'm glad that some games are breaking away. Persistence in particular looks pretty fun .
@clvr Glad to see somebody calling them out. One of the most biased people I’ve ever seen.
@Goat_FromBOTW thanks, it was my pleasure 😉
I get the impression this is only going to work in VR. The gameplay - specifically the encounters with the enemies - looks very stiff and banal. I can't imagine this game being all that scary outside of a virtual reality system.
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