Eidos’ iconic Thief franchise returns later this week with Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. PlayStation LifeStyle spoke with Vertigo Video games Principal Designer Nick Witsel and Eidos-Montréal Artistic Director Steven Gallagher to study extra concerning the PS VR2 sport. It arrives on PlayStation 5 tomorrow, December 4, 2025.
“Step into the shadows in Thief VR. You’re Magpie, a crafty thief orphaned by Baron Northcrest and formed by the streets. Use VR mechanics to steal, evade, and outsmart the Metropolis’s forces. Your objective? A relic in Northcrest’s vault, which uncovers a far larger artifact with a strong legacy,” says the official description.
Take a look at our dialogue with the duo beneath, plus some unique idea artwork from the stealth sport.
PlayStation LifeStyle: One of many the reason why the unique Thief video games had been so revolutionary was the liberty gamers had in how they selected to strategy gameplay. How does Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow give gamers company in how they select to play and interact with enemies?
Nick Witsel: Certainly, Thief’s strategy has at all times been about offering gamers with obstacles and a large number of strategies to beat them. Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow continues this custom. Ranges are supplied with a number of paths to your goal, the place it is advisable to cleverly work out which approach works greatest for you. Guards pose the largest threats, and when you have loads of instruments in coping with them, every thing carries danger. As an example:
- Utilizing your blackjack requires that you just get shut and in addition leaves you with an unconscious physique that is likely to be discovered.
- Throwing an object to create a distraction may end in undesirable consideration from different guards.
- You may unlock a close-by door and go round, however you is likely to be noticed whereas selecting the lock.
And it’s in weighing these choices and deciding what to try this you immerse your self into the position of the Grasp Thief.
VR provides an actual tactility to the motion, particularly getting to make use of the totally different instruments, and sneaking round feels very pure. How does that immersion assist the stealth gameplay?
Steven Gallagher: VR is superior for peeking round corners or over partitions, however it’s particularly good at rapidly checking your environment with no need to cease specializing in no matter sneaky enterprise you’re as much as. Let’s say you’re making an attempt to rapidly decide a lock and slip by means of a door earlier than a pesky guard you’ll be able to hear close by spots you. It is a susceptible place for a thief to be in together with your again to potential hazard and unable to rapidly verify in case you’re alone.
Taking part in a first-person stealth sport like this on a display like a TV or a monitor, you’re often compelled to simply hope for the very best or disengage and switch your physique to make certain you’re nonetheless secure. VR, nevertheless, means that you can naturally go searching as you’d in actual life whereas preserving your palms and intention centered on what you’re doing. I discover being stealthy in Thief in VR to be a very intuitive method to play, which is an enormous cause why it’s so enjoyably immersive.
The Thief lore is surprisingly wealthy, as followers know. What was Maze Principle’s strategy to the sport’s story and attending to view this world in a brand new, extra up-close approach?
Witsel: Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a sport made by followers of the franchise. There have been loads of parts we needed to cowl, while additionally guaranteeing new gamers wouldn’t really feel misplaced. Telling the story from Magpie’s perspective, who is comparatively new to the Metropolis and nonetheless has a lot to study, permits us to introduce gamers to the setting in a pure approach, whereas additionally permitting us to contain some acquainted faces and voices to information their approach.
It was so thrilling to listen to Stephen Russell within the trailer. How was it working with Stephen to get Garrett’s humorousness into this sport and convey again such a beloved character?
Witsel: He’s nonetheless obtained it. Garrett was again. It was like this huge puzzle piece that accomplished the image. It’s been an unimaginable privilege to work with him.
Thief veterans will know what to anticipate, however what’s your greatest recommendation for newcomers who’re checking this out first as a result of it’s in VR?
Gallagher: I suppose keep in mind that you’re a thief, not a fighter. You may defend your self if the worst occurs, however it’s higher to be one step forward of hassle so that you don’t end up in it. The immersive nature of VR offers you all it is advisable to be a grasp sneak thief, so keep sharp, hold your eyes open, and stick with the shadows. They’ll by no means see you coming.
The unique PSVR {hardware} led to loads of ports that weren’t pretty much as good because the PC counterparts. What impressed the crew probably the most about PlayStation VR2 {hardware}?
Witsel: The OLED lenses are implausible at conveying the sturdy and moody environment of Thief’s lighting. Gentle and darkish play a vital position within the expertise, so we will undoubtedly advocate the PSVR2 Headset for this sport.
