Ocean Rift
More actions
| Ocean Rift | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| VR/AR | VR |
| Developer | Llyr ap Cenydd |
| Publisher | Picselica Ltd |
| Platform | SteamVR, Oculus Rift (Platform) |
| Device | HTC Vive, Oculus Rift |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Type | Full Game |
| Genre | Adventure, Casual, Indie, VR |
| Input Device | Tracked Motion Controllers |
| Play Area | Seated, Standing, Room-Scale |
| Game Mode | Single Player |
| Language | English |
| Review | N/A |
| Release Date | Sep 13, 2017 |
| Price | $9.99 |
| App Store | Steam |
| Website | http://www.facebook.com/oceanriftvr |
| Infobox Updated | 11/07/2017 |
Ocean Rift is a virtual reality underwater exploration and aquarium app developed by Llyr ap Cenydd, a lecturer at Bangor University, and published by Picselica Ltd.[1] Bangor University describes it as one of the first programs released alongside the Samsung Gear VR headset.[1] The Steam version for SteamVR headsets was released on 13 September 2017, as a full release rather than Early Access.[2] The app is listed as VR only and supports tracked controllers.[2]
Overview
The Steam listing describes Ocean Rift as an aquatic safari park in which the player moves through underwater habitats and watches sea animals such as dolphins, sharks, orcas, turtles, rays, manatees, sea lions and whales, along with extinct prehistoric reptiles. It states that the app has 12 habitats, including coral reefs, mangrove swamps, shipwrecks, the deep sea, the Arctic and Atlantis, plus an optional education mode with more than 40 narrated information points.[2] The listing also says the main animals are driven by a procedural animation system, so their movements vary between visits.[2]
Bangor University reported in 2018 that more than 50 educational information panels about sea creatures had been translated into Welsh and professionally voiced, and that the app had about 2.5 million downloads since its 2013 launch.[1] A 2023 Bangor University article said the app was being used for well-being in care homes and as a distraction from pain and anxiety during medical procedures in children, and that a mixed reality feature letting users place virtual aquarium displays in their living spaces, developed in collaboration with Meta, was expected in the app later that year.[3]
Reception
Steam user reviews were rated Mostly Positive as of October 2026, with 109 of 139 reviews (78 percent) positive.[4]
Features
System Requirements
Windows
Minimum
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 960
- Storage: 1500 MB available space
Setup Instructions
Images and Videos
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Virtual reality enables you to swim with sharks in Welsh". Bangor University. 2018-11-28. https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/latest/virtual-reality-enables-you-to-swim-with-sharks-in-welsh-38905. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Ocean Rift on Steam". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/422760/Ocean_Rift/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Working with Meta on mixed reality ocean worlds". Bangor University. 2023-07-18. https://www.bangor.ac.uk/ese/news/working-with-meta-on-mixed-reality-ocean-worlds. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Ocean Rift user review summary". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/appreviews/422760?json=1&language=all&purchase_type=all&num_per_page=0. Retrieved 2026-10-09.