2023.12.07
PLAYISM is proud to announce the VR-version of award-winning photography simulator Umurangi Generation, titled Umurangi Generation VR, which will be released on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3 and PSVR2 on April 18, 2024 as announced on the UploadVR Showcase. Additionally, the non-VR version of the game will also be making its debut on the Sony PlayStation®4 and 5 on the same day.
Umurangi Generation VR is a creative sandbox game that promises an even more immersive gameplay experience, bringing you deeper into the world of Umurangi Generation with an increased level of freedom to experiment with your creativity.
Set in Tauranga Aotearoa, you find yourself in a world facing a bleak future. With an impending crisis looming, major cities are walled off, with the United Nations deploying the military and towering mecha to defend against an alien invasion.
As a courier for the Tauranga Express who is also an avid photographer, you’re afforded complete freedom to travel around Tauranga to document the world around you and its impending doom through the lenses of your camera.
In Umurangi Generation VR, players are transported into the heart of Tauranga Aotearoa. Observe the impending doom right in front of your eyes, move around and interact with objects in a much more natural way. Your presence in the game world will in no doubt leave you with a feeling of immersion greater than ever before.
The non-VR version of the game will also be debuting on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 on the same day and comes with the Speedrun and Creative Modes featured in the already-released Nintendo Switch version.
*Speedrun and Creative Modes are not included in the VR version
Normal Lens |
Telephoto Lens |
Wide Angle Lens |
Fish Eye Lens |
Sports Lens |
Ultra Wide Angle Lens |
Box Lens |
Pocket Lens |
Each level sets you a list of objectives called “Photo Bounties”. Snap away to complete all Photo Bounties and utilize the extensive range of tools to edit and develop your photos.
While each photograph is graded based on content, color, and composition, the game puts a strong emphasis on the freedom of creativity. There are no set rules on what makes a photograph good or bad. Instead, players are encouraged to explore their creative sides and express themselves freely through their photos.
Naphtali Faulkner, developer of Umurangi Generation, explained that the games central focus on creativity is part of its core design philosophy. “The moment you tell players what is or isn’t a good photo this will condition players to take photos in a prescribed way. You cannot punish creativity. In this game the objectives can be completed in thousands of different ways. From looking at gameplay footage, players are finding creative ways of taking a Photo Bounty that I never could have imagined”.
Umurangi Generation’s visual aesthetics and game mechanics draw inspiration from past titles such as Jet Set Radio and Pokemon Snap, making it a title that is sure to please photography enthusiasts and fans of the PlayStation®2 era retro style. However, with the freedom to explore your creativity and express yourselves, the game also represents a fantastic entry point into photography for players who are new or are interested in taking up the hobby.
The Umurangi Generation theme came from the developers' experience of the bushfires in Australia. The roaring fires that painted the skies red were seen to him as a dystopian omen of the destruction the earth was experiencing, juxtaposed by the news and politicians brushing off the situation as the “New Normal”.
Since it burst onto the gaming scene on PC, Umurangi Generation has been the proud recipient of several prestigious awards and nominations, including
● 23rd Annual IGF Awards – Seumas McNally Grand Prize
● 23rd Annual IGF Awards – Excellence in Narrative Winner
● 23rd Annual IGF Awards – Nuovo Award Nominee
● 23rd Annual IGF Awards – Excellence in Visual Art Honorable Mention
● 24th Japan Media Arts Festival – New Face Award
● 2021 Indie Play – Best Overseas Game Nominee
Umurangi Genration
■ Developer: ORIGAME DIGITAL
■ Publisher: PLAYISM
■ Genre: First Person Photography Simulator
■ Supported Platforms (VR): Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PlayStation®VR2
■ Supported Platforms (Non-VR): PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5
■ Release Date: April 18, 2024
■ MSRP: TBD
■ Supported Languages: EFIGS, Portuguese, Russian, Maori, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
©2024 ORIGAME DIGITAL. Licensed to and published by Active Gaming Media, Inc.
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