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 Inventive Director Steven Gallagher to be taught extra concerning the PS VR2 recreation. 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 robust legacy,” says the official description.
Take a look at our dialogue with the duo under, plus some unique idea artwork from the stealth recreation.
PlayStation LifeStyle: One of many the explanation why the unique Thief video games had been so progressive 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 mess 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’s essential to cleverly work out which approach works finest for you. Guards pose the most important threats, and when you have loads of instruments in coping with them, the whole lot carries threat. For example:
Utilizing your blackjack requires that you simply get shut and in addition leaves you with an unconscious physique that may be discovered.
Throwing an object to create a distraction may lead to undesirable consideration from different guards.
You possibly can unlock a close-by door and go round, however you may be noticed whereas selecting the lock.
And it’s in weighing these choices and deciding what to do this you immerse your self into the function of the Grasp Thief.
VR provides an actual tactility to the motion, particularly getting to make use of the completely 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 shortly checking your environment with no need to cease specializing in no matter sneaky enterprise you’re as much as. Let’s say you’re attempting to shortly decide a lock and slip by means of a door earlier than a pesky guard you possibly can hear close by spots you. It is a weak place for a thief to be in together with your again to potential hazard and unable to shortly verify in case you’re alone.
Enjoying a first-person stealth recreation like this on a display like a TV or a monitor, you’re normally compelled to only hope for the most effective or disengage and switch your physique to make certain you’re nonetheless secure. VR, nevertheless, permits you to naturally go searching as you’ll in actual life whereas retaining your fingers and intention centered on what you’re doing. I discover being stealthy in Thief in VR to be a very intuitive solution to play, which is a giant cause why it’s so enjoyably immersive.
The Thief lore is surprisingly wealthy, as followers know. What was Maze Idea’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 recreation made by followers of the franchise. There have been loads of parts we wished 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 lots to be taught, 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 recreation and convey again such a beloved character?
Witsel: He’s nonetheless acquired 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 finest 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’s essential to be a grasp sneak thief, so keep sharp, preserve your eyes open, and keep on 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 workforce essentially the most about PlayStation VR2 {hardware}?
Witsel: The OLED lenses are implausible at conveying the sturdy and moody environment of Thief’s lighting. Mild and darkish play an important function within the expertise, so we are able to undoubtedly advocate the PSVR2 Headset for this recreation.
