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Press release:
CLEVELAND — April 12, 2021.
The US-based indie games publisher and developer Dr Bloc today announced that the full version of their first-person cosmic VR platformer “STRAYLIGHT” (a game which is built for comfort and speed), is coming to Oculus Quest and Quest 2, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift in Q3 2021.

The full release will feature dozens of levels, several leaderboards, achievements, and more not seen in Early Access.

Across a beautiful, deadly universe, thousands of blue stars dot the void. With the power of the Straylight, hook onto these stars and swing through abstract, cosmic environments, soaring from point to point and slinging to new heights. Utilizing the Fling Engine, a propulsion system designed for comfortable movement in VR, take flight through dozens of stunning galaxies and brave fatal obstacles.

Empowering and thrilling in equal measure, STRAYLIGHT’s movement controls make navigating fully 3D space a breeze. From each controller emits a beam—the Straylight. With these beams, latch onto the stars strewn about the cosmos and propel forward, hooking to new points with each pull of the hand. Without solid ground and other disorienting reference points, race through courses comfortably, gaining speed and inertia by swinging amongst the stars.

Easy to pick up but challenging to master, STRAYLIGHT finds inspiration in the white-knuckle, pixel-perfect platformers of yesteryear. Master the Straylight to swing under, orbit around, and launch above an onslaught of galactic debris. Meteorite fragments, spinning rings, momentum-halting stars, and more spell certain doom, but instant death pairs with instant respawns for an accessible, yet truly hardcore, experience.

In the full 1.0 release, savants of the Straylight can challenge a bevy of new content. Hidden collectible cubes unlock hard mode galaxies demanding high-speed perfection. Attempt B-side twists with mind-bending platforming puzzles. Chase a full set of Achievements through the dangerous cosmos and reach for the top of leaderboards charting overall time, number of grapples, and more. Fly free with myriad quality of life updates, updated assets, and new voiceovers not present in Early Access.

But no matter the skill level, a wholly immersive space flight journey awaits. Acclaimed pianist and video game arrangement artist 88bit envelops the soundscape in meditative synthwave, welcoming VR first-timers and veterans alike to a galactic playground voted “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice: Best Digital” at Ohayocon 2020.

“We want players to find an incredible feeling of flow in STRAYLIGHT, which starts by solving how to do totally comfortable movement in VR,” said Daniel Seery, co-founder of developer Dr Bloc.

“VR is about total immersion, and the Straylight unlocks it, allowing as many as possible to feel the thrill of propelling through space and attempt the hardcore platforming challenges waiting among the stars.”

STRAYLIGHT will launch on Oculus Quest and Quest 2, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift in Q3 2021 for $19.99, and is available now in Steam Early Access and via free demo. For more information on the game, beam up to the Dr Bloc website, or find the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Dr Bloc
Dr Bloc, or Dan, Rob, Ben, Len, and Chris (we skipped the O), first came together to make a game for the 2018 Global Game Jam. The five-person team, comprising two programmers, two filmmakers, and a musician, are transformed individuals. They darkle; they tinct. They are born of no human thing. They are a dream a monster had, which it could not bear to recall once awake. They hail from a place where the rivers burn and the snows last longer than hope.

One of them thinks he’s a writer.