Owlchemy Labs announces Hyper Visor, an XR arcade game for HTC's XREAL Aura

Owlchemy Labs, the Google-owned studio known for VR games, has announced Hyper Visor, which it describes as "an original XR arcade blaster." According to Game Developer, the game will debut on the Google Play Store at $1.99. It is timed as a launch title for HTC's XREAL Aura. The sources provided give no release date.

Players use their hands and a pair of living shades to clear eight levels. The levels draw on traditional genres, including rhythm games and side-scrolling shooters.

The XREAL Aura is not a conventional headset. HTC calls it "spatial computing eyeware," and Game Developer describes it as a pair of high-tech sunglasses. It runs over a wired connection to an Android phone. Game Developer also notes that games played through camera lenses against the real world have usually been called AR games. Owlchemy, which already calls itself an "XR game studio," is using the XR label and the "shades" framing anyway.

In a statement tied to the game, Owlchemy CEO Andrew Eiche said the studio's philosophy is "XR for everyone." He said the headset itself has been the biggest barrier for many people, and that glasses make XR easier to approach. In a recent Game Developer interview, he said VR hasn't passed the "cafe test," meaning people don't feel comfortable wearing the device in public. He said the XREAL Aura is starting to pass it.

For VR developers weighing how to stay commercially relevant in a tougher market, Game Developer suggests the move may be worth watching. It also notes that Google ownership and Google-affiliated launch platforms have helped the studio. Details on Hyper Visor's availability and device requirements should come from Owlchemy and HTC as they are published.