1. VR Games Showcase Summer 2026: “Transformers” coming to Meta Quest

Squido Studio announced during the summer edition of the VR Games Showcase that the on-rails shooter “Transformers: Beyond Reality” will lose its Sony exclusivity after almost four years. The new “Redux” version is scheduled to be released for Meta Quest this year. In addition, a Munich-based indie studio presented a cooperative extraction shooter for Meta Quest and SteamVR, and the flight simulation “Korea” from the IL-2 series will receive a VR mode.

With “Drifters: Blackout Crew,” Munich-based studio Salmi Games is embarking on a significantly larger project after their last title, “Sweet Surrender.” This time, it’s set to be an extraction shooter in the style of Bungie’s “Marathon” or “Arc Raiders,” but in virtual reality. A crew is stranded on a crashed mothership in space. Power is only available if players reclaim it from enemy structures. They must constantly decide whether to venture deeper for better loot or return alive and secure what they’ve collected. Up to four people are to storm alien temples together, find resources, and make their escape in time before the defending robots gain the upper hand.

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The financing story behind “Drifters: Blackout Crew” is interesting. Studio founder Yacine Salmi explained to heise online that public funding laid the foundation for it. Initial federal funds from 2022 and 2023 enabled early prototypes, with which the team subsequently won over Meta as another investor. After the expansion of games funding in spring 2025, additional funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media finally flowed. “Without this support, ‘Drifters’ would either be a much smaller game or it wouldn’t exist at all,” said Salmi.

For gameplay, the team relies on typical interactions that only work in VR. Players manually reload, physically grab loot, and move using a jetpack. Collected resources go towards equipment, cosmetic customizations, and improvements to the mothership. As with their last title, “Sweet Surrender,” Salmi Games wants to closely involve the community in development through closed test phases and Discord feedback. A specific release date has not yet been set.

“Transformers: Beyond Reality” is coming to Quest

Hasbro’s legendary toy brand returns to virtual reality in the fall, as “Transformers: Beyond Reality” isn’t actually new. The game was originally released in 2022, at that time exclusively for Playstation VR. The story revolves around an unstable energy source that the Decepticons are using to threaten Cybertron and Earth.

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Players slip into a combat suit that combines cybernetics with human technology and join the Autobots. The classic on-rails shooter moves players along predetermined paths through the levels, allowing them to concentrate on shooting and dodging. Squido Studio is bringing the title to Meta Quest on September 3rd. It was developed by META4 Interactive and Illogika.

“Korea IL-2 Series” Gets VR Mode

The IL-2 series enjoys an excellent reputation among flight simulation fans. With “Korea,” 1C Game Studios moves the action to the Korean War of the early 1950s. All instruments work in real-time, which should provide a realistic cockpit feel, especially in the VR environment.

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According to the manufacturer, all common VR headsets are supported via OpenXR and OpenVR. For the first time in the series’ history, there is also full controller support. However, those who wish can still use a joystick or HOTAS, a specialized flight control with a separate throttle. The game world is said to cover more than 200,000 square kilometers and depicts the Korean peninsula based on historical maps.

In addition to single missions, the developers are also announcing a career mode where players lead an entire regiment. They manage personnel, plan operations, and decide whether to take to the cockpit themselves or coordinate from the ground. There is also a virtual museum where all aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships can be inspected in detail. The PC version is scheduled for August 4th, but the VR version will start in Early Access from June 25th.

All VR New Releases at a Glance

Game Genre Short Description Release Date Breachers: Outbreak Co-op Zombie Extraction Shooter 4-player co-op shooter in the Breachers universe. 2026 LANESPLIT Racing VR motorcycle racing with oncoming traffic and weather. June 23, 2026 The Rifted Skies Roguelite Action / Parkour Acrobatic parkour roguelite. Fall 2026 Maestro (Attack on Titan DLC) Simulation / Music Orchestra simulation with hand tracking October 17, 2024 Skeleton Crew Co-op Action Adventure Physics-based pirate action alone or in co-op June 23, 2026 EXOSHOCK (Multiplayer Announcement) Co-op PvE Shooter Squad-based sci-fi shooter in space July 2026 Wizherd (New Update) Dungeon Crawler VR magic action with spellcasting and boss fights. Q4 2026 Outlanders VR Strategy / Building Cozy city building focused on resources & population. Q4 2026 Nomsters Social / Pet Collector Free-to-play collection game with virtual pets. Summer 2026 Roar Social Adventure Open-world adventure where players fly and fight as dragons. Q4 2026 The Lightkeepers Co-op Adventure Co-op survival adventure where players must protect an ancient lighthouse. September 10, 2026 Transformers Beyond Reality: Redux On-Rails Shooter Remake of the PSVR game for Meta Quest 3. September 3, 2026 Sol Protocol (Early Access) Co-op Roguelike / Space Sci-fi co-op in a spaceship flying through procedural systems. Sept. 2026 (Quest) Oct. 2026 (Steam) FlatOut 4: Total Insanity VR Racing New updates announced. already released (Early Access) R.A.I.D Co-op Shooter / Simulation Sci-fi customs control combined with combat. Fall 2026 Primal Rumble (Closed Beta Registration Open) Card Battler Chaotic VR card game with deckbuilding. unknown VRacer Hoverbike (New Tracks & DLCs) Racing Futuristic hoverbike racing with combat and multiplayer. already released Trombone Champ: Unflattened (Disney Movie Magic DLC) Rhythm / Music Humorous trumpet game receives new DLC content. November 26, 2026 I Am Your Beast VR Roguelike Shooter VR adaptation of the fast-paced stealth action shooter. 2026 Guardians Planetfall Co-op Shooter Squad-based combat against aliens on various planets. Sequel to Guardians Frontline. Q4 2026 INWIGO Co-op Horror Horror extraction adventure in a cursed mansion. June 23, 2026 (EA) DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew Co-op Extraction Shooter Raids in alien temples for resources. unknown Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2 Sandbox FPS New feature trailer for the shooter sandbox with an absurd hot dog setting. 2026 Korea. IL-2 Series Flight Simulator Realistic aerial combat in the Korean War gets VR mode. August 4, 2026 (EA from June 25) Payday: Aces High Co-op Heist Shooter New feature trailer for the VR heists in the Payday universe. 2026

(joe)

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This article was originally published in

German.

It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.

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