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Synapse: Everything We Know

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nDreams, creator of Fracked and Phantom: Covert Ops, has announced Synapse, an all-new first-person shooter for PlayStation VR2. So, what do we actually know about it, and when can we expect to see it grace our systems? Well, admittedly details on the VR-only project are somewhat scarce, mostly down to the fact that its developer only lifted the veil on it earlier this week. Nevertheless, nDreams has provided more than enough to get the hype train in motion—a locomotive that'll no doubt continue to gain traction as it nudges nearer to its 2023 launch.

Anyway, if you just so happen to be a fan of either Superhot VR or, well, any VR-based shooter for that matter, then you'll definitely find something to clasp to in the upcoming venture. Intrigued? Here's everything you need to know about Synapse.

What Is Synapse?

Synapse is an upcoming first-person shooter VR game by nDreams, a studio best known for its impressive network of Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, and PlayStation VR titles. According to nDreams boss James Shepherd, Synapse “is the culmination of a decade of virtual reality-only development,”

“Following the success of Phantom and Fracked, we challenged ourselves to push virtual reality gameplay to new limits using the power of PlayStation VR2,” Shepherd explained in a press release. “The team have more than risen to this challenge and the result is a milestone release that sets the benchmark for our next 10 years of innovation.”

Story

Synapse will plant you in the worryingly capable boots of a dual-wielding operative, one who's tasked with venturing deep into the subconscious mind of a “notorious enemy of the state” and defacing its every twisted nook and cranny. Your goal, while working through the tainted corners of the enemy's mind, will be to whittle down unstoppable forces, and build up a repertoire of deadly weapons and telekinetic abilities to aid your progression.

“Evolve and master your own combat style by combining increasingly sophisticated skills and abilities,” the description adds. “Risk everything on a desperate, final mission into the darkest corners of a corrupted mind.”

So, whose mind will you be delving into, exactly? Well, that's just it — we don't actually know. Matter of fact, nDreams has been rather quiet in regards to the actual premise, which means we'll either receive an extended trailer closer to the time of launch, or nDreams is for the idea of keeping it sheathed until the big day. Only time will tell on that one.

Gameplay

First impressions of Synapse immediately transport us to worlds like Superhot, yet another action-packed VR essential that favors high-octane and prestigiously inventive combat. Synapse, while sporting a charcoal and crimson red color palette, will center its gameplay around a similar format; a half run-and-gun, half wall-to-wall shooter with eccentric combos and lightning-fast encounters.

“Wreak havoc on the enemy’s mind by combining deadly weaponry and transformative telekinetic abilities,” the description adds. “Duel-wield and combine your powers to overcome formidable defences and delve deeper into a hostile mindscape.”

Development

For those who don't know, nDreams is a VR-focused studio based over in the UK. Its previous works—games that varied in platforms—eventually culminated in the decision to work on mostly PlayStation VR games only. And that's just it — Synapse will be launching on the VR2, using its newly created Sense motion controllers to deliver the best possible gameplay experience.

“Enter a breath-taking surreal mindscape crafted for the PlayStation VR2’s stunning 4K HDR display,” the press release reads. “Feel every moment of adrenaline-fueled action through the PlayStation VR2’s next gen Sense controllers, adaptive triggers, and headset feedback.”

Trailer

Synapse - Announce Trailer

Thanks to State of Play, an event that tends to host all the latest game trailers and announcements, nDreams' Synapse does indeed have a preview of its own. Granted, it doesn't give a great deal away as far as a storyline goes, but it does shed light on a lot of the gameplay and, of course, the Sense-enabled combat mechanics. You can catch a glimpse of what's to come in the announcement trailer above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Synapse will be coming to PlayStation VR2 at some point in 2023. That's about as much as nDreams has given away since making the formal announcement earlier this year. Does this mean there is still a chance of it being released on VR headsets outside of the VR2? Most definitely—especially given the fact that nDreams has built games for Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR in the past. But as it stands, it appears Synapse will launch exclusively on the latest PS VR hardware.

So, if it's coming to PlayStation VR2, does that means it could technically come to PlayStation Plus as a day-one exclusive? Yes, it does, but given the platform's lukewarm history of promoting (or simple lack of) VR games, it does seem unlikely at this moment in time.

Of course, as it's still early days as far as development goes, nDreams has yet to announce any special or deluxe editions outside of its run-of-the-mill digital copy. This is subject to change as the launch date draws nearer, though at present it seems the only way to get your pre-order fix is through the PlayStation Store. You can add it to your Wishlist to keep tabs on it by checking out the store handle here.

For more information on the Synapse launch, you can follow the official social handle here. If anything pops up in the meantime, we'll be sure to let you know all of the details right here on gaming.net.

 

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Synapse when it releases later this year? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.