The stealth classic "Thief" returns – as a VR game
After an absence of more than ten years, the genre-defining "Thief" series is back and making a comeback in virtual reality.
Thief VR marks the return of a legendary game series and will be playable in virtual reality for the first time.
(Image: Vertigo Games)
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow", a new interpretation of the traditional stealth series for Playstation VR2, SteamVR and Meta Quest, will be released this year. For the first time, the title will fully transfer the game mechanics that have shaped the genre to virtual reality, including immersive environmental interaction, silent sneaking and precise archery.
Return to the shadows of "The City"
The game is being developed by Maze Theory and Vertigo Games in cooperation with Eidos-Montréal. The latter were already responsible for the 2014 reboot. With the new VR version, the series returns to the dark alleyways of "The City", a steampunk metropolis full of corruption, magic and totalitarian rule, which already played a central role in its predecessors.
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Players take on the role of Magpie, an orphan turned thief by the cruelty of Baron Ulysses Northcrest. As usual, the story begins with small thefts and leads to a larger conspiracy surrounding a mysterious artifact. The aim is to move silently through shadows, extinguish light sources and work with classic tools such as water arrows, lock picks and hidden switches.
Sneaking instead of fighting
Although combat will not be the focus, it is possible according to the announcement, for example through precise ranged combat with bows and arrows. As in the early parts of the series, however, the focus will clearly be on sneaking and tactical action. The missions should offer correspondingly more open structures and different approaches.
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The series is returning after a break of more than a decade. The last installment was released in 2014 for PC and console – with mixed reactions. The original series, which began in 1998 with 'Thief: The Dark Project', is considered the cornerstone of the modern stealth genre. In particular, the light and sound mechanics, the non-linear level design and the dark atmosphere shaped subsequent titles such as "Dishonored" and "Hitman".
There is no specific release date for "Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow" yet. However, the title is expected to be released in 2025. The developers plan to provide further details on gameplay, missions and features in the coming months.
(joe)
