'Ghostbusters' VR Haunts Meta Quest Showcase With New Trailer, Creator Roundtable

The Ghost Lord rises in the City by the Bay

We know who we’re gonna call when spooks and specters infest the Big Apple, but what about when California’s City by the Bay comes under siege by a powerful supernatural force? Well, turns out it’s still the Ghostbusters, but not like you’ve ever seen before! This fall, VR developer nDreams is sending New York’s finest to San Francisco to battle with the villainous Ghost Lord.

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord was present at today’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, and after a creator roundtable, we finally have some more concrete details about the stylized ghost-grabbing VR title. nDreams’ art director Jack Bromhead spoke more on how Rise of the Ghost Lord will play out, noting that teamwork and gear upgrades would be key factors in the new fight against the undead.

Immediately, it sounds like Rise of the Ghost Lord is pulling inspiration from the IllFonic’s ghastly multiplayer romp, Spirits Unleashed, but nDreams’ VR title separates itself in some big ways. Beyond being a VR-only title releasing on the PS VR2 and Meta’s Quest line (Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro), Ghostbusters fans should be quick to note the new art direction, including cartoonish ghosts and a new VR-friendly neutrona wand design.

Along with the roundtable, nDreams showed off a new story trailer that follows the Ghostbusters franchise to San Francisco. Based on newspaper clippings, it seems skepticism continues to plague the group despite having publicly saved the word twice (likely more considering the trailer confirms the game is set in the 21st century).

Rise of the Ghost Lord centers around Gustav Hookfaber, a Columbia University understudy once snubbed by the original trio (and possibly the creative behind “Venkman Burn in Hell”). Chaos erupts, ghosts wreak havoc, and the SF branch of the Ghostbusters, which was seemingly founded in 1994, steps in to do some damage with traps and PKE meters in hand. 

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord stills

How equipment upgrades will work is still a mystery, sure to be solved as nDreams feeds more information in the coming months. During the roundtable, we did learn that the game is mission-based, giving players the freedom to choose how they clear San Francisco of its pesky poltergeists and earn cash. 

This is the most we’ve seen of Rise of the Ghost Lord, and though there were concerns that this would play off like a short-lived spinoff, it’s clear nDreams aims to add more substance into the ever-growing Ghostbusters universe. 

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord is slated to hit PS VR2 and Meta Quest devices this autumn.